“Without trans rights, we do not have any rights”
BY KERRIE DRAGHI, IMAGE BY KOMUSO
On Saturday 27 July, I attended London Trans+ Pride along with 55,000-60,000 trans people and allies. Despite news that there was a right-wing protest planned in the same area of London on the same day meaning some groups arrived later for their safety, this year’s London Trans+ Pride broke the record as the biggest trans Pride in history with speeches from the likes of Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney, Trans Legal Clinic founder Olivia Campbell-Cavendish, Trans Prisoner Alliance founder and activist Sarah Jane Baker and many more.
“This year’s theme is in response to the ongoing injustices and atrocities happening across the world. Justice and Liberation are seemingly sought out by all, however, more often than not does not include trans+ people,” the founding member of London Trans+ Pride Lewis G. Burton said.
This year’s London Trans+ Pride was a significant moment at a time when we are currently living with more frequent and harsher threats to the climate, democracy, immigrants, disabled and trans people. It shows the resilience of the trans+ community to boldly show up as themselves, love one another, spreading joy for the community and anger at injustices that are all connected. London Trans+ Pride being the biggest in history sends the powerful message that trans people and allies will not be silenced or scared into the shadows by all the oppressive forces currently existing in our society.
In my opinion, the fight for trans liberation is one of the most important and radical movements that we have right now because freedom for trans people means freedom for all of us to create a better future. Seeing so many trans+ people express themselves on their own terms filled me with hope that there can be a better world where everybody loves one another and ourselves for exactly who we are.
In the crowd at London Trans+ Pride, I asked a few people why it is so important to fight for trans rights:
“Trans rights are incredibly important because we are deserving of the same access and equality as every other person in the world. We are all a part of one massive community, and nobody should receive less or more rights than others.”
Mason Alexander-Park (they/she), who performs in London’s West End production of Cabaret
“Trans Pride is for liberation that we are all fighting in the same patriarchal system. For me, there is no queer liberation with Palestinian liberation.”
Mahsa Salali, an Iranian performance artist
“Trans Pride is important to me not just because my partner is non-binary but also because I am Palestinian, and I believe intersectionality is key and there is no liberation for anybody if we are not all free.”
Ray (he/him)
“Trans Pride is so important for me because it’s a genuine protest. A lot of the main Pride marches have become very commercialised. The beautiful thing about Trans Pride is that everybody is here to protest for trans rights. It’s always a beautiful crowd. Everyone is looking out for each other.”
Hermoine (she/they)
“Trans Pride is important because it is nice to see lots of people together all with different identities all celebrating each other and working towards equality.”
Mikey (they/them)
“Trans people are the people who are usually more visible because they live outside the binary. Without trans rights, we do not have any rights.”
Edward (he/him )
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