London’s LGBTQ+ community and allies are invited to join the protest, to be held at 3 pm on Sunday, 1st October, at Parliament Square. The organisations call on the UK government to drop its concerning anti-LGBTQ+ agenda and stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and refugees in response to comments made by Home Secretary Suella Braverman

PRESS RELEASE:

Friday, 29th September: Pride in London, in collaboration with African Rainbow Family, today announces the organisation of a protest against this government’s anti LGBTQ+ rhetoric and measures, and in solidarity with LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and refugees. The protest will take place on Sunday, 1st October, in London’s Parliament Square at 3pm. 

Sunday’s protest comes in light of dehumanising comments made earlier this week by Home Secretary Suella Braverman at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington DC, which argued that facing discrimination or persecution based on sexual orientation should not qualify refugees for asylum. Pride in London strongly condemns these comments, which target and make scapegoats of the LGBTQ+ community, undermine the very real plight faced by LGBTQ+ people seeking asylum, and call into question this government’s commitment to upholding human rights and inclusivity. 

Globally, there are 64 countries in which being part of the LGBTQ+ community is criminalised, and attacks on LGBTQ+ rights continue to rise at an alarming pace. As signatories of the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1998 Human Rights Act, the UK holds the responsibility to provide sanctuary and protection to those facing serious discrimination, persecution or loss of freedom in their home countries.

Moreover, the comments are the latest in a series of alarming anti-LGBTQ+ measures and stances taken by the current government, and come as the government looks set to abandon a ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ people in the UK. 

A spokesperson for Pride in London said: 

“Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s remarks impinge on fundamental LGBTQ+ rights and dignity. We cannot stay silent when a senior government official promotes such harmful views.

We are calling on London’s LGBTQ+ community and allies to join us at the protest. By turning up in force, we can send a powerful message to Suella and the government that they cannot trample LGBTQ+ rights. Together, we can make our voices heard.”

More information on the protest can be found at Pride in London and African Rainbow Family’s social media pages: 

Pride in London

Instagram: @prideinlondon

Twitter/X: @prideinlondon

African Rainbow Family

Instagram: @ africanrainbowfamily

Twitter/X: @AfricanRainbow1