Chris Taylor, a 38-year-old LGBTQ+ activist from Rochford, Essex, has launched a petition against the ban on Pride events in Essex libraries, which he describes as 'Orwellian'. The ban, imposed by the new Reform-led Essex County Council, has sparked outrage among local LGBTQ+ communities.
Background of the Ban
Before Reform gained control of Essex County Council in the May elections, Taylor and other Rochford LGBTQ+ community members already sensed a growing tide of political rhetoric around identity. However, they were still shocked when the new leadership moved to ban Pride events in 74 libraries, scaling back events of 'any particular groups or themes'. Taylor called the decision 'straight out of Trumpland'.
'It communicates the fact that we’re not welcome,' said Taylor, who recently launched a petition against the ban.
Reform Councils Across England
Reform councils across England, from Essex and Durham to Leicestershire and Kent, have imposed bans on flying the Pride flag and holding Pride events in public spaces. In some cases, they have also defunded Pride events previously sponsored by local authorities.
Essex County Council stated that libraries are 'safe spaces for everybody' and that LGBTQ+ books and displays would continue, but added that the promotion of library events aimed at specific groups was under review.
Community Response
Since learning of the proposed changes, Taylor has contacted Reform councillors but has yet to receive a response. With Essex Pride approaching, one LGBTQ+ resident expressed safety concerns about attending the library with their child.
'There does seem to be a bit of a resurgence of anti-acceptance toward the community in the area,' added Taylor. 'It’s a bit alarming.'
In Sunderland and Gateshead, Reform-led councils have withdrawn funding for Pride events and ended the practice of flying Pride flags on council buildings. South Tyneside Council has restricted the flag’s display to a single day at the start of Pride month.
Drew Dalton, an outreach manager at Out North East, which runs Pride events across Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside, said the organisation had been preparing for Reform victories for months. He noted that the decisions to stop flying Pride flags and cut funding left the organisation feeling it had lost 'money', 'visibility', and 'a great number of allies' in council chambers.
'We’ve spent a long time building up relationships and we lost them overnight in the local elections,' Dalton said.
The group has been forced to move events away from council-owned land and venues in anticipation of further restrictions. 'We had to future-proof everything we were doing,' Dalton said. 'It’s become that type of era where you have to watch your step.'
Dalton added that concerns within the LGBTQ+ community extended beyond council policy, with promotional signs being repeatedly torn down and people attending the One Centre hub expressing anxiety about the wider climate.
'I don’t want to paint us as all scared,' he said. 'There’s also a lot of righteous anger about what’s going on.'
Dalton said the political climate was reshaping Pride events. 'We’ll probably look back at the latter half of the 2010s as a period when Pride became much more of a party. This year we’re not even having concerts. We’re having a rally in Sunderland. That tells you how the dynamic has shifted.'
Council Defenses
Gateshead Council defended the changes, stating it would only fly the union flag and St George’s Cross from council buildings but would continue to support civic, cultural, and community events.
Wakefield Council said it had adopted a more consistent approach focused on civic, national, and military service flags, while Kent County Council said it did not fly 'cause-specific or community campaign flags' on its buildings.
Impact in Warwickshire
Warwickshire Pride said they had 'severely' felt the impact of the Reform administration since the party won local elections in 2025. The charity’s chair, Daniel Browne, said they were seeing hate towards their charity rise as a direct result of the changes.
Browne had requested the Pride and Trans flag fly at the county council but was not surprised when the requests were declined. However, when the county council’s chair changed from Reform to Conservative, it was decided the flag would be raised this month.
Browne said the charity’s services, including coffee mornings, LGBTQ+ counselling, youth groups, and social events, have seen attendees report increased anxiety, self-harming behaviours, and hate incidents as a direct result of the changes.
'We’re stretched, under attack ourselves, and that’s difficult to navigate, but we remain here for Warwickshire’s LGBTQ+ population and will continue to push back against attempts to erase us or discriminate against us,' Browne said.
