The Liberal Democrats are not having it—after being booted from the UK’s biggest Pride marches alongside political heavyweights like the Conservatives and Labour, the party’s LGBTQ+ wing is up in arms. The drama unfolded after Pride organisers in Birmingham, Brighton, London, and Manchester released a fiery joint letter banning all political parties until they can prove they’re true allies to the trans community. Translation: put up or shut up.
The letter—sparked by outrage following the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that slashed trans women from the definition of “woman” under the Equality Act—called for concrete reforms. These include making trans healthcare accessible, reforming gender recognition laws, and ensuring sustainable support for trans-led services. And, importantly, it demanded parties advocate visibly and vocally for trans rights. Anything less? “Abandonment,” the organisers said.
The LGBT+ Liberal Democrats didn’t take the snub lightly. “We’re sickened to be lumped in with anti-trans parties,” they fumed in a statement, insisting that they’ve earned their stripes. “We’ve been leading on LGBT+ rights for decades,” they added, claiming their track record far surpasses the others. And while they agreed that parties should earn their spot at Pride, they felt they had already done the work. The group called for “constructive dialogue” so they can sashay back in style—unlike parties they say should be “left in the past where they belong.”
But here’s the twist: Lib Dem leader Ed Davey and the party’s official reaction to the Supreme Court ruling was, well… lukewarm. While Ed said he supports the “clarity” the ruling brings and repeated that “trans women are women,” critics weren’t dazzled. Davey stopped short of outright condemning the decision or supporting the right of trans people to use gendered spaces aligned with their identities. Meanwhile, equalities spokesperson Christine Jardine accepted the ruling but admitted it caused “worry and confusion,” demanding clearer guidance.
Now the community is asking: what happened to that old Lib Dem sparkle?
The silence from party leaders over the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s post-ruling guidance—suggesting trans people could be banned from gendered spaces—is also speaking volumes. The LGBT+ Lib Dems branded that guidance a “politically motivated, homophobic, and transphobic assault,” but the top brass have yet to make a strong rebuttal. For a party with an inclusive manifesto that promises to recognise non-binary identities and remove barriers for trans people, their current ambiguity is making Pride organisers—and the broader LGBTQ+ community—side-eye.
Let’s be real: allyship isn’t a branding exercise. You don’t get a pass just because your past voting record sparkles. True solidarity means showing up, speaking up, and fighting back—especially when the courts and commissions are trying to legislate people out of existence.
Until then, the Lib Dems might want to practice their parade waves from the sidelines.