Trans and LGBTQ+ allies march through Southend city centre

Southend’s first ever trans rights protest took place on Saturday 17 May, as more than 250 people gathered in the city centre to march in defence of trans lives and freedoms.

The demonstration, organised by Transpire – Southend’s trans and LGBTQI+ network – began at Pier Hill at 11am, where attendees waved trans flags, held banners and marched peacefully up the High Street. The protest ended outside the Victoria Centre at noon, where speakers addressed the crowd.

The protest was organised in direct response to a controversial Supreme Court ruling in April, which declared that the words “woman” and “sex” in the 2010 Equality Act refer specifically to biological sex. The decision means that transgender women with a Gender Recognition Certificate can now legally be excluded from single-sex spaces, if the exclusion is deemed proportionate.

In speeches delivered outside the Odeon cinema, trans speakers described the real-world impact of the ruling, saying it had emboldened institutions and individuals to introduce exclusionary policies. Supporters and allies called on people across Southend and beyond to stand against discrimination.

A spokesperson for Transpire said:
“The Supreme Court decision was made without any input from trans people, and ignores the diverse reality of trans bodies and trans lives. It has resulted in an outpouring of anti-trans hate and widespread misunderstanding of our legal rights. Institutions such as Barclays Bank have announced policies banning trans women from their toilets. This threatens a form of segregation making life unliveable for our community. We just want to live peaceful lives like everyone else. We call on all institutions to stand firm in protecting our community from discrimination.”

Saturday’s event was one of more than 50 similar protests held across towns and cities in the UK since the ruling was announced.

After the march, attendees joined a reflective session to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), which is observed worldwide every 17 May.

A spokesperson for Southend Pride added:
“Southend Pride stands in solidarity with our Trans, Non-Binary, and Intersex siblings. We are an organisation that celebrates and fights for equality and inclusion for the whole LGBTQ+ community. When parts of the community are under attack, we will not be silent. Pride is, and always was, a protest. Until we are all equal, all safe, and included in society, we must stand together like we did today. We must challenge the government, the courts, and the media. We all deserve dignity, safety, the right to essential services, and health care. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Trans rights are human rights.”

The protest highlighted not only local solidarity, but also the wider growing concern across the UK over legal interpretations that many say undermine hard-fought rights for the trans community.