Anti-trans lobby group LGB Alliance to return to government-owned venue for conference
The LGB Alliance has been branded a ‘hate group’ by LGBTQ+ community leaders. (Getty/ Mark Kerrison)
The LGB Alliance is reportedly set to return to the government-owned Queen Elizabeth II Centre for yet another conference.
Last year, one of the largest conference spaces in central London hosted the anti-trans pressure group, with “gender-critical” figureheads such as Graham Lineham and Tory MP Jackie Doyle-Price in attendance.
It saw attendees pose with a cardboard cut-out of JK Rowling, listen to a talk on whether “gender identity [is] child abuse” and verbally abuse a trans comedian before comparing being trans to a deadly psychiatric illness.
Now the conference is slated to once again return to the QEII Centre, which operates as an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
“Great Strides for Pride” will be held at the venue on 21 October, according to an email from the LGB Alliance shared on Twitter by stand-up writer Jen Ives.
https://twitter.com/jenivescomedian/status/1539154026465480706
“Reclaiming our community to create a new focus on the rights of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals,” the email says.
“We’re delighted to be returning to the QEII with a bigger, better and even more exciting conference.
“It’s your chance to meet up with old friends and make new ones at the most important event in the LGB calendar.”
The email, sent to subscribers, adds that speakers and sessions will be announced soon and tickets will go on sale from 21 July.
Ives, who was harassed at the 2021 conference, was not impressed by the QEII once again hosting the LGB Alliance.
“Hey @QEIICentre it’s really interesting that you’re hosting the LGB Alliance conference again this year,” tweeted Ives.
“You can hardly claim ignorance this time. Tell me, will any trans people attending be subject to hate crimes as I was?”
Startling video footage captured the moment LGB Alliance supporter Alexander Bramham and his then-boyfriend Brad berated Ives. “You are a man,” Brad said repeatedly in the clip.
https://twitter.com/jenivescomedian/status/1506430450759348229?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1506430450759348229%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinknews.co.uk%2F2022%2F03%2F25%2Flgb-alliance-conference-trans-comedian-jen-ives-video%2F
“Pro-anorexia websites are banned, but your crap is published everywhere, promoted everywhere,” he added. “You are a mentally ill, autogynephilic pervert.”
Bramham, who was running for Manchester City Council, was suspended from the Conservative Party in April after receiving multiple complaints.
The LGB Alliance has, among other things, compared LGBTQ-inclusion to bestiality, refused to denounce its neo-Nazi and homophobic supporters and defended working with the anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion group, the Heritage Foundation.
Multiple queer community leaders and organisations, including Pride in London and journalist Owen Jones, have described the LGB Alliance as a “hate group”.
After the group was awarded charitable status in 2021 by the government’s charity regulator, Charity Commission for England and Wales, Mermaids lodged a legal appeal to be hard this year.
The trans youth charity argued that the LGB Alliance has one goal and one goal only – the [rejecting] the rights – and in some cases, existence – of trans people”.
PinkNews contacted the Queen Elizabeth II Centre for comment.
