The UK Independence Party (UKIP) are known for their controversial views. They are in the news constantly with stories of not only homophobia and transphobia, but islamophobia, xenophobia, racism and more.

Pride in London have stated they will not discriminate against UKIP, yet many in UKIP discriminate against the LGBTQ community.

- In the 2015 General Election, UKIP were the only main party not to address LGBT+ rights in their manifesto.

- UKIP leader Nigel Farage publicly stated during the 2015 Leaders' Debate that immigrants with HIV should not be allowed to enter the UK.

- UKIP opposes same-sex marriage and promises legal protection to "those who wanted to object to gay marriage or express other matters of religious conscience in the course of carrying out their jobs." This could include the Christian relationship counsellor who wanted to counsel only heterosexual couples.

- Nigel Farage's top aide and secretary general Matthew Richardson referred to trans woman as 'she-males' in January 2015. Although he apologised, he has not retracted suggestions that a future UKIP administration would put an end to gender reassignment within the NHS.

- UKIP magazine 'Christian Soliders UKIP' published an article titled "Homosexual Teachers Mock Christians at the Manchester 'gay' march!", which called the pride march a “parade of depravity” featuring “a great deal of vulgarity and wickedness”, and they condemned the “sodomites” taking part. The article also said parents should “be bothered” about children being taught by gay teachers.

- UKIP councillor David Silvester blamed the bad weather in early 2014 on the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

- UKIP defended candidate Alan Craig who was set to speak at an event for people trying to cure “unwanted same-sex attraction”.

- UKIP MEP Roger Helmer stated that homophobia does not exist and that the word: "is merely a propaganda device" designed to "denigrate and stigmatise those holding conventional opinions." He also stated "that there is no discrimination, and that homosexuals do not suffer violence and prejudice from people because sadly, we all know that is not the case." Helmer also stated that in cases of date rape "the victim surely shares a part of the responsibility."

- A UKIP leaflet given out at a UKIP conference stated that primary school LGBT education is "sexual grooming".

- Geoffrey Caton, who ran for Parliament for UKIP in 2015, claimed on facebook in 2013: "Liverpool pride August 3rd, being an arse bandit nothing to be proud of"

- 2015 UKIP PPC Alan Harris stated on facebook: "why cant i say in my own bloody country black is still a colour and gay are still queers"

As well the many instances of blatant homophobia and transphobia UKIP are known for their constant scapegoating of immigrants.

The Pride website states: "Pride in London reserves the right to exclude from Pride in London events any organisation whose policies or leadership do not support the values of acceptance and inclusion that Pride promotes." 

Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP, clearly does not support the values of acceptance that Pride promotes, and UKIP is an inherently homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, racist and misogynistic political party. UKIP's inclusion in Pride has already caused public outcry and many have stated they would feel unhappy and unsafe to have a UKIP group included in Pride 2015's march, being that they are from an organisation that inherently does not support the values of acceptance and inclusion that Pride promotes.

Pride in London already blocks branches of far-right parties including the BNP and EDL; and according to a YouGov survey, 1 in 9 2015 UKIP voters voted for BNP in 2010. (https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/04/20/miliband-tactics-are-squeezing-tory-defenders/)

Please remove UKIP from the parade line up.