Big crowds at Trans Pride in 2021
Trans rights activists were set to take to the streets of central London this weekend to hit back at the Tories’ and the right’s vicious clampdowns. On Saturday Trans+ Pride will march for the fourth year under the slogan, “Pride is a protest”.
Attacks on abortion rights are opening the door to a wider assault on sexuality in the US and elsewhere. That why the fight for trans rights must continue to be radical and loud.
Trans+ Pride is a focus for everyone who wants Pride to be a resistance event, not a chance for corporations to claim to be inclusive. The radical protest saw over 10,000 march through central London last year to call for changes, including reform of the Gender Recognition Act.
Attacks on trans people have been ramped up over the last year. And conversion therapy for trans people still hasn’t been banned. The Tories and their supporters continue to attempt to drive a wedge between women’s and trans rights to stoke up divisions.
This week the Tories announced new legislation that will insist new public buildings have separate single‑sex toilets. Schools, hospitals, offices and entertainment venues will be blocked from having just gender‑neutral facilities. This is so “women feel safe and comfortable”.
But the Tories don’t care about the safety of women—they just want a scapegoat and to create lies about the risks trans people pose.
It’s the Tories who cut funding to women’s services and defend the institutionally sexist Met police that women have died at the hands of. Trans+ Pride brings together LGBT+ people who want to fight for liberation.
It’s not enough to be simply out on the streets partying—a fightback has to be launched at the rising attacks. Last year a large contingent from the NEU education union joined the march with their banners.
More of this working class unity is needed this year to continue the radical legacy of pride.
London Trans+ Pride Saturday 9 July, meet at Wellington Arch in central London at 1pm to march to Soho Square
Fight every attempt to exclude, isolate and attack trans+ people
The far right are stoking up fear and hatred of Muslims
