If you’re like me and not one for city driving, or in my case get very confused with Bristol’s traffic system, you’re more likely to take something called public transport, finishing my journey with a ‘Cheers, Drive’.
The best part about public transport is the people you can come across, not necessarily the stinky figure next to you, but those around you. If you take your headphones out and listen into the lives of those not so different to yours, you could meet some fantastic creatures!
Being from a countryside town that most ask the spelling for three times over, I could relate Little Britain’s Daffyd claim to my own life. I do often feel like the ‘only pans in the village’.
So, to drive to Bridgwater, some many miles from the countryside cave I reside in, on the morning of Bristol Pride, I was expecting a deserted platform with a rattling train from the 80’s claiming it’s arrival. What I actually found was the Somerset town was rather proud, with a good number of Pride-goers fashioning rainbow capes and hair colours of equal hues. And the train, well let’s just say there were several shocked outbursts of “2 coaches?!” as it pulled into the station.
It was similar experience to the London Underground after a short while, just with less blue sparks and more rural views past the hundreds of heads. Several passengers going about their daily lives (yes, some people work Saturdays!) were questioning what drew the large crowds, but were welcoming of the response they got of the LGBT celebrations taking place.
As the train filled up around the Yatton area, there was a memorable young guy (especially for his glowing sequin t-shirt) asking those standing to move along: “Come on, let’s all huddle in together, we all love each other”. This took the massive amount you encounter at Pride celebrations into just a few words.
We are absolutely in this together, no matter who we are or how we identify, and love is love for that reason. For that guy in Yatton, it may be that he felt as isolated as I have as LGBT+ in the past from such a far-out land and to meet and know people around him feeling similar must be incredibly humbling when they come together.
Bristol Pride isn’t just drawing in those from across such a diverse and beautiful city, but also those who may be brought up in the dead end of nowhere and learn that they are recognised at Pride events across the nation.
Now, I’m off to the main event and look forward to spreading the ‘love is love’ message throughout the day.
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