Josie Shelley, Stafford Socialist Party
The sun was shining for Stafford’s third annual Pride event on 8 August. But beneath all the glittery and colourful costumes there was simmering anger and a feeling that LGBTQ+ rights are slowly being stripped away.
Socialist Party members and supporters held a very lively campaign stall outside the entrance to the event.
Many people were angry at the new guidance that has come in regarding same-sex spaces and being used to attack the rights of trans people. People thought that this was ‘just the beginning’.
At last year’s local elections, Staffordshire County Council fell under the control of Reform UK and they have certainly been making their presence known! We spoke to a Stafford librarian who had been ordered to dismantle a book display featuring LGBTQ+ authors and stories. Another council worker told us about how the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies were being stripped away.
We pointed out that all these struggles needed to be joined into a mass working-class movement against austerity, division and oppression.
All in all it was a fantastic stall where we raised almost £30 to aid our political fightback!
