MYP Community Member: The Importance of Pride
As we enter August, we also near Manchester’s annual Pride celebrations. Set for the weekend of 23rd – 26th August 2024, Manchester Pride is a time when the city comes together to celebrate progress, individuality and equality.
Joe, a key member of the MYP Team, is an Associate Solicitor at Myerson’s Solicitors and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. We spoke with Joe, who shared his thoughts on the importance of Pride, his experience being a part of the community, and the progress that still needs to be made.
What is the importance of Pride for you?
For me, Pride is about two things: visibility and progress.
When I was growing up, I didn’t know any LGBTQ+ people. The only people I knew were gay were Alan Carr and Graham Norton which, although fabulous, didn’t exactly inspire a career in industry for me.
Pride allows us to put the spotlight on LGBTQ+ people and to inspire us to aspire for more. Being gay was illegal less than 60 years ago. Now, we have gay police officers and judges. Progress has been made.
However even with these advancements, LGBTQ+ individuals remain at a disadvantage. Only half of the community feel able to be open about their sexual orientation or gender identity to everyone in the family. Almost one in five LGBTQ+ people have experienced homelessness. More than a third of LGBTQ+ workers have hidden their sexual orientation/gender identity at work for fear of discrimination.
So while it’s fantastic that progress is being made, there still isn’t time to sit back and smell the roses. Pride is an opportunity to educate, inspire and advance. It’s my favourite time of year!
How is your experience as part of the LGBTQ+ Community today?
As a gay man, I have experienced some nasty comments. However, I’m really lucky to work in an industry which is broadly open and inclusive. I’m also often in a position where I’m surrounded by friends, whether at work or at a MYP event.
The reality is that there is no generic experience. Every LGBTQ+ person I know has a story which is unique to them. Listen to them, learn from them and build community with them.
What do you think the Manchester community could do better to make the city more inclusive?
I’ve lived in Manchester now for over half a decade and I’ve been lucky to watch the city grow bigger and better every year whilst maintaining the Northern spirit which we all love Manchester for.
At the same time, I have watched the MYP community become more diverse. We’ve featured alcohol free events, wellbeing-focused events, events for creatives and of course our Pride events also.
If there was one thing that could be done better generally, I think we could all listen more.
The more we listen? The more we learn.
The more we learn? The more we understand.
The more we understand? The more we can lend our support.
