London Pride

Good Day Ladies,

I attended my first ever Pride festival.  I did not want to go alone to the events.  So I invited a freind that had been to Pride Toronto a few times.  Pride London should be smaller.  We meet on Saturday and went to the beer garden, and chatted about life while listening to the bands on stage. The crowd was light.  The vendors were good.  Then off to dinner across the road from the Pride venue.   The staff at the restaurant treated us well, and gendered us appropriately.   Then off to the drag show.  We were the only trans people I saw at the show.  The energy was great the performances were fantastic.  I took my freind back to her hotel and then made my way home at 2 am.  Sunday is parade day.  We meet at 10am and walk to the staging area of the parade.  People are starting to line the route.   The feeling of love and joy and acceptance from the people at the parade and in it, overwhelmed me and bring me to treats many times. We Watch the 134 floats in the parade.  Head to the beer garden, and it is full.  We join a table and start chatting.  So much love acceptance form people I just met, or have not met at all.

The people I am meeting are happy and excited to be there.

We head to a different restaurant for a drink and more conversation.   The waitress was so great and excited to chat.  She has been going to Pride since she was young. This was the first Pride she was missing as she was working waiting tables for the weekend.

The whole experience overwhelmed me so many times.  I am not one for crouds, or talking with new people.  I was out in public, lots of people, public in a dress, and in a skirt.  I was so far out of my comfort zone I could not even see my comfort zone from here.  I still break down in tears thinking about the events of the weekend.

What everyone wants to know. I wore a short polo dress on Saturday and denim skirt and t shirt on Sunday.

I hope that everyone gets a chance to experience a Pride event.

Love and hugs

Paula