Pride.

It’s the pride parade in town today.

There’s going to be a parade of boats through the canals and a big after party lasting into the wee small hours.

I hope everyone attending or taking part has a wonderful time.

Of course, I know there will be people who say, ‘why do they need a parade’?

Well because believe it or not there are small minded people who try to make other people ashamed for being who they are and for loving who they want to.

Come on, it’s the 21st century surely, we can all accept that there is nothing wrong in two (or more) consenting adults loving each other?

Well apparently, we can’t ... Just this week on social media I read a remark from someone who described being gay as a handicap! Seriously???

I can’t understand why we are all so obsessed with other peoples love lives and gender orientation, why do we feel its our right to know who another person loves?

I just cannot understand why anyone feels they have a right to interfere in another adult person’s relationship.

I was lucky enough to grow up in a home where hate had no place and I honestly cannot remember my parents ever saying anything homophobic, but I guess back then I was in a minority, because it’s their fears and hate that parents pass to their children that keeps this stupid and senseless intolerance going and only by breaking that chain can we ever hope for things to improve.

The fact that in the 21st century we still use sexual orientation as a weapon to threaten and blackmail people who do not conform to what society classes as ‘normal’ and that there are still huge groups of people who have to hide and worry about being exposed is something we all should be ashamed about. Anyone who buys one of those rags posing as a newspaper carrying ‘gay lover exposed’ stories should be ashamed for buying this contemptible rubbish.

Then there are the people who think gay people need to be cured... It’s like some medieval witchcraft ‘oh those people love each other lets cure them of it’ OMG ! Isn’t there enough hatred in the world? Shouldn’t they try to cure that before trying to cure someone of loving someone else.?

Go cure the rapists, the murderers, the paedophiles and leave consenting adults alone.

Of course, there are always the religious haters the ones who start quoting bible and verse going on about God made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve ... To them I say. get over yourselves. The bible also said judge not lest ye be judged and, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. So, shut up , go away and focus on your own faults ...

To everyone attending, be proud, be who you are, don’t feel the need to explain or justify yourself to anyone and if you find love and are loved then know you are rich.

And maybe that’s what the haters are missing,

Maybe they are missing out on love…