Half of sponsors at major LGBT event operate in countries where homosexuality is illegal

At least 11 of the 17 firms associated with the festival, which kicks off on Saturday, have links to countries with anti-gay laws.

Big name companies sponsoring the annual event include Coca-Cola, Netflix, PlayStation and Durex.

The drinks giant is the official sponsor of the Saudi Premier League where executions for homosexuality were carried out in 2019 and being transgender is illegal.

Coca-Cola, along with Al Mana Group, invested £28.58 million into Qatar to set up a bottling plant there.

The Middle Eastern country, which hosted the World Cup last year, also carries the death penalty for same-sex activity.

Coca-Cola has operated in Nigeria for more than 70 years and announced it was investing more than £1 billion in the country in 2021.

It can also enforce capital punishment for homosexuals.

Elsewhere, the drinks conglomerate has invested millions in countries with similar rules such as Uganda and Somalia.

It previously said: “As one of the world’s most inclusive brands, The CocaCola Company celebrates diversity, inclusion and equality.

"This commitment comes to life through our workplace culture, community partnerships and policies we support.

“The company has long protected employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, having scored 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index every year since 2006.”

Streaming giant Netflix has invested more than £18.7m in Nigeria and commissioned three original titles there.

PlayStation is one of the 17 main sponsors of Pride London and is owned by Sony which operates in countries in Africa and the Middle East where being a member of the LGBT community is criminalised.

International law firms CMS has an office in Abu Dhabi, a place in recent years that has arrested LGBT people, in particular transgender.

Working space provider WeWork operates in Malaysia which criminalises same-sex sexual acts.

United Airlines and IHG Hotels both have facilities in Saudi Arabia.

The Independent newspaper group has an Arabic edition and is partly owned by Sultan Muhammad Abuljadayel who has links to the state.

Even BT, owners of Pride in London partner Openreach, operates in Nigeria.

And Cisco digital communications conglomerate has offices in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.

Pride London is one of many events that kicks off next month to celebrate diversity of LGBT communities.

It was first started in 1972 and one of the organisers, Peter Tatchell, said at the time: “Our aim was to show that we were proud, not ashamed. Determined to come out of the shadows and stand up for our rights, we wanted to make ourselves visible and demand LGBT liberation.”

Various events are held throughout this month and July with those on offer including an exhibition “celebrating black queer bodies”, May Thai boxing and Drag Queen Bingo.

On its website, Pride in London says: “Pride in London is a vibrant and dynamic organisation that relies on the passion and commitment of both staff and volunteers who share a common goal of advancing equality and diversity.”

This year it is hosted its first Human Rights Forum which is described as an event where people can speak on the “challenges faced by the LGBT+ community, ongoing struggles for equality and human rights”.

The event summary goes on to say it will talk about “the impact of discriminatory laws, policies, and practices on LGBT+ people, including the criminalization of same-sex relationships and the denial of legal recognition of gender identity” and “strategies for advocacy, activism, and building coalitions to advance LGBT+ rights”.

This year’s theme is called #NeverMarchAlone.

Pride in London’s website says: “The campaign comes at a time when trans and non-binary people face increasing amounts of hatred and negative portrayals from politicians to the media.

“The campaign offers unwavering solidarity and focuses on trans allyship, both within and from outside the wider LGBTQIA+ community.”

GB News approached London in Pride and all 11 companies for a comment.