Hello, flowers!
This week, I want to share my favourite Pride so far! If you've been around a while or one of my very kind friends who supports my writing and blog, you will know I'm no stranger to Pride. I've been attending Pride since I was 14. As the L in LGBTQ+, I enjoy coming together with my community; this year was no different. Well, it was different. I attended Pride with my partner, and this was her first Pride!
I've only been to Newcastle and Brighton Pride, but both are epic! Every July has a three-day Pride event; my favourite day is Saturday. Saturday afternoon kicks off the Pride activities with a parade from the Civic Centre. It's my favourite part of Pride; it's filled with people being their true selves and enjoying who they are. Some people even bring along their furry friends for support. The parade is beautiful, flags galore, people cheering and seeing, and it's magnificent. The parade includes brands/businesses and people coming together to show Pride. It is a riot, but one in which we all get to be true ourselves and enjoy being around our community. No violence, just love.
One of the things I love about my hometown is how people come together for the parade, shops put up displays and dances, and people cheer with allyship. I was fortunate to grow up in a city so accepting and diverse. There have been very few times I've ever been made to feel uncomfortable about my sexuality in my town. Pride, especially, has always made me cry for happiness.
So, Charmine and I grabbed a coffee before we entered the parade. Coffee is needed for all the singing and dancing, and we did sing and dance!
Every year, I try to make the parade, even if it's the only thing I do. It simply fills me with so much joy and appreciation. I made more effort this year than I usually do; I was repping a Mason Denver non-binary receptionist of hell t-shirt, a huge lesbian flag I wore over my shoulders, and a rainbow flag on my cheek, which matched with Charmine.
We wore our rainbows and even blessed other people with some, too! Every soul is a kind of Pride. It is truly a spectacular community; each year, it always amazes me how incredible Newcastle is.
I've always gone to Pride with my friends, but attending Pride with my partner was another lovely experience. She got to see Newcastle in all of its glory and beautiful support. Hundreds of people are in the Pride parade, and maybe even more are standing along the route, cheering it on. It's only an hour max, but it's fabulous.
Pride events were spread out all over the city centre this year, you could go different places for different events. After the parade, we sat in the sun near the grassy civic area. I was actually interviewed by a student; they asked me questions about my sexuality and experience of Newcastle and Pride. It was wholesome, and I enjoyed talking about the past and present Pride events; plus, it was for their dissertation project; I remember all too well how strenuous they are, and any help really goes a long way. After the interview, I was told I gave good answers and spoke the most from any other interview- I wonder if this was a good thing, but I'll take it as a compliment.
It was fabulous! I'm glad I got to take Charmine to her first Pride. Here's to our first of many together!
