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Reports: Pride gets political
Brighton
This year Pride in Brighton charged an entrance fee for the first time. This shocking act excluded many working class LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer) people on low incomes from sharing in what should have been an inclusive demonstration against discrimination.
The Socialist Party rejects the commercialisation of Pride and supports a free celebration of LGBTQ diversity and freedom.
On 13 August 2011, Socialist Party members took part in Brighton Pride parade alongside Queer Resistance, calling for 'pride not profit' and asking people to unite and fight the cuts. Impending cuts to public services and benefits will hit LGBTQ people particularly hard.
Also, with crisis comes scapegoating. 73% of respondents to the 'Count Me In Too' survey (a survey of LGBT people in Brighton and Hove) said that they had experienced abuse related to their sexual and/or gender identity in the past five years.
A Socialist Party stall at the entrance to the prohibitively expensive part of Brighton Pride collected 200 signatures on a petition to keep Pride free and sold 35 copies of the Socialist paper.
Beth Granter
Leeds
Pride celebrations can often be apolitical and dominated by commercial interests, but not so at Leeds LGBT Pride 2011. The trade union presence was strong and there were many young people and students protesting against cuts to LGBT services and rising homophobia and transphobia.
The parade through the city centre was joined by the 100-strong 'Don't Cut the Rainbow' contingent of local anti-cuts protesters, giving a resounding political voice to the festivities.
Socialist Party members proudly joined in the march and spent the afternoon talking with local workers, activists, trade unionists and young people about fighting the cuts and defending LGBT rights and services.
Dave Younger
Join us today!
Related links:
Brighton Pride 2012: anti-cuts group blocked
Brighton Pride: Anti-cuts bloc threatened and kettled
Pride march through City of York for the first time
Big march against the bedroom tax in Leeds
Pickets discuss coordinated strikes
Opposing the Bedroom Tax in Leeds
Brighton bin workers fight pay cuts - this time from the Greens
Brighton bin workers refuse to work after pay cuts revealed
Fight the attacks on NHS working conditions