Proposed Pride march could be alternative for ‘fed up’ lesbians this summer

Pride in London is set to happen on Jun 29 this year, celebrating diversity and inclusivity – ZEFROG/ALAMY

Women’s rights campaigners are planning to hold an alternative march for lesbians this summer because they no longer feel represented at London’s official Pride celebrations.

Jenny Watson, the organiser of the event, claimed the capital’s Pride parade has become dominated by the transgender movement and men indulging in sexual fetishes.

She claimed that those in charge of London Pride have made it clear that “gender-critical” women who disagree with the idea of men identifying as female being classed as lesbian are unwelcomed.

Ms Watson, a lesbian herself, also claimed women now feel uncomfortable at Pride marches due to the growing presence of men wearing “hypersexualised” outfits such as bondage gear.

The 32-year-old said: “I’ve been going to London Pride since I was 18 years old and it used to be a family day out, but I wouldn’t bring my children there now it’s become so hypersexualised.

“One of the things that convinced me to stop going is the year before last when one of the floats was basically a bus full of men wearing leather straps with balls in their mouths.

“Women are not happy with these sorts of displays, but they know if they complain they’ll be told they’re being prudes.

“The Pride committee are also of the view that heterosexual men who identify as women can fall under the definition of lesbian and therefore, gender-critical lesbians are not welcomed.”

Ms Watson said a growing number of lesbians had now become so “fed up” with modern-day Pride celebrations that they decided to hold their own alternative event on the same day this year, June 29.

They hope to begin their parade at the statue of Millicent Fawcett, the suffragette leader in London’s Parliament Square.

“We just want our march to be a positive celebration for lesbians,” Ms Watson added. “We don’t want it to be an event like Pride has become full of straight men with sexual fetishes.”

Plans amid rising protests

The plans come amid rising protests among lesbians against trans women, who were born male, claiming to be the same as gay women and demanding access to their spaces.

Ms Watson has made previous attempts to counter this trend with speed dating events and plans to open a lesbian bar that only admits biological women.

She told how her lesbian dating nights often had men who said they were female turning up and on one occasion there was an individual who arrived “sporting a purple latex outfit and an erection”.

Ms Watson said she has been subject to an onslaught of “transphobia” accusations for her female-only stance, but says she is merely trying to protect women’s spaces and rights.

Proposals to hold the lesbian parade have already begun gathering support.

Last night, Professor Kathleen Stock, who resigned from Sussex University after being targeted by trans activists over her gender-critical views, was among the supporters.

Prof Stock, who co-founded The Lesbian Project, an organisation focused on same-sex attracted females, said: “It’s a great idea to do something different.

“It’s been obvious for a long time that official Pride marches are unfriendly places for lesbians who reject trans activist dogma, and some lesbians are also uncomfortable with the constant emphasis on male sexual interests.”

‘Reclaiming women’s rights’

Prof Jo Phoenix, a lesbian academic who similarly has been vilified for her gender-critical views, said: “Back in the 80’s, I went on Lesbian Strength marches to show we existed.

“Now, we need to march to reclaim women’s right to define our own sexuality as exclusively same-sex attracted.”

There has been support for the alternative event on the social media site “X”, formerly Twitter, with one user commenting: “Yes, stand up against the erasure of sex and sexual orientation. I don’t want my sexuality erased from society either.”

Another supporter wrote: “This sounds great. Haven’t been to Pride for many years, but will definitely be up for this.”

However, others tweeted criticism of the event, with one detractor labelling it as a “transphobe parade”.

A second critic suggested: “Why not all get-together and call it LGBB Pride? The Bigot tacked on the end will help the right people identify which march to join.”

Pride in London have been contacted for comment.

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