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BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Oxford and Newbury Prides ban political parties from attending
Two Pride events have banned political parties from attending in response to what they call "growing inequalities" faced by transgender and Newbury Prides, which campaign for LGBT rights, said while any individual may come along, they were not allowed as part of a party and could not wear party follows similar bans at the Birmingham, Brighton, London and Manchester moves were prompted by a Supreme Court ruling in April, which said the term "woman" in the Equality Act was defined by biological sex. The decision was welcomed by some campaigners representing lesbian, gay and bisexual people, who said it protected single-sex others raised concerns about the impact on the trans community."Pride is a space for community, solidarity, and protest, not political promotion," the organisers of Oxford Pride said."We must keep the focus firmly where it belongs: on the growing inequalities and targeted attacks faced by our trans siblings here in the UK." But Oxfordshire Liberal Democrat member James Bliss said "grouping all political parties together" was unfair."The only way that we reverse the recent tide against trans rights is to fight back where it matters and where we can, which is in party politics," they Brookes, vice chair of Newbury Pride, said the lack of action against the Supreme Court's ruling by the government and other political parties was significant."Political parties in general have in recent years demonstrated no more than lip service to support for the LGBTQIA+ community," she said. 'Flags and banners' In the wake of the ruling, a Labour Party spokesperson said it gave "clarity and confidence for service providers" but that "we will continue to protect the trans community"."The laws to protect trans people from discrimination and harassment will remain in place, and trans people will still be protected on the basis of gender reassignment—a protected characteristic written into Labour's Equality Act," they case was brought by a campaign group that argued sex-based protections for women should only apply to those who were born female, a position backed by the Supreme Court is the highest court in the land, and decisions made there cannot usually be Ms Brookes wants the laws about which the court was deliberating to be rewritten to explicitly include transgender women."They come and wave flags and banners," she said of politicians. "But we're done with the pink washing. We want actual action." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Welcoming' town to host its first ever pride event
A town's first pride festival will show it to be "inclusive" and "welcoming", the event's organiser has said. Thame Pride, celebrating celebrating the Oxfordshire market town's LGBTQ+ community, is due to take place on 21 June. A so-called pride village will be erected in the town centre, complete with stalls and a main stage hosted by drag queens. The event's director David Dawson said the "exciting" event would have "fun for all the family". "We are an increasingly diverse town, we are a very inclusive town full of welcoming people." "The point of pride is to demonstrate that publicly and say 'yes, this is who we are as a town - we're a welcoming town to everybody, it doesn't matter who you are'," he added. The first group announced to play the event is the London Gay Men's Chorus (LGMC) - of which Mr Dawson is a member. The LGMC is the largest gay choir in Europe, and has previously featured on Comic Relief, The Graham Norton Show and Top of the Pops. Mr Dawson, who is a town councillor, added that local artists would also feature on the billing for the festival which will be free to attend. "Thame, and the surrounding villages as well, is just jam-packed full of really good talent," he said. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. The Vivienne was true talent, says pride organiser Weekend festival to be town's first Pride event Thousands gather for Oxford Pride 2022 Thame Pride
