Estimated 150,000 pro-trans rights demonstrators march through London - calling on Andy Burnham to reject new guidance on single-sex spaces

An estimated 150,000 people marched through central London amid calls from protesters for Andy Burnham to reject new guidance on single-sex spaces.The march began near the BBC's central London headquarters, with demonstrators holding signs which read 'marching for all my trans siblings past and present' and 'these meds save lives'.It ended with crowds spilling onto Trafalgar Square, filling the steps and the fountain walls to watch speeches – overlooked by artist Teresa Margolles's sculpture of face casts from 726 trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people.Before the march began, a mother of a trans woman who took her own life said 'more children are going to die' unless the Prime Minister works to reverse guidance on single-sex spaces that Sir Keir Starmer oversaw.Alice Litman, 20, had spent 1,023 days waiting for gender-affirming care when she took her own life in May 2022. Her mother, former NHS psychiatrist Caroline Litman, said the situation for trans people has deteriorated since then. She told of how her daughter faced name-calling, sexism, deadnaming, biphobia and a 'litany of errors' as she tried to seek out gender-affirming care, adding that 'things have got[ten] so much worse''It's just got worse and worse and worse since that happened, and it's just so disappointing,' she said.'And I kind of carry a lot of burden – I feel like we have failed in our aims and it's really, really disappointing.' She added: 'I just keep fighting, but it very often feels like nobody is listening.' An estimated 150,000 people marched through central London amid calls from protesters for Andy Burnham to reject new guidance on single-sex spacesMore recently, Burnham has called for a 'live and let live approach to life' when asked about EHRC guidance, urging people to 'stop arguing', find common ground Two of her examples were the new Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) guidance on single-sex spaces, and the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. The co-founder of advocacy group Transparent Action urged the new Prime Minister to reverse 'the anti-trans policies' ushered in by Sir Keir. 'This is telling you loud and clear: it will happen, and you will be responsible,' they said. 'More and more research is coming through every week, every month, to show that gender-affirming care is life-saving care, especially in under-18s.'It comes as the Prime Minister faced backlash over his views on single-sex spaces, as it was revealed he told a meeting that biological males who identify as female should be allowed to use women's toiletsThe former Greater Manchester mayor also said the idea that single-sex spaces should be protected for biological women was a 'minority view', angering campaigners who took the issue to the UK's highest court – and won.More recently, Mr Burnham has called for a 'live and let live approach to life' when asked about EHRC guidance, urging people to 'stop arguing', find common ground.The new PM has said of last year's Supreme Court ruling on biological sex, that amendments must be done in 'the fairest and most compassionate way possible'.EHRC guidance states single-sex services must be used based on biological sex and not gender identity, following the Supreme Court ruling in April 2025 that the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex.Speaking before the march, award-winning author Juno Dawson reminded Mr Burnham: 'Shall I tell you who loves trans people? Manchester.' Demonstrators with signs, flags and costumes start to march behind a banner saying 'Defund Transphobes Defend Trans Rights' during the London Trans+ Pride parade on July 25, 2026 A protester holds a fan with the words 'Power' written on a trans coloured fan during the London Trans+ Pride parade on July 25, 2026 The co-founder of advocacy group Transparent Action, Caroline Litman, urged the new Prime Minister to reverse 'the anti-trans policies' ushered in by Sir Keir. 'If he's going to be a Manchester Prime Minister, he really does need to speak out, like the press are never going to support him.'So he needs to just ignore that voice and go with what's right, and actually what most women believe.'By any poll, most women come out strongly in favour of trans rights, and they are his voters, so.'She added: 'Keir Starmer won in a general election on a huge mandate, and part of that was pledging his support for the LGBT community, which he didn't follow through with.'She added that there was 'no Government obligation to act on that guidance' and if Mr Burnham 'really wants to pledge his support to the LGBTQ+ community, he needs to reject that guidance'.Standing beside her, Hannah Jones, who starred in BBC show What It Feels Like For a Girl, said: 'If we're going to go on the all Andy Burnham of it all, I would like him to speak about the EHRC guidelines, but also include intersex people.'It's not as black and white as people think it is. There are intersections and intersex people are in that.'There are people who have testosterone deficiencies who are cis women, who are maybe slightly taller, may have beards – may have this, may have that – 30 per cent of the population are intersex and they just don't realise it.'I think if we really took biological sex into account, most people wouldn't be allowed in the bathroom.'Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, advocacy lead at the Trans+ Solidarity Alliance, said this year's Pride comes amid a 'hostile environment' for trans people.'I'm all too aware of the fact that as a trans man under this new guidance, I shouldn't really be going to a women's toilet, shouldn't really be going to a men's toilet,' Mr Bailey-Bearfield added.'And that excludes people like me from public life, and it's affecting non-binary people, trans women, trans men.'Trans+ Solidarity Alliance say they have seen 'really worrying huge numbers of people self-excluding' such as by quitting jobs or staying away from the office.A Government spokesperson said: 'The Government is committed to protecting the rights, dignity and safety of all LGBT+ people.'There are clear laws in place to protect trans people from discrimination and harassment, which we will continue to uphold.'We have strengthened protections for trans people against hate crime and pushed forward with our trans-inclusive conversion practices ban, as well as promoting LGBT+ rights internationally and improving LGBT+ healthcare.'Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people in education. This is why we have issued updated keeping children safe in education guidance.'