Over 20,000 People March for Trans+ Pride in Central London

Over 20,000 people showed up to march at Trans+ Pride over the weekend through central London. Taking place on Saturday, July 3, the event saw transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and allies stand up for trans rights and liberation. Protesters started at Wellington Arch, marching to Soho Square with placards including “Trans healthcare saves lives”, “There is no LGB without the T,” and, “There would be no pride without Black trans women.”

“Words cannot describe the love, rage, and solidarity we all felt yesterday. It was truly magical and inspiring,” Trans Pride+ organizers shared the following day. “The road to equality is a long and hard one but we will get there. Days like yesterday fill us with so much hope and just seeing the next generation of transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming and intersex people thrive is proof that something is changing, for the better, for our community! There cannot be liberation for all LGBTQIA+ people until there is liberation for trans and intersex people!”

Following the march, the event included speeches from Heartstopper star Yasmin Finney, award-winning activist and author Charlie Craggs, and intersex campaigner Valentino Vecchietti, among other powerful and influential LGBTQ+ public figures.

One protester, Oscar, held a sign that read “Not safe to be me,” explaining to the Independent: “That is truly how I feel at the moment, particularly as the government has seemingly decided not to include transgender people in their ban on conversion therapy. It baffles me that in 2022 anyone should think it would be acceptable to subject someone to conversion practices, all because they are trans."

Despite tens of thousands showing up in support and solidarity reporting from news outlets has been minimal, which is particularly concerning considering the constant negative reporting currently surrounding the trans community. Model and activist Munroe Bergdorf took to social media to voice her frustration.

“20,000+ people marched through central London yesterday for London Trans Pride and most of the mainstream British media, both liberal and conservative titles, have blocked virtually all reporting on it,” Bergdorf shared.

“It speaks volumes that the only time we hear about the trans community in the media is when we are presented as ‘an issues’, ‘a debate’ or ‘a culture war’. Yet when 20,000 community members and copious allies shut down roads and march through the center of the UK… nothing. The British press are not to be believed when it comes to reporting on trans rights. Their bias is aligned with our erasure and disenfranchisement. Things are changing but trans joy doesn’t sell papers… transphobia sells. Fear sells. Hate sells. Resist.”

Trans+ Pride 2023 is already in the works for taking place, with organizers launching a GoFundMe to support them in making this happen. “Your support means the world to us. It allows us to continue doing what we are doing and enables London Trans+ Pride to stay as a grassroots non-profit organization. Any support, whether financial donation or sharing this, would mean the world to us and we would be so grateful. We hope to stay as aligned as possible to the true meaning of pride.”