Editor’s note: This article has been changed to clarify that the group was a welcomed part of the pride parade and not protesters.
A group calling themselves L With The T stood prominently at the start of the 2018 Manchester Pride Parade today. The newly formed group brought lesbians and trans people together in a way that was both inspiring and promising for the LGBTQ community there – and around the globe.
The show of unity was especially important because the act came just seven weeks after a group of trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs) blocked the start of Pride in London.
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Eight lesbians marched with a banner in London that read, “Transactivism erases lesbians” – and they did so without proper approval or accreditation.
One disgruntled parade-goer shouted at the Manchester group, “A man who says he’s a lesbian is a rapist,” but otherwise reports said it was a peaceful protest and march.
Louise Wallwein was the organizer. She discussed the event with Gay Star News.
“We live in a very divided world at the moment,” she said. “The last thing we need as a community is to be divided. We need to sit down and talk to one another with love. Only love conquers hate.”
Then added, “Lesbians get the same attacks and assaults as trans people do. Thirty years ago, they were taking our children off us. Now, they’re taking trans children away. We’re not standing for that. The same attacks in the media that happened against lesbians 30 years ago are mirrored by the terrible right-wing media that are attacking trans people today.”
She poignantly noted, “The trans community have fought for equality alone. It’s time as a community that we stand by our trans.”
These pictures of Manchester Pride prove that love is still very much alive in Manchester.
YAAAAASSSSSS #PrideCymru #LwiththeT – as it should be! This G stands with the T too! 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/d0PjRZmnv2
— Greg Owen (@Greg0wen) August 25, 2018
How about this then! #ManchesterLesbiansStandwithTheT –#ManchesterPride2018 pic.twitter.com/SBeTZ0VdrE
— Linda Riley (@LindaRiley8) August 25, 2018
#pridemanchester Happy Gay Pride! 🏳️🌈
Free shot for anyone with a wristband! #ManchesterPride2018 pic.twitter.com/xOvU9jK8dF
— Old Nags Head (@oldnagshead) August 25, 2018
First day down, three more to go for the @ManchesterPride Big Weekend! A little rain won't stop anyone enjoying the Bank Holiday with #Pride 🏳️🌈, in fact it only helps make more rainbows 🌈 #ManchesterPride2018 pic.twitter.com/e5qfv883G0
— Pride in London (@PrideInLondon) August 25, 2018
We hope that everyone celebrating Manchester #Pride this weekend has an incredible time. Be safe, have fun and be kind to one another! We cannot get enough of this colourful installation in @Spinningfields to mark the occasion 🤩🌈🌈 #ManchesterPride2018 pic.twitter.com/mDBdqJk4fN
— Smithfield, Stoke-on-Trent (@SmithfieldST1) August 24, 2018
The rainbow is out for Pride 🌈 #ManchesterPride2018 pic.twitter.com/uzEuyTovIO
— Michael Cullen 🇬🇧🏳️🌈 (@MikeCullen94) August 24, 2018
Come through first night of pride. A surprisingly messy but fun evening #ManchesterPride2018 pic.twitter.com/dYa7zDt960
— Joseph (@joerichmnd) August 25, 2018
Yep!#MariahCarey is making an appearance again for #ManchesterPride2018 😂🌈😂 pic.twitter.com/gOh8Ucpzz1
— 𝕁𝕦𝕝𝕚𝕒𝕟𝔹𝕦𝕥𝕝𝕖𝕣𝟟𝟝 (@JulianButler75) August 25, 2018
