PGP / SPD My story:

Why Pride is still needed: Pride is still needed because legal equality does not automatically mean lived equality. LGBTQ+ people can still experience bullying, harassment, discrimination, rejection from family, hate crime and hostility simply for being who they are. Trans people in particular are currently at the centre of intense public and political debate, and young LGBTQ+ people can grow up hearing that their identity is something shameful, controversial or unacceptable. Pride is therefore about more than celebration. It is about visibility, community, remembrance and the freedom to exist without fear. It remembers people who fought for rights that many now take for granted, honours those who suffered or died because of prejudice, and gives isolated people a chance to see that they are not alone. Supporting Pride also doesn't require everyone to have identical beliefs about every issue involving sex, gender, sexuality or policy. People can disagree respectfully on difficult qu...

Something I'm trying harder to do: ignore threats and abuse. Sometimes the strongest response is no response at all. When we're triggered, especially as neurodivergent people or those who have experienced trauma, the urge to defend ourselves can feel overwhelming. Trust me on this! 🙏🏻 We want to explain, correct misinformation, provide evidence, and make people understand. The difficulty is that not everyone is looking for understanding. Some people are looking for conflict. I've learned that constantly responding can keep us trapped in a cycle of stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. Every comment becomes another debate. Every explanation becomes another screenshot. Every defence becomes another opportunity for someone to keep the conversation going. Protecting your peace is not weakness. Setting boundaries is not weakness. Walking away from an argument does not mean you were wrong. Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do is trust that those who genuinely want the ...