‘Trans pride is such a rare event, it holds the joy without hiding the anger – the politics yet also the party’
Despite the best efforts of the British establishment, trans people in Britain are prouder than ever. This has been a record-breaking year for the community: just a week after Trans Pride Brighton drew its biggest crowds yet, London Trans+ Pride – held last Saturday (July 27) – became the largest event of its kind in history, with around an estimated 60,000 taking to the streets.
“This show of solidarity with the trans+ community yesterday was so powerful and poignant – in a time when we need the public’s show of support now more than ever,” Lewis G. Burton, DJ, performance artist and London Trans+ Pride founding member, said in a statement. “Due to the vitriol and bigotry inflated by the UK media, we often feel like we live in a country where we are not loved and respected. Yesterday was a beautiful reminder to not only the glorious trans+ community but to London, the new Labour government and the rest of the world that trans+ people are loved and this love is a huge majority.”
London Trans+ Pride has come a long away from its beginnings in 2019, as a small but spirited gathering of 2000 people. For co-founder Lucia Skye Blayke, seeing how much the event has grown since then is deeply moving. “I started London Trans Pride as a 22-year-old, working class trans woman with no funding and no resources – just determination and support from the community. It wasn’t easy but now I can see just how much it was truly worth it,” Lucia tells Dazed. “Now watching it grow to have over 50,000 attendees, I’m honestly astonished.”
“It just goes to show that this is now a serious movement that will be documented in history books for years to come. Our grandkids will look back on these marches and learn how we achieved true trans+ liberation,” she continues. “I couldn’t be more proud of the community and our allies right now. There is strength in our numbers and unity: the far-right fascists in the world are trying desperately to erase us, but it’s crystal clear that we are resilient and we are not going anywhere.”
Many of the trans community’s most influential cultural figures were present on the day, including the author and playwright Travis Alabanza. “The work trans pride have done to stay grassroots yet increase in scale is so empowering and inspiring to watch,” they said. “Trans pride is such a rare event, it holds the joy without hiding the anger – the politics yet also the party – its ability to dance between feelings and emotions is a testament to how the trans community continues to shine and excel despite our oppression in the UK. As we see a general election bring our party leaders into another round of using trans people as political point scoring – trans pride remains ever important.”
“London trans pride has given me so much. It’s been an important moment of strength gathering for me, as I continue on my journey towards living truly, as myself,” musician and singer-songwriter Kae Tempest said. “Walking through London altogether, we can feel a deep sense of community, acceptance, shared pain and celebration that rouses the spirit and soothes the soul. To be able to encounter and affirm each other this way is beautiful and important. I am grateful to the organisers and to the community. It’s been more than a march for me these last few summers, it’s been a lifeline.”
Photographer Dani d'Ingeo was on hand to capture what went down on the day. Their photos show groups of friends smiling and relaxing in the sun (which made one of its vanishingly rare appearances this summer – God really said “trans rights!”); some incredible outfits, ranging from the fabulous to the tastefully understated, and an array of creative flags and placards. Just by looking at them, it’s clear that Trans + Pride was one of the vibiest days of the year.