Pride is a word that is becoming synonymous with our community, what an empowering thought.  It means different things to different people but to most of us it means taking part in an annual festival in the town we call home, whether that be marching in the parade or cheering it on from the side, it’s a day that we come together to share the pride we feel in who we are and what our community has accomplished.

One of the tricky parts in marching in the parade is deciding which group to walk with, there are so many great organisations, clubs and charities out there and you want to show your support for them all, but walking in the parade menas you are supporting all the groups who participate and also those who don’t.  You are showing the people in your home that you are proud of who you are but you are also showing that to the people watching the parade who might be struggling with who they are or trying to come to terms with the sexuality of a loved one, and it’s wonderful that we can show such a positive vibe to all of the above.

I asked a few fellow Gaelickers what pride means to them as I love the diversity of meanings the festival has to all of us thoughout or lives. HAL says

For me Pride is like a fun, fabulous battle cry. It used to be all about my own pride, but as I get older, it’s becoming more about the people around the world striving for my rights. It’s becoming more of a protest than a party, but I think that’s a good thing.

and our lovely Webmaster (all hail!) adds

Pride for me has always been about the community and family, sounds corny but its true! For the last few years, we have cooked up a big pride brekkie for all our mates,  had a glass of presecco as you do like and marched up town decked out in many colours, attracting a few followers on the way. It must be the rainbow flags. Pride is about acceptence, its about us not hiding or being ashamed of who we are. Pride for me its about being able to kiss my wife in the open and not worry about some idiot thinking its a good idea to hurl abuse or something else my way. Its not just about the party though, its about those people all those years ago who refused to leave the Stonewall Inn that fateful June morning in 1969. Its about standing up and being proud of who you are. Happy Pride Gaelickers!

and CanuckJacq says

Pride, for me, was the first time I felt like there was a future that included me. I hitchhiked 5 hours to get there, and I was dust-covered and exhausted and dehydrated and broke, but I met up with friends, who let me get clean, made sure I was appropriately attired and we spent the whole day being celebrated. Celebrated! There were families – elderly people, young people, babies and toddlers and everyone else — watching the parade as drag queens threw condoms and lube at the crowd. I even found a beautiful girl who told me I looked like Drew Barrymore. Of course I fell for it. My first Pride was like stepping into a magical land. Pride always is for me. Happy Pride, everyone.

What does pride mean to you?  Do you see it as a party or more political, can it truly be both?  For me it can and is.  Dublin Pride was launched last weekend and today starts the height of the celebrations, ladies night tonight followed by the parade tomorrow and the pride night follows later.  The programme is chock full of events so get celebrating and a very happy pride to you all from everyone here at Gaelick towers.

More pride events to happen around the country in the coming months so watch this space.