Introduction by The Forest Editor Aiden:

When I ran our former Forest Gate community hub Tracks, we were proud of our partnership with the local LGBTQIA+ community. We hosted many events in our inclusive, safe space including the annual queer celebration Forest Gayte Pride and the community building social initiative She.Her.They.Them to uplift queer women, non-binary and gender non-conforming people across Newham. Not just a parade or a party, these events helped break down barriers through education and engagement to enrich the lives of local LGBTQIA+ people plus provide a platform for marginalised queer voices.

During my time there I didn't experience any significant social division, discrimination, transphobic or homophobic hate - just community unity with people coming together from all walks of life. So seeing the shocking scenes that the Progress Pride Flag murals have been defaced with repeated acts of vandalism in such short succession is alarming and not reflective of the tolerant nature found in Forest Gate.

As ever, it's reassuring to see the extended E7 community coming together through local activism as Forest Gayte Pride joins forces with the Newham Solidarity Fund and allies including Kelly Drake, Suz Hu of The UP Garden and more local residents to show solidarity and support. Here's more on the call to arms by Newham Solidarity Fund's Rebecca Woo Walker.
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On Monday, 22 July, 2024, members of Forest Gate, London and neighbouring communities held a public meeting outside Forest Gate railway station at one of the three recently-vandalised Pride flags.

These flags, added to pavements around the station by the London Borough of Newham in 2022 as part of its Community Assemblies (now People Powered Places) scheme, have been vandalised six times.
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Organisers of the public meeting told the crowd of over 100 that the rate of transphobic hate crimes has increased by 11 per cent in the last year, and by over 180 per cent over the last five years.

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They highlighted how the power of narratives set by politicians and people with influence like JK Rowling and Tommy Robinson have real consequences for the lives of LGBTQIA+ people.

“Last year I attended a protest in Clapham where a gay couple were physically attacked and stabbed. A week before that a similar attack took place in Brixton. I do not want to see the same happen in Forest Gate.”

Jeandré Coetser, organiser and Forest Gate resident
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‍Using chalk, local residents of all ages drew on the flags and transformed their defacement into an image of love.

Members of the community took to the microphone telling the LGBTQIA+ communities “We stand with you.” and expressing thanks to the London Borough of Newham for investing in painting - and repainting - the Pride flags on the pavements of Forest Gate.

The public meeting is the latest in a series of actions taken by different members of the local community.

Immediately after the flags were vandalised for a sixth time, a group of concerned residents came together to organise a response. The group, known as Queers + Allies, have been encouraging businesses on Forest Gate’s high street and local residents to display Pride flags to show solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ communities.

“We set up a response group because we believe it’s important to counter the recent attempts to cover up and deface our beautiful Pride flags. Our message is simple: Everyone is welcome - no hate in Forest Gate!”

Queers + Allies, local community group


For further updates follow @forestgaytepride and @newhamsolidarityfund
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