The Culture of Pride ...

Originally posted on www.gailymail.co.uk

So pride season was just upon us with every gay from every corner of Great Britain coming out to show that there’s no shame in being gay. Pride is an important day for anyone from the LGBT community as it reminds us just how far our community has come in the last 40 years, and reminds us of events such as the Stonewall riots and those people who started the fight for equality and helped make the world a better place for us today.

I have attended a few prides over the last few years like many other people from around the country and the world, and last week I was lucky enough to attend the pride festivities in Manchester for their 21st birthday.

What pride shows me is that no matter what through the wind, rain and what ever other type of weather Britain throws at us the gay community is still prepared to get together and celebrate the fact that society is now a much safer and all round better place for us. Over the few days or in some cases weeks in which pride is celebrated every year you see people from all walks of life come together and act as one. It doesn’t matter whether you’re male, female, gay, straight, bisexual or transgendered as everyone unites and shows just how comfortable they are with their sexuality and, we mustn’t forget, have a few drinks like you would at any other celebration.

Pride isn’t just for the gays either these days, as more and more families and our supporters come together and show their solidarity to help fight for what is right, and in the process have a good time.

The pride that we know and love today started not long after the Stonewall riots, which changed everything for the gay community as it showed others that we were here and we were going to fight for our rights. In June 1970 the first Pride march was held in New York and became the first of an extended annual LGBT pride celebration. Since then Pride has continued to grow and there are pride marches and parades all over the world. The first Pride in the UK was in 1972 in London and that has continued to grow and grow over the last 40 years, and has also spawned prides all over Great Britain.

Some people today seem to think that pride isn’t as important as it once was, and have a perception that that the fight has been won and everything is OK. But the truth of the matter is, that isn’t the case. Every year we hear about children being bullied at school because they are gay or because they have been perceived to be gay, and there have been a number of high profile cases where young people have taken their own lives because of this. There is still a negative attitude from a number of people in today’s society who still seem to think that being gay is a lifestyle choice and that we don’t deserve the same rights as they do. Well we do, and pride is a time for people to get together and continue to help fight against this negativity that in some quarters is sill prevalent.

Whilst at Manchester Pride I also learnt that they had raised over £800,000 over the last few years to help charities based within the gay community, such as those dealing with HIV, which itself is reason enough for pride to carry on and help the community.

Pride is a hugely important piece of our history and by maintaining its presence over the years has aided not only the people that these charities have helped, but also many people from around the world who may have felt alone yet have come to realise that there are people just like them everywhere. It also helps to give a sense of belonging and togetherness to our community, because for years we were considered unequal and were used as scapegoats for society’s malaise, so with the help of gay pride and the constant campaigning that surrounds the celebrations, we as a community have helped empower ourselves the world over.

Pride season may be over for now and the rainbow flags and whistles have probably been confined to the drawer for another year, but just remember next year to go along to pride and show support for your community and everyone who has helped get us to this stage. You don’t have to wear pink feather boas and rainbow flags to show your support … but it’s all part of the fun.