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Pride postage stamps issued in the UK

One of the Pride postage stamp's from Britain's Royal Mail
One of the Pride postage stamp’s from Britain’s Royal Mail (Image: Royal Mail)

Britain’s Royal Mail is issuing a set of Pride postage stamps. The set marks the 50th anniversary of the country’s first gay pride march, which took place in London in 1972 and was inspired by similar events in the US.

The eight stamps chronicle “the story of Pride across five decades.” They were designed by British artist Sofie Birkin.

A Pride postage stamp
(Image: Royal Mail)

David Gold, the director of external affairs and policy at Royal Mail, said: “The vibrant, colorful Pride events that take place in towns and cities across the UK today trace their origins to a small number of people who marched through central London half a century ago to raise awareness of discrimination and inequality.”

A Pride stamp in the UK
(Image: Royal Mail)

The stamps, along with postcards and presentation packs, can be pre-ordered from today and will become available on July 1.

A postage stamp with two queer people kissing
(Image: Royal Mail)

The UK is not the first country to issue LGBTQ-related postage stamps. In 2014, Finland issues stamps commemorating the influential work of erotic artist Tom of Finland. They became the best-selling set of stamps in the country’s postal history.

(Image: Royal Mail)

Related: UK reveals new banknote featuring gay, maths genius Alan Turing

Last year, the UK paid tribute to World War II codebreaker and math genius Alan Turing. A gay man, his career was left in tatters after he was arrested for gross indecency in 1952. He killed himself a couple of years later. The Royal Mint (which produces the UK’s money), selected Turing to feature on the latest design of the £50 note.

The complete set of eight Pride stamps
The complete set of eight Pride stamps (Image: Royal Mail)
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