Pride in London launches mammoth campaign by WCRS, Love Happens Here

Featuring work by 30 illustrators and a series of TV ads directed by Fred Scott, Pride in London’s 2017 campaign by WCRS is mammoth. It aims to mark 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homesexuality in England and Wales, with widespread presence across London on everything from fly posters to billboards and Underground screens, as well as the ads running on Channel 4 during every programme.

Each of the long list of illustrators has donated their time for free, creating vibrant artworks based around the “heart pin” icon and featuring quotes from members of the LGBT+ community. The impressive roster includes: Alice Bowsher, Cachetejack, Daniel Frost, Jack Hudson, Peter Judson, Rob Flowers, Craig & Karl, Charlotte Trounce, Alec Doherty, Owen Gildersleeve, Marylou Faure and Supermundane.

The campaign will play out in two phases, Hate and Love. The first draws attention to the rising problem of anti-LGBT+ hate crime in London, and the second sees these stories replaced with ones of love, “showing London that love happens here”.

Meanwhile, Fred Scott and Pulse Films worked with WCRS on Pride in London’s first ever TV adverts. The four films tell moving stories from the point of view of characters who lost a relationship with a loved one because they couldn’t accept who they are.

“This is a campaign that started from a negative place of hatred and has blossomed into a full technicolour, full volume, inclusive expression of love,” says Ross Neil, ECD at WCRS. “The greatness of the creative is matched only by the sheer scale of companies and individuals.”