United, undeterred and unafraid, trans people rally over court ruling

After last week's supreme court decision, activists had been worried that trans people might become fearful of going out in public in case they were abused.

- James Tapper

They weren't afraid in London yesterday. Thousands of trans and non-binary people thronged Parliament Square, alongside families and supporters, waving baby blue, white and pink flags to demonstrate their anger at the judges' ruling.

The numbers seemed to take the organisers and police by surprise. Protesters from a hastily assembled coalition of 24 groups gathered in a ring against the barriers surrounding the grass and began speeches. But after the roads became clogged with people, a woman wearing a "Nobody knows I'm a lesbian" top ran across with her dog and soon the square was full. "It's one hell of a turnout and there is a really strong sense of unity and solidarity," said Jamie Strudwick, one of the organisers. "I think it's impossible to compare it - it's like nothing I've ever seen before."