#chesterpride

[yuskei-arts]

Hoy es el Día del Amigo, y también un nuevo aniversario. El aniversario de nacimiento de #chriscornell y el aniversario de #chesterbennington volviéndose eterno. Un gran gesto de amistad que la burocracia de este mundo no pudo romper, sin dudas! 👏🎵🐍 -.- #july20 #diadelamigo #friendsday #chesterpride #linkinpark #greydaze #templeofthedog #soundgarden #audioslave #rocklegends (en Yuskei in the Path of Art) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgP5gt9vAX5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[musicisnowuk]

@peanessband @ @musicisnowuk Original Music Stage @ @pride.chester 2018 #musicisnow #wearelivemusic #chesterpride #summer #festival #2018 #chester #musicisnowstagram Photos copyright of @chrisnoblewilliams

[annabellelecteruk]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Annabelle Lecter (@annabellelecterdrag)

Chester Pride Announcement! #ChesterPride #DragQueen #Event #pinkhair

[serenstaro]

Showing their colours to share the love ❤️🏳️‍🌈. • • • #photography #photo #photographer #lgbt #lgbtq #flags #rainbow #pride #chester #chesterpride #marching #love #loveislove (at Chester Pride) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5f71DSFewC/?igshid=xbicbf97l75a

[thegrungemonkey]

Throwback Thursday 🙌 to Glittery Days at Chester Pride last month 🌈✨🌈✨💥 Also wearing our Seahorse Earrings & Planet Candy Necklace that I loveeeeee. Available on our website 😜 * * * * #throwbackthursday #chesterpride #pridecelebrations #pride #loveislove #pastelgoth #pastelgothfashion #pastels #pastelclothing #pastelgrunge #softgoth #softgrunge #grungefashion #palegrunge #grungestyle #grungegirls #gothfashion #gothgirls #darkfashion #gothsofinstagram #gothbabes #spacebabes #kawaiifashion #kawaiigirls #alternativefashion #rainbows #skulls #planets #funfashion #grungemonkey (at Chester, Cheshire) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3t_M8dBiYf/?igshid=xnax3hciymqf

[friedandy]

Proud.

(written for M&S Bank “Moneybox” intranet - June 2017)

I don’t hold my Fiancé’s hand in public. I can’t argue that it’s because I’m not affectionate. I am. It’s even said I give good hug! When I greet friends in the street it’s usually with a hug. I am a hugger. But when it comes to he (who sits at the other end of the sofa) I walk alongside him at a respectful distance. When I meet him from work I still get butterflies. We say hello and ask how our days were and then we walk alongside each another at that respectful distance.  Not miles apart but not close enough for our hands to brush against each other. We don’t draw attention to ourselves. It’s as if I’m keeping him a secret – which couldn’t be further from the truth. I am immensely proud of him. He is the kindest person I have ever met. He is so clever. He is so engaging. He is also so clumsy and socially awkward at times. He laughs too loud, eats with his mouth open, and usually says the wrong things and I love him all the more for it. But I worry. I worry that people will take advantage of his gentle nature. I worry that by any public display of affection I’ll be endangering him. I’ll be making him a target of abuse that I can’t protect him from. I honestly feel to embrace him before he hops on a train to work would put him in danger. Who’s watching? Who’ll target him? And so I do what I can to protect him.

Every day I’m subconsciously adjusting to my surroundings. It’s a survival technique but not one that comes with a David Attenborough narrative. It’s simply how the majority of us who identify as LGBT live our lives. We just do it without giving it much thought. I attempt to be myself when I’m in a safe environment and attempt to blend in when I’m not. Even here at M&S Bank I’m second guessing reactions. We all work for a company that actively promotes diversity and inclusion but I still hear the odd: “Why’s everything got to be so LGBT? We get it. They don’t need to keep going on about it!”

I appreciate that by not knowing why it’s so important for M&S Bank to promote its LGBT colleagues it can come across as one too many rainbows. One too many acknowledgements in a Connect session. One too many awareness days in a D&I newsletter. “When are they going to drag out the unicorns?” But its vitally important for the company to make its LGBT support as visual as possible simply because it allows me and your other lesbian, gay, bi and trans colleagues to feel safe in our shared environment. These visual reminders are our protective shield. They allow us the same confidence within our roles as everybody else.

I’m proud to work for M&S Bank. And while M&S Bank encourages me to be my whole self at work and accepts me for who I am, it’s not universal. Once I squeeze out from those revolving doors at the end of the day I’m stepping out from behind my protective shield.

In many societies, being gay is condemned. People are punished, tortured and banished from their communities because of whom they love.  In more than 70 countries, being gay is still illegal. Only 50 years ago it was illegal here too.  The Stonewall Riots of June 1969 are considered to be one of the most important events leading up to the gay rights movement. Pride marches are now held to commemorate the impact of those riots across the world. The UK has come a long way in terms of tolerance and unity but it’s been a tough road and there is still so much we need to achieve.

M&S Bank recognises this and has once again extended its support by sponsoring the Main Stage at Chester Pride. It’s a powerful statement that the bank openly supports its LGBT employees and the community as a whole.

Pride is a testament to those who fought for our rights and for those who continue to do so. The heart of the city beats a little faster during Chester Pride. It’s huge, it’s colourful and it’s here on 19 August. It’s a celebration of how far we have come, how much has changed, and how strong we are.

It allows me to be part of a majority for a day. It also allows me to hold my fiancé’s hand in our home town. It’s the warmth of a community that accepts everybody for who they really are.

I’ve smashed the acronym LGBT throughout this blog but please know that Pride is not just for those identifying as LGBT. It’s for all of us. I’d absolutely love for you to show your support and get involved.  I’m hoping to be part of the parade on August 19th but M&S Bank are also looking for marshals to ensure the day is a huge success. You can cash in your CSR day and, because Pride is on a Saturday, you can claim back a day off during the week. And if that’s not enough to tempt, you could even rub shoulders with such musical greats as B*Witched and Sonia. How can you say no to that? If you’ve already got you CSR day booked for something else, come along for a few hours anyway. Come and watch the parade. Come and be proud of the difference you make every day. Be proud of your work family. Be proud of your community.  

[chrisjohngoff]

Loved the #pride parade today! #chester #chesterpride

[kle-scouser-lesbian-photographer]

Me & Chris 😘👬👭🌈 #Chester #pride #chesterpride (at Chester, Cheshire)

[gxrls-jpg-blog]

Pantastic pride lewks

[sarahoftheshire]

#LoveIsLove #ChesterPride (at Chester Pride)

[readwriteroleplay]

#pride #LGBTQIA #chesterpride #drag (at Chester Pride)

[musicisnowuk]

@peanessband @ @musicisnowuk Original Music Stage @ @pride.chester 2018 #musicisnow #wearelivemusic #chesterpride #summer #festival #2018 #chester #musicisnowstagram Photos copyright of @chrisnoblewilliams

[annabellelecteruk]

I met such a fantastic person last night! We only had a short chat but they were so genuinely lovely! 79 years of age and still doing drag and being who they are! Chester was MARVELOUS! #manchesterdragqueens #dragqueen #chester #chesterpride (at St Mary's Creative Space)

[serenstaro]

Let the colours stand out 🏳️‍🌈. • • • #lgbt #lgbtq #chesterpride #chesterpride2019 #flag #march #loveislove #photography #photographer #photo #canon #canonphotography #love (at Chester Pride) https://www.instagram.com/p/B26vE8-l2j0/?igshid=1sv1wbn3tzztt

[thegrungemonkey]

Spotted!!! Throwback to a couple of weeks ago at Chester Pride where we spotted Mr Jones @robertjonesssss from one of our favourite bands @sustinereband in our Rainbow Skull Tee 🌈😍🔥🌈😍🔥 go check them out they are aceeeeeeee 👩‍🎤👩‍🎤👩‍🎤 * * * * #customerpics #chesterpride #rainbows #rainbowtee #skulltee #skulllover #sustinere #pastelgoth #pastelgothfashion #pastels #pastelclothing #pastelgrunge #softgoth #softgrunge #grunge #grungefashion #palegrunge #grungestyle #grungeboys #gothfashion #gothgirls #darkfashion  #gothsofinstagram #gothbabes #alternativefashion #grungemonkey #chester https://www.instagram.com/p/B3SX8NmBWNM/?igshid=1ooy5kfednqpt

[itsthacover2]

Tweeted

Congrats to Michael “Man Man” Smith for making All Delco!! 🏀🏀 #alldelco #chester pic.twitter.com/jTqYDeLhEN

— ChesterPride (@chester_pride) April 12, 2018