Yesterday, 17 June 2017, I took part in the Pride march in Edinburgh. It was my very first time and I enjoyed that experience immensely! It was colorfuland and vibrant, full of life, happiness and pride! It was a celebration of love, friendship and freedom and I felt privileged to be there. Even the Scottish weather was impressed with all the wonderful raibows and colorful people in flamboyant outfits with equally striking personalities. It brought out the sun to shine brightly on all those wonderful people putting them for those few hours in a spotlight. WE could also hear many different languages spoken in the crowd, reminding us that it is not possible to be who you feel you are or love who you really are in love with in many countries in the world. My friend and I were wondering how many Polish people took part in that event, discussing the negativity surrounding similar events taking place in Poland. It was absolutely heartbreaking to hear that rainbow families would never feel comfortable enough to take their children to a Pride march in Warsaw for fear of violence, verbal abuse and lack of protection from the police. Here in Edinburgh the police were friendly, walking alongside the marching crowd, smiling and supporting everyone just like officers should. My friend, who has been interested in the execution of  LGBT equality right in Scotland told me that the police have an LGBT employment policy in place, insuring that LGBT officers can be employed and have equal rights in the service. We also saw a stall with royal navy LGBT officers and it was really reassuring on one hand. What’s the other hand? Well, another of my very dear friends pointed out that the ideal situation would be if there was no need for special LGBT insuring rights’ policies simply because everyone would be mature enough to accept the diversity surrounding us, not only in regards to LGBT communities but also all the other so called protected characteristics. Hear! Hear!

I guess that would be the perfect world where everyone could live their life in peace and safety. But before that perfect time comes we have to go out into the streets and march celebrating our differences or peacefully reminding people that whatever our nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation or social status is, at the end of the day we are all human and feel exactly the same emotions such as grief, happiness, sadness, joy, fear, excitement, love, hate, hunger, thirst, cold… But the one that makes us do unforgivable things and act without the necessary reflection is FEAR and FEAR is very often used and fuelled by the people in power to control us and keep us right where they want us to be in order to keep them in power. Think about it before you vote next time.

But all in all I’M PROUD OF YOU EDINBURGH!!!