On May 24^th 2025, we were delighted to join other community groups at Moseley Queer Pride in solidarity with Palestine. This was our first public event as a newly formed Amnesty group, and it felt fitting that our first act as a local group was one of solidarity with other local activist groups.

This event had been organised as an alternative to Birmingham Pride 2025. Birmingham Pride 2025 was considered for boycott due to the crediting and investment activities of its long-time sponsors, HSBC bank. According to ethicalconsumer.org, there is evidence of HSBC financing military weapons and companies linked to settlements.

The energy, community joy and support at this event was palpable. Speaking to many attendees revealed that people had travelled from far and wide to be part of this celebration of pride and solidarity.

This event not only offered entertainment and community in Birmingham, but also was a direct fundraiser for Medical Aid for Palestinians alongside direct financial aid to several queer Gazans. Moreover, it created a platform for queer Palestinian voices, such as Elias Jahshan, author of ‘This Arab is Queer’. Organising that centres Palestinian voices in the context of what Amnesty International U.K. describes as ‘genocide against Palestinians in Gaza’ is inevitably impacted by its cost to human life. On this occasion, two panellists were unable to join following recent killings of loved ones in Gaza.

In these times, standing as a community locally and globally is more vital than ever. As one of the event organisers reminded us, ‘our queer solidarity is not transactional, it is unconditional’. This lesson of unconditional solidarity with the human rights of all people should serve as a lodestar at night, a candle in the darkness.

by Bella (co-secretary, B12, B13, B14)

References

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/money-finance/israel-deadly-investments

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/issues/crisis-gaza-israel