Visible

I recently wrote here about how things had changed for the better for LGBTQIA+ people in this country since I was growing up; and whilst that’s true, it’s still far from perfect.

Recent news stories have shown that violence and hate crime against us is still a big issue www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/aug/29/spate-of-attacks-across-uk-sparks-fear-among-lgbtq-community?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other and obviously things are far worse in Afghanistan, Russia, Nigeria, China, Somalia, Hungary, Poland, Pakistan, Bangladesh and dozens of other countries. 

One change I’ve been delighted to see over the last 3 decades or so has been more visibly diverse representation in the UK LGBTQIA+ community. Which, again, isn’t to say that racism doesn’t exist in this community, as in any other, or that it’s now ‘easy’ for everyone to come out. It certainly isn’t. But I was heartened to encounter this group of gay South Asian men in Manchester this weekend, attending the rather more low-key than usual (for obvious reasons) Manchester Pride festivities. 

M and I had no interest in attending any of the ticketed events but we did want to show up and be visible as safely as possible, to honour those who’ve gone before us, and those still to follow. 

Today’s song is by another British ‘Gaysian’. It’s Leo Kalyan, with ‘Focus’ www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdE6rlY0F9E