Our View on the Exclusion of Political Parties from Pride Events
- Pride in Labour
- May 13
- 2 min read
Updated: May 15
Trans activists and allies should be welcomed—not shut out of Pride events—especially when they are risking so much to create change within politics.
Pride in Labour is aware that four major Pride organisers (Birmingham, Brighton, London, and Manchester) have made the decision to ban political parties from participating in their events this year, with others likely to follow. First and foremost, we understand and respect the reasoning behind this decision. The anger with mainstream politics, particularly regarding the treatment of the LGBTQIA+ community - and trans people in particular - is justified.
However, we are also disappointed. Pride in Labour exists to challenge the Labour Party where it falls short in protecting LGBTQIA+ rights. While we are not formally affiliated with the Party, we carry its name - and that can be both a strength and a burden. We often face pushback from trans activists and allies who associate us with the national Party’s failings. We hear that, and we don’t dismiss it.
But we also believe that now, more than ever, solidarity is crucial. The rise in transphobia and the erosion of LGBTQIA+ rights demand broad, coordinated resistance. Excluding political groups that fight from within - groups like ours - risks isolating allies who are challenging the government from inside the system. It is also important to recognise the difference between the national Labour Party and local Labour activists who are pushing for change every day - through motions at Conference, letters to ministers, and by holding elected officials to account. These local groups are the backbone of the Labour Party, and the labour movement, and their work deserves recognition, not rejection.
Carrying the name “Labour” should not be a mark of shame - especially for those who are fighting to reform it. We urge Pride organisers and the wider community to not vilify those who are using their voices, their positions, and risking their memberships on a daily basis to demand better from the Labour government.
Pride was born as a protest. We stand with all those fighting injustice whether that is on the streets, in local communities, and within political parties.
About Pride in Labour:
Pride in Labour was established in July 2024 and we aim to act as an unflinching advocate for LGBTQIA+ people within the United Kingdom. We refuse to bow down to optics to try getting a seat at the table, and we believe that toeing the party line should never be a requirement to getting your voice heard. In April 2025, we helped organise the trans liberation demo in London, and we have consistently called out transphobia within the Labour Party with force. We are not affiliated with the Labour Party, and we do not support the direction they have taken on trans rights. We never have, and never will, stay silent on issues that affect our community.
Don't worry, trans activists and allies aren't being banned from Pride! Political parties are being banned, including Labour. Avowed enemies of the trans community should be banned, so there is no conflict here.
As individuals, you'll always be welcome at Pride events, but considering the 'labour' party's unquestioning acceptance of the cass/sullivan reports, as well as the supreme court decision, and the hideous transphobia of the ehrc, any groups representing them (as well as most of the other political parties) should be nowhere near these events. Pride is primarily a protest, and representatives (even if only in name) of the oppressing parties shouldn't be welcomed.
I understand and appreciate the ethics of your group, but as it stands, and contrary to your statement, carrying the name 'labour' should be a mark of shame. In past years, this wouldn't have been the case, but under starmer's regime, he's tarred every organisation carrying their name,…
Surely you can't have it both ways? by being "Pride in Labour", you're endorsing the party. if the Party continues to be hostile to LGBTQIA+ people, surely you can't have any Pride left in Labour? Surely the environment within Labour effectively excludes your opinion or even existence?
This statement is nice, interesting words. Can we see any concrete result on your work trying change the party stance?
From what we see the Labour Party is set on erasing all tentative by minorities to have basic equality.
Labour seems to be no different to the tories and other conservative parties on these issues and things get only worse.
Maybe show you bought some significant changes and after you can put a statement to be reintroduced into pride event. Currently people seems to consider you as no more than a PR branch of the Labour Party.
Super weak statement. If the party is starving the poor, attacking immigrants and going all out to erase trans people then it absolutely IS a mark of shame to bear the name Labour.
Having you meekly respond to the weekly transphobia from the party with a statement saying the party must do better will do nothing to actually help trans people. If people bearing the Labour name want to be welcome among the LGBT community then they simply have to do more than tut and shake their heads at the people causing the pain.
If you don't endorse the party's actions on the group you are supposed to represent then why are you affiliated at all? Because I can tell…