Happy Pride Month!

[SaskiaHU]

Every year during the month of June, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is celebrated in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, New York City.

The Stonewall Riots were carried out by members of the LGBTQ+ community following violent police raids against LGBTQ+ establishments, that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan, New York City.

Pride Month is a celebratory month both highlighting the past and recognising the influence of LGBTQ+ community in the hopes of raising awareness and promoting positivity for equal rights for each and everyone.

Throughout the month parades, street parties, community events and many more are held providing a space for people to educate others about inclusivity and the LGBTQ+ community to help tackle the discrimination that many within the community still faces.

In honor of everyone in the past, present and future, we want to acknowledge those who have shown courage and bravery through showing up and fighting for fair and equal treatment.

Unsure of how you can show your support this June? Here are three things you can do!

1. Wave your flag!

During this month you may have noticed the rainbow flag, and each colour has a meaning:

Pink – Sex

Red – Life

Orange – Healing

Yellow – Sun

Green – Nature

Turquoise – Magic

Blue – Peace

Purple – Spirit

If you do not have a flag, get creative and wear one (or more!) of these eight colours, with pride.

2. Join a parade/ online event

You don’t have to personally identify as being LGBTQ+ to show your support for the community. Showing up at a parade, street party or online event is another way to raise your awareness and provide you with the opportunity to learn more and educate yourself of the struggles they face daily.

3. Educate yourself

Although educating yourself on the LGBTQ+ community is an exceptional way to gain deeper insights, it does not necessarily mean reading pages and pages of text. You can also opt for a film or tv show to raise your awareness. Additionally, you can actively show your support through listening to music made by people within the LGBTQ+ community.

To spread an easy-to-digest overview to help educate others, you are more than welcome to share our latest post across our socials:

Instagram: instagram.com/p/CQN6iRsDagp/

Facebook: facebook.com/healthunlocked

Twitter: twitter.com/HealthUnlocked/...

Below are some educational resources for you to learn more about Pride Month, as well as organizations you can donate to.

RESOURCES:

Stonewall – help, advice and toolkits for all ages and institutions: stonewall.org.uk/about-us

GLAAD – uses the media to shape the LGBTQ+ narrative, ultimately, leading to culture change: glaad.org/

The Trevor Project - provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ young people under 25: thetrevorproject.org/resour...

Just like us – empowering young people to champion LGBTQ+ equality: justlikeus.org/about?gclid=...

Online pride events: eventbrite.co.uk/d/online/p...

London Pride Parade: prideinlondon.org/parade/

How to celebrate in New York City: wired.com/story/how-to-cele...

Happy Pride!

[Marnie22]

Thank you for posting this.I just want to say that to really reflect inclusiveness it would be good to use the full set of letters- LGBTQIA, as it's only two more letters and it highlights groups who are often left unacknowledged - intersex and asexual. I really think it's an important thing.

Thanks again. 🌈

[BTCCET in reply to Marnie22]

Hey Marnie how are you my love? You've made a good point here it is important to include everyone xx

[Marnie22 in reply to BTCCET]

I am okay thank you. How are you? I am quite excited as I am going to my first 'event' since Covid tomorrow - a concert in Winchester Cathedral.

[BTCCET in reply to Marnie22]

Brilliant! Enjoy🥰

[Marnie22 in reply to BTCCET]

Thank you!🌈

[wallflower_fairy in reply to Marnie22]

Thankyou so much Marnie,

I identify as being on the asexuality spectrum (a-spec) so I really appreciate it. 💜🖤 🏳️‍🌈

I came out to my then boyfriend back in June 2019.

This was after I started doing research to understand my identity better. I had known about ace people but, up until this point, I wasn't aware of just how wide a spectrum it was.

I just knew I was different somehow. Although I reluctantly identified as being straight, as I'm still attracted to the opposite gender, I knew somehow that didn't quite fit.

Learning it made so much sense. I came out as being demisexual at that time to my then boyfriend.

Although are a lot of different ace identities I relate to, so it's easier to say now that I'm somewhere on the ace spectrum.

Unfortunately, when I came out to him it wasn't very well received. He just said he didn't see why I needed to label myself (among other stuff I won't share here because it's personal). He was the first person I officially came out to. We broke up shortly after.

I do feel we tend to get overlooked somewhat, along with intersex people, but being a minority, inclusivity is important.

I have had real struggles with dating, and with having (romantic) relationships with people. Recognising my ace identity has really helped me to understand why.

I've been thinking for a while about making a more detailed post about it.

Enjoy your concert. 😊 xx

[Marnie22 in reply to wallflower_fairy]

Thank you! The concert was lovely. 😊🌼

[Damon1864]

Why should people have to hide who they really are,OST of my friends are gay or lesbian and I also have a few family members who are gay and lesbian. Each to their own is what I say, just because a person doesn't fit in to a certain sexual orientation doesn't make them bad. I salute them and admire the way they live their lives they shouldn't have to put up with the hatered and abuse. I hope they all have a wonderful day and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx

[BTCCET in reply to Damon1864]

Just what I wanted to say but couldn't put into words👍

[ramana42]

Somehow. here in India, this issue is not taken very seriously. Our Supreme court has given some very clear decisions on the subject and society is not much agitated about this subject.

[DodgeDhanda in reply to ramana42]

Fingers crossed they'll catch up & realise there is more to people than who they have sex with.

[Marnie22 in reply to DodgeDhanda]

True. 👍

[twooldcrows]

thank you for all of this ,i didn't know much about it but do think it should be able to be shown for the ones that are affected should be treated all the same for we all want to be loved and shouldn't judge others for loving who they want to love...love it ...thank you for the information didn't know that the colors of the flag had a meaning ...

[Marnie22 in reply to twooldcrows]

Thank you.

[Karen2235]

I met my female partner when I was 23. I am now 65. As with any relationship, it has not all been smooth sailing but she is and always has been the most fabulous support. I would not want to be facing MBC without her by my side.

[DodgeDhanda in reply to Karen2235]

Every relationship needs work from ur lover to ur loved ones. I find or should I say found that communication is the most important part of any relationship be it at home or say work , communication is everything & when that breaks down the trust is first to go followed by usually within 3 or 4 steps the love u had for a person.

You & ur other half have been together longer than some people on here been alive & modern society is so throw away that people break up with someone just to sleep with someone else then go back to the first partner , that I always thought is still cheating but that's for another day.

[DodgeDhanda]

Sorry if this offends you . I personally have no issue with anyone who is not of heterosexual persuasion (Gay (a word that actually meant happy ))

I take umbrage with the labels & the need for a label YET the single most important "label" is missing & that is simply

HUMAN BEING !! To me that is the only label we should use & the rest is kindness & understanding.

Labels are so wrong , in fact to me they're as bad as the fact pride month or black history month & it's OK to be a label for the month , what about the acceptance the other 11 months , you can't change who you are any more than I can.

A suggestion , call it

Human beings who are LGBTQIA & I apologise if I have missed the new labels . I only see human beings & thats it , if u are an alien then you've done a great job of blending in.

Sorry again if I upset anyone but you are human too.

[PandQs in reply to DodgeDhanda]

Hi DodgeDhanda, you make a valid point, but I don't think we are quite there yet.

The need for pride month and black history month has been to steer us out of a world of abuse and discrimination towards acceptance of difference and equality. We have come a long way since one of my ancestors "belonged" to his owner or a more recent relative was imprisoned for his sexuality.

You and I may just see people as human beings, but there are still many others who don't. I look forward to a time when sexuality or skin colour is no more remarkable than shoe size. But we are not there yet, and in the meantime, these measures are needed to create movement.

With anything that requires change, apathy will achieve nothing. It is those few who are passionate about making a difference, who stand up and shout that change is needed who make people think about their attitudes and will eventually turn the tide of opinion of the majority of the world towards the middle ground of acceptance and equality....I hope!

Like you, I am wary of offending people with my views, that is certainly not my intent

[DodgeDhanda in reply to PandQs]

Thank you for ur response & beautiful words , (a fly made my eye water whilst reading ) .

Unfortunately from the late 60s with the Stonewall riots all the way 50yrs plus to George Floyd last year , has anything truly change especially in America as both turning points happened there & the rest of the world to. I understand that I can only be truly responsible for myself & how I treat others. As you said about ur ancestors & the way they were treated by others & it's things like that throughout history how some think that others are beneath them like they're superior & that has always hurt my soul as do labels , people seem to want to be labelled & thats as they say putting themselves in boxes, even that is allowing people to use nasty words against them . Where as I believe a human being is capable of so much more & can actually change the world faster. I go back to the mid 80s & how Bob Geldoph got so upset at what was happening in Ethiopia that he got a lot of mainly British pop stars to make the charity record "Feed the World". & then it was USA for Africa & then it was Live Aid & it was something that so many people came together as human beings & achieved something amazing , I still watch some of the acts on YouTube & it brings back such amazing memories of when the whole world nearly came together as one spices.

Maybe as each day goes by folks will start to look inward & see the connection with other human beings regardless of who & what they love or not love or be fluid or not or binary or just human beings.

[PandQs in reply to DodgeDhanda]

Hi DodgeDhanda, nice words too and I go back further than you 😀 and don't forget the contribution made by Midge Ure!

[DodgeDhanda in reply to PandQs]

Yeah OK Midge did help Bob make it a magnificent awakening for the whole of humanity.

[BTCCET in reply to PandQs]

Good old sir Bob👍poor Peaches 😔

[Marnie22 in reply to DodgeDhanda]

I understand what you say about labels and about accepting everyone just as human, but it's not quite as simple as that. If a person with an alternative or different sexuality doesn't see other people in their lives or in popular culture who they can identify as having the same type of sexuality as they have, they can feel as though they are the only one like that and that perhaps they are abnormal. This has happened to many, many people over many years. Nowadays, many people can see people like them in society and popular culture precisely because we have Pride month and use labels etc. There are still some sexualities that are not in the public's awareness - such as those I mentioned in my original response to this post - for instance many people don't know what being asexual means, some people don't even believe that it actually exists. We can't even have this discussion without using some form of label.

It would be lovely if there were no issues around people's sexuality, but that is not the current reality. People in these different groups often benefit enormously from Pride celebrations and from their lives being acknowledged.

It's good to want us not to need these things, but if you don't have the experience of living as a member of a minority sexuality group, it's difficult for anyone to truly understand the situation.

[DodgeDhanda in reply to Marnie22]

I see what you mean Marnie & even in a world of labels their are still 8 billion human beings. As humans we can choose to help one another & be true friends but as soon as a label of Muslim, Russian, Mexican , black, brown , purple or green skinned .... people start looking at these folks who grab a label & wave it & pass judgement & say they're vile, evil & as its said they're all going to hell isn't treating ur fellow human the same as u do urself. YET if all we see is human then any judgement you pass on one you pass on urself.

These days people want equality & acceptance , then surely seeing everyone as a human being is the single most fair & equal way of seeing 8billion souls that the universe created.

Marnie u do make some very good points where how peoples brain think they must be seen as something , when I feel being seen as a human should be enough to treat each other with equality & acceptance unfortunately its not like that & thats the true issue I'd those that judge others for the labels or colour of skin & so on. Maybe 1 day everyone will see it my way , living without a label even narcissistic folk.

[Marnie22 in reply to DodgeDhanda]

I believe that labels are fine, it's the way that they are used that matters and that's down to the intention of the person that uses them. Imagine if all labels were only ever used in a positive way? We don't want to go back to the days when someone didn't realise that they were asexual/transgender/ etc etc because they never saw those sexualities named and represented in life. How is someone supposed to identify as their true sexuality if they never see that sexuality highlighted or named in the world?

[DodgeDhanda in reply to Marnie22]

Marnie you said everything in ur 1st sentence you think labels are fine as you use labels & no matter what we think is the intension it's always used to keep humans oppressed, make them think they're lower than other or play out to a stereo type as they chose to believe its what comes with the label. This is a question & I'm not being rude ok .... What business is it of yours what someone else wants to do ? Also what does someone else's sensuality matter to you , it doesn't matter to me as long as they're decent human beings. If Eve & Mary wish to be a couple then good for them the same as for Adam & Steve . To me that's THEIR private business not mine , I only care if they're decent human beings & there are loads of good people in this world BUT I will admit to one type of person that needs wiping off this earth is those that abuse children , I also hate our justice system that allows these kind of creature out after a few months here.

Now if that's hypocrisy then I'll accept it but as I say the majority of people are good & kindhearted & their private lives are nothing to do with us looking from the outside. By applying labels people think it gives them permission to attack others due to a label. & one day humanity will realise if you want equality & acceptance we need to only see humans like we are & any attack on them is an attack on ourselves. Don't forget humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes each & the first 22 pairs are identical in every human , the 23rd pair are the ones that mean we are born male or female ..... the labels come much later in a person's life. I get it that people feel to exist they need a label but I choose the most tolerant & accepting label of all of them & that I'd Human Being that's true equality as humans can be so much more. Take Mother Teresa & Ghandi 2 simple human beings who put other people's needs before their own. In modern times u got MLK . By putting people first & wanting them to be treated as humans is a major achievement.

[Marnie22 in reply to DodgeDhanda]

You don't seem to understand my point. How is someone to learn about their particular sexuality if they can't identify or name it? You can't connect with others or learn about your sexuality if you don't even know what it is. Many people live thinking they are strange or odd or the only one to be that way until they learn that others like them exist. Sexuality is not just an individual person's experience because there are many variations and as a society we need to highlight and stick up for certain sectors. Before Pride etc many people had to live secret lives and in other countries many still do. Discussion of all of this wouldn't be possible without labels. A label is not good or bad in itself. It's human behaviour to label and differentiate. We label everything because we have language.

If you don't get my point, I can't explain it any more.

I believe the whole Pride movement is vital.

[DodgeDhanda in reply to Marnie22]

Marnie ... Why does a person have to learn in public in front of everyone ?? What does a person's sexuality have to do with everyone except that person ? Everything you say a person needs to do to find out about themselves can do it in private & not infront of everyone whose business it isn't. How do you think they found out in the previous few thousand years ? It wasn't advertised then , they found out in secret & look at say the 1900s onwards many gay people married to appear normal in the eyes of society & you can say until the 80s & possibly longer & in some case still today people keep their sexuality private & they should as what business is it of mine who they love ? I'm not going to stop them , I'm not going to tell them how to live or how to have kids or anything. If they're decent human beings the rest doesn't matter to me & shouldn't matter to them except that I accept who I see them as good people . It seems that that you feel if ur not labelled you don't exist. If that's how a majority of society wants to be seen & then they need to accept that I only see humans & I don't care about ur or their skin colour or sexual orientation . If a hero woman & a gay man are good people then who they love isn't my business & let's say I work with these same folks too , if they're hard working like me , that's fine by me , if I'm at a bar & I try to chat up a woman , I'm doing it for the conversation first as I love learning about human nature & how people become who they choose to be & there is no judgement from except tears as then if that woman tells me she a lesbian I will believe I'm a lesbian too. Oh yeah that's right equality means I can't be a lesbian .

Marnie I have no idea at what point of discovery of ur orientation you are & who you will choose to spend ur life with , all I can say is I wish you a safe & peaceful journey & no ridicule from others & please accept that I will only see you as a fellow human who is on the journey of life like I am.

Pride Month is VERY IMPORTANT just like November 22nd 1963 & the 4th of April 1968 & every single important date in history. Pride is about being accepted & treated equally & nothing to do with sex for me at least.. The Stonewall riots that happened in 1969 was to get gay rights to exist. For me if 2 men or 2 women are walking down the street holding hands to my eyes they are just humans who love the person they're with.

Just to put it in layman's terms ...... I have no issue with people who are gay or straight or whom they love I have no business being in their personal lives , that's for them & them alone. I choose to see humans only as people aren't labels & never will be a label but they will be humans .

[Marnie22 in reply to DodgeDhanda]

I get what you are saying but unfortunately you don't get what I am saying.

Perhaps if you knew someone personally who had struggled with understanding their sexuality because their particular sexuality wasn't known about you might understand.

Perhaps if you knew someone who was so isolated by their sexual identity problems they were severely affected psychologically and needed mental health support you might get it.

If you had tried to talk to someone about your sexuality only to find that they had no awareness of the sexuality you were because it was not talked about publicly so no one understood it, you might get it.

Perhaps if you had worked for decades with young people who were struggling with knowing what they identified as, you might appreciate what I am saying.

It can be terrifying and lonely for someone to not have anyone to reach out to who is similar to them. Many people don't understand this. Imagine feeling ashamed because you don't understand who or what you are sexually. This isn't about me or my 'journey,' it's about understanding that just because the majority of people don't generally struggle with their sexual identity, it doesn't mean it isn't a challenge for many people.

We need to celebrate diversity. We are all humans but within that we have a wide range of different experiences and one way our experiences differ is in our sexual identities. It makes a difference to our lives every day, whoever we are.

It is said that if you don't remember learning to read, you probably didn't have a problem learning to read. Perhaps that can be applied here: if you don't remember trying to figure out what your sexuality is, you probably didn't have a problem with knowing what it is/was. It's not that simple for everyone.

You didn't address my repeated question of how people can learn about different sexual orientations if no one labels anything. It's relatively easy to be 'straight' when that's what society assumes everyone is.

I think the rise in the Pride movement in recent decades speaks for itself. Different sexual identities need to be out there in public to support others and they can't be without labels.

I am not carrying this on any more. I can't help it if you don't get what I am talking about.

[DodgeDhanda in reply to Marnie22]

Why are you ONLY talking about sexuality & nothing else !!! What is ur need to not be seen as a human being ? I do have friends that are gay & we have a healthy relationship as I accept him as he is & no judgement from me. We are friends & we treat each other with dignity & respect , what else should I treat him as & with.

Sorry Marnie it seems ur only looking at it from a sexual point of view when I'm not even looking at it from that direction & everybody goes through a stage of discovery . For some its easy as they are open & honest with themselves & other find it hard due to family or peer pressure to be or act "normal " & I ask define "normal" we are all normal in our own way & if people can't accept you for who you are thats their issue not urs. Again if you're still searching for a label good luck but I only see a fellow human being.

As for someone struggling with their sexuality. What could I possibly say that would be the correct thing if I have no idea what they're battling against ? Are they struggling with themselves & their own mind or with society who doesn't know their choice ? If its the internal battle NO ONE can know the battle as its a battle of that person coming to terms with WHO HE OR SHE IS & I am unable to give advice on something I haven't experienced myself. Now my friend who is gay is still my friend & as I say we treat each other with respect & we accept each other as we are.

Ur right on one thing I don't understand why people grab at labels when they are struggling within themselves BUT like the mental issues I have I know that only I can fight my battle , others understand as they to are fighting the same battle too but sexual orientation isn't the struggle most have. If ur struggling with ur sexuality then that's a battle you have within & this happens to everyone kid growing up when they decide who they are & some go for years hiding their sexuality from their husbands & wives as they haven't been true to themselves & STOP throwing a strop & explain to me why anyone's sexual choices are my business ?

If ur struggling & need to talk to someone on a one to one basis I'm sure their are plenty good people in this group that can come from ur internal struggle as they've been through it too. Me as you've mentioned is I don't get it as to why an internal struggle of sexuality is anyone else's business . I believe it isn't my business & as I said I have a friend who is gay & to me he is just a friend like any of my other friends both male & female .

[DodgeDhanda in reply to Marnie22]

With regards to ur repeated question on labeling sexual orientations. With the Internet don't people do their research on there ? Isn't that where people learn the labels, then don't people search for Internet groups where like minded people & talk to them & ask about how they decided they were so inclined. Although Marnie you seem to only wish to concentrate on 1 part of the person. What about their intelligence ? Their kindness? Their braveness too . Also choosing ur orientation isn't an nternal fight for everyone regardless of choice. These days there is more openness & even more programming & movies on TV. Look at it like urself you are more than ur orientation , u are of skin & bone & blood like every human being .

[Hidden]

Thanks for that SaskiaHU. I learned a lot about the rainbow flag and have saved your post for further reference.

[Mary115]

This post and topic is significant to our concern with equality in breast cancer treatment: Safe, available, respectful, research and treatment is needed. I do not have enough knowledge to know if everything is strictly accurate in these articles but I recognize that basic justice requires that equal access to treatment and support is needed and so I need to study and advocate. We are in this together." LGBT HEALTH

A Silent Epidemic? Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Women Receive Less Post-Cancer Treatment Than Everyone Else

First-of-its-kind BU study reveals that sexual minority women have the worst quality of life, mentally and physically, after cancer"

bu.edu/articles/2019/lgbtq-...

and

lbbc.org/i-am-lgbtq-breast-...

and

cancer-network.org/cancer-i...

[Makie-Uppie]

Never understood the problem people had with others and how hatred was promoted for some kind of gain, as for aliens they would take one look at what is going on here and the way we behave to one another and give this lovely planet a by ball. Bleak but mostly true.If people want a good horror story they should read real books on history not the wishy washy ones with the glossed over stories, the real brutal facts.

A bit off subject again, love everybody (with a few exceptions), come round and get a socially distanced PPE clad hug ot two.

[teempade04]

yes you are right, this is really proud moment for everyone