Feminist Activist Removed From Pride Over Safeguarding Questions

A Feminist Campaigner's Experience at Pride in Surrey

A prominent feminist campaigner has shared her experience of being asked to leave a Pride event after raising concerns about safeguarding. Julie Bindel, known for her gender-critical views and as a journalist, reported that four security staff members instructed her to leave the Pride event in Surrey after she interviewed attendees for a podcast.

The event took place on Saturday, marking its return following the imprisonment of Stephen Ireland, co-founder of Pride in Surrey, for 24 years for raping an “extremely vulnerable” 12-year-old boy he met on Grindr. Despite this, the event proceeded, even though Surrey County Council had withdrawn its support in July. The council expressed doubts about whether the event truly represented the entire LGBTQ+ community.

Bindel mentioned that she and a colleague engaged in a calm conversation with Zöe Franklin, the Liberal Democrat MP for Guildford, regarding safeguarding issues related to the event. However, shortly after this discussion, they were confronted by security personnel. The conversation centered on whether there was police oversight of safeguarding at the event.

Franklin clarified that she was not directly affiliated with Pride in Surrey but noted that the organization had stated that the police had no concerns. Bindel and her colleague claimed that the security intervention was prompted by a complaint from Franklin. Bindel told The Telegraph that their removal constituted an attack on free speech.

She stated, “The era of ‘no debate’ continues, at least in Surrey. Polite questioning of a public servant about serious issues is now ‘uncomfortable’ to hear, and it is easier for these censors to resort to shutting down whistleblowers and investigative reporters to feel grateful that they have raised the issue.”

Footage from the event captured Bindel surrounded by security staff wearing high-visibility jackets. Another staff member reportedly asked if she would leave voluntarily, before allegedly stating, “I now will take action for you to leave.”

Pride in Surrey states on its website: “Surrey Police have made it explicitly clear that there are no concerns” with the organization. However, Lisa Townsend, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, contested this statement, writing on X: “I don’t speak on behalf of the Force (my job is to hold them to account), but I would make the purely factual point that Surrey Police have not ‘made it explicitly clear that there are no concerns with [PiS] organisation, structure, safeguarding…”

A Liberal Democrat spokesman denied the claims, stating, “This is entirely false – Zöe did not ask officials to remove anyone from the pride event.”

Whistleblowers had raised safeguarding concerns about Pride in Surrey as early as 2021, prior to Ireland committing his crimes and his eventual arrest in 2024. Following reports that these concerns were ignored, the council severed ties with the Pride organization this year, expressing their belief that the event was not representative of the entire LGBTQ+ community.

The council stated, “While we continue to wholeheartedly support the LGBTQ+ community in Surrey, there have been concerns raised about Pride in Surrey as an organisation. At this time, we do not believe Pride in Surrey to be truly representative of the whole LGBTQ+ community. Therefore, Surrey county council will not be attending or funding Surrey Pride.”

Pride in Surrey has been contacted for comment.