An interactive bank of video stories from LGBTQ+ celebrities and beyond has been launched in celebration of Pride.
The online platform, called Soul of a Movement:Queer Nation, contains video submissions from LGBTQ+ people from all walks of life, responding to the question: “What does Pride mean to you?”
Users can click on areas of UK and Ireland to explore contributions from people across the LGBTQ umbrella, including submissions from Graham Norton, Munroe Bergdorf and activist Peter Tatchell — as well as encouraging users to add their own voice to the project.
Safe, seen, heard and equal
Created by English fashion designer Gareth Pugh and his husband Carson McColl, the map has also been designed to include grassroots organisations fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, including LGBTQ+ Muslim charity Hidayah, the Time for Inclusive Education Campaign, Voices4LDN and queer performance arts space the 343 Belfast lending their support.
In Mr Norton’s clip for the project the presenter shared his thoughts on Pride, ruminating on the protest and celebration. He said while the community should celebrate, but “we can’t be completely proud” just yet.
“In 2020, we should be proud of everything we’ve achieved. But everybody wants to be safe, seen, heard and equal,” he said. “So as long as there are people in society who don’t feel like that, we can’t be completely proud. So, let’s celebrate what we have achieved, but keep fighting. No-one should be left behind.”
Pride moves online
Creator Gareth Pugh said: “Pride 2020 provided us with a unique challenge: how can we help to instil a sense of community and togetherness at a time where being together isn’t possible? With that in mind, we decided to try and leverage our networks to create what will hopefully become a living record of Queer Culture in the UK and Ireland in 2020. At heart it’s about reaffirming that while we may all be on our own right now, as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, you are never alone.”
Co-creator Mr McColl said: “The site will continue to accept and feature new submissions indefinitely, and will exist in perpetuity as a way of offering people in our community a forum to tell their stories in their own words, without gatekeepers or censorship. It’s a space where we can exist and talk about what Pride means entirely free from corporate influence, and where we can share our dreams for the future.
“Right now we’re in a period where everything is in flux and change feels possible, so while dreaming of the future might be considered by some an indulgence, in a moment like this, we’d argue that it’s a necessity.”
Pride has taken a unique turn this year as the celebrations migrate online. The community and its allies will congregate for Pride Inside, with events scheduled on a web streaming service from Sunday 28 June across the UK.
Ana Matronic from the Scissor Sisters, Michael Cashman CBE, Arlo Parks and Marika Hackman are among those confirmed to appear at the online-only event.
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