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

Pride London

Trade unionists must fight for LGBT rights

Pride 2003: Fight The Bigots And Bullies

Pride Or Profit?

Campaigning at Leeds Pride

Pride, prejudice, fightback and hypocrisy

Leeds:

Leeds North West Socialist Party: Perspectives for the USA (including Occupy)

Leeds North West Socialist Party: Greece and the Eurozone crisis

Leeds City & Bradford Socialist Party: The national question and the Scottish referendum

Leeds City & Bradford Socialist Party: A socialist plan for green energy

Brighton:

Brighton Socialist Party: The psychological and social effects of capitalism

Brighton: PCS conference - Socialist Party public meeting

Brighton Socialist Party: 1918 - 1921, the Russian civil war

Socialist:

Bristol Central Socialist Party: Art and Politics

Bristol Central Socialist Party: The role of the monarchy in capitalist society

Southampton Socialist Party: Greece - how would a workers' government stabilise the economy?

Cuts:

Bristol East Socialist Party: There is an Alternative

Demo against cuts at Salford university

Walthamstow Socialist Party: France - Greece - Austerity rejected!