It’s been almost two weeks since London Pride 2019, and what an unforgettable day it was! Over 1.5 million people made their way into the capital to celebrate and support the #PrideJubilee, excited to see the 30,000+ people marching in the parade. The sun was shining, flags were flying, glitter was glistening, and the dancing was pure inspiration. The LGBTQ+ community was out in full force.
Pride 2019 was an especially significant event as it came 50 years after the New York Stonewall Riots, a catalyst for the modern gay rights movement. The progress and achievements of this movement over the last half a century is cause for much celebration, as well as remembrance. As the youngest member of the RCN Library & Archive team (not a brag), my experiences within university and school life in the UK over the last 10 years has given me massive gratitude and respect to everyone who has suffered simply for being who they are, without faltering in their convictions.
My own feelings of confusion and uncertainty were greater than any feelings of being ashamed, and for this I have to say thank you to all those before me who stood proudly in the face of discrimination, which I hope I nor anyone else has to experience. However, until everybody everywhere can feel this way, can feel unashamed, can feel loved, and free to love, the Pride celebrations will never stop.
In the weeks running up to Pride 2019 I heavily debated whether this is the year I would march and fly my flag. I had never been before. As Saturday 6th July came ever closer, I had nearly resigned to waiting another year. I really wanted to go, but I felt apprehensive that I wouldn’t fit in. I felt very silly for feeling this way as I have no embarrassment for who I am, but it was a worry that stemmed from comments I’d received during the times when I was trying to understand my sexuality, comments like “you’re obviously not gay” and other efforts to make me feel like my appearance and behaviour didn’t fit in to what ignorant people expected of an LGBTQ+ individual, so much so, that I almost believed them. Now, after meeting and marching with such a welcoming, proud, beautiful bunch of RCN members and staff (all 27 of them!), I know I had nothing to worry about.
The parade was incredible. I have never before experienced such an uplifting atmosphere celebrating love and life, it was almost overwhelming. The infectious smiles, dancing, and cheering from everyone around me is something I will never forget. As we passed under the balloon rainbow that marked the end of the parade, I felt like I had just finished a marathon, though the excitement and adrenaline could have tricked me into marching with the flag for another few miles.
After saying goodbyes to the fabulous people I marched alongside, I couldn’t stop smiling as I made my way home walking through the roads of Waterloo. Making this journey alone with all the colours of the rainbow on my body and the ‘PROUD’ exclamation across my shirt, I realised how different it feels to be loud and proud without 30,000 others surrounding you. I had a fleeting doubt where I wondered if I would get odd looks, or muttered words of discontent, yet, once again I had nothing to worry about. Multiple strangers joyfully wished me ‘Happy Pride’ on my journey, and the man in Tesco said “Wow!” in a way that made me think maybe next year he’ll be in the parade too.
One of the reasons I decided to go to Pride 2019 was my admiration of the work I have seen my fellow library colleague Janan Nuri do to support the LGBT community within the RCN. The organisation that you put into the RCN’s representation at Pride was amazing, and I know I speak for everybody who attended when I say thank you. I probably wouldn’t have attended if there wasn’t a familiar face, and so for Pride 2020 I know there will be many!
In 2018, Janan wrote a blog on why Pride mattered to her, explaining that “If marching in the parade can help just one person in the crowd feel less alone, or frightened, or ashamed- if marching makes just one person feel more accepted, more confident, more proud, then it is worth it.”
So then, it is worth it. I will see you all at Pride 2020!
Cat Adventures 