Thursday 5 September 2019

What have you done today, to make you feel proud?

Either you read the title of this blog and heard Heather Small singing the absolute M People cracker, or you heard Stevie from Miranda singing her version - either way, you get the gist.



But in all seriousness, where has your pride gone Manchester? London? World?

The profits boomed, the rainbows were waved, the glitter was a-plenty and now the corporations pockets are heavy with pink pennies, the flags are no longer needed and are folded away until next year.

NOTHING infuriates me more than when I see a crumpled, creased, unloved pride flag.
The amount of businesses that role out the half arsed rainbows and drape them over tills and counter tops and blue tack them in windows with their obvious "I've been living in a box for 11 months," creases - quite frankly, it pisses me off.

Because those creases say everything about what pride really is to big business.

It's something they roll out once a year, flamboyant and inclusive, with love and kisses, and rainbow coloured lattes, cakes, shakes, cocktails, bags, bracelets and fluff, and they sell sell sell the idea of love and equality but bank the bucks that don't return to the LGBT+ community.

Corporations dedication to pride is as deep a dedication to Boris Johnsons dedication to democracy.
Both as fickle and shallow as one another.

The logo's emblazoned with rainbow colours are gone, and the dreary corporate branding returns; but in its lack of flair, at least it's honest.

The flags are taken down, the rainbow streets are no more, and life returns to normal.

The fight continues, the movement, the change, the surge and passion for equality, for safety, for kindess and acceptance. So where are you now? With your solidarity and support and your commitment to the cause?

What did you do with your pockets full of profits raised off the back of the LGBT+ movement?
Donated it to Stonewall? In celebration and respect of the 50 years of blood, sweat and tears?
Shared it with the LGBT foundation to educate and promote positive attitudes and raise awareness for much needed issues both in and outside the community?


Or at the end of your rainbow, is there a pot of gold thats fed back into the corporate machine that had a "pride marketing plan" for July and August, but has now moved swiftly onto the Christmas push?

What stops us from enjoying the beauty of pride all year round? Celebrating love and indviduality in all it's forms?
Every day doesn't have  to be a parade, it just has to be MORE.
More care, more dedication, more authenticity, more than just a PR boost, a nice idea, a colourful addition, a self-assuring, conscience stroking move in the right direction.

Why can't primark continue their beautiful rainbow and trans themed clothes line and accessories all year round, to be sought out by those of us who want to share and show our association and adoration all things LGBT+, to showcase our sexuality, pride, gender, love, and hopes in small ways.
A little nod to who we are, who we were and our ability to be out and proud and know that the world is changing and evolving and that in a time where crimes against the LGBT+ community, particualarly hate crimes against the trans community are at an all time high, with a rapid rise over the past 12 months - that support is not an annual opt-in, its a hand in hand, side by side show of faith and hope, that we are all in this together.

Profit or purpose, it requires more than fluff and rainbows once a year.

It requires PRIDE, to show support and respect and dedication ALL year round.
Until the world changes, it has to be more.

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