Wokingham Pride trustees and other supporters joined members and allies of the trans community in Parliament Square in London on Saturday to protest against increasing restrictions on, and hostility to, the rights of transgender and intersex people in our community.
“It was an incredible day’, said Imogen Shepherd-DuBey, who is a Trustee for Wokingham Pride.
“We estimate that 20,000 people filled Parliament Square, at just a couple of days’ notice, for a peaceful rally. We had so much support from members of the public”.
“Many people are very concerned about last week’s Supreme Court judgement, and how it’s being interpreted. It’s already been suggested that male police officers will be allowed to strip search trans women, and that trans women will be banned from taking part in grass roots women’s sport’, says Imogen Shepherd-DuBey, who is a Trustee for Wokingham Pride”.
“This is both cruel and unworkable. It’s often impossible to tell from looking at someone, whether they are trans or not. This could lead to any woman who is taller than average, or who dresses in an androgynous way, being strip searched by a male officer. And are we going to ask all women to have a chromosome test before they can take part in community sport? Will bearded, muscular trans men be expected to use women’s toilets?”
“As an out Lesbian, I have knowingly been around trans people all of my adult life. I have never had any issue with sharing toilets and changing rooms with trans women. The threat to women’s safety isn’t trans women. It’s predatory and violent men, and the current focus on trans women is a distraction from the real issues. Fewer than 3 in 100 rapes recorded by police result in a charge, let alone a conviction. This is what we should be looking at”.
“I’m very concerned about how the Supreme Court ruling will affect trans and intersex members of our community’, said Rachel Bishop-Firth, Chair of Wokingham Pride. “We need our government and our public bodies to look urgently at how they’ll be protected.
“I’m particularly concerned about how this will affect children and young people. I’m hearing from parents here in Wokingham, about how trans kids are often left struggling by years-long waiting lists for support, and the effects of the current toxic debate about trans issues”.
Wokingham Pride is fully trans inclusive. All members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community are welcome. Wokingham Pride will be held on Saturday 12th July 2025, and everyone who supports the aims of Pride are welcome to attend.
