Tens of thousands marched from Langham Place to Trafalgar Square for London Trans+ Pride, held against the backdrop of new EHRC guidance stating single-sex spaces should be based on biological sex. Organisers and speakers emphasised visibility, dignity and the need to protect transgender voices. Notable attendees included Yasmin Finney, Iz Hesketh, Jack Remmington and Juno Dawson, while the BBC sought, and the police said they did not hold, a formal attendance count.
Tens Of Thousands March In London Trans+ Pride Amid New EHRC Guidance
Organisers described the political backdrop to this year's march as "stark" [PA Media]
Tens of thousands of people marched through central London for this year’s London Trans+ Pride, setting off at 13:00 BST from near BBC Broadcasting House on Langham Place and finishing in Trafalgar Square.
Eva Echo (left) said being at the march was "cathartic" [BBC]
Political Context
Organisers described the political backdrop as "stark" after new guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), published in May and approved by ministers, said single-sex spaces should be determined by biological sex. That guidance followed last year’s landmark Supreme Court ruling on the definition of "woman" under the Equality Act.
Simon said giving "validity" to the way people "present themselves is really important" [BBC]
Voices From The March
Speakers and attendees combined protest with celebration. Lewis G Burton, a founder of London Trans+ Pride, said the event exists to "remind people that we are not headlines, culture war talking points or distractions from society's real issues, we are human beings."
Ansar (left) said transgender people "deserved the same respect" as others [BBC]
"By being proud, we allow other people to discover and express themselves in authentic ways," said Alex Palumbo, a registered mental health nurse who attended the march.
Other participants described the march as cathartic, joyous and an essential platform for visibility. Eva Echo said mainstream media were not giving transgender voices enough space, and the march was a way to be heard and to remind the public that trans people have always existed. Simon, who runs a support group for LGBT people with prostate cancer, said he marched because attitudes toward part of the community had become "malevolent" and validation of people’s presentation is "really important."
Notable figures expected at the event included Heartstopper actress Yasmin Finney, Tip Toe star Iz Hesketh, TikTok personality Jack Remmington and author Juno Dawson. The BBC requested attendance figures from organisers, and the Metropolitan Police said it did not hold that data.
Conclusion
The march ended with speeches in Trafalgar Square calling for respect, legal clarity and greater representation. For many attendees it was both a political response to recent guidance and a celebration of community, resilience and visibility.
Help us improve.
