CSP members show their solidarity at London Pride and trade union event

CSP Council member Alex Spearritt said on X: ‘I was proud to march in #PrideInLondon today alongside @csplgbtqia & @thecsp staff, we marched to highlight the inequalities that still exist and to call for more to be done.’

Blake Ngo, a band 5 rotational community physiotherapist in east London, told Frontline: 'This was my first Pride and I’m a newly qualified physio! It was really exciting. Being nonbinary is hard but I was celebrating this identity and profession today.'

Claire Dixon, a physiotherapist in community paediatrics at Black Country Health Care Trust, added: 'My partner and I attended to show how proud we are to be part of the LGBTQ+ community and part of the pysiotherapy profession. 

'It was a very long day but it was worth it.  It was great to meet other members of the CSP and hear other people's stories. London felt so friendly and it was great to be able to walk around holding my partner's hand with no one caring. The parade itself was brilliant, the support of the crowds and the whole atmosphere was just amazing.'

CSP national officer Siân Caulfield said: ‘London Pride is a real highlight in the calendar, while also acting as a reminder of the origins of Pride as a protest movement and why this is still needed today.'

Saturday’s Pride concluded the annual TUC LGBT+ conference which called for greater protections for LGBTQIA+ workers facing bullying and harassment. 

Siân said: ‘In celebration of Pride month and in recognition of the work our LGBTQIA+ members do every day to advance the rights of LGBTQIA+ people, the conference heard contributions from the CSP delegation.’

Conference provides an opportunity for CSP LGBTQIA+ members to speak on issues relevant to CSP members or wider issues affecting working people on an employment, social or a human rights basis. 

At this year’s conference, CSP delegates spoke in support of: 

• LGBTQIA+ people internationally facing an erosion of rights and threats to their lives 
• The need to work with trade unions and relevant organisations globally to protect LGBTQIA+ workers 
• Transgender rights   

The CSP motion received support from ten other trade unions and was passed unanimously. 

In their speech, Stephanie said: ‘An estimated two billion people live in environments where consensual same-sex relations are criminalised, with at least 42 countries specifically criminalising consensual same-sex relations between women. 

‘We must never forget the plight of others internationally. We stand with anyone facing discrimination, hate or worse, for just existing.’ 

Find out more

If you’re an LGBTQIA+ CSP member who would like to attend conference in future, get in touch with Siân at caulfields@csp.org.uk

Find out more - CSP LGBTQIA+ network

Interested in getting more involved with the CSP diversity networks? See the CSP diversity networks events calendar