London Trans+ Pride is a pride march advocating transgender rights held in London, England, United Kingdom.

People taking part in London Trans+ Pride, 2023

History

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London Trans+ Pride was founded in 2019 by Lucia Blayke,[1] inspired by Trans Pride Brighton.[2] 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.[3][4][5] 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.[6] The 2019 march was held in September and saw attendance of around 1500 people.[7][8]

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.[9] It also included a memorial to Elie Che, a prominent transgender London activist and performer who died in August of that year.[10]

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.[11] The event included speeches by Munroe Bergdorf, Ki Griffin, Bimini Bon-Boulash, Abigail Thorn, and Kai-Isaiah Jamal.[12][13]

The 2022 march was held in July, with attendance of over 20,000 people.[14][15] 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.[16][17] Abigail Thorn said at the event that "legally and politically", trans people in the country "are not allowed to control our own lives".

In 2023, it was estimated 25,000-35,000 people attended the march.[18] The organisers emphasised the event was still a protest in what was called the "biggest ever" call for trans rights in the UK.[19]

In 2024, 55,000 people attended the march, motivated in part by the British government’s recently enacted ban on puberty blockers.[20]

Since 2019, London Trans+ Pride has been run by a volunteer organizing committee which includes EM Williams, Sweatmother, Ren Mars, Lewis G. Burton as well as many who have wished to remain anonymous.[21][22] 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 2022, 2023 & 2024.[23]

On 29 July 2024, a confirmed 55,000 to 60,000+ people attended London Trans+ Pride, making it biggest trans pride march in the world to date.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Protesters march in second London Trans+ Pride". NBC News. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "If London needs a separate Trans Pride, what does that say about LGBT solidarity? | Amelia Abraham". TheGuardian.com. 15 May 2019.
  4. ^ "London Trans Pride is the 'one day we're not outcasts'". BBC News. 14 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Here's everything you need to know about London's first Trans+ Pride". 14 August 2019.
  6. ^ "London to host its first Transgender Pride festival this year". The Independent. 2019-04-26. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  7. ^ "London's first Trans Pride support 'overwhelming'". BBC News. 14 September 2019.
  8. ^ "We Asked People at London's First Trans Pride Why the Event Needed to Happen".
  9. ^ "Protesters march in second London Trans+ Pride". NBC News. 14 September 2020.
  10. ^ "London's second-ever Trans Pride to go ahead this weekend, amid looming fears over police and arrests". 11 September 2020.
  11. ^ "This Year's London Trans Pride Will March Against Rising Tide of Hate in the U.K." 26 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Thousands of Protesters Turned Out for London Trans+ Pride 2021".
  13. ^ "Thousands line the streets for London Trans+ Pride 2021". 28 June 2021.
  14. ^ "London's Trans Pride – in pictures". The Guardian. 11 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Meet the people marching in London's Trans Pride". Independent.co.uk. 9 July 2022.
  16. ^ "'We Deserve Better!' Thousands March for London Trans Pride After 'Actively Damaging Year'". 11 July 2022.
  17. ^ "London Trans+ Pride to return with urgent protest against 'deliberate' Tory attacks". 11 April 2022.
  18. ^ "Over 25,000 People Marched for Trans Rights This Weekend in London". Them. 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  19. ^ Davis, Barney (2023-07-08). "Trans+ Pride 2023: Thousands march through rain demanding Trans rights". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  20. ^ "90 Life-Affirming Photos From The Trans+ Pride March In London". Vogue UK.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ "Why Trans Pride is more important than ever". Huck. 2023-07-07. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ Smoke, Ben (29 July 2024). "London Trans+ Pride is breaking records". Huck Magazine. Retrieved 21 August 2024.