The LGBT activists immortalised in cinema blockbuster Pride stood alongside Royal Opera House cleaners and porters demanding a living wage outside the Bafta awards yesterday as the flick won one of the main gongs.

As reported yesterday by the Star, workers at the posh venue where the Baftas were held are currently on strike over unpaid wages, sick pay and crippling conditions.

Members of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) held their original 1980s banner high on the picket in a show of solidarity, in keeping with their campaign.

The film took the award for outstanding debut for writer Stephen Beresford and producer David Livingstone.

In his acceptance speech Mr Beresford said it took 20 years to convince the industry that the story of a group of LGBT activists raising funds for striking miners could be a commercial success.

“LGSM raised money for the delighted community in south Wales for no other reason than that they saw all our struggles have common cause,” he added.

“We do incredible things when we all stand together — unite!”

Founding LGSM member Mike Jackson was on the picket line by the red carpet.

He told the Star the main hope he had for the movie was that it could be shown in places where LGBT communities were still fight a very hard battle.

As he waited for a phone interview with the Polish press, he said: “If (Pride) can help break down prejudices and make people think about solidarity then that would be one of the best things about this movie.”

Other activists expressed their hopes that the success of Pride would also prove that there is an appetite out there for politics, comradeship and justice.

Ritzy Living Wage campaigner Rob Lugg said: “In an immediate sense, people are

really responding to the issue of local grassroots campaigns and to these grassroots campaigns having real successes.”

The cinema worker giggled at the thought of the south London arthouse fight for a decent pay being one day made into film. But he added: “For us, the most important thing is the effect it has now.”