A million march the streets of London to demand a People’s Vote on Brexit

lgbti people demand a peoples vote on brexit

LGBTI people joined a million marchers in the streets of London to demand a People’s Vote on Brexit.

Facing off against threat of rain, a million people from all over the country gathered in London on Saturday 23 March to send a message to the UK government.

This could potentially be the biggest protest in the history of the United Kingdom.

The march led everyone to Parliament Square, where a number of influential figures made speeches.

LGBTI people speak out

Before the official march began at 12pm, LGBTI people gathered for an individual rally. Scottish National Party MP Joanna Cherry and Member of the European Parliament Seb Dance made speeches to the gathered crowd.

Labour Trans Officer Heather Peto spoke also gave a speech about how transgender rights could be affected by Brexit: ‘By being at the table, we’ve been able to ensure LGBT rights across 28 European nations. And all members that are potentially joining the European Union have to come up to those standards.

Gay star news at the LGBT for a peoples vote

Members of the Gay Star News team ready to march | Photo: Jamie Wareham

‘But the UK mustn’t be arrogant and think they can protect their own minority rights without the EU. We’ve seen this with transgender rights. It was actually the EU and ECJ that made the ruling the UK was discriminating against transgender people at work.

‘That was the first time we got transgender equality at work.’

Among the protesters was a float with DJs, one of which was the co-founder of famous LGBTI club Horse Meat Disco, Jim Stanton. He told Gay Star News why he was participating in the march: ‘The whole thing was a scam. The poorest in our country will be hit the worst. I want a bright future for the kids. Remain and reform.’

Editor-in-Chief at Gay Star News, Tris Reid-Smith, asked the crowd: ‘Do you trust Jacob Rees-Mogg with our rights?’

Do you trust Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg or Andrea Leadsom with your rights? LGBTIs scream no as @trisrs wrapped up the rally before the #PeoplesVoteMarch which @gaystarnews supports https://t.co/bRnn1L5j87 pic.twitter.com/ApwmJeRgHM

— Jamie Wareham (@jamie_wareham) March 23, 2019

Presenter Sandi Toksvig spoke out on the main stage at Parliament Square: ‘Some say a second referendum is a threat to democracy. This is, what is happening today, thousands from across the land, this is democracy!’

LGBTI people demand a peoples vote

Photo: David Hudson

Brexit peoples march protest

Photo: Jamie Wareham

Peoples vote brexit marie kondo

Asking for an expert | Photo: David Hudson

peoples vote march brexit lgbt people

Novelty signs in abundance | Photo: Jamie Wareham

people's vote

More at the rally | Photo: David Hudson

peoples vote march brexit lgbt people

Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys joined the march | Photo: David Hudson

faux bojo peoples vote march

And a pretend Boris Johnson | Photo: David Hudson

Why a People’s Vote

The march comes as a result of years of mishandling Brexit by Theresa May and the Conservative government. The Prime Minister has attempted to put her much-maligned deal through Parliament twice, and both times it was defeated by large margins by both Remain and Brexit supporting members.

She is now attempting to put it to Parliament for a third time.

If the deal is not passed, the UK faces crashing out of the European Union with no deal. Many experts warned that a no deal could result in food and medicine shortages across the country.

This could spell widespread disaster for the LGBTI community.

The last People’s Vote March, held on 20 October 2019, was the second biggest march in UK history. The protest against the Iraq War in 2003 was the biggest. The estimated attendance to this march is higher than the other two.

But it’s not just LGBTI people and Londoners. People from all walks of life traveled to the British capital to send the message, with #PVRoadTrip among the many People’s Vote hashtags trending.

Parliament Square right now. What a sight.#PutItToThePeopleMarch pic.twitter.com/kXonQaAsqP

— People's Vote UK (@peoplesvote_uk) March 23, 2019

MORNING TWITTER!
✅Phone
✅Train ticket
✅T shirt
✅Placard
✅Energy drink
✅Unsuitable song
✅Husband
SEE YOU LATER, AGITATOR!#PeoplesVoteMarch #RevokeArticle50March #StopBrexitMarch #putittothepeople #peoplesmarch pic.twitter.com/DwSJSzKrzs

— carol hedges (@carolJhedges) March 23, 2019

Didn't want it in 2016. Don't want it now. It's not too late to stop the shit show that is #Brexit.#PeoplesVoteMarch ✊🏽pic.twitter.com/0Zt2WpMSl9

— Nik (@nikhi1) March 23, 2019

Such an amazing feeling, being a part of #PeoplesVoteMarch
So proud of my city and my country today! pic.twitter.com/Ct4EQailyP

— Sophie 🌹🇬🇧🖤🇪🇺 #RevokeA50 (@ASophieJones) March 23, 2019

#PeoplesVoteMarch mustering in Hyde Park pic.twitter.com/vWV5ZRM3cJ

— Raphael Satter (@razhael) March 23, 2019

See also: 

Think being LGBTI has nothing to do with Brexit? Think again

Gay British MP attacked in the streets by angry Brexit voter

These LGBTI people demand a second referendum on Brexit and here’s why

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