Warwickshire Pride respond to Reform UK councillor’s statement on ‘safeguarding’ and ‘gender ideology’

Organisers of Warwickshire Pride have released their own statement in response to another from the Leader of Warwickshire County Council, Reform UK councillor George Finch. His latest statement relates to libraries, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and ‘safeguarding’ against what he describes as "contested gender ideology."

Since being elected into office, Cllr Finch’s words and actions have repeatedly targeted minority communities including the LGBTQ+ community, such as calling for the Pride flag to no longer be displayed outside the council building; a request that was rejected by the council’s chief executive, Monica Fogarty.

Finch’s latest statement continues to target LGBTQ+ people, suggesting that libraries should be “politically neutral, family-friendly and not seek to embolden political ideologies.” The mere existence of trans people, and LGBTQ+ families Finch says are “highly-charged and polarising issues and should not be taught to children as pure fact.”

"Warwickshire Pride believes that Councillor Finch's comments form part of a wider pattern of rhetoric that has targeted transgender people and contributed to hostility towards the wider LGBTQ+ community."

In response to Cllr Finch’s statement, Warwickshire Pride organisers said: “At a time when LGBTQ+ people, and particularly transgender people, are facing increasing hostility, misinformation, and political targeting, it is disappointing to see the Leader of Warwickshire County Council adopt language that further marginalises members of our community.

“Councillor Finch's statement presents the existence of transgender people and information about LGBTQ+ identities as a political ideology rather than the lived reality of thousands of people across Warwickshire. Being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or otherwise part of the LGBTQ+ community is not an ideology. It is not a political campaign. It is not a belief system. It is simply part of the rich diversity of human experience.

“Libraries exist to provide access to knowledge, information, literature, and diverse perspectives. The suggestion that books or resources acknowledging LGBTQ+ people somehow undermine neutrality is both misleading and dangerous. Representation is not indoctrination. Inclusion is not political campaigning. Ensuring that LGBTQ+ people can see themselves reflected in books, educational materials, and public spaces is no different from ensuring that people of different faiths, ethnicities, disabilities, ages, and backgrounds are represented.”

Finch’s statement claims that a number of Warwickshire residents have raised issues with local libraries “promoting contested gender ideology.”

He adds: “To combat this trend, my administration will begin work on a comprehensive policy to strengthen neutrality, increase safeguarding, and provide parents with peace of mind that their children are not being told to believe one set of political ideas over any other.

“This policy will cover not just our libraries, but all Warwickshire County Council-owned public spaces. The role of a library is to provide access to information and ideas, and the Council should not be actively promoting contested political or ideological causes to children.

“Materials focused on adult themes, such as sex, gender, identity, or contested social and medical issues must be handled in an age-appropriate and responsible way. Any policy that we bring forward will be developed thoughtfully and lawfully. Our principle on this matter is simple. Warwickshire County Council should inform and serve residents, not campaign at them.”

This statement from Cllr Finch comes after the Reform UK council for Essex banned libraries from promoting LGBTQ+ Pride events, and the Reform UK council for Durham withdrew funding for the city’s 2026 Pride celebrations. Happily, Durham Pride 2026 was ultimately able to go ahead when trade unions came together to raise funding; reflecting an age-old relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and unions, spanning from the LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners) fundraising during the 80s strikes.

The censorship of LGBTQ+ materials and events across the UK, however, has been likened by many to Section 28; the UK legislation that prohibited local authorities and state schools from "promoting homosexuality" or presenting same-sex relationships as “acceptable family units”.

Warwickshire Pride’s statement continues: “Warwickshire Pride is proud to work alongside Warwickshire Libraries through our LGBTQ+ book groups at Leamington Spa Library and Stratford-upon-Avon Library. These groups provide safe, welcoming spaces where people can come together to discuss literature, share experiences, and combat social isolation. They are a positive example of libraries doing exactly what they are intended to do: bringing communities together, encouraging learning, and fostering understanding between people from different walks of life.

“We also want to express our full support and solidarity with library employees across Warwickshire. Library staff work tirelessly to provide inclusive, accessible services for everyone in our communities. They should not be subjected to political attacks simply for ensuring that library collections reflect the diversity of the people they serve. We thank them for their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to making libraries welcoming spaces for all.

“History teaches us important lessons about what happens when politicians begin deciding which books, ideas, identities, or groups are acceptable in public spaces. The book burnings of Nazi Germany stand as one of history's starkest warnings about the dangers of restricting access to information, suppressing diverse viewpoints, and targeting minority communities. While today's circumstances are clearly different, the principle remains relevant: public bodies should not seek to limit access to information simply because it relates to a minority group or because some people find it uncomfortable. Libraries should be places of learning, exploration, and understanding, not tools for political censorship.

“We are particularly concerned by the implication that information relating to gender identity and LGBTQ+ lives requires special scrutiny beyond that applied to other groups in society. Such rhetoric risks creating an environment where LGBTQ+ people are singled out, treated as inherently controversial, and excluded from public life.”

The organisers close their statement by calling upon Councillor Finch to withdraw his statement and engage constructively with LGBTQ+ communities across Warwickshire. They also add that he should “reaffirm his commitment to serving all residents of our county equally, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or background.

“As a public servant, the Leader of the Council has a responsibility to represent every resident of Warwickshire, not just those who share his personal or political views. Leadership requires bringing communities together, not singling out already vulnerable groups for political attention.”