Sheffield’s only Pride protest returns

Hundreds of protesters will gather at Sheffield City Hall today for an unofficial event organized by grassroots group Sheffield Radical Pride. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Radical Pride march, which drew 500 participants, this year’s event is expected to draw an even bigger crowd.

Since its launch last year, Sheffield Radical Pride has garnered significant support, with 3,000 social media followers rallying behind its mission to “bring anti-capitalist protest back to Pride”.

A basic move with a strong stance

Unlike many other UK pride events, such as London Pride (which cost £1.7 million to host in 2023), Sheffield Radical Pride operates without corporate or council funding and is entirely run of unpaid volunteers. This grassroots approach underscores the event’s commitment to authentic community activism and its rejection of commercialized Pride celebrations.

The event maintains a staunch anti-police stance, highlighted by its criticism of South Yorkshire Police. Last year, officers wore bright pink hats to public LGBTQ+ events while secretly deploying undercover officers. This juxtaposition underscores Sheffield Radical Pride’s view that police involvement is incompatible with the spirit of genuine protest.

This year’s protest comes shortly after a landmark legal ruling by the UK High Court, which found regulations that gave UK police more powers to intervene in protests illegal. This decision reinforces Sheffield Radical Pride’s argument that seeking official permission undermines the fundamental nature of protest.

“No Pride in Genocide”: Solidarity Across Borders

At the forefront of this year’s march will be organizers carrying a “Queers for Palestine” banner, signaling a commitment to global solidarity. It marks the first Queers for Palestine march in Sheffield, following months of activism by Palestinian groups in the city. The banner will later return to the Sheffield Gaza Camp, organized in partnership with the Sheffield Coalition for Palestinian Rights (SCCP). The camp continues to challenge the University of Sheffield over its links to the arms trade, anticipating an increased crackdown ahead of future university events.

The organizer who will carry the banner said:

“No other banner could lead our march this year. Queers have always existed in Palestine, as they have always existed everywhere – but our solidarity goes far beyond those who share our identity. Queer solidarity is for all the “other” and all the oppressed. There is no pride in genocide!”

Protests against the arms trade and local inequities

In addition to the march, Queers for Palestine organized a protest on June 21 against an awards nomination for BAE Systems, a company known for its involvement in the arms trade and support for Israel. The ongoing conflict has had a devastating effect on Gaza, with 37,945 Palestinians killed and extensive damage to homes, schools and places of worship as of June 2024.

The protest also aims to address significant issues facing Sheffield’s queer community. An organizer has highlighted the challenges of long waiting times at Sheffield’s only gender clinic, the Porterbrook Clinic. This issue exemplifies the broader systemic neglect facing the queer community, reinforcing the need for continued grassroots activism.

Organizer Sheffield Radical Pride pointed out:

“A small-minded few claim that Palestinians are homophobic. What I find homophobic is that the only gender clinic in Sheffield now has such long waiting times that they have removed them from their website. I find it homophobic that Sheffield Council knows from 2022 that waiting times at Porterbrook Clinic (Sheffield’s gender identity clinic) have reached over four years for a first appointment.”

Looking ahead

As Sheffield Radical Pride prepares for its second annual protest, it stands as a powerful testament to the impact of grassroots activism. By rejecting corporate sponsorship and maintaining a strong stance against institutional complicity, the event continues to create a space for authentic, intersectional advocacy within the Pride movement. This year’s march, with its focus on global solidarity and local issues, underscores the enduring importance of protest in the fight for queer rights and justice.

(Article adapted from press release)

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