Trans Pride Hastings
On the 31 March Hastings joined towns across the world in marking 2023’s Trans Day of Visibility, an opportunity to celebrate the trans community internationally. For the first time the transgender flag flew outside Hastings Town Hall, while members and allies of the local trans and non-binary community gathered at Forbidden Fruit to celebrate the launch of the first official Hastings Trans Pride.
This year’s focus is on community building, support and celebration. The events planned so far range from a tattoo flash day, a dog hangout, a mini film festival, a big queer party and ending up at the beach for a picnics and chill.
Organisers Victoria Oldman and Zed Gregory first teamed up at the vigil for Brianna Ghey, a sixteen-year-old trans girl who was tragically murdered in February. Zed commented, “The media conversation about trans lives has become increasingly toxic. When a young person is murdered we have to understand there are real consequences to the hate being spewed by a very vocal minority.
“This year has been really tough for our community, we are under constant attack and it’s all feeling a bit bleak. We want to provide some safe and supportive spaces for our community to just hang out together.”
Hastings Trans Pride 2023 has already gathered local support, “We live in such a great place,” says Zed, “everyone wants to help – honestly we are blown away by this town.”
Events will run from 22 to 29 July in a series of events across Hastings, St Leonards and Bexhill. It will welcome all local, trans, non-binary and gender expansive folk and their allies. Venues include the Observer Building, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, and the De La Warr Pavilion.
Zed is keen to get the message out, “Throughout July we will be asking shops and businesses to put our flags and stickers up in their windows, to show the trans community some love and prove that there is no hate in Hastings.”
Victoria continues, “We need people to step up and actively show they are supportive, understanding that they can really make a difference to people’s lives – that they can help. We know the majority of the general public are behind the trans community. Trans Pride Hastings is here to make that support visible, to bring us together in solidarity, and to show local trans and non-binary people they are valid, they are loved and they have the right to feel safe.”
While there are no plans for a march in Hastings this year, there will be a community day-trip to the more established Brighton Trans Pride on 15 July. Funds will be raised to cover travel for anyone for whom cost would be a barrier to attending.
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