‘We’re all ready to fight back and stand together’: 7 LGBTQIA+ people on how Pride feels different this year

By Honey-Jane Wyatt

Tate Smith, trans activist and speaker

“I can’t help but feel like nobody wants to talk about Pride or show up for the LGBTQIA+ community right now because we’re too ‘controversial’. And that’s heartbreaking: to have my identity reduced to a single word.

Since the DEI backlash began in the US, and with the recent Supreme Court ruling, it’s felt like the UK has followed suit. Language is shifting. People are afraid to speak up. We mustn’t be ignorant of the fact that societal attitudes and public feelings are incredibly contentious right now.

Instead of asking about my coming-out journey, they’re now asking what basic terminology means.

In conversations with friends and strangers, many have forgotten that it’s Pride month either innocently — because they think the celebrations start during the July marches — or because it’s gone silent. What felt like virtue signalling has now turned to radio silence which makes me wonder as to whether others truly supported my community at all.

Still, I have hope that Brits are tolerant and liberal enough to see the hostility, particularly in the media, for what it is and say: ‘I don’t know a trans person, but this hatred against just 0.6% of the population isn’t right.’ And then hopefully, they’ll show up — and then some.

I predict we’ll see an influx of allies as we move towards London Pride in July and Trans Awareness Week in November. I’ve been deeply moved by strangers I’ve met who’ve challenged their mates or workplaces on how they’re showing up for the community right now, and that is keeping me going. Active, not performative, allyship is what we need right now.”