Pride in London cites ‘hot weather’ for anti-trans group being allowed to lead parade

Pride in London is blaming “hot weather” and “safety” for its decision to allow anti-transgender protesters to lead the city’s Pride march.

The annual Pride march today was set to be led by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and NHS staff, but it was hijacked by an anti-trans group who led forced their way to the front of the parade.

The group, organising under the Twitter hashtag “#GetTheLOut,” numbered about 10 people and were permitted to take the prime slot on the march by organisers after a brief negotiation when they had physically blocked the march from taking place.

PinkNews filmed live from the scene and were able to report that the group led the march all the way to Trafalgar Square, uninterrupted, while handing out transphobic leaflets.

Other groups marching were quick to condemn Pride in London for the lapse.

LGBT+ Lib Dems. Chair Jennie Rigg said “I am appalled that transphobic protesters were allowed to lead the march and the crowd asked to cheer them on. This is a betrayal of the thousands marching. The Pride organisers should resign and offer a full apology.”

In a longer statement subsequently posted to their Facebook she added “Allowing them to continue, betrays the LGBT+ communities by sowing division and hatred at an event aimed at fostering inclusion, love and pride.

“Lib Dems are committed to preserving and extending rights for trans people.”

A statement from our chair, @miss_s_b re @PrideInLondon.

“I am appalled that transphobic protestors were allowed to lead the march and the crowd asked to cheer them on. This is a betrayal of the thousands marching. The Pride organisers should resign and offer a full apology."

— LGBT+ Lib Dems (@LGBTLD) July 7, 2018

In an initial statement to PinkNews, Pride in London had claimed the parade “set off as planned.”

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