Fighting for trans rights at Bristol pride

Socialist Party members at Bristol Pride, 14.6.18, photo by Mike Luff (Click to enlarge)

Maddy Steeds, Socialist Party LGBT+ group

The biggest Bristol Pride yet took place on the 14 June. Following the attempts by anti-trans rights campaigners to hijack London pride, Bristol Socialist Party was out campaigning to support trans rights and fight for the rights of all LGBT+ people and oppressed groups in society.

Our message of supporting trans rights and fighting for the right to self-identify your gender was strongly supported by the crowd. Our material pointed out the need to build a united working class struggle as the way to ultimately end all forms of oppression.

500 leaflets were given out and one passerby said "I'm so glad to see you here after the events at London Pride".

On the day we sold badges and painted rainbows on people's faces in exchange for a donation. Over �50 was raised for the Socialist Party.

The depoliticisation of Pride has meant many people go to Pride to party rather than protest. However our success in Bristol shows that people at Pride are open to socialist ideas and see the need for Pride to be political.

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.