Hannah Chapman, Oxford Socialist Party
Thousands marched at Oxford Pride on Saturday 7 June. As the parade rounded the corner towards our campaign stall, bright flags, outfits and faces lit up the street as far as I could see. Despite the sham of the Supreme Court ruling being weaponised against transgender people looming large in the consciousness of many attending, today, people were out to celebrate.
The celebratory mood, however, did not mean people were averse to discussing the political realities facing them. We made it clear that we were here to put forward socialist ideas, selling our newspapers, while fighting for queer liberation and collecting money for the Birmingham bin workers’ strike fund. Encouragingly, most of the people we talked to were eager to express solidarity with words and donations, already aware of the need for organised working-class action and solidarity. Not everyone was immediately aware of the details surrounding the ongoing bin strikes; when it was explained they usually became supportive very quickly. We were able to raise £162.58.
Unfortunately, the political spirit of the attendees we spoke to has not been reflected by the Oxford Pride organisers who demanded that the event be strictly apolitical – despite being partly funded by companies supporting the genocide in Gaza and including the police on the march.
The solidarity between the miners and the queer rights activists in the 1980s – as depicted in the film Pride – is an inspiration for us all. It is disappointing that the organisers of Oxford Pride do not understand the need for political action and solidarity at an event celebrating queer liberation. Fortunately, the community I witnessed at this march was one hungry for change and willing to fight for it.
