Medway Pride CIC, MGSD Centre, 331 High Street Rochester Medway ME1 1DA info@medwaypride.uk 01634 408668

PRIDE IS A PROTEST & A CELEBRATION

PRIDE IS A PROTEST & A CELEBRATION

PRIDE IS A PROTEST It is at times like we have today, in 2025, when we realise why Pride events are still needed. The UK has fallen to its lowest ranking on the ILGA-Europe’s ranking of the best and worst places to be LGBTQ+ in Europe – slipping from the number 1 position held a decade ago, to 22nd in 2025. The recent UK Supreme Court judgement on the Equality Act 2010 vs Gender Recognition Act 2004’s determination of biological vs legal sex was quickly followed by the UK’s Equality & Human Rights Commission publishing interim non-statutory guidance. These have been largely met with acceptance from the UK government and political parties, without much sign of push back or statements to support the equality rights of trans and intersex people.
Pride is a community This has led to calls for politicians to stand up and be counted as allies of the LGBTQIA+ community and to demonstrate they stand against the attacks on Trans and intersex people’s human rights. This has also led to calls for UK Pride event organisers and organisations to ban political parties from attending Pride events. Medway Pride CIC have always taken the approach that we are building connections across communities, connections with businesses and organisations, connections with Police, Fire & Rescue & NHS Services, and connections with local / national government representatives. This, of course, includes political parties who work to promote equality of access to services and work; safety from hate crime, homophobia and transphobia; and to protect individual’s human and civil rights.
Pride is a conversation To achieve the aims of those who fought for LGBTQIA+ civil and human rights, we need to talk to those with power and influence to Make Change Happen. We can all stand outside and demonstrate, shout and protest, and this has its rightful place in showing the government and those in power that they need to act to find a resolution to the problems causing concern. But to find that resolution, we need to be in the same space, the same room, talking to each other face-to-face. This is where I believe organisations like Medway Pride CIC have a duty to host these spaces, where these conversations can be had with those allies who can influence those in power to see the harm being caused by division and hate against minority communities like the trans and non-binary community.
Pride is a celebration It is for these reasons that Medway Pride CIC will continue to invite allies from all communities, so we can continue to build bridges and have influence in places we need those conversations to be had, and those concerns listened to. Pride is a Protest, a Celebration, and a Positive Force for LGBTQIA+ Human and Civil Rights. LET US BUILD BRIDGES, HAVE THE CONVERSATION, AND MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN. Hilary Cooke Chair Medway Pride CIC
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This website is managed by Medway Pride CIC to promote Medway Pride events and services for the LGBTQI

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