04/06/2025
๐ณ๏ธโ๐ Proud All Year: Our Rights Are Not Just For June. ๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ
Seeing so much progress for LGBTQ+ rights in the UK over my lifetime has been incredible. Growing up in the 80s meant a different world: an age of consent of 21, the fear of being legally fired just for being yourself, and the chilling shadow of Section 28.
We fought hard for the freedoms we have today, and Pride Month is a vital reminder of that struggle, a celebration of how far we've come, and a beacon for those still fighting.
But Iโm not just proud in June. Iโm Proud All Year. And now, more than ever, we all need to be.
Around the world, the hard-won rights of our community are facing a disturbing backlash. We're seeing:
๐ Countries proposing or passing new laws that criminalise same-sex relationships, some even threatening the death penalty.
๐ฃ๏ธ The rise of hateful rhetoric and disinformation designed to demonise and marginalise us, particularly our trans and gender-diverse siblings.
๐ซ So-called "LGBT-free zones" and laws banning the "promotion of homosexuality," reminiscent of the dark days many of us remember.
๐ Increased violence and discrimination fuelled by political and religious extremism.
This isn't history. This is happening NOW.
Our visibility, our voices, and our unwavering pride are the most powerful tools we have. We stand on the shoulders of giants who risked everything. We owe it to them, to ourselves, and to future generations to not just remember, but to act.
This Pride, and every day, let's be loud, be visible, and stand in solidarity. Our fight for equality, dignity, and the simple right to be ourselves, safely and openly, continues. We must be counted.
