Trans rights activists planned to take to the streets of central London this weekend to demand trans rights and resist the Tories’ vicious attacks on transgender and non-binary people. On Saturday Trans+ Pride will march for the fifth year under the slogan, “Pride is a protest”.

Last year’s pride coincided with a march on the US embassy for abortion rights. The radical protest saw over 15,000 march through central London last year to demand an end to trans conversion therapy and for better health care for trans people. 

Since last year the Tories have blocked legislation in Scotland that would have made it easier to transition. Rishi Sunak blocked the Gender Recognition Reform Bill in an unprecedented move. 

No Westminster government has ever before blocked legislation that had passed through Scotland’s parliament in |Edinburgh.

And the murder of trans teenager Brianna Ghey demonstrated the deadly consequences of the Tories’ rampant hatred. But the outcry at the attacks sent a clear message to the bigots. 

Massive protests and vigils in towns and cities across Britain showed resistance to vile transphobia. And they also demonstrated broad solidarity with trans people.

That anger should be on the streets again. The Tories’ transphobia looks to divide ordinary people and act as a distraction from their miserable failings.

Trans+ Pride in 2022 was joined by GMB, NEU and Unison union delegations with banners and by a NEU delegation the year before. And trade unionists plan to join the pride again as part of a trade union bloc. Branches in the RMT, UCU, NEU Unison and St Mungo’s strikers have backed the bloc.

This year’s Trans+ Pride should march in the radical footsteps of the previous demos. 

Each year has been bigger than the last, with marchers celebrating their identities, raging at the Tories and making very clear that pride is a protest.

Join London Trans+ Pride at 1pm in Trafalgar Square, London WC2N