The Trans Flag is proudly flying from Hastings Town Hall.

Trans flag flies above Hastings Town Hall for first time to mark the launch of Trans Pride

Last Friday the trans flag was hoisted above Hastings Town Hall. The flag marks the Trans Day of Visibility and the launch of the first official Trans Pride Hastings. Erica Smith reports.

At the end of July a series of events will take place across Hastings, St Leonards and Bexhill for local trans, non-binary and gender expansive folk and their allies. The festival will focus 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 a final ‘picnics and chill’ event on the beach.

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.”

Zed and Victoria in the Trans Pride beach hut.

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.”

With events planned in the Observer Building, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery and The De La Warr, the fledgling Trans Pride Hastings is certainly off to a strong start.

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 help make a difference to people’s lives.”

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.”

Mayor, James Bacon, supporting Trans Pride

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 will be a community day-trip to the more established Brighton Trans Pride on Saturday 15 July. Funds will be raised to cover travel for anyone for whom cost would be a barrier to attending.

If you want to find out more or get involved with Trans Pride, you can email  Zed Gregory / Victoria Oldman.
Transpridehastings.uk has full details of how to get involved as well as the most up-to-date information on the full programme of events. You are also welcome to show your support for Trans Pride by making a donation via the website – this can be a one-off amount or a small, monthly donation.
You can follow Trans Pride on social media: Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

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