News and Events => Political and Legal News => Topic started by: Jessica_Rose on June 10, 2026, 06:13:21 AM Return to Full Version
Title: Reform council leader cancels Pride celebrations in St Helen’s with trans rant
Post by: Jessica_Rose on June 10, 2026, 06:13:21 AM
Post by: Jessica_Rose on June 10, 2026, 06:13:21 AM
Reform council leader cancels Pride celebrations in St Helen's with trans rant
https://www.thepinknews.com/2026/06/10/st-helens-pride-cancelled/
Poppy-Jay St. Palmer (10 June 2026)
A Pride festival in St Helens has been cancelled by the Merseyside town's Reform UK council as one of its councillors posted a bizarre rant about trans people.
George Woodward, the council's leader, shared a statement around the Pride cancellation via his Facebook page on 9 June.
"St Helens Borough Council won't be supporting or promoting Pride. I have instructed officers to cease engagement with all aspects of the event," he wrote.
"We don't consider celebrations of sexuality, especially those with left-wing political leanings such as Pride, to be appropriate for St Helens Borough Council to dedicate valuable officer resources."
He went on to say that he was "deeply concerned" about Pride's affiliation with "harmful transgender ideology."
"As a council, we have a duty of care towards young children in the borough," Woodward wrote. "Being affiliated with a movement that often results in lifelong medical harm in young impressionable children is not the direction in which I want St Helens Council to travel.
Individuals, the private sector, and charities are welcome to continue to support the event as they deem appropriate."
It is also worth noting that St Helens Borough Council did not directly fund St Helens Pride. However, an alternative LGBTQ+ Pride celebration organised by the community went ahead on 6 June.
https://www.thepinknews.com/2026/06/10/st-helens-pride-cancelled/
Poppy-Jay St. Palmer (10 June 2026)
A Pride festival in St Helens has been cancelled by the Merseyside town's Reform UK council as one of its councillors posted a bizarre rant about trans people.
George Woodward, the council's leader, shared a statement around the Pride cancellation via his Facebook page on 9 June.
"St Helens Borough Council won't be supporting or promoting Pride. I have instructed officers to cease engagement with all aspects of the event," he wrote.
"We don't consider celebrations of sexuality, especially those with left-wing political leanings such as Pride, to be appropriate for St Helens Borough Council to dedicate valuable officer resources."
He went on to say that he was "deeply concerned" about Pride's affiliation with "harmful transgender ideology."
"As a council, we have a duty of care towards young children in the borough," Woodward wrote. "Being affiliated with a movement that often results in lifelong medical harm in young impressionable children is not the direction in which I want St Helens Council to travel.
Individuals, the private sector, and charities are welcome to continue to support the event as they deem appropriate."
It is also worth noting that St Helens Borough Council did not directly fund St Helens Pride. However, an alternative LGBTQ+ Pride celebration organised by the community went ahead on 6 June.
Title: Re: Reform council leader cancels Pride celebrations in St Helen’s with trans rant
Post by: big kim on June 10, 2026, 02:40:49 PM
Post by: big kim on June 10, 2026, 02:40:49 PM
Wouldn't expect anything less from St Helens. It's always had this image of bald knuckle daggers with bad tattoos,worse teeth and several convictions for domestic violence, drugs and alcohol offences.
Britain's angriest town, we binned it from Lancashire in the 70s
Britain's angriest town, we binned it from Lancashire in the 70s
Title: Re: Reform council leader cancels Pride celebrations in St Helen’s with trans rant
Post by: Charlotte Kitty on June 10, 2026, 02:46:10 PM
Post by: Charlotte Kitty on June 10, 2026, 02:46:10 PM
I just hope the same does happen here in Walsall now we're under Reform.
If they do I'll make it my lifes work to make them pay.
If they do I'll make it my lifes work to make them pay.