London Trans+ Pride wants all trans people to know they are valid as all hell -TGN

The organizers of the upcoming Trans+ Pride protest in London want every transgender and non-binary person to know they are “valid as f**k”.

The volunteer-driven non-profit will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Saturday (July 8) with a grassroots protest march through central London.

The march started at 1pm from Trafalgar Square in the British capital and has historically hosted tens of thousands of trans rights activists, LGBTQ+ supporters and allies protesting for trans rights.

Activist and London Trans+ Pride co-volunteer Em Williams told PinkNews that while the protest is a way for the trans community to make their voices heard, it also involves “just existing people”.

“I think there’s something gentle going on in the trans community,” Williams said.

“Many of us are calling for absolute revolution and anarchy, but there are equally valid trans people who just want to sit down with a cup of tea.

“We’re angry, we’re furious, we’re protesting. The march is a protest through and through, and there’s nothing business about it.”

Launched in 2018, the group organized annual marches with more than 30,000 people participating.

This year’s event is expected to attract so many visitors that the usual march route was changed to pass through Piccadilly Circus, before marchers were led into Hyde Park.

Several community speeches will take place there, where activists can raise their voices on issues affecting the trans community in 2023.

This year’s march, Williams said, has a particular focus on accessibility for disabled trans activists, and volunteers have worked hard to create a welcoming and accessible march for all.

“At the front of the march, we have a disability mobility aid and a wheelchair area that will be spaced more apart,” said Williams. “That’s where our BSL support and our guided walking support will be, because they’re going to set the pace.

“We have also designated (more) relaxed zones, such as the sober areas without amplified music.”

Williams advised attendees to make sure they are aware of safety guidelines and to bring water, a map with the designated stopping places and a face mask.

“Bring masks because COVID is still here. It affects everyone, it is a danger to everyone, especially our disabled and immunocompromised community.

“Be aware and respect people’s spaces,” Williams continued. “Bring masks, sunscreen, water, all sorts of classic camping gear, and anything you need to take care of yourself.”

Why London Trans+ pride is so important now

For Williams and so many others, London Trans+ Pride is more important than ever because of the sheer amount of anti-trans rhetoric from old media outlets, the Conservative government and hate groups.

While members of the community are expected to speak on a variety of topics, for Williams it is the recent controversy surrounding Scotland’s now-defunct Gender Reform Recognition Act that is still fresh in their minds.

“There was so much hope in that,” said Williams. “My head went, ‘If Scotland does it then England will have to respond’, you know? And I think it’s so close that people see us.

“It’s being so close that we can taste it, and then being snatched away and witnessing the silencing of empirical evidence and data of us just existing.”

The committee also recognizes that there is an opportunity in London Trans+ Pride to arm activists with the knowledge that they are not alone, especially in difficult times like these.

“I recognize that, even as a volunteer, I hold a position of power on the committee of the Trans Pride organizations,” Williams said. “I recognize that position of power and what I can do to change things from, you know, the elected committee right now, even if it’s a bunch of volunteers doing as much as they can in their spare time.

“I think there’s a constant drive from people who have so much hatred in them that comes from an underlying fear that something will eventually be taken from them.

“We’ve seen it for immigrants, we’ve seen it for black people, we’ve seen it for East Asians, we’ve seen it for people on benefits, for the disabled and even single working mothers — they always have to find a new scapegoat,” Williams continued.

“The trans community has seen this coming for a long time, not to mention the intersection elements of that, you know, with the disabled community or trans single mothers. And it is because of this rhetoric that if (marginalized) people get something, something will be taken away.

“Basically it focuses attention on the wrong people who don’t have the full cake.”

As a final message to the transgender people who either can’t make it to the event or will be watching on social media, Williams said, “You guys are valid as f**k.”

“You are valid as hell and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I hope you can be provoked by these images on social media or whatever. I know that one day when I can’t go out because of, you know, my fatigue or various illnesses, looking at these things on Instagram gives me those dopamine hits and it gives me an awful lot of hope”