Pride

What can be more special than the joining of two lives together in love?

When people are in love, that’s all that matters. Two people, declaring through vows their commitment to each other; exchanging tokens and promises before their guests. Feeling the love and support of their family and friends as they begin the happiest of futures together.

A Celebrant led wedding ceremony is non discriminatory.  Life is enriched with the tapestry of people coming together whose different backgrounds, beliefs and passions define who they are.  Love does not discriminate and neither do I.

June is National Pride Month; usually marked with parades, parties and paraphernalia. But beneath the paraphernalia, Pride itself is much more than that.  For the LGBT+ community many will have come through hard realisations, perhaps lost family or friends in coming out.  Many will have suffered a great mental anguish.   It is not a lifestyle choice.  

Although attitudes and injustice still remain, we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots of 1969 and by continuing in this long standing tradition of continuing to raise awareness, improve the attitudes of society and encourage inclusiveness.  It promotes dignity, equal rights, self-affirmation and is a way of increasing society’s awareness of the issues the LGBT+ community face.  Pride parades now attract millions of participants throughout the globe and have the attention of mainstream media. There is still have a long way to go before a fully tolerant society is achieved.

We each have a different story.  Respect, don’t judge because you are not in anyone else’s story but your own. Be kind.   For those of the LBGT+ community; be proud of yourself, be proud of how far you have come, love will always win out, so be true to yourself and love yourself first.

Parades and parties come and go, to be proud of yourself and love who you are lasts a lifetime.