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Views & News | Pride in Surrey
General Election: Here are the LGBTQ+ related policies quoted from the manifestos.
Pride in Surrey • 17 June 2024
Conservatives:
“We will complete the implementation of the Cass Review”
Protecting young people questioning their gender from ideologically- driven care and ensuring that NHS services follow evidence-based best practice. We have already stopped the routine use by the NHS of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria and will legislate to permanently prevent their private prescription and supply. We will amend the NHS Constitution so that it recognises every patient’s right to request single-sex accommodation and same-sex intimate care. We will not allow the word ‘woman’ to be erased by health services. Words such as ‘breastfeeding’ and ‘mother’ will not be replaced by ‘chestfeeding’ and ‘birthing parent’.
“Introduce primary legislation to clarify that the protected characteristic of sex in the Equality Act means biological sex”
This will guarantee that single sex services and single sex spaces can be provided, for example in healthcare and sports settings, to ensure women and girls are protected. We are clear that on fundamental matters of personal identity there should be one approach across the country, so we will also legislate so that an individual can only have one sex in the eyes of the law in the United Kingdom.
“Guidance for teachers on how best to support gender questioning students in schools and colleges”
Parents will have a right to know if their child wants to be treated as the opposite sex and schools will have to involve parents when it comes to decisions about their children.
“We are implementing the HIV Action Plan, which will end new HIV transmissions by 2030"
Green Party:
“Readily available tailored provision to meet the needs of communities of colour, children and adolescents, older people and LGBTIQA+ communities”
“A trained and paid counsellor in every school and sixth-form college”
“End new cases of HIV by 2030”
Green MPs will work towards no more HIV transmissions by 2030, advocating for a joined-up evidence based approach, including access to the HIV prevention pill online, in pharmacies and from GP services, and renewing successful opt-out HIV testing programmes in A&Es in all areas with a high prevalence of HIV.
“Campaign for the right of self-identification for trans and non-binary people”
Labour:
“Respect and equality for all”
Delivering opportunities for all means that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity. Labour will protect LGBT+ and disabled people by making all existing strands of hate crime an aggravated offence.
So-called conversion therapy is abuse – there is no other word for it – so Labour will finally deliver a full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, while protecting the freedom for people to explore their sexual orientation and gender identity.
We will also modernise, simplify, and reform the intrusive and outdated gender recognition law to a new process. We will remove indignities for trans people who deserve recognition and acceptance; whilst retaining the need for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria from a specialist doctor, enabling access to the healthcare pathway.
“Reducing health inequalities”
We are currently on the cusp of eradicating new cases of HIV. Labour will commission a new HIV action plan in England, in pursuit of ending HIV cases by 2030.
“Ensuring patient safety”
We will work to implement the expert recommendations of the Cass Review to ensure that young people presenting to the NHS with gender dysphoria are receiving appropriate and high-quality care.
Liberal Democrats:
“Support and encourage campaigns to improve equality, diversity and inclusion in sport”
“Champion the Human Rights Act and resist any attempts to weaken or repeal it”
“Respect and defend the rights of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, including trans and non-binary people”
“Upholding the Equality Act 2010, and making caring and care experience protected characteristics”
“Stand up to hatred”
Exposing and confronting the stereotyping, demagoguery and hate speech in public life and the media that inflames hatred and leads to spikes in hate crimes.
“Reform the gender recognition process to remove the requirement for medical reports, recognise non-binary identities in law, and remove the spousal veto”
“Improve diversity in the workplace and public life by”
Requiring large employers to monitor and publish data on gender, ethnicity, disability, and LGBT+ employment level, pay gaps and progression, and publish five-year aspirational diversity targets.
Reform UK:
“Change the Definition of Hate Crime”
The CPS and police definition of a hate crime has led to systemic bias. Members of the British public must not be investigated because ‘any’ person ‘perceives’ that a hate crime has been committed.
“Mandate Single Sex Spaces”
Public toilets and changing areas must provide single sex facilities.
“Review the Online Safety Bill”
Social media giants that push baseless transgender ideology and divisive Critical Race theory should have no role in regulating free speech.
“Leave the European Convention on Human Rights“
Commence reform of the Human Rights Act so that it puts the rights of law-abiding people first.
“Replace the 2010 Equalities Act”
The Equalities Act requires discrimination in the name of ‘positive action’. We will scrap Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DE&I) rules that have lowered standards and reduced economic productivity.
“Propose a Comprehensive Free Speech Bill”
Legislate to stop left-wing bias and politically correct ideology that threatens personal freedom and democracy.
This year’s Pride in Surrey marks the 5th anniversary of the event and takes place on 21st September in Guildford. The event will span throughout the day with a Parade through town and a park festival, celebrating Surrey’s LGBTQ+ community and showcasing its talent and joy. The Parade begins the day with a procession through Guildford High Street, before arriving in Stoke Park, where this year’s park event takes place.
Pride in Surrey now have two car park locations local to Stoke Park, which are now available to book for your all-day parking for Pride. Location 1: Guildford College Student Car Park open from 10am to 10pm on pride day for pre-booked parking only (This location is only for the use of Pride event parking and will be closed to the public) Location 2: Park & Ride Car Park at Guildford Spectrum Leisure open from 10am to 10pm on pride day for pre-booked parking only (This area of the leisure centre is only for the use of Pride event parking and will be closed to the public) Please note, the Spectrum Park & Ride service is suspended. Both locations are now available to book via our ticketing platform ‘OutSavvy’ for £5.50 for the day - booking button below. We recommend you get yours before they sell out
It has been a difficult week for us all following the news of the charges made against two former Pride in Surrey volunteers. Conversations have taken place between Pride in Surrey, Guildford Borough Council and other stakeholders about how the organisation, and this year’s Pride in Surrey event, go forward. Following these discussions, we have decided that this year’s Pride in Surrey event will go ahead on Saturday 21 September. Alongside our usual steps to safeguard our event, we are taking extra measures to ensure event-goers are protected. In particular, we have arranged for additional security around the event site. In previous years, our security have done an amazing job at ensuring our visitors have been safe, and this extra precaution will ensure that work will continue this year. Pride in Surrey marks an important date for Surrey’s LGBTQ+ community, acting as an opportunity for people to be themselves unashamedly and to call for the extension and protection of LGBTQ+ rights, which are under constant attack. To cancel an event that means so much to people would allow those who would weaken our community to win. We understand that many who have worked with us and attended our events over the years may feel uncomfortable attending this year’s event - we understand this. We hope to rebuild the trust that many have placed in us and will continue working to make Surrey a better place for LGBTQ+ people. We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received and would like to thank organisations and individuals who have reached out to us as allies. With a month until our event, we look forward to sharing more details about our plans for our upcoming event and we are continuing the hard work to ensure our visitors can come together for a welcoming, and most importantly, safe day.
Surrey is celebrating Pride Month with a variety of events and activities all over the county... from open mic nights to creative workshops to social groups, there is something for everyone to get involved in.
Pride in Surrey are excited to announce that they will be partnering with The Fallen Angel, Guildford’s only cocktail and cabaret bar, to bring the first cabaret stage to a Pride in Surrey event. Bringing comedy, outrage and amusement to Guildford every week with their fabulous cabaret nights, the award-winning Fallen Angel bar has been host to a range of queer talent since it opened in 2022. As an LGBTQ+-friendly venue, the bar has brought joy to Guildford’s local community with its welcoming, yet always daring attitude. Charlie Watts, Pride in Surrey’s Chief Executive: “We are thrilled to be partnering with such an inclusive venue, and we know the Fallen Angel’s cabaret tent will add yet another amazing element to our event in Stoke Park this September. As Pride in Surrey grows, it is great that we can continue to introduce new and exciting things that we hope Surrey’s LGBTQ+ community will love!” The cabaret tent joins the Pride in Surrey main stage in hosting a wide range of talent from Surrey and beyond, bringing beloved names as well as celebrating local talent. On top of the incredible acts, this year’s event features a huge variety of food and drink, stalls from local businesses and charities, as well as a funfair. Tickets for this year’s event are available here!
Pride in Surrey are excited to announce that this year’s Pride event will be taking place in Stoke Park, Guildford on Saturday 21st September. This year marks the fifth anniversary since Pride in Surrey’s very first Pride event in Woking back in 2019. Pride has come a long way in last five years, bringing annual events around the county, growing the event with every town visited. It's an exciting opportunity to bring the LGBTQ+ event to Guildford town for the first time. Pride in Surrey were in a fortunate position to be able to open a bidding process for the first time this year, after receiving a number of requests from different councils to bring Pride in Surrey to their towns. Charlie Watts, Chief Executive: "After much deliberation, we have decided that Guildford would be a great fit for our 2024 event. Pride in Surrey would like to thank all the councils who reached out to put themselves forward to host our event. I am so thrilled that we will be bringing Pride in Surrey to Guildford this year. It is a truly wonderful town and Stoke Park will make for a beautiful location for our event. Being the 5th anniversary of our first event, we hope to make this year’s event our biggest yet and encourage the people and organisations of Surrey to get involved to celebrate our community.” Cllr Julia McShane, Leader of the Council: “I am delighted that we have been able to work to bring Pride in Surrey to Guildford for its fifth anniversary year. Having attended a few of their celebrations around Surrey I know how valuable it will be for our LGBTQ+ communities to be seen, heard and celebrated here in Guildford. We very much look forward to 21st September and welcoming everyone to what will be a very colourful event in Stoke Park.” As in previous years, Pride in Surrey’s event will commence with a parade through Guildford town towards Stoke Park. The day itself will bring Stoke Park alive with a whole host of live music, highlighting amazing talent from Surrey and beyond, as well as food and drink, outreach stalls and much more. Cllr Catherine Houston, Portfolio Holder, Commercial Services: “Bringing Pride in Surrey to Guildford, the heart of Surrey, is incredibly exciting. On 21st September our town will be buzzing with colour, laughter and joy. It is important to let our LGBTQ+ communities know that they are valued and supported and this event reflects this message loud and clear. Additionally, we know that host towns are always thrilled with the effect that Pride in Surrey brings to their local economy and so we look forward to the financial boost Pride will bring to our local businesses, large and small.” The Pride in Surrey team are gearing up to share more details about this year’s event in the coming weeks. Tickets for the September event are now available via the Pride in Surrey website and are offered on a 'pay what you can basis' keeping Pride accessible for as many people as possible.
Pride in Surrey are thrilled to be included in the annual Kelly's Guildford 10K and 5K charity run raising funds for Pride in Surrey, organised in partnership with the University of Surrey Students' Union taking place in LGBT History Month.
For the first time, Pride in Surrey have opened a bidding process for Borough Councils to enter to host the 2024 event in their own towns. This year Pride was held in Reigate on September 9th and each year the event that attracts thousands of visitors moves around the county. The 2024 event will mark the organisations’ fifth Pride event. Charlie Watts, Pride in Surrey Chief Executive says, “Reigate this year was a huge success, it enabled us to grow our event and reach out to a different area of Surrey, each year we are getting bigger and bigger, and we already have the ball rolling for the next Pride”. Straight after Reigate, Pride received requests from three Surrey borough’s requesting Pride to be hosted in their towns. Because of this, Pride in Surrey have decided to open an official bidding process for Pride 2024, and if needed, Pride 2025. Charlie also said, “This is the first time we have been in this situation, but it’s great to see councils’ activity seeking to host Pride in their boroughs”. Pride in Surrey aims to announce the location of Pride 2024 before Christmas. For more Information on Pride 2024 and the bidding process, please click here.
Pride in Surrey are delighted to announce that this year's main Pride event will feature two full size stages for the first time. The new second stage will be a community stage, operated by our friends at Trans Radio UK. Trans Radio UK are based in Surrey and are the only trans radio station in the UK. The vast majority of their presenters and team are trans or non-binary and although predominately UK-based, members of their team are located around the world. They are a community radio station run by the community, for the community. "Trans Radio UK are excited to return to Pride in Surrey and this year we will be hosting the community stage for the first time. We have lined up some amazing people who will be performing as well as a couple of our own DJs. Some of our TRUK family will also be there managing our stall so come and say hello!" Lucy & Avril, founders of TRUK The whole community stage will be broadcast live on Trans Radio UK from midday until 7pm. The full event line-ups will be announced soon.
Pride in Surrey are excited to announce that we will be once again partnering with Hogmoor Distillery, who have announced they will be distilling a new batch of their True Colours Gin. Inspired by the colours of the transgender flag, True Colours is an orange-infused handcrafted gin, with a distinct blue look that magically transforms pink when added to tonic. Hogmoor have pledged to donate £5 from every bottle sold to Pride in Surrey. True Colours was first distilled in 2021, after an exciting visit to their distillery from some of the Pride team, who worked with the lovely people at Hogmoor to refine the recipe. The gin was available at our Pride event in Godalming, and it was a massive hit with our Pride attendees. Hogmoor Distillery are a local-based small batch gin and liqueur distillery, inspired by their love of nature and locally sourced botanicals to produce their unique flavours - including the fresh oranges used in True Colours. They pride themselves on their environmentally friendly approach to gin-making, utilising local Downs water in their distillation, and ensuring no single use plastic is used in their distillery. We are delighted to confirm that Hogmoor Distillery will be once again attending Pride this year in Reigate, taking place on September 9th. True Colours will be available at Hogmoor’s stand. Additionally, you can pre-order True Colours on their website shop right now. Click here to visit their website!
Useful links
Registered Address:
Pride in Surrey
Export House
5 Henry Plaza
Woking
GU21 6QX
hello@prideinsurrey.org
Pride in Surrey is the trading name of:
Surrey LGBTQ Pride CIC CRN12501715
Picture credits:
Studio 19 Photography & Pride Pics UK
