Pride in London Follows Up 'Never March Alone' with Trans and Non-binary Youth Competition at Queer Britain

Pride in London has announced the winner of its trans and non-binary youth photography competition. As a continuation of its Never March Alone campaign, the charity encouraged trans and non-binary young people (aged 13-19) to submit an image that represents something or someone that brings them joy in their everyday life. 

Devised and coordinated by TMW Unlimited, part of UNLIMITED, the aim is to celebrate and emphasise LGBTQIA+ support and allyship for the trans community. The shortlisted entrants are being displayed at Queer Britain, alongside the portraits from the Never March Alone campaign. 

The winning portrait was submitted by Marty (he/they, born 2006) and depicts his close friend, Finn, surrounded by flowers. Marty said, “I wanted to create a soft ethereal image highlighting his beauty, and to show that everyone should and can feel comfortable and beautiful in their own skin.” 

The prize for first place was donated by Canon, a longstanding client of UNLIMITED. Marty received a Canon EOS R6 Mark II, and all the work displayed at Queer Britain was printed on Canon’s PRO series range of photo and fine art printers, using Hahnnemühle Hemp fine art media. 

The competition was promoted on social and through trans youth organisations. The shortlist and overall winner was chosen by Bex Wade, (they/them), one of Pride in London’s campaign photographers, and Elizabeth Dumergue, director of diversity and inclusion at Pride in London.  

Bex Wade, Never March Alone Campaign photographer, said, “For trans people, the state of the world can feel far from joyful right now, so I am thrilled that joy was the theme for this competition. So often, young trans people are told by others who they are, how they can be and, most prevalently, who they can’t be. The winning image captures joy, the dreamlike possibilities of transness, and the serenity of being seen by another trans person. Alongside the innate beauty of this photograph there is an understated rawness, a hopeful sense of joy that in being seen by others, we can see ourselves.” 

Elizabeth Dumergue, director of diversity and inclusion, Pride in London said, ”It was a real privilege to be one of the judges of the trans youth photography competition.  The quality of the pictures, and the delight and wonder that they captured was inspirational. At a time when we are increasingly seeing barriers put in the way of trans youth living their best lives, it was great to see so much joy in the photographs.  At Pride in London, we want to send a strong message to all trans people that we stand with them and they will never march alone.“ 

Kate Craggs, associate creative director, TMW Unlimited said, “The ambition of the Never March Alone campaign is to show authentic depictions of the richness of trans lives. It was a privilege to extend that platform to the younger trans and non-binary generation, empowering them to express themselves on their terms.

We were overwhelmed by the variety, skill and storytelling of the competition entries - and it’s both powerful and hopeful to see our winner and shortlist side-by-side with our official campaign portraits.”