Paul Mescal has shared his first public statement on trans rights, saying that it is more important than ever to “make our voices heard” given the “political climate at the moment”.
READ MORE: Here’s what went down at the ‘Trans Mission’ Wembley gig, with Wolf Alice, Adam Lambert and more
The Hamnet actor shared the statement today (Wednesday June 3), following organisers of London Trans+ Pride confirming that the protest will be returning to central London on Saturday July 25 for its eighth year.
This year’s theme for the march is ‘Our Future, Our Fight’, and it will see thousands of allies take to the streets of London to advocate for the rights, visibility and healthcare of transgender and non-binary people, as well as protest the legal and systemic issues that face the LGBTQIA community on a daily basis.
Last year’s demonstration saw over 100,000 people march together, making it the largest trans pride event in history. Now, for 2026 organisers are looking to surpass that record.
As well as confirming the theme of 2026, organisers of London Trans+ Pride have shared messages of solidarity from multiple famous faces, including the first ever public statement from Paul Mescal about trans rights.
“I’m incredibly proud to stand in support of my trans friends and the wider trans community,” he said. “Given the political climate at the moment it feels more and more pressing that we make our voices heard. This is a moment for respect, safety and recognition. Trans rights are human rights.”
His comments about the political climate are a nod towards the Supreme Court ruling passed last year, which redefined “biological sex” in a way that allows the exclusion of trans women from single-sex services.
The move was done without input from any trans-led organisations, and has now been put into practice by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Numerous trans rights organisations have spoken out against the ruling, highlighting how it leaves members of the trans community with fewer rights and protections.
As well as the redefining of “biological sex”, the government has also banned puberty blockers permanently for trans youth, and have shared the ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026’ guidance, which rolls back trans inclusion in schools.
Joining Mescal in showing solidarity for trans rights is Mel B, who described the upcoming demonstration as a way to “show up loud and proud”, especially because “every single person deserves to live freely and be exactly who they are in a world that accepts and embraces every culture, every class, every race and every one.”
Green Party member Zoë Garbett, who is the newly-elected mayor of the borough of Hackney, also showed support, saying: “London Trans+ Pride is such an important moment of solidarity and joy. In the current moment, when trans people are facing so much hostility and uncertainty, it matters more than ever that our communities come together to affirm that trans people are entitled to safety, dignity and freedom.”
“Solidarity means standing up for each other not only in words, but through action,” she continued. “In Hackney, we will not rest until every trans person can fully participate in public life. We will continue to push the government to end its anti-trans measures, whilst doing everything locally to ensure people feel safe and welcome in their community.”
Other words of support have come from Jessie Ware, Jameela Jamil, Jeremy Corbyn, Munroe Bergdorf, Jake Shears, Rina Sawayama , Harris Dickinson, Will Young, Paloma Faith, Eddie Suzy Izzard, Alison Goldfrapp, Honey Dijon, Clara Amfo, Nicola Roberts, Not A Phase founder Dani St James and more. Find the full list of quotes here.
The 2026 edition of London Trans+ Pride will take place on July 25 at 1pm outside Langham Place, and organisers are urging for “friends, family, colleagues, and anyone who believes in dignity and equality” to come together to march alongside the trans community.
“Why do we keep fighting? Because there is hope,” said LT+P organiser EM Williams. “Our Future is that hope, with the catalyst of love, believing in genuine human empathy and the desire for everyone to be treated with respect, dignity, equality and equity.”
Founding member of the demonstration, Lewis G. Burton added that the march aims to reiterate that trans people are “not headlines, culture war talking points or distractions from society’s real issues” – they are teachers, carers, artists, parents, neighbours and friends who want to live safely in their communities.
Find out more about London Trans+ Pride 2026 here.
This year’s demonstration comes on the heels of a ‘Trans Mission’ live show being held at London’s OVO Arena Wembley earlier this year, which saw 10,000 fans and numerous artists show up in support of the trans community.
The one-off show was organised by Olly Alexander and Mighty Hoopla’s Glyn Fussell, and saw performances from Wolf Alice, Beth Ditto, Adam Lambert, Sugababes, Beverley Knight, Rahim Redcar, HAAi, Jasmine.4.T, Kae Tempest, Kate Nash, MNEK, Romy, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Sink The Pink, Tom Grennan, and more.
“You have always seen a link between music, art and politics. When you look at people who make art, usually marginalised communities are right at the forefront of those spaces,” Olly Alexander told NME backstage, sitting alongside Dani St James.
“Music brings us together… Something like tonight, while it is so positive and so joyful and celebratory, it’s also about working out how we can turn it into change moving forward.”
As for Paul Mescal, the actor is set to rejoin forces with Hamnet co-star Jessie Buckley in new “outlaw romance” film Hold On To Your Angels, and he will also be taking on the role of Paul McCartney in the hotly-anticipated quartet of Beatles biopics in 2028.
Already, McCartney himself has praised the actor as being “very cute”, and they have also had a conversation about the songwriter’s new solo album ‘The Boys Of Dungeon Lane’.
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