LGBTQ+ groups are threatening to boycott this year’s Pride in London, after organisers were accused of racism.
In March, more than 20 volunteers resigned over the concerns, including the most senior black volunteer, Rhammel Afflick.
Spoke to the @guardian and told them an entirely new leadership with a robust mandate is needed to break away from Pride’s long history of getting it wrong for black and brown people in LGBT+ communities.
Thank you again to everyone who spoke out.https://t.co/Lp9u4pchfx
— Rhammel (@Rhammified) March 20, 2021
The accusations have led to numerous LGBTQ+ organisations threatening not to take part in this year’s Pride celebration.
Co-founder of LGBTQ+ platform Unite UK, Charlotte Summers, said she will not be returning to London’s Pride event after the pandemic.
She said, “When I’ve gone to Pride in London, it just felt disconnected. You could see there wasn’t inclusion there.
“I’d rather spend my money on a Pride that would love and celebrate all.
“It seems like they weren’t inclusive of their black members and that they were being quite racist.”
Pride in London and Stonewall
For the last two years, Stonewall, one of the world’s largest LGBTQ+ charities, has not taken part in the celebrations, as a result of the accusations.
They released a statement saying, “It was on the back of such concerns that Stonewall decided not to march at Pride in London in 2018 and marched Together in Pride in partnership with UK Black Pride and many other community organisations in 2019.”
“We hoped that Pride in London had truly listened to the concerns of diverse communities. Recent testimonies show that this has not happened.”
Pride in London’s response
A statement from Pride in London pic.twitter.com/BMzFOj6mpr
— Pride in London (@PrideInLondon) May 13, 2021
In a response to the accusations, Pride in London tweeted a statement apologising to anyone who had experienced racism, bullying and discrimination.
They said, “The Pride movement started over 50 years ago to deliver equality for all LGBT+ people.
“To have not done that for Black, Brown and Asian people recently, isn’t good enough and falls below the standards to which we’re committed to live by.”
