Pride month
Former Member
Posts: 774 Part of The Mix Family
As I'm sure most of you know that June is pride month and the @The Mix have asked me to do an special post on this,
As
some of you know I'm an cis gay male (cis = not transgender) who has
been out since August 2018 and this year was my first pride parade
experience, I wanted to talk to you all about it,
Now overall the
atmosphere was amazing and it was great to meet other people in the
community, I had an few issues with getting to pride as I do live in an
very closed minded village, meaning instead of going cul to oxf, I had
to go cul to did to rdg to oxf to avoid certain individuals,
When
I arrived at Oxford just after leaving the station I remember having my
rainbow tot bag out and I had two guys shout out load saying "I love
the bag babe" which was absolutely amazing,
For Oxford pride, I
was surprised by strong police presents all over Oxford that day which
was quite reassuring, i went to pride with my boyfriend and a few
friends (mostly my boyfriends friends) we spent most of the around
exploring all the stalls around and just parade around oxford with all
of are rainbows,
Overall Oxford Pride was amazing and I
absolutely loved it, it was an great experience for me and as this
Saturday (22/06/19) I will be attending Abingdon Pride festival.
Now
I want to move onto my boyfriend, He's an cis gay male whos came out to
his friends but in the closet when with his family, His parents are
very homophobic as when i found out when he tried coming out to them, I
actually had to talk him down from ending his life, and this was about an month ago
Even though my parents have told me I should end it i'm choosing not too as he need someone that is caring and needs someone to come to be away from his parents,
I want to move onto coming out now, so as i've said I came out in August 2018, My parents are really supportive and open minded and have no problem with the LGBTQ+ community but even though knowing that i still came out to my best friend while on NCS (its an summer programme for 16 or 17 year olds) and then i worked my way alone to my friends on NCS i made and it wasn't until september I came out to my parents, i remember waiting at the hospital for my cardiologist appointment and I said to my mum "Im gay" just completely out of nowhere,
In the nearly an year i've been out as gay, i've experience an lot of stuff and i have no doubt in my mind that i wont have more ups and downs as my life carries on, i'm always here to answer anyone questions that they may have or if their anyone is questioning their gender or sexaulity, i'm always here to talk things through via an thread in "gender and sexuality" or just message me, i will keep everything private and i wont share it.
if their is anyone else in the LGBTQ+ community on his forum that wants to talk im always free,
Much love and Stay Safe
Comments
So much love for this thread
It got me thinking, if someone was in the same position you were before Oxford Pride, what would be the 3 top tips you would tell them to help them feel more confident to attend a pride event? Likewise, what were the things that made it feel easier for you to come out to those close to you? Interested in other people's thoughts too
Ed
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I'm so glad that you made it to your first ever Pride without too many hurdles. I've been attending for 8 years now but I'll never forget that first ever experience of celebration and acceptance.
So three things I would say to anyone thats wanting to go pride event,
1)
2)
3)
When it came to coming out, I found that telling my best friend first more supportive and then moving onto my parents, I feel like it wouldn't of been able to do so straight to my parents,
Come out to whoever you feel comfortable with and make sure their not phobics as well, if you do decide to come out to your parents first then make sure you have an plan as your parents may be in denial at first so if you can go to an friends for an few hours that can make the difference.
Abingdon pride was alright, it was quite small we kind of got an bit bored but their was an few stands around, it didn't help that it was also the food and drink festival the other side of the river so it was kind of all the gays one side and then the straights homophones stayed at the food festival and then we went off to the park and just relaxed and talking in the part, then four of us went round an friends an friends house and ate pizza and watched queer eye and then two of the gay dude started kissing which was sweet and heartwarming to see but also an little saddening as i dont have the confidence to do that same with my boyfriend.
My sexuality is quite a fluid subject, I sort of go with the flow and date who I like haha I am a pretty straight female but have a very genderqueer sense of style, quite androgynous at times. But I'm a huge ally!
Sorry to hear they basically split you guys and the others on one side that's no fun
Hope you had a good time regardless! And that you and your boyfriend are doing well x 😊