Chris Taylor, a 38-year-old LGBTQ+ activist from Rochford, Essex, has launched a petition against the ban on Pride events in Essex libraries. The ban, imposed by the new Reform council leadership, has sparked outrage among the local LGBTQ+ community.
Community Shock and Response
Before Reform gained control of Essex County Council in the May elections, Taylor and other members of the Rochford LGBTQ+ community had already noted a growing tide of political rhetoric around identity. However, they were still shocked when the new leadership moved to ban Pride events in 74 libraries, scaling back events of 'any particular groups or themes.' Taylor described the decision as 'straight out of Trumpland.'
'It communicates the fact that we're not welcome,' said Taylor, who recently launched a petition against what he called the 'Orwellian' ban.
Wider Trend Across England
Reform councils across England, from Essex and Durham to Leicestershire and Kent, have imposed bans on flying the Pride flag and holding Pride events in public spaces. Some have also defunded Pride events previously sponsored by local authorities.
Essex County Council stated that libraries were 'safe spaces for everybody' and that LGBTQ+ books and displays would continue. However, the promotion of library events aimed at specific groups is under review.
Impact on Local LGBTQ+ Communities
Since learning of the proposed changes, Taylor has contacted Reform councillors but has yet to receive a response. With Essex Pride approaching, one LGBTQ+ resident expressed safety concerns about attending the library with their child.
'There does seem to be a bit of a resurgence of anti-acceptance toward the community in the area,' added Taylor. 'It's a bit alarming.'
In Sunderland and Gateshead, Reform-led councils have withdrawn funding for Pride events and ended the practice of flying Pride flags on council buildings. South Tyneside Council has restricted the flag's display to a single day at the start of Pride month.
Organizations Adapt to New Climate
Drew Dalton, outreach manager at Out North East, which runs Pride events across Sunderland, Gateshead, and South Tyneside, said the organization had been preparing for Reform victories for months. He noted that Sunderland and Gateshead's decisions to stop flying Pride flags, alongside funding cuts, left the organization feeling it had lost 'money,' 'visibility,' and 'a great number of allies' in council chambers.
'We've spent a long time building up relationships and we lost them overnight in the local elections,' Dalton said.
The group has been forced to move events away from council-owned land and venues in anticipation of further restrictions. 'We had to future-proof everything we were doing,' Dalton said. 'It's become that type of era where you have to watch your step.'
Dalton emphasized that concerns within the LGBTQ+ community extend beyond council policy. Promotional signs for a smaller Pride event had been repeatedly torn down, and people attending the One Centre hub expressed anxiety about the wider climate.
'I don't want to paint us as all scared,' he said. 'There's also a lot of righteous anger about what's going on. And there's the beginnings, which is wonderful to see, of people starting to pull together.'
Dalton noted that the political climate is reshaping Pride events. 'We'll probably look back at the latter half of the 2010s as a period when Pride became much more of a party. This year we're not even having concerts. We're having a rally in Sunderland. That tells you how the dynamic has shifted.'
Council Defenses
Gateshead Council defended the changes, stating it would only fly the union flag and St George's Cross from council buildings but would continue to support civic, cultural, and community events. Wakefield Council said it had adopted a more consistent approach focused on civic, national, and military service flags. Kent County Council stated it did not fly 'cause-specific or community campaign flags' on its buildings.
Warwickshire Pride Impact
Warwickshire Pride said they had 'severely' felt the impact of the Reform administration since the party won local elections in 2025. 'From not permitting the Pride flag to fly, to announcing that Warwickshire Pride should not receive council funding, and this week saying [they] want LGBTQ+ books and information banned from Warwickshire's libraries and schools, we are seeing hate towards our charity rise as a direct result,' said chair Daniel Browne.
Browne had requested the Pride and Trans flag fly at the county council but was not surprised when requests were declined. However, when the council's chair changed from Reform to Conservative, it was decided the flag would be raised this month.
Browne said the charity's services, including coffee mornings, LGBTQ+ counselling, youth groups, and social events, have seen attendees report increased anxiety, self-harming behaviors, and hate incidents as a direct result of the changes.
'We're stretched, under attack ourselves, and that's difficult to navigate, but we remain here for Warwickshire's LGBTQ+ population and will continue to push back against attempts to erase us or discriminate against us,' Browne said.
