Cardiff Trans Pride – support for our socialist ideas
John Williams, Cardiff Central Socialist Party
300 people attended Trans Pride in Cardiff.
Socialist Party member and PCS Proud delegate, Eilonwy Awen, spoke. She mentioned how the Supreme Court ruling that is being used to attack trans rights didn’t actually consult a single trans person. She also said how capitalist institutions will never give minority groups their full rights.
She said: “Starmer’s Labour government does not represent our interests. Fighting for our rights means building an independent, workers’ party, rooted in the trade unions. Such a party could unite workplace struggles with the movements for trans and non-binary rights, women’s rights, racial justice, and environmental protection – providing a socialist alternative to the capitalist profit system.”
She called for “the nationalisation of the 100 largest banks and corporations in Britain, which dominate the economy. This nationalisation must be carried out under democratic workers’ control and management, laying the foundation for a democratically planned socialist society.
“With society’s vast wealth and resources under the democratic control of the working class, we could plan to meet the needs of all, ending the chaos of capitalism, the divisive ideologies it fosters, and the daily misery and oppression it sustains.”
It was clear that there were no illusions in Labour. All the speakers criticised the Labour’s decision to block puberty blockers, and the government using the Supreme Court ruling to attack trans rights.
Representatives from the Unite Wales LGBTQ+ committee were there. Delegates from PCS Proud were there too. They have been battling the leadership of their civil service union leaderships to fight for trans rights.
The Socialist Party had a stall. We called for the right for self-identification, and for a new workers’ party, where LGBTQ+ people can organise for their own liberation, through fighting capitalism and profit.
Many speakers alluded to this too. Cardiff Trans Pride is proudly non-commercialised.
Carnival atmosphere at Leicester Pride
Tessa Warrington, Leicester Socialist Party
Leicester Pride had a carnival atmosphere. But many still wanted to discuss socialist ideas. Socialist Party members were out in support with two campaign stalls. Young people had a great reaction to our leaflet building for a walk out against Donald Trump’s visit on 17 September.
The queue for entry to the event was slow. While they waited, people took our socialist campaign material, and read it immediately.
Many were aware of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s ‘Your Party’ announcement. We raised the role a new party built on the trade unions could play in fighting the far right and for LGBTQ+ rights, and for the whole working class.
