Organisers of Foyle Pride, of one of the North’s largest LGBT+ festivals, say politicians who supported a ban on the sale or supply of puberty blockers to under-18s will not be invited to take part this year.
In December, the four parties in the Stormont Executive – Sinn Fein, DUP, UUP and Alliance – voted to introduce an indefinite permanent ban on the sale to anyone under the age of 18.
In a statement posted on social media, Foyle Pride said the event “belongs to the people—not politicians who betray us”, adding it stands with ” our trans siblings who have been abandoned.”
“Foyle Pride is not just a celebration; it is a statement of resistance,” the statement said.
It added: “With that in mind, we are making our stance clear: political parties involved in the NI Executive’s decision to ban puberty blockers will not be invited to participate in Foyle Pride Festival 2025.
“This decision also extends to parties that remained silent when trans lives were under attack.”
Thousands of people took part in Pride events in Derry last year as part of the festival’s ten-day run, culminating in a parade through Derry city centre.
Over the last 30 years it has grown to become one of the largest of Northern Ireland’s Pride festivals.
Foyle Pride said the decision will mean no party banners in the annual parade, no political advertising in the festival programme and no official messages from the mayor.
The city’s mayor will not be invited to attend any pride event, and there will be no “platform for those who continuously fail to stand up for trans people,” Foyle Pride said.
It added: “Foyle Pride is and always will be, a community-led, grassroots movement that stands with all queer people, especially our trans siblings who have been abandoned by those in power.”
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