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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13826
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I had forgotten, because it has hitherto been interesting but unimportant to me that it was London Pride Day. I was, with my wife and son and her friend viewing the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition, and I'd seen that there was "an event" in the West End, which would close some roads.
All unaware we had lunch in Chinatown and then headed for the National Gallery. Hard not to notice the large peaceful gathering in Trafalgar Square and the PRIDE stage.
After we left the gallery we walked around the square. Loved the Gay and Lesbian Underwater Group - GLUG - for scuba friends. Nothing self effacing there! Caught Mayor BoJo's address on the big screen. Shame he was jeered at the start because he is emphatically in favour of Pride. And then we left towards the Institute of Directors.
The parade had started.
I like any carnival parade. I always have. What I was wholly unprepared for was the huge personal effect this one had on me. No, tears were not streaming down my face, but I was fighting to hold them back.
So many people. So many people who have, some of them, fought for recognition and acceptance. So many people who are happy to be able to be accepted, whether they have needed to fight or not. So many gay people, out, probably proud, some not sure, but together, in a party with friends and strangers, simply celebrating the fact that we exist.
I'm not expressing this well. It overwhelmed me.
Our small party, spectators by coincidence, were each appalled at the boos from the alleged christians near the IOD. I accept their right to freedom of expression. A shame that I have no right to the same freedom by smacking them hard in the mouth. I understand why I may not, and why I should not, but I want to.
My wife didn't know how emotional I had been until I talked to her when we got home. I couldn't express it to her any more than I can to you. I wasn't marching, I was just a suddenly involved spectator. But I was so proud of everyone who WAS marching. My heart was there wherever else my body was. I know I could have stepped into the march, but that would have been a selfish act on an otherwise planned trip to London.
So I should march next year.
But I will have moved many miles away. If I do it will take planning.
I was wondering, idly, as the parade went past how many were site readers. We have over 1,600 per day, and a huge proportion is UK based. But above all I was almost crying hot tears because, even though I was not part of it, I could have been.
When I was a kid I could not have been.
That is the point. Today's young gay people in the UK, those who dare to, those who choose to, are able to be who they are openly. Some of my era managed too, like NW, but very few of us.
So many gay people, so many totally normal people who are simply gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and trans. So many. And so many multi cultural, multi age group gay, straight, kids, parents, grandparents, who applauded the parade and looked genuinely happy to see it.
[Updated on: Sun, 05 July 2009 07:03]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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