A trans flag flew for the first time above Hastings Town Hall on March 31, celebrating Trans day of Visibility and the launch of the first official Trans Pride Hastings in July.
Local organisers will be announcing a series of events taking place across Hastings, St Leonards and Bexhill for local trans, non-binary and gender expansive folk and their allies between the 22nd and 29th July, 2023.
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 end up at the beach for a ‘picnics and chill’ event.
The organisers Victoria Oldman and Zed Gregory say:
“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.”
The event has already gathered local support:
“We live in such a great place, everyone wants to help, honestly we are blown away by this town.”
So far, events have been planned in The Observer Building, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, and The De La Warr.
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.”
The two decided to team up after the vigil for Brianna Ghey, a 16 year old trans girl who was 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.”
Victoria said:
“‘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 it 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 is a community daytrip to the more established Brighton Trans Pride on the 15th July. Funds will be raised to cover travel for anyone for whom cost would be a barrier to attending.
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