Pride

Today was the perfect antidote to a week of despair and hatred. Today saw people coming together in a show of solidarity, love and tolerance. It's important to remember that there was a time when a gay pride parade congregating outside the Minster would have been unthinkable, let alone the reverend leading the crowd in prayer from the rainbow adorned bus. There was a time when it would have been unimaginable for the police to have rainbows painted on their faces, and to gladly stand and have their photographs taken, smiling and proud to be part of the event.

During weeks like the last one it's easy to believe that people are evil, that our world is divided and that the future is something to be scared of. And then you see what a day like today can bring. People standing together. A city full of colour and smiles. A waitress explaining to my daughter that the reason why only one eye has rainbow eyelashes is because only half of her is gay. Her Majesty the Queen eating chips. There's still hope yet.