In shocking news, Bristol Pride have revealed that civil servants were prohibited from participating in this year's Pride March because of the organisation's perfectly legal and legitimate criticism of government policy towards transgender people. In a press release, Bristol Pride take up the story, explaining "Last week, civil servants were told that the Cabinet Office has withdrawn permission for their staff xCS Network to attend Bristol Pride’s parade march. Despite being registered to attend, Bristol Pride were advised by a member of the Civil Service staff network on Friday 10 July, the day before this year's festival that they could not attend this year in an official capacity. This also comes after the withdrawal of staff from Belfast Pride and other Pride events in the UK.

Though not originally revealed why, it has now been released that this is because of Bristol Pride has raised concerns over the EHRC Guidance and its impact on the Trans, non binary, femme and butch communities, and standing up for the community is right to the heart of our values and our charity’s aims to advocate for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ+) people. Criticism has been levelled at the guidance for being unworkable, following feedback from the community and many businesses affected by it, and citing that it would also cause significant economic harm. At the time of public statements from Bristol Pride on the release, the EHRC guidance was still in draft form, and also being challenged by politicians directly. It also does not pass into affect until 5 August and as such is not official government policy.

The reasons given for the Civil Service’s withdrawal will affect many Pride events which take a similar stance in support of the rights of trans and non-binary people – removing the support, funding and attendance from any Civil Service groups, and many government departments, who would previously have been able to attend their local Pride.

The Cabinet Office believes that appearing to endorse Bristol Pride by attending the parade march would have created ‘impartiality challenges’ and be a ‘reputational risk’. Bristol Pride do not agree with this reasoning and in statements released have merely stated facts from the law and from the guidance itself. What has been criticised is that there has been no scrutiny allowed and no Parliamentary debate – despite 166 MPs signing an Early-Day Motion and 20,000 people writing about how it will affect them and their organisations.

Pride has always been, and will always be, an inclusive, positive and accessible way that LGBTQ+ people advocate for their rights, and throughout the history of Prides this has very often not been aligned with Government policy. If LGBTQ+ organisations hadn’t been critical of Government policy, our country would not have decriminalised same-sex relationships, equalised the age of consent, legalised civil partnerships or same-sex marriage, and we would not have the Gender Recognition Act or the Equality Act. 

Ros Harrison, Chair of Trustees Said:

“We believe that withdrawing support for Bristol Pride, and for other Prides which remain critical of the EHRC guidance, is not an impartial act, and has in fact caused reputational damage to the Civil Service. It is an act in support of the EHRC’s guidance, which is actively hurting trans and non-binary people and putting businesses in very difficult situations. It is an act against the rights of trans and non-binary people to advocate for their rights in line with democratic principles. It is an act to remove the Civil Service’s support for Pride movements which continue to do the very thing they exist to do.”

Civil servants have expressed their dismay and disappointment that they could not attend this year’s Bristol Pride parade march in an official capacity, and won’t be able to support other Prides as part of their Network. Bristol Pride hope that there is a way to come together, so that LGBTQ+ organisations can continue their work and the Civil Service can allow its Networks to show their support. "