London Pride 2008

[Jayneflakes]

Hi Folks,

The reason why I could not make it to the AR08 was because I was meeting up with friends at a big political Demo in London yesterday.

Carol and I got up early, pulled on our bike gear and raced across the country to London on the SV. Poor little Silvie was carrying us, three heavy locks, Carols cameras, our water proof gear, my walking stick and a big bottle of sun cream.

We arrived just in time to get to the front of the march and find our friends and then Carol disappeared to do her photo journalism thing. Leaving me alone in London with about 20 000 people!

One of the best parts of the day was right at the start when it became obvious that we were the only ones to bring sun cream and we soon had a small gaggle of the cutest guys you have ever seen, all wanting us to rub our cream onto them. It was almost enough to turn a gay girl straight!
Wearing biker gear was maybe a mistake, damn I got hot, so it was a case of stripping off in the street and pulling out the thermal and water proof liners from my kit (while being surreptitiously photographed by a rather pretty girl) before starting off.

When the march started I was able to walk along with the team from Trans London, cue lots of dancing, giggling and whistle blowing. Thankfully I still had my ear plugs in my pocket (because I don't like the noise of wind blast in my helmet) so I popped them in and had a bit of a boogie too.

The march was amazing and I met some really cool people from the LGBT communities. We blocked the centre of London and the crowds who lined the street were really supportive, apart from the Religious group who kindly informed us of our abomination and warned us that we would all burn in hell for loving someone who may be the same sex as our selves.

Cut to the end of the day and the ride home, after waiting for friends to make an appearance on the Pride stage (and then dropping the camera and it breaking up into its constituent parts just as they walked on!). My feet hurt on the pegs, my bum hurt on the seat pad and it rained lots. Road spray shot up from the back wheel and went down my pants! I don't like being a pillion anymore...

But anyway, here is one of Carol's photos from London Pride 2008, complete with back pack full of biker gear and both of our helmets strapped on too.



Anyway, I am pretty sure that I cannot be the only LGBT type person on the Org (well Carol is a member too) and I now have an idea for you to think about for next year.

Carol is thinking of putting together an online group of alternative (LBGT) bikers and then next year taking our bikes in to the parade. Not sure how Silvie will look covered in Pride flags and the like, but it will save walking! Should any of you beautiful people be interested, do please let us know either in this thread or by PMing me. My only worry is that now I really do have to pass my DAS!

Originally Posted by Jayneflakes

Hi Folks,

...apart from the Religious group who kindly informed us of our abomination and warned us that we would all burn in hell for loving someone who may be the same sex as our selves.

!

Hope you gave 'em HELL, bigots

What's LBGT by the way?

Sounds like a coold day!

[Jayneflakes]

Originally Posted by skidmarx

What's LBGT by the way?

LGBT is the prefix given to anyone who fits into the groups of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender orientation. It is usually used by groups who are trying to promote diversity and equality.

As for the Religeous Zealots, they kind of left me alone. It may have been the biker gear that did it.... or the heavy Police presence around them!

[Shellywoozle]

Great piccy and good write up, sounds like you had a great time !! If it hadn't have been the AR08 I bet alot more off the org would have joined in !

Any more piccies?

[Jayneflakes]

Originally Posted by Shellywoozle

Great piccy and good write up, sounds like you had a great time !! If it hadn't have been the AR08 I bet alot more off the org would have joined in !

Any more piccies?

I can give you all a couple more to look at.



The figure head of the Trans London group.




Me mid march and feeling the strain of the carrying so much bike clobber!




This was part of the group I marched with, bless every last one of them and a big thank you to them for making me feel welcome.

I am sure that you can tell that I did not take any of these pictures, they are in fact all the work of my Lovely Carol, who ran about like a loon taking photos and recording stuff on DVD.

If she can do it, I may even be able to provide you with a Youtube link later.

That looks fab!

[Shellywoozle]

Cheers hun for posting, looked fun !!! I will get my ar$e out my chair and join in one year !! Looks like a hoot.

[Jayneflakes]

Originally Posted by Shellywoozle

Looks like a hoot.

This was my first ever Pride March, I was never really that into Statement making before I met Carol and she has kind of brought me out of my shell, making me want to feel proud of who I am.

The funny thing is, this is also the first place I ever really started talking about my gender/sexuality/lifestyle type stuff, so I blame the Org for being so welcoming too!

[Shellywoozle]

I find that people as a whole are more open nowadays than what I remember they were when I was growing up.

I have alot of gay friends and I myself am bi-curious and completely open minded. My friends are more open about their sexuality than they were years ago and I personally think that's nice to see.

Society is moving with the times, shame there are the odd few out there that are still against equality and diversity but such is life.

Embrace what and who you are and everyone will too !!!

Urgh, why do some religious people feel the need to interfere in your life and ruin your fun. Everyone should be able to be as gay or straight as they want!