Personally, I am quite ambivalent when it comes to Pride. Part of me worries that it actually generates more homophobia and stigmatisation as it creates an increased sense of "us and them", which is never a good thing whatever demographic we are talking about; race, gender, religion, age just to name a few. Wherever we find "us and them" inevitably comparisons arise and that is never a good thing - "I am better than you because I am______" is the root of all bigotry. The best kind of dialogue respects individuality, but builds a narrative based on we.
I do also have concerns with the way Hollywood in particular has a tendency to drop same-sex relationships into every single TV series they make, because while there is nothing abnormal about it, it does not bear out in reality. I knowingly know only one person (three if I include a couple of people I went to school with who I no longer have real contact with) who would describe themselves as gay / lesbian and I know one of my former teachers transitioned from him to her. So that is four people out of the hundreds of people I know. Admittedly, some may be in the closet, but it is still very much a minority. While I see what Hollywood's agenda is trying to achieve - acceptance through familiarity of generally likeable characters - it does feel propagandist and can create more hostility.
Having made my concerns abundantly clear it is time to launch into what I really want to say to say.
Pride is good for business
Why do you think that local councils fund Pride? It's not out of the goodness of their hearts. It's because it's a money-maker for local businesses, and it sends a signal that attracts people to your town. People LIKE Pride. It's a lovely carnival atmosphere, and that's great for getting people to want to open their wallets. So if you want your town's businesses to thrive, you should welcome Pride.
Pride is good for your health
Whether you attend it or not is up to you - but Pride brings together lots of people from across the country. It gives them joy, it gives them activities to do, and it gets them out of the house. All of which is great for their health! That means the NHS is spending less time having to treat anxiety and depression - leaving more time and resources over to treat other problems. Including yours!
Pride is good for straight people
The message of Pride is not to exclude straight people. Far from it. It's about bringing everyone together, and it's about equality. It's about finding joy in ourselves as people, in our identities, in our sexuality, in the love we feel (or don't feel!) for other people. If you aren't gay or bi or trans - Pride is still there for you, to say hey, you're a valid person too. And your point of view matters.
Pride is a celebration of individuality.
To be whom you want to be, with whom you want that to be with, because until you can be open and proud without having to justify yourself, and find you being abused, beaten or murdered for just simply being yourself, then it shows it still needs to continue.. A celebration of love. That’s all it is
Finally to bring my point home I remind us all that we were all children once and at some point in our journey some of discovered we were gay, just because that is who we are. No one influenced us and the reason you see more of it, is because it is no longer hidden away, as in the past. Trust me, no one would want any child to get the persecution that you receive with being gay!
Just get on with your life and let others get on with theirs.
As always stay safe and well my friends
