50 Years of Queers Content - Pride

Pride is an event which has been organised by a plethora of organisations, the first UK Gay Pride Rally was held in London on 1^st July 1972. In 1997, following a vote by the members of the Pride Trust, the event was renamed "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride" and became the largest free music festival in Europe.

Pride was originally created to commemorate the Stonewall riots of 1969 and was originally called lesbian and gay pride before the name was changed to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride in 1997. The event is now just known as ‘Pride’ across the globe, inclusive celebration of all LGBTQ+ people. 

Things to do at Pride: 

• Get a flag.
• Get glittery. 
• Start celebrating who you and everyone around you are, no judgment or prejudice towards anyone is evident at pride. 
• You will lose everyone you know in crowds of people, and you'll meet new people trying to find them.
• There is no dress crowd, dress to impress whoever you want, mainly yourself. 
• Recognise at least 45% of people you have ever seen on Tinder/Grindr.
• A queen will 'throw shade' at you, but you'll live for it. 
• Listen to the performances. 
• Embrace all the beauty around you, whether it is LGBTQ+ or not. 

Things not to do at Pride: 

• Learn about the history of pride before you attend. Pride isn't just a weekend to drink and dance and get all glittery, there is a strong and rich history behind why and when Pride is. The more you know about it the more you will be able to embrace it. 
• Respect the boundaries of the LGBTQ+ community, there are events such as Dyke March or Trans March, picnics for queer people of colour, or a rally for disabled queer and trans folks. These events are created for a reason. 
• Don't gawk at what you find, people have this week to explore and celebrate their feelings and true personalities, this is not a time for judgement. 
• Don't speculate on gender or LGBTQ+ spectrum that one person, in particular, identifies themselves with, because well it doesn't affect you and no one wants their own identifications turned into a spectacle or a game, it is just disrespectful. 
• Don't panic if someone hits you, it's pride and it's a place where homosexuality is the majority, rather than the minority, so just be prepared if it does happen don't freak out. 

Why is pride still important:

Gay pride is all about a community being visible and belonging to a community, a town, a city, a nation and the wider world. Not only is it a celebration of the developments within the acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, its spreading hope that things will continue to do so. People all over the world are still being oppressed, losing their lives, and their free will to be who they are, and pride is there to carry on the battle to end this injustice. 

Up and coming Pride Events UK: 

• Brighton Pride 04 August 
• Bristol Pride 14 July
• Birmingham Pride 26 May
• Coventry Pride 09 June
• Durham Pride 28 May
• Dublin Pride 23 June
• Isle of Wight Pride 20 July 
• Leeds Pride 08 August
• Liverpool 28 July
• Manchester 24 August
• Newcastle Pride 20 July
• Oxford Pride 02 June
• Edingbourgh Pride 16 June
• Southampton Pride 25 August 
• York Pride 09 June