More than 100,000 people took to the streets for London Trans+ Pride 2025 on Saturday, organisers said, making it the world's largest such event. The route wound through central London, passing Regent Street, Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square, before concluding at Parliament Square where Heartstopper and Doctor Who actor Yasmin Finney addressed the crowd.
The theme of this year's march was 'existence and resistance,' a response to the UK Supreme Court's April ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. Lewis G Burton, a founding member of London Trans+ Pride, described the day as 'emotional and powerful,' noting that the 100,000-plus attendance smashed their previous world record of 60,000.
Burton added: 'At a time when the supreme court is making sweeping decisions about trans people without consulting a single trans person or organisation, our community came together to show what real strength, solidarity and care looks like.' He emphasised that the message was clear: 'We will not be erased.'
Alex Parmar-Yee from the Trans+ Solidarity Alliance raised concerns about the Equality and Human Rights Commission's interim guidance, which she said would 'devastate the lives of trans people' and result in loss of access to essential services. She also criticised the rhetoric surrounding trans rights, warning that proposed bathroom bans could mirror policies in the United States.
Meanwhile, in Berlin, tens of thousands celebrated the city's Pride parade, one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ events, with techno beats and a route past the Brandenburg Gate. German police arrested six people, including the organiser of a right-wing counter-demonstration, on suspicion of weapons and explosives violations. Amsterdam Pride also saw thousands march in a festive but political atmosphere, stressing the need to defend LGBTQI+ rights globally.
