On Friday evening, Lilly came home from work.
‘It’s pride on Sunday?’ she said.
‘Oh, okay’. I said, while watching the live Big Brother eviction.
‘What’s pride?’ she asked.
We tried to explain to her that it’s a like a massive festival to celebrate the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community. It’s a positive stance against any discrimination, violence or hate they may receive. It’s an event to acknowledge how things have changed in in the minds of many people over the generations. And in eyes of the law, to enable those in the LGBT community to live openly, without shame and enjoy the same rights as straight couples.
It’s freedom, it’s being open and honest, it’s being able to love who you love without having be ashamed or explain.
It’s freeing yourself from any burdens you may carry, any demons you may feel, any struggles with mental health you may have stemming from the inner conflict to accept your sexuality.
It’s accepting yourself. Accepting your gay brother, your lesbian aunt, your transgender friend.
It’s embracing all that may not be ‘normal’ and holding hands with difference.
But most of all, it’s smiling, from every single bone inside of you.
Because you’re not afraid anymore.
This Sunday was the first Sunday I’ve had off in yonks (apart rom when I ran Leeds 10k, last month). I no longer work Sundays at my new job, so we decided to go.
What does Pride mean to you?
What a great event! Never heard of it before, so thank you for sharing. x
Awesome place to go and have fun.
http://tifi11.blogspot.com
nice event;)!
beautifully written, and well said!
http://www.hollandsreverie.blogspot.com
nice place!!!!
Nice Corinne, well explained!!
Words cannot describe how much I love the concept of this and how much I WISH I was attending it. Beautiful!!!! I would absolutely LOVE this.
Amazing!
Kisses
Lorena
Great post! I think it’s all about saying ‘this isn’t just acceptable, this is worth CELEBRATING’ xx
Looks like so much! We just recently had the pride here in Munich as well, but I wasn’t around to see it unfortunately!
Much love xxx
CHRISTINANISTA.COM
Great photos! We had an awesome parade and festival here in Vancouver as well. I’m still amazed that so many people refuse to recognize gay rights. In 20 years I hope they look back and realize how foolish it is. Everyone should have the freedom to love whomever they want, period. Thanks for sharing the lovely photos!
You stole all the good punchy phrases out of my head! I’m just going to quote you “It’s accepting yourself. It’s embracing all that may not be ‘normal’ and holding hands with difference. It’s smiling, from every single bone inside of you. Because you’re not afraid anymore.” – Thanks you the perfect words! 😉
sounds like a great event..
Pride is a great festival celebration of acceptance, where you can be who you want to be, I only wish that the acceptance extended beyond the festival/carnival. Pride in Brighton is amazing, such a fun, friendly and accepting event. What people need to be is better at being accepting of others all of the time. Live your own life and dont judge Lucy x
Wow! Did you have a Pride Parade near you? If so, that’s quite awesome as I have always wanted to do that. It’s funny because I just saw this commercial from Burger King saying they advertised the Proud Whopper. People were all like-what is a proud whopper? They were served in a rainbow paper wrapper as opposed to the usual BK wrapper. On the inside when you opened up, it said, Different on the outside, same on the inside. That just really stuck with me and I loved the idea:) Thank you for sharing-beautiful post, Corinne!
xo Olivia
In my country , Madrid and Barcelona celebrate pride day in June. It is a big party with music and parades like in Leeds. I have never been but it seems very funny on tv. Kisses:)
I caught bits and pieces of the Liverpool Pride event and I WISH I had been able to hang around more, the atmosphere was amazing and everyone was having such a good time. It was great to see people enjoying themselves and expressing themselves in such an open way. If only it could be Pride everyday!
Sarah 🙂
Saloca in Wonderland
Great place ! This event is fabulous for gay rights 🙂
Love this post Corinne! Here in Brazil we have a big Pride community as well. YAY for gay rights!
This is so amazing! I am so happy to see love happening all over the world 🙂 Awesome photos x