Essex Pride library ban triggers national backlash and renewed LGBTQ+ organising

After Reform UK took control of Essex county council in May, members of the Rochford LGBTQ+ community say they have seen political rhetoric on identity translate rapidly into policy. The new leadership has instructed the county’s 74 libraries to halt Pride events and scale back activities themed around specific groups, a move local campaigners describe as “straight out of Trumpland”.

As reported by the Guardian, Chris Taylor, 38, who recently launched a petition against what they call an “Orwellian” ban, said the message to LGBTQ+ residents is clear: “It communicates the fact that we’re not welcome.” One resident told Taylor they had hoped to visit their local library’s Pride activities with their child during Essex Pride, yet now question whether they would feel safe doing so.

Essex county council maintains that libraries remain “safe spaces for everybody” and says LGBTQ+ books and displays will continue. It has, however, confirmed that promotions for events aimed at specific communities are under review. Reform administrations in Essex, Durham, Leicestershire and Kent have also ordered Pride flags to come down from civic centres and county halls, restricting flagpoles to the union flag, national, county or armed forces flags. In some areas, Pride events that previously received council funding have lost financial support.

Taylor has written repeatedly to Reform councillors since learning of the changes but has received no reply. “There does seem to be a bit of a resurgence of anti-acceptance toward the community in the area,” Taylor said. “It’s a bit alarming.”

Similar patterns are emerging in the north-east. In Sunderland and Gateshead, Reform-led councils have withdrawn funding for Pride events and ended the flying of Pride flags from council buildings. South Tyneside council now limits the Pride flag at South Shields town hall to a single day at the start of Pride month.

These shifts directly affect Out North East, which organises Pride events across Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside and recently opened One Centre, the region’s first dedicated LGBT community centre in Gateshead. Outreach manager Drew Dalton said the organisation had spent months preparing for possible Reform gains. The decisions in Sunderland and Gateshead, Dalton said, have cost them “money”, “visibility” and “a great number of allies” in council chambers.

“We’ve spent a long time building up relationships and we lost them overnight in the local elections,” Dalton said. Anticipating further restriction, the group has shifted activities away from council-owned land and venues. “We had to future-proof everything we were doing. It’s become that type of era where you have to watch your step.”

Community concerns extend beyond official policy. Promotional signs for a smaller Pride event supported by Out North East have repeatedly been torn down. Visitors to the One Centre have voiced anxiety about the broader climate. Dalton described a mix of determination and collective organising in response: “There’s also a lot of righteous anger about what’s going on. And there’s the beginnings, which is wonderful to see, of people starting to pull together.”

This changing mood is reshaping Pride itself. Dalton said the festival’s tone has shifted away from large-scale entertainment: “We’ll probably look back at the latter half of the 2010s as a period when Pride became much more of a party. This year we’re not even having concerts. We’re having a rally in Sunderland. That tells you how the dynamic has shifted.”

Several councils have publicly defended their approaches. Gateshead council said it would fly only the union flag and St George’s Cross from council buildings while continuing to support civic, cultural and community events. Wakefield council cited a policy centred on civic, national and military service flags. Kent county council stated that it does not fly “cause-specific or community campaign flags” on its buildings.

In Warwickshire, local activists say the Reform administration elected in 2025 has already had significant impact. Warwickshire Pride reports that under Reform leadership the council has refused to fly the Pride flag, announced that Warwickshire Pride would no longer receive council funding and, this week, signalled an intention to remove LGBTQ+ books and information from libraries and schools.

“As a direct result, we are seeing hate towards our charity rise,” said Daniel Browne, chair of Warwickshire Pride. Browne requested that the Pride and Trans flags be flown at the county council offices and was refused. When the council chair shifted from Reform to Conservative, the decision was reversed and the flags were approved for this month.

Browne said Reform’s stance is affecting local LGBTQ+ people who rely on Warwickshire Pride’s services, which include coffee mornings, counselling, youth groups and social events. Attendees have reported increased anxiety, self-harm and hate incidents linked to the recent political changes. “We’re stretched, under attack ourselves, and that’s difficult to navigate, but we remain here for Warwickshire’s LGBTQ+ population and will continue to push back against attempts to erase us or discriminate against us,” Browne said.

Across England, these policy shifts are galvanising community groups, campaigners and allies who argue that Pride, inclusive public services and visible symbols such as flags are essential for safety, equality and belonging. As formal support from some councils is withdrawn, many LGBTQ+ people are turning to independent networks and professional communities for connection and advocacy.

For those seeking inclusive workplaces, strong allyship and practical support in this environment, joining platforms like myGwork can provide vital community, resources and visibility; signing up offers one more way to stand with LGBTQ+ people facing these local bans.