Glastonbury Pride

15/02/2024

Consultation closes on 12th March. If you have time to respond, please do!

‘Gender Questioning Children: Non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England’. Information and support on how to respond to the consultation

13/02/2024

Right now, we need to talk about what’s happening in Parliament as Speaker Lindsay Hoyle MP has invited Ugandan Parliament Speaker Anita Among, a staunch advocate of Uganda's draconian "Anti-Homosexuality Act", to attend the upcoming Commonwealth anniversary. The 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth must not be used to defend such a regressive and harmful law. That's why local activists are asking Speaker Hoyle to rescind the invitation immediately.

Help stop the promotion of Uganda's Anti-LGBT+ Law in the UK. Act now!

10/02/2024

Let's hope some of the lucky dragon vibes rub off on 2024.
It's the year of the wyvern for us, but that is every year!

09/02/2024

I was always told as a child that sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me. It’s a refrain we all know from well meaning parents, teachers and others. In some ways it is true. In an immediate physical sense it is obvious, but words hold power. They shape our very understanding of the world we live in.

I remember reading Brian Friels Translations and the line that really hit me was delivered by Lieutenant Yolland

“I may learn the password but the language of the tribe will always elude me.”

Language not only describes reality but holds intrinsic cultural and political meanings that aren’t always immediately apparent. There are other ways of using language and words to infer meanings and intent that aren’t immediately obvious to those without the appropriate Rosetta Stone.

The UK right now feels ever more tribal, a country split down hard dividing lines which have been entrenched and fortified over the last decade. Language particularly has been utilised to create, exploit and divide what is called the United Kingdom more than ever it feels like the disunited kingdom.

Theres always been a clear North South divide there’s the old joke about to Londoners anything past Watford junction is The North. From where I am in the country, (the north Manchester) London and the great halls of power seem very distant and disconnected from much of the rest of the country.

It’s not often that a little northern drag queen like me is invited to parliament. It’s actually totally possible that it’s never happened. So you can imagine my suprise when I was invited to the Houses of Parliament to attend the LGBT History month reception by the speaker of the house Lyndsay Hoyle’s office.

Now if you follow me or know me you’ll know I’m not one for holding my tongue. I’m from up north and we call a spade a spade. Right now We live in a time where hate crimes against lgbt people and marginalised people has risen year on year. Last year alone hate crimes against lgbt people were up 41% for sexual orientation and 56% for trans people. The UK has slipped down the international rankings for lgbt rights year after year. All in all it’s been a bit naff watching it all unfold after so much progress had been made.

There have been improvements to the way that hate crimes are recorded but from the floods of messages I receive from people who have been attacked or abused they feel little confidence in police taking any kind of action so many don’t bother. To all those people I encourage you to report those crimes so we can have a fully accurate picture of what life is like for people.

I believe deeply in the power of democracy and even on my first visit to parliament as part of a young peoples outreach project at around 16 I challenged the MP as to why they felt it was appropriate that they had received a free education for their degree and people like me should have to pay for what was given to them. I was part of the first years of tuition fees being introduced and I am not sure that the prospect of leaving with mortgage levels of debt at 3% above RPI would not deter me, were I to go now.

I imagine you’re getting the feeling at this point that I’m not so keen on the current regime in charge of the UK? That would be a very fair and understated description of how I feel about our beloved leaders. So I felt it was only appropriate for me to accept this invitation in order to in my own way engage in the debate.

So I set to with a designer and dress maker I work with based in Manchester. The amazing Lynne McKay who we worked out back in the annals of history sold me my first pair of PVC trousers. We decided together to create a piece of protest that could be worn. We visited the fabric shop next door, bought 6 metres of white cotton. I took 4 while Lynne set to with the remaining two. We would have a base dress to support a sculptural structured outer piece. That outer piece would be covered in anti LGBT rhetoric from MP’s and commentators. It didn’t take long to find hundreds of headlines which I have to be honest I found deeply depressing. I set to with a biro and my smart phone. Writing out each headline across the four metres and then painting each of the letters indelibly onto the fabric in paint with my husband.

Words have power and those words spoken and written down have empowered people in their bigotry towards people just trying to live their lives. When ministers speak about LGBT people and frame us as a problem to be fixed or a debate of how we are allowed to live those with hate in their hearts are listening and they feel legitimated to act on that hate. Manchester which is known as an LGBT hub isn’t immune from those people. Local businesses have been targeted with smashed windows, violence and abuse. Even my mug hasn’t been spared. There’s a mural in the gay Village of my chops and that was sprayed with anti LGBT hate in 2021.

I wanted to take the words that MPs and ministers had sent out into the world to hurt and undermine our lives back to them in the only way I really know how. In a piece of art. A statement of defiance and of course I went as a red top. A veritable tabloid on legs.

The event was held in the speakers house a building filled with the imposing portraits of current and previous speakers looking down on those within. Its ornate, with beautiful plush carpeting and corniced adorned ceiling with large crystals chandeliers expansive mirrors detailed artisan woodwork and of course gilt everywhere. Thats what I felt in that space. Guilt. We are living at a time where people are struggling to heat and eat enough and here I am in my silly protest piece in my silly wig stood with all these other people. I rarely feel out of place in the way I did in that room. Deeply conflicted about the event itself and the economic and social environment we are living through.

It was lovely to meet inspiring and interesting people from across the LGBTQ+ family and our allies too. You might have noticed I’m politically engaged and I enjoyed speaking with and some light sparring (mostly rib tickling really) with some of the MPs and aids. I genuinely love meeting people and learning about their lives and who they are. Lots of pictures and a couple of orange juices (I’m on the no alcohol push atm mostly because my hangovers now last most of a week and I’ve got stuff to do) later there was an address and I was struck by the words Elliot Colburn chose to use about demonising or mocking trans people’s lives.

“It’s not a vote winner”

Not that’s it’s morally reprehensible, not that it’s cruel, not that much of the rhetoric is scientifically illiterate and factually incoherent. It’s doesn’t win votes. When parties are solely focused on winning votes they lose sight of their humanity and what is right and what is wrong. They lose sight of what their party is “supposed” to stand for. This is obvious to anyone with a basic understanding of what the two main parties are “supposed” to stand for. The conservatives rather than conserving British institutions and the rule of law have consistently attacked and broken both. Labour would be the party of the workers but are busy wining and dining corporate bosses and rowing back on infrastructure plans. At times it truly feels like we are through the looking glass and the Cheshire Cat is having a good old laugh at us all.

Angela eagle spoke next and said “We are the lgbt community and we never leave the T behind” I agree and more broadly as a country we shouldn’t leave anyone behind and we don’t need to. We can create a society where you can live your life freely and happily as your true authentic self whoever you are. We won’t get there through culture wars and fear mongering but through finding commonalities and respect for each others lives.

For the reception to have been held on the day Rishi Sunak used trans identity once again as a political punchline while the mother of Brianna G**y was to be in the gallery of the chamber shows how detached so many within that chamber are from the effect their words have. Politicians who play fast and loose with their words do hurt people. They are responsible for the rise in hate crime in all areas of our communities whether it be describing immigrants, disabled, the long term sick, gypsy and traveler people, religious people or LGBT folk as a problem to be fixed it feeds out into society and it turns out words really can hurt us.

29/01/2024

📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://glastonbury.nub.news/news/local-news/glastonbury-residents-gather-in-solemn-remembrance-of-holocaust-and-genocide-victims-218799?fbclid=IwAR2_rG9e68cFVv3aYTFjheVIlh3OOr_HKaCwz044FznhQCWxeXQ5qNDOsOI_aem_AZY0Lq9hePRw2e2DTZMt389v-dnbwRJA-9-FMUuWvGl-3ej3HVTrPNFabFYiKkT4wSM

People representing diverse backgrounds including the LGBTQ+ and Jewish communities, united to honour the memories of those lost.

27/01/2024

Let us never forget and always remember that, by the time they are at your door, it is too late. Do not remain silent. Do not be complicit in genocide or the othering of other human beings.

15/12/2023

LGBT content is being censored in Lithuania under the disguise of protection of minors. It's time for a change.

15/12/2023

Brenda Díaz, a Cuban trans activist, was detained and sentenced to 14 years in a men's prison after joining a peaceful protest. We ask the government for her just treatment and immediate release.

10/11/2023

Lavender Vespers, Glastonbury’s premiere LGBTQ+ cabaret night returns on Tuesday 14th November, 7pm at Queen of Cups Restaurant and Freehouse
Book your tickets here as space is limited:

Camp nonsense, some b***y songs, comedy and LGBTQ+ community.

07/11/2023

Glastonbury United Reformed Church & Community Space. will hold a Service to commemorate Transgender International Day of Remembrance 2023.

It will be on Sunday 19th November starting at 10.30 am. The names of the 5 transgender people who have died to that date will be read out in their memory.

There will be refreshments after the Service.

Please share this post. Thank you!

05/10/2023

Today we at Enajon we're accused of supporting paedophiles because we have a pride progress flag. Some places have it even worse than us. Please sign and share.

Stand with trans rights. Sign now to urge the EU to provide asylum for trans people facing persecution. Let's create a safe haven!

28/09/2023

I've now received three lots of transphobic stickers on my shop. This is no coincidence as no other shops were targeted and we have a progress flag flying. I am proud to support trans rights and, while this is scary, it also makes me more determined to continue to fight for trans rights and make Glastonbury Pride 2024 even bigger and better!

02/09/2023

Have you watched this yet? Currently on 4, Joe demonstrates why we all need Pride. Just funny and fabulous.

02/09/2023

Heartening to see this in Bristol after further transphobic stickers appear in Glastonbury. Solidarity always with our trans family.

19/08/2023

This is why we need Pride.

We had this sticker put on our window today. I have reported it as a hate crime as I believe we have been targeted due to our Pride flag and poster. I am disturbed by the weaponisation of feminism against trans people. I am a proud feminist, but I do not believe that we get rights by taking them from others. Rights are not pie; we can all have an equal share. We all rise together. No one is free until we are all free. Full solidarity always with the whole of the LGBTQAI community and with all oppressed peoples. We will not be cowed by haters.

04/08/2023

27/07/2023

Feeling very blessed this morning! Massive thank you to The mystic garden gallery & studio who’ll be donating a proceed of their sales of their “Pride of Glastonbury” products to Glastonbury Pride until 6th August. Please pop in and buy a mug and a coaster as a souvenir of the day. Thank you! 🙏🏾🙏🏻🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

26/07/2023

Thank you so much to our all amazing flag carriers who stepped-up to carry the Intercom Trust rainbow flag through Glastonbury town and up to the base of National Trust’s Glastonbury Tor on Sunday 23rd July! You helped to create such a strong visible, loud and proud presence during our march. Thank you for being so patient with the photo shoot too! We appreciate it took a while! The pics are amazing and you all helped to create that! Feel free to tag yourself if you see yourself in the pics and please credit Neil Juggins as the photographer when sharing the images! Thank you so much for volunteering your time and energy. It’s deeply appreciated and we look forward to seeing you again at Glastonbury Pride next year!

26/07/2023

Glastonbury Pride footage from Sunday 23rd July courtesy of Glastonbury Gabriel

Welcome to Glastonbury’s Pride Day March.I was invited yo film the days events and so at 12 Midday I turned up and this film is my record of the day which I ...

24/07/2023

Yesterday was just amazing. I feel so privileged that I was able to work with the fabulous local LGBTQ community to put on the incredible event which was . Looking forward already to next year's one! If you were involved in anyway, however small, thank you so much for supporting us. I know how much it meant to the community to see the enormous intercom flag winding up the high street and to feel the love and support, especially after the recent homophobic incidents in town. Let's wipe out hate here.

23/07/2023

Some photos from today.

23/07/2023

23/07/2023

Glastonbury Pride 2023
Walk to The White Spring route.

Yay! The weather is forecast to be dry!

Walk leaves the Market Cross at 1pm. Up the High Street. Turn right onto Lambrook Street into Chilkwell Street. Turn left into Well House Lane. Walk finishes at The White Spring. Afterwards please return into town via pavements. Not on the road. Thank you.

Have a safe and happy Glastonbury Pride everyone!