London Trans+ Pride march to end in Trafalgar Square for first time
London Trans+ Pride begins at Langham Place at 1pm on Saturday (25 July) before ending in Trafalgar Square
By Callum Wells
London Trans+ Pride will end in Trafalgar Square for the first time when it returns to central London on Saturday (25 July).
Organisers announced the new finishing point during the event’s press launch on Friday, describing it as a milestone for the UK’s largest trans pride march. More than 100,000 trans people and allies are expected to take part under this year’s theme, ‘Our Future, Our Fight’.
The announcement was made by London Trans+ Pride founding member Lewis G Burton at Joiners Heart in Hackney.
“Due to our growth, I am pleased to share some news with you all – for the first time, we are going to be ending our march at Trafalgar Square,” Burton said.
The London Trans+ Pride press launch was attended by Green Party leader Zack Polanski
“100k trans+ people and our allies will be descending on one of the most recognisable landmarks in the UK, and taking up that space audaciously.”
The move comes as London Trans+ Pride prepares for its eighth march, following last year’s event, which organisers said attracted more than 100,000 people.
The press launch was attended by Green Party leader Zack Polanski, musician Romy, Hackney mayor Zoë Garbett, Bambie Thug and stars from Tip Toe, Sex Education and What It Feels Like For A Girl.
The launch came days after the government confirmed the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s revised Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations will come into force on 5 August following the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on the definition of sex under the Equality Act 2010.
“It is wildly dangerous to see ourselves as ideas, not people” – model and activist Rain Dove
Much of the panel discussion focused on the impact the ruling and updated guidance could have on trans people.
Model and activist Rain Dove said attempts to police access to single-sex spaces would affect far more than transgender people.
“I did a social experiment where I lined up five people and asked the public to identify which toilet each individual should use. No one got it right,” they said.
“It is wildly dangerous to see ourselves as ideas, not people.”
“At London Trans+ Pride next week we must lean into everything we feel” – Tip Toe actor Shakeel Kimotho
Tip Toe actor Shakeel Kimotho added: “It’s so much bigger than us, this is an everybody problem – our fathers with long hair, our mothers with short hair, we are being scapegoated.
“At London Trans+ Pride next week we must lean into everything we feel – be able to simultaneously hold joy and grief and revel in each other’s incredibleness!”
London Trans+ Pride begins at Langham Place at 1pm on Saturday before ending in Trafalgar Square for the first time in the march’s history.
Visit the London Trans+ Pride website for more information.