Unite, Pride of Leeds

Unite lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members along with friends and family helped form part of the largest turnout ever – around 40,000 – at the annual Leeds Pride festival and parade on Sunday (August 2).

The world’s first Pride march took place in New York on  June 28, 1970, the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots in the city when LGBT persons fought back when the police raided a gay bar. London held its first Pride in 1972.

This positive stance against violence and discrimination was rightly seen as a source of great pride. As part of the ongoing struggle for equality rights then other LGBT communities were soon hosting Pride events in their own cities.

When the Leeds event started in 2007, bus driver Sharon Wadwell, vice chair of the Unite North East, Yorkshire and Humberside (NEY&H) LGBT committee, attended.

She says, “It was very small compared to now, which is now more community and family based. Many LGBT people have families. My wife and I, we got married last year after 18 years together, have brought up three children.”

Sharon is a Unite workplace rep at First Bus company, Leeds where a friendly agreement with management ensures anyone wanting to attend Pride has their shifts rearranged to permit them to do so.

Davina Cockshott, a bus driver for 15 years, was, like many at Pride, in a celebratory mood. After always “knowing I was a woman, but waiting until I felt my children would be old enough to understand,” Davina, in 2010, started on a four year process that included gender reassignment surgery.

Davina, now a First Bus employee, was during these four years working at a small bus company but rejoined Unite as “I know the union supports transgender people.”

Davina, accompanied by her sister, Julia (pictured above) a Unite finance member, said “I’m supporting my sister at the first Pride she has attended since she made the transition from male to female. It has been a hard journey and one that rightly should be celebrated.”

Another First Bus employee, Marian Stapleton, was at her first Pride. She is just setting out on the same path as Davina. “I came out last year and Davina, Unite and the company have all been great in supporting me. This is a very colourful, enjoyable event without any hint of trouble.

Sadly, that has not been the case for all 2105 Pride events most notably in Istanbul and Moscow. “We need to show our support so that anyone who wants to attend a Pride gathering anywhere can do so safely,” said Sharon.

As it wound its way through the city, Leeds Pride parade passed by a Unite stall outside the union’s regional office, which was decorated with a huge rainbow flag, the symbol of LGBT pride and social movements.

Thousands of key rings, wrist bands and Unite materials, including a hate crime survey leaflet, were distributed.

“We are publicising Unite to non-members because while everyone is having a great time today there remains a need to tackle prejudice and discrimination against LGBT people and Unite can help,” explained Sue Pollard, the Unite NEY&H regional women’s and equalities organiser.

*Pic by Mark Harvey