Coming Out After 50 Years
In the late sixties Stonewall was known to be a very diverse club in New York. Many homosexuals would live their best secret lives there. During 1969 a riot struck between police and homosexuals.
This commenced a timeline for the LGBTQ+ community around the world. Since that very day, civil rights activists have started a rebellion. People that fell under the LGBTQ+ umbrella were encouraged to take on more of an assertive role and fought for their rights to live as they wish.
The first gay Pride in the UK was held in London on 1st July 1972 where thousands of homosexuals marched through the city. This was the launch that marked the beginning of the LGBTQ+ movement in the UK. As followed, many organisations put on Prides and festivals to support the ever-growing LGBTQ+ community.
As a community we have become loud and proud; whose presence just became harder to ignore especially with the growth of media that took notice. However, the coming out stage can still be a very challenging and scary experience. Even with the network of support around the nation, individuals still face prejudice in their everyday lives which can lead to suppressing their feelings and/or being rejected by those that they believed would support them most.
This has opened many possibilities for people to be surrounded by acceptance and a hope that one day the world will gain a better of understanding that we are just as valid as human beings. In the present day, organisations continually put on Prides each year around the UK.
Having that opportunity to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community I have felt more confident and proud within myself. I hope we continue to gain support so that everybody can be in public without fear of being watched or judged, yet instead feel at peace and proud. More importantly, so our lives no longer have to be lived in secret.
