'Pathetic' Reform council leader cancels Pride celebrations in St Helen's with 'embarrassing' trans rant

'Pathetic' Reform council leader cancels Pride celebrations in St Helen's with 'embarrassing' trans rant St Helens Reform council leader George Woodward has drawn widespread condemnation after he posted a trans rant on Facebook to announce Pride support would be withdrawn A Reform leader has been branded "pathetic" after he announced plans to cease support for Pride celebrations this year with a vile trans social media rant. George Woodward, the leader of St Helens Borough Council, attacked the LGBTQ+ community in a Facebook post this morning while announcing he had "instructed officers to cease engagement" with the major monthlong celebration. He declared the council would not "be supporting or promoting Pride" while airing his own personal grievances with "transgender ideology". The councillor was broadly taken to task following the announcement, however, and branded "pathetic" by both local residents and a fellow St Helens representative. Woodward, who was elected to the council in May, said in his statement, which was posted to the social media platform with a picture of himself sitting at a window, that the council would cease engagement "with all aspects of the event". He said: "St Helens Borough Council won't be supporting or promoting Pride. I have instructed officers to cease engagement with all aspects of the event. "We don't consider celebrations of sexuality, especially those with left-wing political leanings such as Pride, to be appropriate for St Helens Borough Council to dedicate valuable officer resources." The councillor then launched into a rant, claiming Pride has "become affiliated with harmful transgender ideology", and making long-debunked claims about gender transition. He added: "I am also deeply concerned that Pride has become affiliated with harmful transgender ideology. "As a council, we have a duty of care towards young children in the borough. Being affiliated with a movement that often results in lifelong medical harm in young impressionable children is not the direction in which I want St Helens Council to travel. "Individuals, the private sector, and charities are welcome to continue to support the event as they deem appropriate." Claims that transitioning between genders causes "lifelong medical harm" have been long refuted by evidence, with studies finding that gender affirming medical intervention leave those who transition experiencing lower odds of depression in the long term. Among the raft of positive outcomes reported by multiple long-term studies were improved quality of life, greater relationship satisfaction, reductions in depression and anxiety, and increased self-esteem and confidence. While some people do regret transitioning, the rate is between .3 percent to 3.8 percent, and is usually due to transitioners not receiving the vital social support they need post-transition. Celebrations like Pride have long helped people in the LGBTQ+ community continue to build on those positive gains, and they recognise hard-won rights. Among the positive outcomes of gender transition and related medical treatments for transgender individuals are improved quality of life, greater relationship satisfaction, higher self-esteem and confidence, and reductions in anxiety, depression, suicidality, and substance use. Woodward was roundly dragged in the comments of his post, with one social media user responding: "Pathetic small man. Embarrassing." Another added: "I thought this was St Helens not Putin’s Russia!" And a third said: "Tell me you know nothing about pride without telling me you know nothing about pride." Woodward was also taken to task by another St Helens councillor, James Dunn, who directly questioned the claims he made in his post. Mr Dunn said: "For many of our LGBT residents, families, young people and allies, Pride is about visibility, safety, history, acceptance and community. "It is not a 'celebration of sexuality', and I worry about the impact of anyone’s language that frames LGBT inclusion, or trans people, as a threat. People can absolutely debate council funding, officer resources and what role the local authority should play in events with costs attached, particularly when you ran on a promise to cut costs but Individuals, charities, community groups and the private sector do not need permission from the council to support Pride. "They already did support it on Saturday, and it looks like we both missed a great day. I won’t next year. I also think it is important that residents know this view is not shared by everyone in the council chamber, our LGBT residents are part of St Helens. "Trans residents are part of St Helens. Young people working out who they are are part of St Helens and they should to know they have allies too."