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Representing Pride in Surrey at the LGB Alliance Conference protest

Kel Finan-Cooke • Oct 22, 2021

Image credit: Press Association

It was an honour to represent Pride in Surrey at the LGB Alliance Conference protest on the 21st October 2021.


Myself and my colleague, Morgan Rise attended the protest from 9am until shortly after 5pm and the response we received from both passers by, fellow protestors and indeed the police officers assigned to oversee the protest was incredible.

It is clear to me that the vast majority of the public are unaware of the agenda of the LGB Alliance and we were met with confusion from the public as to why we, an LGBTQI+ Organisation were protesting. This allowed us to engage in many useful conversations and to explain to people the true agenda of the LGB Alliance and the anti trans rhetoric which they are famous for. The vast majority of the people we spoke to were horrified. 

It is clear to me that the conference had hate and lies at the heart of it's agenda on the day. Sir Peter Bottomley MP left the venue and came to tell myself and fellow protestors that he had learned that trans children were being sterilised as part of their treatment. Despite our best attempts to counter his claims and explain the benefits of puberty blockers, he left us still firmly believing that what he had learned at conference was fact. The dangerous ramifications of such misinformation cannot be underestimated. When our elected representatives, the very people whom have a vote with regards to equal rights, believe the LGB Alliance is an organisation from which they can learn about the issues affecting our trans community, we are in very deep trouble indeed. 

People of note who spoke at this conference included; Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, Rosie Duffield MP, Jackie Doyle-Price MP, Joanna Cherry MP and ex NHS CEO, Kate Grimes. When people with this level of power and influence are attending the conference of a known hate and exclusionary lobby group, we have a very serious issue in the UK. 

The LGB Alliance is a very dangerous group, existing solely to campaign for the erasure of, and spreading misinformation about our beautiful trans community. 

Pride in Surrey stands with and in support of our trans, non-binary and intersex siblings. We will counter misinformation wherever we find it, we will work tirelessly to ensure rights are not rolled back and we will campaign fiercely for and on behalf of our community. 

It was heartening to see so many protestors attend on the day. Attendees included members of the trans community, trans rights action groups, representatives of organisations such as ours and many, many allies, I know that there is real, true and passionate support and understanding of the issues being faced by our trans community. It is up to us to keep pushing forwards for trans rights, to ensure no member of our community is left behind and to support those whom are suffering at the hands of groups such as the LGB Alliance. 

There is no LGB without the T.

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