Our statement on trans inclusivity

At Pride in the Dales, everyone belongs. In recent months, the conversation across the UK has intensified around who is – and isn’t – welcome in certain spaces. From the Supreme Court ruling on protected characteristics, to the decision of Girlguiding UK and the Women’s Institute to no longer accept trans women, to public discussions sparked by Harry Potter filming in Skipton, many people in our community have been left feeling frightened, frustrated or unwelcome.

These decisions don’t just impact trans people. They ripple across the entire LGBTQ+ community – and far beyond it. They impact cis women who don’t fit society’s narrow definitions of femininity. They leave trans men and non-binary people almost entirely out of the conversation. They reinforce the message that rural areas are not safe or inclusive for queer or gender-diverse people. And they divide communities that should be working together.

At Pride in the Dales, we reject those divisions. We reject any suggestion that trans people are a threat or an inconvenience. We reject the framing that pits one group of women against another.

Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non-binary people are valid. Everyone deserves community, safety and celebration. Our events will remain explicitly trans-inclusive and welcoming to all gender identities and expressions. No one will be questioned, scrutinised or excluded for who they are or how they present.

Rural LGBTQ+ people already face isolation, limited services and a lack of visible community spaces. Exclusionary policies only deepen that isolation for people who should be surrounded by support – not suspicion.

Pride in the Dales exists to counter that. We want Skipton, Craven and the wider Dales to be places where every LGBTQ+ person knows they belong. We will continue to:

• platform trans voices in our events and storytelling

• offer clear trans-inclusive policies

• challenge misinformation

• work with local organisations who share our commitment to equality.

Everyone is welcome at Pride in the Dales. Everyone deserves Pride. And we will never stop advocating for a future where our whole community can thrive.