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Queers Banned at Pride!

riotact | 01.07.2007 12:01 | Gender | Social Struggles | London

Marchers carrying banners with the word 'queer' displayed on them were forbidden from displaying them at yesterday's Gay Pride event in London

Blundering cops decided that the word was 'offensive', and the lack of any real presence from the anarchist scene meant that any kind of resistance was pointless. Someone wearing a t-shirt which read 'anarchists make better lovers' was also ordered to cover it up as this was also deemed 'offensive' by those arbiters of good taste the London Met.

Politics is not allowed at Pride it seems, which seems to more of an excuse for some corporate back-slapping about how right on companies like Lloyds Bank and British Airways are.

Not even the SWP was able to muster a paper seller, although neo-labour did manage have a stall of course.

Rhythms of Resistance were able to lighten the mood after the parade, playing to a couple of hundred folk in the rain, first on Compton Street and then later in Soho Square ... which was fun.

But for all Ken's platitudes from the stage about the struggle for equality this event was depoliticised and sterile, and clearly the handful of queer anarchists present were not greeted with solidarity by the armies of gay cops dotted around Soho.

As a party, well it was a fun day out, as a political event, if it was ever intended to be one, it was a failure.

Perhaps people think that the struggle is over, the thousands of victims of homophobic or transphobic violence may disagree ... but hey, don't let that stop the party.

riotact
- Homepage: http://johnnyvoid.blogspot.com

Additions

Split or Stick?

02.07.2007 15:44

I'm really wondering whether its worth trying to compete with the 'noise' of events like this, or whether its time to go 'fuck it' and start organising a completely separate event, a real Queer pride event that has some real resistance in it. We can't shout over the top of the corporate hype, but we can pick a different weekend and actually put on a display where its Queers vs the Cops, not Queers vs LGBT-types+Cops+Mayor+Unions+Corporations. Still, big hand to those who tried so hard. Onwards to Mancs!

Rebel W


Get Bent Manchester

18.07.2007 22:33

Check out/get involved in Get Bent in Manchester, alternatives to official Pride

Get Bent
- Homepage: http://www.get-bent-manchester.com/


Comments

Display the following 3 comments

  1. I was the guy with the T-shirt — Thrashing Chomsky
  2. "queer" or gay? — Alex
  3. Why shouldn't I allowed to call myself queer? — a queer