Trans Pride South West: ‘We are bigger and better than ever before’

One of the UK’s only dedicated trans pride events returns this November. This community-organised Trans Pride South West has grown tremendously in the past two years and is one of the largest trans-specific Pride events in England.

Trans Pride South West has a five-day programme and packs in events across the city. Its organisers say it’s important to, “create an opportunity for trans and non-binary people to build a community, connect, and access support and resources specific to trans people”.

With the support of LGBT Bristol, Stonewall, Bristol Pride, Don’t Tell Your Mother and the sponsorship of Burges Salmon and AVIVA, the small but dedicated team behind Trans Pride South West have produced an impressive array of events that include a gender workshop, socials, cabaret nights, clothing swaps and the important Trans Day of Remembrance vigil.

“This year, we are bigger and better than ever before,” co-organiser Spencer says, “and we have expanded our programme from just a weekend to a whole week of events.”

“We are particularly pleased to announce more collaborations than previous years, including a cabaret night with Thorny, a clothing swap with G(end)er Swap and a workshop with My Umbrella LGBT+,” Spencer adds.

The Pride event begins on Wednesday, November 21 with a vigil at the University of Bristol’s Anson Rooms to mark the Trans Day of Remembrance. This worldwide event is an important moment for sombre reflection – an opportunity to consider the violence and death inflicted on the trans community across the globe.

With an increasing number of Pride events across the UK, some question the importance of a trans-specific Pride event. But it’s a question the Trans Pride South West team have no trouble addressing: “With the current media climate, transphobia and transmisogyny continue unabated, particularly concerning reforms to the Gender Recognition Act (GRA), trans inclusion and support is more important than ever.”

“Trans people are sometimes overlooked in LGBT events,” Spencer says, “whether that’s regarding gender-neutral toilets or in terms of representation on Pride stages and event content. A separate trans Pride provides an important platform for trans people to be the central focus.”

Bristol, the team say, “is a fantastic city for Trans Pride” but it is “not free from transphobia and transmisogyny and could be more trans-friendly”.

Chief concerns for the organisers are the number of gender-neutral toilets in bar and clubs in Bristol and the better policies to better protect members of the community from discrimination and harassment during nights out. The “media portrayal of proposed reforms to the GRA have amplified” transphobia and transmisogyny, the team say.

Earlier this year, Bristol Women’s Voice, who helped found the Bristol Zero Tolerance pledge, co-signed the Bristol Trans Support Pledge in an important step to create cross-community support for the trans community in Bristol.

Trans Pride South West is held from Wednesday, November 21 to Sunday, November 25. For more details on the full programme and for ways to get involved, visit the Trans Pride South West website for more information. 

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