London Trans+ Pride
London Trans+ Pride is a pride march advocating transgender rights held in London, England, United Kingdom.
History[edit]
London Trans+ Pride was founded in 2019 by a collective group of trans+ people including artists Finn Love and Lucia Blayke, inspired by Trans Pride Brighton.[1] It was founded in part due to a rising climate of transphobia in the UK and across the world, as well as in response to an anti-transgender protest controversy that occurred at the Pride in London march in 2018, where eight anti-trans activists took the lead of the march without authorisation.[2][3][4] The event was originally scheduled to take place in Hackney, East London but was moved to central London and has remained there in subsequent years.[5] The 2019 march was held in September and saw attendance of around 1500 people.[6][7]
The 2020 march saw attendance of 4000 people, with a number of COVID-19 safety measures put in place by the organisers, and called for legal recognition of non-binary identities and a ban on intersex genital mutilation.[8] It also included a memorial to Elie Che, a prominent transgender London activist and performer who died in August of that year.[9]
The 2021 march was held in June, and included calls for a ban on conversion therapy, greater access to healthcare for trans people, and a ban on intersex genital mutilation.[10] The event included speeches by Munroe Bergdorf, Ki Griffin, Bimini Bon-Boulash, Abigail Thorn, and Kai-Isaiah Jamal.[11][12]
The 2022 march was held in July, with attendance of over 20,000 people.[13][14] The event called to "celebrate the memory of trans lives taken and uphold the next generation of trans revolutionaries," and included speeches by Yasmin Finney and Charlie Craggs.[15][16] Abigail Thorn said at the event that "legally and politically", trans people in the country "are not allowed to control our own lives". In 2024 it was estimated 25,000-35,000 people attended the march.[17] The organisers emphasised the event was still a protest in what was called the "biggest ever" call for trans rights in the UK.[18]
Since 2021, London Trans+ Pride has been run by a volunteer organising committee which includes Em Williams, Sweatmother, Janeway, Mars, Lulu-Belle as well as many who have wished to remain anonymous.[19][20] In addition to the yearly protest, London Trans+ Pride march, they also hold additional events for trans advocacy including a takeover of the NOMAD stage at Glastonbury Festival in 2023.[21]
References[edit]
- ^ Abraham, Amelia (2019-05-15). "If London needs a separate Trans Pride, what does that say about LGBT solidarity?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ "If London needs a separate Trans Pride, what does that say about LGBT solidarity? | Amelia Abraham". TheGuardian.com. 15 May 2019.
- ^ "London Trans Pride is the 'one day we're not outcasts'". BBC News. 14 September 2019.
- ^ "Here's everything you need to know about London's first Trans+ Pride". 14 August 2019.
- ^ "London to host its first Transgender Pride festival this year". The Independent. 2019-04-26. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ "London's first Trans Pride support 'overwhelming'". BBC News. 14 September 2019.
- ^ "We Asked People at London's First Trans Pride Why the Event Needed to Happen".
- ^ "Protesters march in second London Trans+ Pride". NBC News. 14 September 2020.
- ^ "London's second-ever Trans Pride to go ahead this weekend, amid looming fears over police and arrests". 11 September 2020.
- ^ "This Year's London Trans Pride Will March Against Rising Tide of Hate in the U.K." 26 April 2021.
- ^ "Thousands of Protesters Turned Out for London Trans+ Pride 2021".
- ^ "Thousands line the streets for London Trans+ Pride 2021". 28 June 2021.
- ^ "London's Trans Pride – in pictures". The Guardian. 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Meet the people marching in London's Trans Pride". Independent.co.uk. 9 July 2022.
- ^ "'We Deserve Better!' Thousands March for London Trans Pride After 'Actively Damaging Year'". 11 July 2022.
- ^ "London Trans+ Pride to return with urgent protest against 'deliberate' Tory attacks". 11 April 2022.
- ^ Nast, Condé (2023-07-10). "Over 25,000 People Marched for Trans Rights This Weekend in London". Them. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ Davis, Barney (2023-07-08). "Trans+ Pride 2023: Thousands march through rain demanding Trans rights". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ Maheshwari-Aplin, Prishita (2022-07-08). "London Trans+ Pride Organisers On Why Showing Up Is More Important Than Ever - BRICKS Magazine". bricksmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ "Why Trans Pride is more important than ever". Huck. 2023-07-07. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ Hunt, El (2022-07-02). "Glastonbury does Trans Pride: "We're bringing a queer and trans takeover to the field"". The Forty-Five. Retrieved 2024-04-30.