After reports in the Gay Star News alleged that shops were refusing to stock the pin, concerns were raised regarding the negative impact this could have on the portrayal of Britain's attitude to the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community.

However, Wylie has refuted these allegations, claiming that pins cannot be found in shops because the pin is out of demand or is sold online.

"It's not that shops are not selling them and is certainly not a case of boycotting the pin, it is simply that because this pin was produced two years ago it is not in demand anymore.

"It is physically impossible for shops to stock every single pin that is produced and so, therefore, they sell many pins on their online store instead.

Wylie also said he recently bought a large number of Olympic gay pins from the London 2012 online store in preparation for the capital's annual World Pride Parade Day on July 7 – an event dedicated to decriminalising homosexuality and achieving equality across the globe.

"If LOCOG haven't got any more of them now it is because they are sold out," Wyllie said.

"We push every pin that we do and try and get as many retailers as we can to stock them."



The pin is just one of thousands of London 2012 designs Honav have manufactured in the build up to this Summer's Games.

The pin features the London 2012 logo and a rainbow flag, the iconic symbol of gay pride.

It comes in two versions: the Olympic logo version with an edition size of 10,000 and the Paralympic logo version with run of 2,012.

The gay pin was the first of six diversity and inclusion pins produced by London 2012 and Honav nearly two years ago.

Belief, age, disability, gender and ethnicity comprise the other Diversity and Inclusion pin series.

The pins support a campaign run by London 2012 to celebrate the differences between Britain's cultures and communities to help make the largest sporting event in the world "everyone's Games".

London 2012 has an extensive catalogue of Olympic pins representing the various sports participating at the Games, the Wenlock and Mandeville mascots, Team GB, British landmarks and heritage and the London 2012 logo itself.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
July 2010: London 2012 launch pin badges for gay community