We Will Rise Higher: Yesterday’s Trans Rights Protest Marks the Start of a New Fight
Yesterday (Saturday 26th April), the heart of Gloucestershire beat stronger than ever as over 500 people gathered across two powerful hours in Imperial Gardens, Cheltenham, for a static protest in defence of trans rights, louder, prouder, and more determined than ever. Against the backdrop of rising UK transphobia and a devastating Supreme Court ruling that seeks to strip away fundamental rights, the message was clear: We will not be silenced, we will rise higher, and we will change the world.
This was not a protest born only of anger. It was a continuation of a growing, determined movement, a movement that will not be broken. Yesterday’s protest carried the same energy and hope that filled every speech: we will not disappear, we are loved, and we are here to stay.
We may be a small town, but yesterday we showed the size of our hearts. Emotions ran high as LGBTQ+ people and allies stood shoulder to shoulder, united in defiance and solidarity. Every chant, every handmade sign, every powerful speech carried rightful anger at a ruling made by those who have never lived a day in the life of a trans person. A ruling made without empathy, without understanding, without justice.
Speakers from Pride in Gloucestershire, Trans in Gloucestershire, and the Global Pride Network took the stage with unwavering grit, heart, and determination, shedding light on the real struggles and lives at stake. RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Copper Top kicked off the protest with a powerful speech, condemning the Supreme Court ruling and standing firmly for trans rights. Toward the end, a representative from the Global Pride Network issued a stark warning that based on international communications, countries like New Zealand and Australia may soon follow the UK’s lead. What’s happening here will not remain confined to these shores.
Already in America, we are seeing moves to erase trans people. Now, the UK is starting down the same path. This movement is our response. We say no; not in our name! Leave our trans siblings alone.
The parallels are chilling. The systematic reduction of rights, the open hostility from those in power, and the silent complicity of those who should be allies echo the dark days of Section 28. History is beginning to repeat itself, not just here, but globally. What is happening now is akin to a worldwide Section 28, and the dominoes are falling fast.
Our rights could be taken away in a two-minute ruling with no real basis in law. And it won’t just stop at trans rights. When human rights start to fall, they fall for everyone.
But yesterday’s protest wasn’t just defiant, it was also hopeful. We celebrated small victories that carry big meaning. In the final speech, cheers erupted across the local area when Wetherspoons was mentioned for its stand against the EHRC’s damaging guidance. A trans woman had written to Wetherspoons asking which toilets she should use following the ruling. Their response? They acknowledged the Supreme Court verdict and made it clear that trans customers are still welcome to use whichever toilet matches their identity, simply asking them to lock the cubicle door.
My feminism will always include trans women
When Wetherspoons is now outflanking Labour from the left, it tells you everything you need to know about how deep the crisis of leadership has become.
There was bitter disappointment in the air directed at MPs who have stayed silent. Speakers demanded to know: Where are you? Why aren’t you standing with us? The Global Pride Network representative spoke with frustration and sadness at the complete failure of elected officials to rise to this critical moment.
Yesterday’s protest was a clear rallying cry. Pride in Gloucestershire and Trans in Gloucestershire are already gathering stories, real-life accounts, and data, preparing to push back harder than ever. They will not let local MPs, councils, or national leaders ignore the truth.
We must keep fighting. Yesterday’s protest was not an endpoint, it was the beginning of a renewed movement rooted in hope, love, and solidarity.
No matter how high they build the walls, our voices, our resilience, and our love for one another will always rise higher.
The world is watching.
And we are just getting started.
