Today we wrote to the LAS CEO, Jason Killens, in response to his letter this week partially withdrawing some support for our staff that are part of the LAS contingent in the London Pride March on the 4th July by no longer providing an operational ambulance in the parade and not allowing staff to attend in full uniform. The following is our letter to Jason:
Jason,
I hope this letter finds you well.
I am writing on behalf of the LAS UNISON Branch Committee in response to your letter of the 8th June 2026 regarding the Trust’s revised approach to participation in Pride in London 2026. We appreciate the clarity you have provided and note your acknowledgement that “none of the options available… were particularly favourable” and that the Trust’s commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion remains unchanged. We also note your reference to the High Court judgment in R (Smith) v Chief Constable of Northumbria Police (2025) and the need for public sector organisations to ensure political neutrality.
However, after careful consideration and extensive feedback from our LGBTQ+ members, we must express our strong concern regarding the decision to prohibit the wearing of operational uniform in the parade and to withdraw the operational ambulance traditionally liveried for Pride. While your letter explains that the judgment does not directly apply to NHS Ambulance Services, it also states that the Trust has nonetheless chosen to adopt a more cautious approach. Our members do not feel this caution is justified, proportionate, or aligned with the values of the organisation.
The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) has issued a clear statement confirming that the High Court ruling does not apply to ambulance services and does not restrict their participation in Pride events. Other ambulance trusts, including NWAS only last week, have continued to participate fully and visibly, including in uniform. Our members therefore struggle to understand what specific legal advice distinguishes LAS from the national position set out by AACE.
For many LGBTQ+ staff, wearing operational uniform at Pride is not symbolic—it is deeply personal. As one colleague expressed, wearing the uniform daily is a source of pride, and marching in it at Pride sends a clear message to LGBTQ+ Londoners, including those who may feel anxious about calling 999, that this service is safe for them and that people like them work here. Removing uniform does not create neutrality; it simply makes us less visible at a time when visibility matters most.
This decision also lands in a wider national context in which transgender people in particular are facing increasing hostility and uncertainty. The court case referenced in your letter centred specifically on gender identity, and the current EHRC code of practice has been widely reported as having disproportionately negative impacts on trans people. At a time when many of our colleagues are feeling anxious, this partial withdrawal from visible support—however unintended—has caused real hurt. As another colleague put it, their existence is not political; they came here to be a paramedic and help others just like everyone else in green.
We would also highlight that the LAS routinely applies additional branding to operational vehicles, including poppies for Remembrance Day and masonic logos on emergency responder vehicles. It is therefore difficult to reconcile the position that Pride livery presents a unique challenge. Furthermore, the Pride in London march is supported by the GLA, Westminster Council and the Mayor of London, all of whom provide public funding and oversight. It is not an event that sits outside the civic framework in which we operate.
Finally, we would hope that even in the unlikely event of a legal challenge, the LAS would choose to defend its full involvement in Pride as a strong advocate for its LGBTQ+ staff and the communities we serve.
In light of the above, we request that the Trust reinstates:
1. The wearing of operational uniform for staff participating in the Pride parade,
and
2. The use of an operational LAS ambulance with Pride livery,
as has been the longstanding and valued practice.
We believe this approach is fully consistent with the Trust’s stated values of Caring, Respect and Teamwork, and with your own assurance that “our commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion remains as strong as ever.”
We look forward to your response and to working in partnership to ensure that LAS remains a visibly inclusive employer that stands proudly alongside its LGBTQ+ workforce.
Kind regards,
LAS UNISON
