Marches, meet-ups and music for Trans Pride 2023

Trans people and their allies will come together on Saturday to highlight the continuing fight for trans rights around the world as well as uplift and affirm their existence.

The day of protest, meet-ups and parties marks the end of Trans Awareness Week, an awareness and celebration event to mourn members of the transgender and non-binary community who have lost their lives to transphobic violence.

It kicks off with a demonstration and march from College Green starting at 10.30am where there will be speeches and a mobile sound system to “show off trans joy and trans rage in all its beautiful, messy glory”.

This is followed by a ‘community day’ at the Station on Silver Street with arts and self-defence workshops and performances planned, as well as an after-party later on.

Organisers Trans Pride South West (TPSW) said their focus was to “platform the voices of our trans and non-binary community, giving space to express our experiences and needs as a community”.

 

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Posting on social media, TPSW said they decided to not invite political parties to the the morning’s march amid a growing anti-trans rhetoric in government.

“We have been shocked and disheartened to see a rise in transphobia within political parties in the UK, especially during the last year,” they explained.

“One of our aims as an organisation is to advocate for the rights of trans people, and we fundamentally disagree with trans rights being used as a political tool as we move towards next year’s general election.

TPSW added: “We cannot in good faith give a platform to people who are affiliated to political parties that are not fully committed to supporting the rights of trans and non-binary people in the UK.

“We still encourage individuals who are party members to attend our march and show their solidarity.

Bendy Wendy is a DJ and one half of duo Try Me – photo: TPSW

In the evening, young trans artist George Avill has carefully curated TPSW’s official after-party, with all of the profits going to gender-affirming healthcare fundraisers.

The night at Strange Brew will see a lineup of trans DJs and performance artists take to the stage including Blood of Aza, Biogal, Pond Floor, Bendy Wendy, ORDERLY ROOM and PET.

“Our lives aren’t platformed and our histories aren’t recorded but beyond this, the importance of community building is at the forefront of everything; knowing other people who understand the nuance of your situation saves lives,” they said.

“Even if we raised no money for the fundraisers at the events I know that they will always be worthwhile for the community that they build.”

For the full lineup of events, visit www.instagram.com/transpridesouthwest

Main photo: Rob Browne

Read next:

• Artist George Avill on Trans rights, Pride and their latest event
• Meet the group creating a community for Bristol’s queer people of colour
• Bristol’s first inclusive rugby team starring in documentary

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