Pride Month – Is Every Month
June marks Pride Month, and as much as I don’t believe in dedicated days and months to remember or celebrate something, LGBT issues are very close to my heart.
This month if only a handful of people learn something new about the hardships that the LGBTQ community has suffered over the years. I’m happy.
As a mum to a son who falls under the LGBTQ “banner”, I am always educating myself and those around me on the emotional impact it has on us as a family and my sons daily life.
I really wish that we as a society didn’t feel the need to attach labels to how people present themselves. It really shouldn’t matter what gender we present as, if any, what our sexual preferences are. We are all human beings with feelings who just want to go to school and learn, socialize, work hard at our day job, shop for groceries just like everybody else.
Believe it or not, this is not the case for so many still today!
2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
On June 28th, 1969 there was a police raid on Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in the Greenwich Village New York. A violent, multi-day rebellion after patrons of the bar resisted the discriminatory conditions they long endured. It is said that these riots began when a patron “threw the first brick” at a police officer in response to the unjust raid. June was chosen to mark Pride Month to remember those who stood up and fought for their right to love who they wanted to in 1969. Many Pride events are held in June although here in the UK many major cities choose July to hold Pride Month.
My family and I have attended several Pride events here in the UK and Copenhagen. Pride celebrates everyone, celebrates love and community. It’s the community that comes across the strongest. No judgment, no sideway looks . Just love and support. I’ve met so many people from all walks of life and ages at a Pride event. I always leave with tears rolling down my face, smiling from ear to ear, my heart full of PRIDE.
A day at Pride is full of all emotions.
I highly suggest everyone attend their local Pride event this year and see for yourself that the LGBTQ community is a wonderful, beautiful community.
Can you actually believe that over 72 countries in 2019 still criminalize gay marriage? We are blessed to live in the UK where my son can love and marry who he wishes, be the gender he chooses to be comfortable with. I am not ignorant to think that there are still many people that don’t feel the same, and these people need to be educated, talk to someone who falls under the LGBTQ+ banner. My son is an amazing person with a huge open heart, who understands that some people still need to be educated. I want to see all schools teach our children the history of the LGBTQ+ community, I want to see teachers and health professions be trained more on LGBTQ+ mental health.
1 in 2 transgender people will attempt suicide, this is a horrendous statistic that needs to be addressed. I am sure this was a statistic that was true of the gay community 20+ years ago, now it is the transgender community. I could write pages on this subject but for now, I will leave you with some great resources if you are touched by any of these issues or wish to understand more about the LGBTQ+ community. Please also feel free to contact me if you wish. One day I hope to write more openly about my journey as a mum to a son under this umbrella. When my son is ready for me to talk he will let me know.
Why not google when and where your nearest Pride celebrations are taking place? London Pride is this weekend 6/7 and Bristol Pride is 13/7. We will be flying our rainbow flags and wearing all the glitter we can find next weekend, celebrating our amazing, unique son.
Resources :
Films :
Pose – BBC Iplayer Series
Pride – Movie