Opinion: My first Highland Pride was a timely reminder of why community spirit is so important for LGBTQ+ people

There is something really special about feeling part of something, and feeling part of a community.

I'm sure that's something everyone can relate to. Usually that will be when you're around a group of friends, or maybe a sports team, and it can be powerful feeling even – being generous – when it's a group of up to, say, 20 people.

Now imagine that community suddenly stretching into the thousands. It's a difficult emotion to describe knowing that you, just by being you, have the support of that many people all in one place.

Personally, I didn't really know what to expect going into Highland Pride 2023.

I'd never been to any Pride event before, even though it had been on my to-do list for years, so there were a few times I just stopped and looked around to try and take it all in.

What I saw was the most queer people I had ever seen in one place. What I saw was an explosion of colour, of glitter, of rainbows and flags. What I saw was sheer, unadulterated joy.

I'm not going to lie, 2023 has been tough. There was a point earlier this year where the amount of abuse and misinformation I saw being thrown around became all-consuming, and I got seriously worn down mentally by it all.

I have always found, though, that I can take comfort and inspiration from other people in the LGBTQ+ community.

That goes right back to the start of my journey. I embraced my sexuality and began coming out as a direct consequence of seeing other people living "out and proud", to use the cliche, when I was at university and my eyes were opened to how much of a non-issue it could be.

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• Keep up to date with the latest LGBTQ+ news from around the Highlands by signing up to our newsletter, The Queerier

When I started writing about LGBTQ+ topics, seeing how many other people there were and going on Zoom calls with people fighting for the same things I was proved to be an incredible boost. I went from not really knowing anyone doing what I was, to suddenly being in groups with like-minded people across the country.

At Highland Pride, I felt a similar effect. I was half-expecting to see protestors as we marched through the centre of Inverness, but I never saw any, which just left a tonne of smiles to serve as reassurance that it would be a good day.

For me, that served as a reminder of why I do what I do. I write about LGBTQ+ topics because I don't feel like we hear enough queer voices in news outlets – especially when it comes to stories that affect them – and on Saturday I was surrounded by thousands of people who love who they are and wouldn't change that for anything.

My first Pride was a motivator to keep fighting the battles that need to be won. It was inspirational to feel first-hand that, despite what social media might tell you, I am not alone. We're queer, we've always been here, and I promise you we're not going anywhere.

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