Secret Intelligence Service MI6 building lights up for Pride in London
The MI6 building in London will be illuminated with rainbow lights this weekend to celebrate Pride in London.
The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) has announced that they will be celebrating the event at their headquarters which are in Vauxhall along South Bank.
SIS said that they were a “proud” organisation and looked forward to the weekend of Pride events.
A statement on the SIS website reads: “We will be celebrating PRIDE from our headquarters in Vauxhall and in the Capital this weekend.
“Our iconic building on the South Bank will again be illuminated for the weekend as it has been in the past.”
They went on to stress that they were proud of their achievements in accepting LGBT people and that they would be working to protect LGBT people over the weekend.
They said: “We will also be flying the flag for PRIDE, showing our solidarity as we did for IDAHOBIT day in May.
“Earlier this year we were again proud to be recognised in the Stonewall Top 100 Employers for 2017 with a ranking of 20.”
They added that diversity was important to MI6.
“It is no surprise that people perform better when they can be themselves in an accepting environment.
“Diversity matters and here at SIS we continue to support, encourage and enable our staff to flourish; a fully inclusive workplace not only LGBT staff but for all remains our commitment.
“You won’t see us, you won’t hear us but we will be there supporting PRIDE this weekend.”
Further down the River Thames the House of Parliament will also be lit up.
It is the first time the government building has lit up in celebration of Pride in London.
Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons said that he was “delighted” to see the rainbow flag being proudly flown.
“I am delighted to once again see the rainbow flag flying over Portcullis House and am very much looking forward to seeing the Palace illuminated in LGBT+ colours,” he said.
Lord Fowler, Speaker of the House of Lords added that “stigma and discrimination” still “affects gay men and women” across the world and while the lights do not solve the injustices, they are a show of solidarity.
He said: “Homosexuality is still illegal in over 70 countries around the world, including many in the Commonwealth. None of this will be solved by a march or a display of lights in Westminster.
“But these acts will demonstrate to those who are being persecuted or abused that they are supported. The lights are a symbol of our support.”
