Anti-trans protesters hijack and block Pride in London parade
The group were then allowed to march at the front of the parade while giving out anti-trans leaflets
A group of women blocked the Pride in London parade yesterday (July 7) to protest against transgender women.
Around eight women stormed the Pride march shortly after it began, forcing their way to the front before laying down in front of the parade.
Five of the women laid down on the road as another three dropped a banner over them reading: “Transactivism erases lesbians”.
The women, who carried another banner which read “Lesbian = female homosexual”, reportedly blocked the march for 10 minutes. One activist allegedly shouted: “A man who says he’s a lesbian is a rapist”.
Following brief negotiations, organisers of the parade offered the group a position at the front of the march, which was set to be led by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the NHS staff. Reports suggest the group led the march down to Trafalgar Square while distributing anti-trans leaflets.
According to reports, the flyers read: “The trans movement is… coercing lesbians to have sex with men. We firmly condemn this vicious form of anti-lesbianism disguised as progress.”
Pride in London organisers were criticised on social media for allowing the anti-trans group to march, but Pride in London claimed the group were allowed to move to the front of the parade due to the high temperatures.
A Pride in London spokesperson said: “Every year, Pride is attended by hundreds of thousands of people who demonstrate that Pride still matters.
“Given the hot weather and in the interest of the safety for everyone attending today’s event, the parade group was allowed to move ahead.”
They added: “We do not condone their approach and message and hope the actions of a very small number of people does not overshadow the messages of 30,000 people marching today.”
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told the Independent: “A small group at the front of the Pride in London parade were dealt with quickly and safely by event organisers at 1pm on Saturday. Police did not need to intervene. No arrests were made.”
The news comes after Peter Tatchell criticised the march restrictions on the Pride in London parade.