Transphobes Hijack London’s Annual Pride March
Ten women marched to the front of London’s Pride parade while security did nothing to stop them.
“Transactivists erase lesbians” and other transphobic slogans were plastered on their signs. They also handed out leaflets that stated opposition against transgender–friendly reforms to the Gender Recognition Act. They want transgender women to be banned from all women’s spaces.
Trans women are women. If trans women don’t belong in women spaces, then where do they belong? Why ostracize your sisters simply because they have to fight harder to be who they are? Trans women face danger as soon as they leave their house. Some of them even face danger in their own homes if they live in an abusive environment.
The group of women didn’t just stop there. They also laid on the ground to physically block the march. This group filled with vile hatred were allowed to carry on with their transphobic signs and speech without anyone stepping in.
I can guarantee you there were trans people among the 30,000 people in attendance. They got dressed and headed out to an event that was supposed to be about empowerment. It was supposed to be about being prideful in who you are. Pride is supposed to be the one time LGBTQ people don’t have to worry about being ostracized, bullied, and targeted. However, the trans individuals at London Pride were targeted by this group of women.
How do you think they felt? One moment they were enjoying their annual pride march and then the next they were being told they should be excluded from certain spaces. They were told that they “erase” another part of the LGBTQ community.
This led to various confrontations and altercations between the transphobic women and LGBTQ people in attendance.
“This is what happened when we ignore that Pride started as a riot led by a trans women of color.” — One of the LGBTQ people in attendance.
Pride in London later issued a statement. They blamed the “hot weather” for the reason no one attempted to stop this hate group to lead the parade. Not only was this group not forced to stop spewing anti–trans beliefs, they were allowed to negotiate for a prime slot in the parade. After they blocked the march from continuing, they were allowed to lead the march all the way to Trafalgar.
Pride in London went on to say that they don’t “condone their approach.” If the organizers didn’t accept or allow their behavior, why did they allow them to continue to paint transgender women as predators? Why did no one step up to stop 10 women from handing out anti–transgender leaflets and target fellow LGBTQ individuals?
Being a bystander is just as bad as being the bully yourself. If you stand by while someone is targeted and watch them get hurt, you’re just as bad. There were 30,000 LGBTQ people and allies attending a parade that’s meant to bring everyone together, and 10 women banded together in an attempt to tear London’s LGBTQ community apart.
