Pride and protest don't have to be loud
Hello,
Last week I wrote that Pride feels different this year, with queer and disabled people (and lots of other groups, especially immigrants) under attack around the world. I wrote about how we need to remember that Pride is a protest, and that marginalised groups need to have each other’s backs.
At the moment, it feels like there are important protests I should be at basically every day. The truth is, I haven’t been to any of them (although I plan to be at the anti-assisted dying one on Friday), and I’ve been feeling pretty guilty about it, as have a lot of people I know. But while physically gathering and protesting is important and you should absolutely turn up if you can, I think it’s equally important that we remember that doing so isn’t the only way to create resistance or show solidarity, especially if protesting is inaccessible for you.
It’s unrealistic to expect everyone to be out on the streets. But I think it’s perfectly reasonable to ask ourselves and our allies to do as much as possible, whatever that looks like. The good news is there are actually loads of other ways to effect change, with options for all abilities, energy levels and skillsets. In fact, playing to our strengths instead of just doing the automatic or expected thing probably makes us more effective advocates, not less.
If, like me, you’ve been feeling the feelings about not being at the protests, here are some things you can do instead. They won’t all be suitable for you (indeed, I’m not doing all of them!) but they will make a difference.
Write to your MP
Donate money to minority-led organising groups
Amplify marginalised voices across social media
Contribute to mutual aid efforts - this doesn’t have to cost money e.g. maybe you can watch your neighbour’s kids while they go to a benefits assessment
Challenge problematic things you see and hear - whether from friends, family and colleagues or online and in the media
Build real communities that make people safer (lots of tips on how to do so here)
Support local and grassroots businesses/causes/community organisers
Help other people attend protests if you can’t
Fund someone’s travel
Walk the route in advance and make an access guide
Make placards or provide the materials for others to do so
Be on call to link people in need to legal and other service
Share skills - Can you train activists in the law? Speaking to the media? Can you help people apply for benefits? Can you navigate specific bureaucracies? Offer to do so
Write to your local or national newspaper
Write to the relevant government departments
Then there is the other side of the coin, which is that we often face the same pressures to go to big, loud, busy events to celebrate rather than protest, especially when it comes to LGBTQ Pride. And again, that’s just not accessible - or even very appealing - for a lot of people. So if, like me, the idea of the big parade or a sweaty nightclub fills you with existential anxiety, here are some celebratory things you can do instead:
Wish someone a Happy Pride - I know this sounds almost comically small but every time I have done this the person has beamed at me and you can’t put a price on that
Read/watch/make/listen to something queer
Get a really gay haircut - this is so underrated but one of my favourite things these days is going to the barbers and coming out feeling exactly like myself, so I’d really recommend it
Go to a quieter event. There are so many things happening that aren’t the parade or nights out. I went to queer book club last week, might go to Big Queer Picnic this weekend (weather and energy permitting) and I’m definitely going to karaoke with some friends the week after. None of these things are loud and scary. And of course, you can always come to the Every Body Queer prom on the 28th!
There’s also loads of Pride events happening online, for even easier access
Just see your queer friends! This one is guaranteed to be a 10/10 experience
I think we have certain expectations of what protests should look like or what Pride should be. But there’s no reason we can’t shape these things to suit us, while still showing up for our communities. This year, we need both things; let’s include as many people as possible - and ourselves.
Happy Pride,
Lucy