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London has overseen countless history-making LGBTQ+ moments in its time, from the UK’s first ever gay rights demonstration in 1970 and Britain’s first ever Pride March in 1972 right up to last weekend, when London hosted the biggest ever trans pride event.
On Saturday, July 26, more than 100,000 people showed up to march through the capital in the name of trans+ rights, beating London’s previous world record of 60,000 and making it the largest trans pride event ever.
The crowd started at Langham Place and proceeded towards Parliament Square Gardens where activists and allies, including ‘Heartstopper’ star Yasmin Finney, delivered impassioned speeches calling out transphobia, demanding a ban of conversion therapy, funding for gender-affirming healthcare and greater allyship.
London Trans+ Pride began in 2019 as a grassroots alternative to the more commercial Pride marches that happen in London over the summer. Lewis G Burton (they/she), one of the founding members of the movement, said: ‘It was an emotional and powerful day. At a time when the Supreme Court is making sweeping decisions about trans people without consulting a single trans person or organisation, and when a small, well-funded lobby of anti-trans campaigners continues to dominate headlines and waste public resources, our community came together to show what real strength, solidarity and care looks like.’
In her speech, Yasmin Finney said: ‘Our existence is not new. We are ancient. We are sacred. And we are part of the timeless human story of becoming who we truly are.’
Here’s what trans joy and resistance looked like at Saturday’s Trans+ Parade.
LGBTQ landmarks in London you can visit.
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