This Friday, October 14th, at 8 pm, Queer Night Pride protesters will gather outside the LGBTQIA+ venue The Cock Tavern in Kennington – 340 Kennington Rd, London SE11 4LD – and march to Parliament Square. Facebook event page here
Official government statistics from 2021-2022 have reported a 41% increase in hate crimes against Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people and a staggering 56% increase in transphobic hate crime. Meanwhile, charity Galop reports that demand for their hate crime support services has grown by 19% in the last six months alone.
Speakers at Parliament Square include representatives from the Transprisoner Alliance, Muslim LGBT+ Network, Gay Liberation Front and The Rainbow Tree (the LGBTQIA+ Bangladeshi solidarity network).
Queer Night Pride told QX, “We cannot allow trans, non-binary and queer people in our communities to face such unchecked violence. WE FIGHT BACK. Queer night pride is a protest! Not a demand for equality. Not a demand for better policing. Not a demand for mere tolerance and acceptance.
We take to the streets for liberation, for queer revolution, not mere inclusion! We take to the streets for us and each other, stronger for our multiplicities. We refuse to conform, and we will not live in fear.
Everyone is welcome to join our protest against the new wave of brutal attacks against marginalised communities across the UK. We will meet all attacks with resistance and protest.”
“Queer Night Pride is vital to show solidarity to our LGBTQ+ comrades and elevate the voices of those under threat from hate.” – Ejel Khan, Muslim LGBT+ Network.
“The Rainbow Tree wants to create an online safe platform for the British Bangladeshi and for Bangladeshi queer community around the world. We believe that Queer Night Pride will work as a night bird to convey our message to our family, friends, community and society to stop hate crime consciously or unconsciously and to bring a glorious morning for the British Bangladeshi community and Bangladeshi queer community around the world. If you can’t love us, then don’t but stop hating us.” – Mazharul Islam, Rainbow Tree.
“These protests are really important to me, especially at the moment, with the ongoing culture war this government is waging. It’s important to me, as a trade unionist, as a feminist, and I feel a special duty to be here as a lesbian!” – Anita Downs, Trade Union Activist.
“Night pride is important to me as a transwoman in what was the greatest and queerest city in the world. Unfortunately, London is slowly beginning to manifest into a city of fear, anxiety and danger. Multinational corporations have stolen Pride from us and made a mockery of our proud community as they make virtue signalling an international sport, ignorant of the fact that Pride is a protest, not a party or celebration. We have much work to do to push back the onslaught of hatred from the right as we attempt to unite a divided left.” – Sarah Jane Baker, Transprisoner Alliance.
Insta @queer.night.pride
Queer Night Pride. Friday, October 14th at 8 pm – Meeting Point – Cock Tavern, Kennington, SE11 London, walking to Parliament Square by 9 pm. Followed by an after-party at Retro Bar, Soho.
