Why Trust Us
Disclosure
For obvious reasons, Pride parades and parties have been cancelled this summer. But there’s still plenty of ways to show your love for the queer community. From virtual parties to signing petitions in support of LGTBQ+ initiatives. If there’s anything 2020 has taught us, it’s that we need to be more educated on social issues. Pride is so much more than a parade, after all. Here’s how to educate, support and celebrate Pride 2020…
Educate
You might have enjoyed bopping to Britney and getting covered in glitter at a parade, but now is your chance to dig a bit deeper into the history of Pride and LGBTQ+ rights. There are plenty of books to read:
Pride by Matthew Todd
This non-fiction book explores the night the Stonewall bar was raided and the subsequent events that led on from that night in the fight for equality. Pride covers key moments and figures within the movement. The book also features rare photos and documents from that time in history and interviews with key figures.
Queer Intentions: A (Personal) Journey Through LGBTQ + Culture by Amelia Abraham
Queer Intentions provides the ultimate exploration of the joys and pains of being LGBTQ+ in the West at a time when queer culture has never been so mainstream. But is same-sex marriage, improved media visibility and corporate endorsement all it’s cracked up to be? At what cost does this acceptance come? And who is getting left behind, particularly in parts of the world where LGBTQ+ rights aren’t so advanced?
Good As You: From Prejudice to Pride – 30 Years of Gay Britain by Paul Flynn
This book looks at the history of gay men in Britain over the last 30 years and covers topics from AIDS to marriage equality. Good As You features a number of interviews with figures such as Will Young and Russell T Davies.
Trans Like Me: A Journey for All of Us by CN Lester
Written by CN Lester, who identifies as non-binary, Trans Like Me covers a multitude of topics about the trans experience. The chapters include a piece on Caitlyn Jenner to a piece on pronouns.
How We Fight For Our Lives: A Memoir by Saeed Jones
Reviewed as one of the best books of 2019, Saeed Jones’ memoir tells his story of growing up as a black gay man in America’s south. It covers his childhood, relationships and opens up a larger conversation around race and queerness.
This Brutal House by Niven Govinden
Niven’s novel is about the vogue community in New York. It follows the story of five drag mothers who protest the deaths within their community.Though fiction, This Brutal House gives an insight into the drag ball community that was a key part of many black and Hispanic queer American’s experience.
Purple Prose: Bisexuality in Britain edited by Kate Harrad
This anthology details what it truly means to be bi in Britain. It covers topics such as the media’s depiction of bisexual celebrities, being bisexual and disabled and bisexuality in teenage years.Purple Prose also addresses myths around bisexuality – the idea that people who are bi are “greedy” for example.
Documentaries on Netflix
Disclosure
Leading trans creatives and thinkers share heartfelt perspectives and analysis about Hollywood’s problematic transgender stereotypes and their impact on the trans community in this documentary by Laverne Cox.
The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson was a transgender activist who played important roles in the Stonewall Riots and the gay-rights movement. Her body was found in the Hudson River in 1992, and while the police labeled her death a suicide, many of her friends suspected she was murdered.
Podcasts
What the Trans
A UK-based weekly podcast with news and interviews, made by and for transgender and non-binary people.
Busy Being Black
Busy Being Black is hosted by Josh Rivers and is all about the queer black community. The podcast features a range of interesting guests and discussions. One episode features a discussion with a black queer Buddhist and another a conversation with health activist Bakita Kasadha who is a black queer woman living with HIV.
Queer as Fact
This podcast looks at queer history from around the world. Episodes so far have covered the history of AIDS in Australia, queer women in medical Arab literature and Gad Beck – one of the last known living gay survivors of the Holocaust before his death in 2012.
SUPPORT
These are just a few causes that you can support with donations or signatures:
Buy a T-Shirt from Little Gay Brother supporting LGTBQ Charity Opening Doors London
Emergency Relief & Hardship Fund for UK LGBT Asylum Seekers & Refugees
Support Black Pride
Support LGTBQ+ Venue The Glory
More protection for Black Trans Women UK
Reverse the Decision to Scrap the Gender Recognition Act Consultation Results
Make LGBT conversion therapy illegal in the UK
CELEBRATE
London Pride have launched an online guide dedicated to sharing the best events from digital festivals to panel talks, lesbian speed dating and drag shows. Coming Out is Pride in London’s new year-round go-to guide for queer events across London. Showcasing events from every corner of the LGBT+ community, the platform will champion community-run events.
They say: ‘There is a breadth of events constantly happening across London that should be highlighted and given the attention that they deserve. From protests to picnics, parties to poetry. Coming Out is your complete guide to London’s queer scene. The platform is free to post events to and exclusive to LGBT+ events but of course, allies are welcome to attend events. Each event will be vetted by Pride in London to ensure they are safe, accessible and inclusive to the community.’
By Lucy
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