I don't know if young gay people
feel a sense of being alone,
because that's how I felt when I was younger,
that there was no other person like me in the world.
Pride to me has changed over the years.
In the early days, it was all about,
sort of, standing up in front of the world and saying,
"This is me.
This is who I am."
Embracing something that you'd been told for years
to keep under wraps and keep down
and keep on the low, you know, don't let anyone know.
And all of a sudden you don't have to worry about that.
But as the years go on it's like you find yourself
becoming more about, sort of, the, you do,
I don't know, you do find yourself getting more political
and thinking it's more about the acceptance
of gay people from others.
So, it changes.
My view of Pride changes each year
depending on what's going on at the minute
and what's going on at the time.
But this year, this year for Pride, for me,
I think it's just gonna be a celebration
of getting through an absolute shitty year
and getting through the other side
and getting together with your friends
and just celebrating.
It's just a time to, sort of,
it's a time to really, sort of, embrace how much we've got
but also how much more we need to get.
So yeah, I can't wait for this year's Pride,
I think I'm gonna try and go to one.
I did, I did cry at Pride.
That first Pride I went to with Holly Johnson singing
and the fireworks happening.
Yeah, that was quite an emotional tear-jerky moment
because I think it was my first time
being surrounded by other gay people.
Like, you know, being, sort of, a closeted gay kid at school,
no one knows you're gay,
well, everyone knows you're gay,
but you don't know anyone else.
And so suddenly being in a field
surrounded by other gay people, it was like,
there is a life beyond, you know, what you know.
So I think the whole experience, that first Pride
was just glorious. It was,
yeah it was, did I shed a tear or two.
I was helping some friends get made up in drag.
So it was a group called Mad Drag
and they do, it's like a drag group
and they do charity nights to raise money
for the MAD Trust.
And, you know, they do really,
they do great performances
but they are absolutely shocking at makeup.
So I help them do the makeup.
We spent hours doing the makeup
and we just were having so much fun, and then we went off
and they were performing on stage in Trafalgar Square.
And just to see - I think the thing is,
is just seeing, being surrounded by gay people,
seeing your friends up on stage, performing, killing it,
and everyone just enjoying it and being a part of that
was just the most amazing experience.
It's just, you know what,
sometimes the gay community can be really fractured
and, you know, a bit, sort of, like miscommunication.
And I find Pride is really a moment
where all those different areas of the community
can really come together and reconnect
on this one thing that we all stand for.
And that I just think is a really beautiful moment.
When I was young and going to Pride, you know,
it was your only moment to connect with other gay people
because there was actually no internet.
So, whereas nowadays there isn't this lack of connection,
so, you know it’s, I don't know if young gay people
feel a sense of being alone,
because that's how I felt when I was younger,
that there was no other person like me in the world
and going to Pride gave me a feeling of community
and belonging and acceptance.
So what I would say is, it's still necessary
to still go to Pride
even if you don't feel like you're alone.
Going to Pride and being surrounded
by just an incredible group of like-minded individuals
just makes you feel so connected
and so rooted into the community.
And you feel like there is nothing that can hold you back.
So going to Pride, I think, is so vitally important
for every person within the LGBTQIA+ community.
But if you can't go,
for any reason you can't go,
then just know that you're not alone
and that you are loved and you are accepted
and there are people out there waiting to give you a big hug
and welcome you in when you're ready to come and join us.