Trans Protest on Guildford High Street

Published on: 4 May, 2025
Updated on: 7 May, 2025

Yesterday’s Trans Pride protest

By Martin Giles – Photos by Lewis Hughan

Trans activists held a protest on Guildford High Street yesterday (May 3rd) against the recent Supreme Court Ruling on the Equality Act.

In its ruling on April 16th, the Supreme Court said the terms “woman” and “sex” in the 2010 Act “refer to a biological woman and biological sex” – a phrase that has been criticised by LGBTQ+ groups for excluding trans women from legal protection. The ruling means, for example, that transgender women can be excluded from women-only spaces.

A contentious issue is the use of women’s toilets by trans women.

The day following the ruling Trans Pride Surrey, on its Facebook page, commented: “Yesterday was a massive blow for our trans community here in the UK and this judgement will have wide-reaching implications, not just for our community.

“Already we are hearing of trans people being excluded from spaces and receiving loads of hate on the back of this.”

Supporters were encouraged to take part in the protest on the Trans Pride Surrey Facebook page.

The protest, held outside the Guildhall on a busy Saturday, made it difficult for pedestrians to get past at times and some were heard to complain.

Some pedestrians were seen to find it difficult to get past the protest.

One protestor with two placards, on a narrower part of the pavement, remained in place making it difficult for people to get through.

Other shoppers trying to make their way through the crowds were seen shaking their heads in apparent disapproval.

The protest continued for at least two hours. Numerous placards with various slogans were displayed and there was some chanting, including some expletives, often targeted at the Government, various political figures and at Harry Potter author J K Rowling.

Relaxed protesting.

A few police officers were spotted walking back and forth observing and ready to keep order but there was no violence and they were not seen to take any action.

The Dragon has approached Trans Pride Surrey and Surrey Trans Action for comment.

Responses to Trans Protest on Guildford High Street

Peter Mills Reply

May 7, 2025 at 4:59 pm

This group did not do their cause any good.

The person holding a solid placard in each hand, blocking the only way past was doing so deliberately to antagonise people. I said “excuse me” loudly and when they refused to acknowledge my existence, I pushed past. I then received abuse from another protester.

When I went over to them, they immediately threatened me (something like “come on then”). I’m a 60 year old, fat bloke; they were mid-20s, of male appearance, fit looking and simply trying to incite confrontation.

Clearly there is no point reasoning with such people and as I walked away a police officer appeared. I suggested that they remove the obstruction as the next person may not be as reasonable as me.