Hundreds of people came together on Saturday for the annual Wokingham Pride.
Supporters gathered in Market Place before joining a march through the town centre to Elms Field.
Cllr Lou Timlin, town mayor of Wokingham, addressed the attendees and stressed the importance of the event, and how it has grown in just a few years.
A spokesperson for organisers told Wokingham Today: “Wokingham Pride is a true grassroots community event, and it comes together because of everyone who contributes towards it.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped make it happen – everyone who came along, ran a stall, performed on the stage, helped raise funds or acted as a marshal to keep the event safe.
“Wokingham town council kindly let us use Elms Field and have provided support through their community grants scheme which helps many local organisations support the community.
“We’ve had a number of other grants from local companies, discounted services and a very generous grant from an anonymous private donor which made the event possible this year.
“We’re incredibly lucky to have such a supportive community in Wokingham.“
The spokesperson added that, around the world, the rights of LGBTQ+ people are under attack.
“In Hungary, the government tried to ban Pride. In the USA, long-serving trans service personnel are being forced out of the military.
“Here in the UK, we have an imported anti-trans culture war, with homegrown attempts at ‘bathroom bills’ and book bans which would have been laughed down five years ago.
“This is why Pride is important, to allow the community to meet and show its support for a tolerant and inclusive community.”
Both Clive Jones and Woodley and Early MP, Yuan Yang, joined the event.
Clive told Wokingham Today: “I think Pride is a very important event for people to show that we are an inclusive society in Wokingham.”
Yuan added: “Pride is a celebration of our diversity and our strength as a community.
“It’s also a reminder that we still have progress to make.”
The Liberal Democrats in Wokingham collected more than 100 signatures on a petition to protect the rights of trans people in the UK.
The petition calls for the UK Government to amend the Equality Act 2010 to fully protect trans people, and to ensure that legal transition is recognised within this.
Lou is also the Liberal democrat councillor, and diversity officer for Wokingham liberal democrats.
She said: “We spoke to many people from the LGBTQ+ community at Wokingham PRIDE, as well as many allies who were visiting PRIDE to show their support.
“It’s clear that there is widespread support for our community members who are trans.
“People recognise that the proposed new guidance is completely unworkable. Not only does it do nothing to protect anyone’s rights, it runs the risk of causing harm to trans people.
“Over 100 people have signed our petition, including Wokingham’s MP Clive Jones.”
