The organizers of four major LGBTQ Pride marches in the UK—Birmingham Pride, Brighton Pride, Manchester Pride, and Pride in London—have united to suspend political party participation in their events, citing strong support for the transgender community. They issued a statement affirming their commitment to not allow progress on trans rights to be undone, especially in light of growing attacks against these rights in the UK. This decision comes after a recent ruling by the UK Supreme Court that excluded transgender women from the legal definition of “woman” in the Equality Act.
The ruling followed a legal dispute initiated in 2018 regarding a Scottish law aimed at increasing female representation on public sector boards, which had included transgender women in its definition. The Pride organizers emphasize that this situation necessitates urgent action and pledge to loudly advocate for trans rights.
In response, the LGBT+ Lib Dems, a faction of the Liberal Democrats party, expressed profound disappointment over the suspension, arguing that they have historically championed LGBTQ+ rights and deserve representation at Pride events. They look forward to engaging in constructive discussions with the Pride organizers to rectify the situation while distancing themselves from parties that promote bigotry.
The Pride groups also highlighted a concerning global trend of diminishing trans rights, referencing anti-LGBTQ legislation in the United States and Hungary, where Pride events have been banned. This year alone, the American Civil Liberties Union reported 575 anti-LGBTQ state bills proposed in the U.S., many targeting transgender rights, with former President Trump’s administration actively advancing anti-trans policies.
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