Drag performers have withdrawn from a local Pride event after discovering that its organiser is a Reform UK councillor, citing concerns about the party’s record on LGBTQ+ rights and values.
More than 10 drag artists have announced they will boycott Attleborough Pride, due to take place in August, after learning that the event is being organised by Daniel Burcham, a recently elected Reform UK councillor on Norfolk County Council.
The dispute emerged after a now-deleted promotional post for the event appeared on Facebook, featuring images of drag performers from previous Pride celebrations. Several of the performers said they had not given permission for their images to be used and were unaware of the organiser’s political affiliation at the time.
Those pulling out of the event have accused Reform UK of campaigning against the interests of LGBTQ+ people, pointing to the party’s positions on Pride symbolism and wider equality issues. One performer, using the stage name Stealia Jobs, said small-town Pride events remain vital, but values and accountability matter.
“Small Prides are absolutely needed,” the performer said. “But it’s a question of morals. It feels wrong to be associated with someone who works with a party that actively campaigns against people like us. That goes against everything Pride is meant to be.”
Another organiser involved with the event said there was “no Pride without acceptance”, adding that opposition from Reform-led councils to flying the Pride flag on public buildings had made collaboration untenable for some in the community.
The issue has been further inflamed by Norfolk County Council’s recent decision to stop flying the Pride flag. While council staff have responded by wearing Pride badges and displaying rainbows on screens, trade union representatives described the policy as a “calculated snub” that caused disappointment among employees.
Responding to the boycott, Burcham told the Eastern Daily Press that sexuality should not dictate political beliefs and criticised what was described as the politicisation of a community event. Burcham has also defended opposition to flying the Pride flag at county hall, arguing that the symbol does not represent all LGBTQ+ people.
However, critics say such positions undermine the purpose of Pride events, which are rooted in protest, visibility and solidarity. Campaigners argue that Pride cannot be meaningfully separated from politics when LGBTQ+ rights and recognition remain contested.
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