Ambulance service will not participate in Pride

West Midlands Ambulance Service has told its staff the organisation will not be participating in Birmingham Pride this weekend.

In a statement from its executive board, the service said it had not taken the decision "lightly", but had received legal advice that participating as a public body could breach "political impartiality".

Its statement went on to say participation could create a "reasonable perception" the service actively supports specific views, which would be "contrary to the protected beliefs" of other people.

The decision comes after Pride organisers in the city banned some political parties from attending last year, following a Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman was based on biological sex.

Eva Echo, Birmingham Pride's (BP) director of innovation, previously said: "The trans+ community is still ignored by politicians at local and national level.

"For too long we've been talked over, used for political gain and forced to watch as our rights are stripped away, and our existence twisted beyond recognition.

"Those who do not fully commit themselves to supporting and protecting us throughout the year, do not have a place with us during Pride, just because it suits them."

BP describes itself as a continuing "protest until injustice against LGBTQIA+ people everywhere ends and true equality is achieved".

A member of West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) staff, who wished to remain anonymous, said the decision had left colleagues feeling "isolated, unsupported, and increasingly uncertain about where the organisation now draws the line on equality and inclusion".

They said: "For many staff, participation in Pride was never viewed as a political statement, but as a visible commitment to inclusion, staff wellbeing, and reassuring LGBTQ+ patients and communities that they are welcomed and respected by their ambulance service."

However, a WMAS spokesperson said that while the service acknowledged Pride organisers' mission statement, as a public body it must follow the law while upholding its duty to promote fairness and prevent discrimination.

"As a public sector organisation, we need to ensure that we discharge the public sector equality duty and comply with the principles of public law," they said.

WMAS took its decision after the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) recently stated a High Court ruling restricting uniformed police officers from attending Pride events "does not apply to ambulance services".

It said it welcomed the opportunity for ambulance services across the country to continue to take part.

Responding to the WMAS move, an AACE spokesperson said: "Supporting Pride should be continued because we're supporting marginalised groups, groups that have pretty large health inequalities. They need to know they can be supported by the ambulance service.

"I wonder where are they going to draw the line. What are they saying is political, and what isn't? I think people feel a bit abandoned by the trust, they can't really understand why or where it's come from."

WMAS said it remained fully supportive of its staff belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community but confirmed it had withdrawn from the Pride parade.

"We have informed the organisers as to why we are unable to participate and will keep this decision under review for next and future years," a spokesperson added.

WMAS's LGBTQIA+ workplace community group, Proud Network, said that while as a committee it was "disappointed with the decision, we understand the reasoning behind it".

The BBC has approached Birmingham Pride organisers for comment on the service's decision.

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