Political parties will not be permitted at Bristol Pride this year, event organisers have confirmed. No parties will have a stall or be allowed to walk as organisations in the parade "until more is done to stand up for [the] entire community", a statement from the event said.
Organisers acknowledged balancing voices and opinions is "difficult", but said not enough is being done to tackle hatred and prejudice "from the top" of the parties. The statement, released on Twitter, goes on to recognise the "good work" being done on a local level, including a cross party motion which recognises transgender rights as human rights, but say this work is 'undermined' by national politics.
It comes days after attendants at a trans pride event in Bristol were attacked with BB guns in what Avon and Somerset Police has called a hate crime. Several people were hit with gel pellets after two people fired in the direction of the Trans Pride picnic in Castle Park.
