A local transgender model has spoken out on an important event for the LGBTQ+ community that will take place this weekend. 

Reading Pride will occur on August Saturday 31 which will see our town decked in every colour of the rainbow to celebrate gay pride. 

However, Katie Bocon, 50, a transgender woman who lives in the town, said that she hopes there will be more of a police presence this year given the rioting in the UK. 

 "There needs to be more of a police presence to prevent and avoid any acts of abuse or even any rioting," Ms Bocon said. 

"They need to be there to act if anything does go wrong."

When asked if she will be attending Reading Pride this year, Ms Bocon said that although she fervently supports pride she does not tend to go to them. 

"I have pride every day, that's how I feel," she said. "People dress up and put on all the feathers for that one day, but I dress up every day.

"I have joy every day. I do not have the need to go to them. I went to Pride in Bristol in 2019 because I used to live in the west country, and I felt as if I was in a zoo with everyone staring at me."

Ms Bocon previously said that she has been verbally and physically abused by members of the public on multiple occasions in this town. 

After spending most of her time in the UK in the west country, Ms Bocon moved to Reading at the end of 2023. 

"I had high expectations for diversity and inclusion in the town," she said. "I thought I would have less hassle with people in Reading but that is not the case.

"I have a really good sense of humour and most of it makes me laugh, but there have been instances where people have been really awful and even violent."

Ms Bocon, who is a semi-professional model, said that on one occasion when a group of tourists were taking pictures with her in Forbury Gardens, a man shouted at them across the park and said "Don't take pictures, he has a c*ck."

Ms Bocon said she found the whole situation very unpleasant and felt that she had been publicly shamed in front of everyone. 

She later that day reported the incident to the police, but said that not much action was taken. She has now reported five incidents to the police, all mainly occurring in central Reading. 

The police were asked to comment but said that they do not comment on complaints, as it would be inappropriate to do so.