4 minute read
WHY A PRIDE FESTIVAL?
By Shea Coffey from Medway Pride Radio
The questions I hear most often at this time of year are: “Do we really need another Pride?”, or, my favourite: “When is Straight Pride?”
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I’ll try to explain, so please bear with me.Looking it up in the dictionary, pride is:
• A feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
• Consciousness of one’s own dignity.
• Confidence and self-respect as expressed by members of a group, typically one that has been socially marginalised, on the basis of their shared identity, culture, and experience.
• The best state of something; the prime.
Last night I walked into The Ship Inn (which is our local LGBTQ+ pub) by myself. It was the first time I had entered a pub alone in 16 years. I bought a drink, had a laugh with the bartender (he’s a keeper!), sat in the beer garden and relaxed in the evening sun.
So why the 16-year break? Well I’m trans and last night I was dressed as me, nothing riotous (except the heels!). The Ship Inn is a safe space, and, just by being there, I expressed all four of the dictionary definitions.
I can’t walk into a pub alone in ‘boy mode’. I just can’t, I think everyone is staring at me and I don’t feel safe. Yes, I know how this sounds but it is true.
Having a space in which you can just be, like The Ship Inn, allows you to feel a sense of being, and that fosters a sense of pride. If I was ‘straight, cis etc’, that would be almost any pub, almost any festival, almost any parade… you start to get the idea.
So, it’s not really too much to suggest a Pride season, is it? But here is the thing, as I sat in the beer garden, I watched straight boys chatting up straight girls, people of unknown sexuality, gender, social orientation, they were all just being themselves, and while a couple were being way too much themselves by 11pm, it was relaxed and fun. Everyone was welcome.
Not all pubs are like this, not all events include all the community… So Straight Pride happens every damn day, and, hell yes, we need Prides. With the attacks that our community are currently facing, I’m going to suggest we need them now more than any time in the last quarter of a century.
So please, follow any advice you are given if you are attending a Pride, keep safe and enjoy Pride season.
the LGBTQ+ community that has been disrespected, marginalised, treated differently based on an inherent characteristic. There are many people who find themselves feeling like that, and as the straight boys and girls found out, my local is a welcoming place where you are automatically considered an ally... Just like Pride.
Gravesham & Medway Prides
Last year was to have been the first year for Gravesham Pride and Medway Pride – hey last year was to be a lot of first Prides. 2020 will be remembered as the year normal life stopped due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will also be remembered by the LGBTQ+ community as a year that Pride, like so many other things, had to go virtual. The street parades and parties may have been cancelled or postponed, but the community was as creative as ever in replacing the physical events with virtual ones. Medway joined Gravesend in producing an eight-day virtual Pride event, which was probably one of the longest Pride events of the year.
Well this year we are back and this time it’s real world. First up is Gravesham Pride, to be held on August 14 at Fort Gardens. The artist line-up includes Jayne Snow, Jeni Jaye, Kings of Dohl, Ronnie Stone, Vickie Vibe and Miss Dot Com. As well as live music, there will be community stalls, refreshments and a heap of goings on. It will be a colourful, fun-filled day for all the family. It starts at midday and runs till 7pm. Best of all, tickets are free at www.graveshampride.uk.
A week later, on August 21 from midday, we have Medway Pride, which is being held off Rochester Riverside Walk, just off Doust Way (not at Rochester Castle as originally planned). With free tickets and acts including ABBA Chique, Gary Lucas, Amrick Channa, drag queens Chai Latte and Dr Beverley Ballcrusher, as well as a personal appearance by the gorgeous Kelly Wilde and the awardwinning gay Elvis tribute act Elberace, who will be performing at both Prides.
Again, there will be community stalls, including the liaison teams from Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue Services along with staff from Kent and Medway Community Health Care NHS Trust, who provide support for the community and can discuss the services they provide. Refreshments will be on site and, if organiser Hilary Cooke has her way, there will more than one or two surprises. Hilary was also keen to stress that this is a family-friendly event to celebrate diversity and support equality for all in the communities of Medway.
See www.medwaypride.co.uk for tickets.
Tickets for both events are going very fast, numbers are limited due to Covid, so get in fast. And please... bring the good weather with you.
In addition to both Prides, there will be a safe eight-day festival between Saturday, August 14 and Saturday, August 21 with lots of local businesses and organisations getting involved in events happening around the area. Keep an eye on Gravesham and Medway Prides’ socials for more details.
