Both Blackpool MPs pledge support for the trans community

A week before Pride, Blackpool's two MPs put out a joint statement backing the town's trans community.

Chris Webb (Blackpool South) and Lorraine Beavers (Blackpool North and Fleetwood) said their support was unconditional, responding to the Equality and Human Rights Commission's updated Code of Practice. That guidance follows the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling that "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex.

In the statement, the MPs argued that narrowing legal definitions will harm trans people and could affect anyone who does not match someone else's idea of how a gender should look or behave. They also pointed to the UK's fall to 22nd on ILGA-Europe's Rainbow Map, which they partly blamed on the ruling.

Both said they would stand with the LGBTQ+ community at Blackpool Pride the following week.

If you need support, Horizon LGBTQ+ at Renaissance UK runs peer groups and counselling from Dickson Road, and Lancashire LGBT runs groups across the county.