This post is in response to an article available here, about the corporatisation and homophobic commodification of Pride. It was published last year and its author, Hannah Cowen, makes some excellent points about issues that have only become worse this year.
I agree with a lot of what she says, although not all of it. There's a common saying this time of year: "Pride is a protest, not a party." I've heard this a few times over the last couple of weeks as things have geared up. I don't quite agree. Pride is a protest and a party. We're celebrating ourselves, and how far we've come, as well as protesting how far we have left to go.
I agree with a lot of what she says, although not all of it. There's a common saying this time of year: "Pride is a protest, not a party." I've heard this a few times over the last couple of weeks as things have geared up. I don't quite agree. Pride is a protest and a party. We're celebrating ourselves, and how far we've come, as well as protesting how far we have left to go.
I had a wonderful Pride this year, but
it's increasingly becoming in spite of the official organisation
rather than because of it. The main Pride event in Preston Park has now become completely apoliticised. This year it turned the corner and became simply the Britney concert. I had no particular interest in going, although at one point it looked like I might have been able to get a free ticket off someone, and I would have happily taken it, if only to carry on partying with my friends when they went off to see the performance. Even last year, when I attended following the parade (not that even marching guarantees entrance anymore) I was disappointed to see how the poetry, performance and protest tents had been relegated to the sidelines. More disappointing is the cost of attending the street party in St. James's Street, which once was a wonderful celebration of community. I have no problem with there being a small charge to enter - it keeps out troublemakers and helps pay for the clean up - but it is becoming increasingly costly, so much so that even people who live in the street don't attend. They, of course, can enter for free, but none of their friends or family can. Now the whole of Kemp Town is completely fenced off for the duration.
I was really pleased to see some actual protest groups in the parade. The protest against BA's complicity in deportation was powerful, and they went on to take over the BA-sponsored i360, (a tall piece of tat that has been planted in the Brighton shoreline). There were several anti-TERF groups, an LGBT Muslim group with anti-Islamist placards, and much more. There were also plenty of purely celebratory groups. Yes, there are a lot of corporate floats and marches. Some of the corporations are very pro-LGBT inclusion. American Express are mentioned in the article, but they're consistently in the top two UK employers on the Stonewall Index (the other being Lloyds Banking Group, whose Rainbow network is based in Brighton and marches every year).
On the other hand, there were floats for things like Nestle, and Pride was sponsored by BooHoo - neither one anti-LGBT as far as I know, but both linked with appalling human rights abuses. I can't speak for things like Tesco or BT, really, but there doesn't seem to be any discrimination against who or what can join the parade. If they can pay, they're in, whether their actions and ethos are compatible or not.
I was really pleased to see some actual protest groups in the parade. The protest against BA's complicity in deportation was powerful, and they went on to take over the BA-sponsored i360, (a tall piece of tat that has been planted in the Brighton shoreline). There were several anti-TERF groups, an LGBT Muslim group with anti-Islamist placards, and much more. There were also plenty of purely celebratory groups. Yes, there are a lot of corporate floats and marches. Some of the corporations are very pro-LGBT inclusion. American Express are mentioned in the article, but they're consistently in the top two UK employers on the Stonewall Index (the other being Lloyds Banking Group, whose Rainbow network is based in Brighton and marches every year).
On the other hand, there were floats for things like Nestle, and Pride was sponsored by BooHoo - neither one anti-LGBT as far as I know, but both linked with appalling human rights abuses. I can't speak for things like Tesco or BT, really, but there doesn't seem to be any discrimination against who or what can join the parade. If they can pay, they're in, whether their actions and ethos are compatible or not.
It's deeply disheartening to read of Ms. Cowen's homophobic experiences at Pride. Straight people should be completely welcome at Pride - they may be there as allies, either in general or to support family or friends, or they might just be there for the party, which is fine too. As long as they are respectful and not homophobic, which you'd think would go without saying. It's not as though (as she also makes clear in the article) gay people are always respectful either. Last year I marched with my girlfriend, and got some filthy looks from some people. It presumably never occurred to them that we're both bi. I'm not the only one who spoke of biphobic abuse at the event.
Still, there are always going to be arseholes at any event, because frankly, most people are arseholes and once something's public you're never going to keep them all out. However, it's deeply depressing that the core parts of the Pride celebration are catering more to anyone with enough money- individual or corporate - than those who have a real personal or political reason to be involved. But that's our culture all over. Everything is commodified. Pride is only going to become more about money as it goes on, and less about what it should be about: the community, the protest, the real celebration. Still, at least there are plenty of independent, free things to do on Pride weekend, and they're getting more and more focus from the community as the official event sells itself out.
Still, there are always going to be arseholes at any event, because frankly, most people are arseholes and once something's public you're never going to keep them all out. However, it's deeply depressing that the core parts of the Pride celebration are catering more to anyone with enough money- individual or corporate - than those who have a real personal or political reason to be involved. But that's our culture all over. Everything is commodified. Pride is only going to become more about money as it goes on, and less about what it should be about: the community, the protest, the real celebration. Still, at least there are plenty of independent, free things to do on Pride weekend, and they're getting more and more focus from the community as the official event sells itself out.
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