Join us today!
Printable version
Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/912/23332
From The Socialist newspaper, 10 August 2016
Leeds Pride 2016: Pride must be political!
Leeds Pride, photo Leeds Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
Maddy Steeds, Leeds Socialist Party
Leeds Pride is the biggest free Pride event outside London and is an important place for the Socialist Party to show our support to the LGBTQ community. Our petitions called on the NHS to fund HIV preventative drug PrEP and were met with enthusiasm, particularly from people who currently take the drug but have to pay £400 for it.
We also had good discussions with people signing our petition, many of who saw that cuts to the NHS were part of the reasons PrEP is not being funded.
On the march itself we were met with support from the trade unions and towards the end we set up an alternative stage to allow people the opportunity to talk about why they are marching and about the battles still facing the LGBTQ community.
Our stage was well received and we had some people come up and say a few words on the open mic (and in one case sing a song). It was good to see that a large number of people also agreed that Pride needs to be political.
Our intervention was important as we were the only group campaigning on an LGBTQ specific issue and highlighting that equality for the community is still far from won.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 10 August 2016:
#KeepCorbyn
#KeepCorbyn: stand firm for socialism
Liverpool: Corbyn slams "politics of the elite"
Wallasey Labour meet in resistance to the Blairites
Mood for unity but not with right-wing Labour infiltrators
Thousands attend Corbyn rally in Cornwall
Bristol: Jeremy Corbyn wins support from young people
Hull: Jeremy Corbyn rally the biggest for 20 years
Jeremy Corbyn attracts 1,000 in York
Socialist Party news and analysis
Fight to defend HIV drug victory
Privatised medical record chaos
Grunwick strike
Grunwick strike 40 years on - lessons of an epic battle
Socialist Party workplace news
Fawley strike defeats 'race to bottom' exploitation of migrant workers
Low paid cleaners declare victory after 58 days on strike
Samworth Brothers step up bullying and intimidation of workers
Communication Workers Union backs Jeremy Corbyn
HMY Radford shopfitters strike against penny-pinching company
South Wales NUM supports Jeremy Corbyn
2011 Riots
2011 riots: An outpouring of anger at the system
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Axe the Housing Act: 'We can't pay, we'll organise and we'll stay'
Great reception in Hackney for Chicago 'Black Lives Matter' socialist
South London #BlackLivesMatter protest marches on Downing Street
Leeds Pride 2016: Pride must be political!
Socialist Party comments and reviews
Sanctioned - a victim of government callousness
Food waste - the logic of capitalism
Home | The Socialist 10 August 2016 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook
2020