passing the mic to @prishita_eloise:
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Hey all, I’m Prishita Maheshwari-Aplin, I’m a journalist - I'm currently Politics Editor at @bricks_magazine - and an LGBTQIA+ community organiser. I’ll be over on Ohne’s story today, and I'm here to talk to you about the meaning of Pride.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The Stonewall Riots were a grassroots protest against systemic oppression and police brutality. And the first Pride March was community-organised and led. We’ve come such a long way since then but not all the changes have been good. Pride nowadays is commercialised and pinkwashed, and the most marginalised members of the LGBTQIA+ community - Black and brown people, trans people, sex workers, etc. - are still being disregarded in mainstream advocacy.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I organise with a direct action group called Voices4 London (@voices4ldn) alongside some wonderful queer people. They give their time and energy to helping others without asking for anything in return. But we ask the queer community to remember that we aren’t here to just ask for palatable representation or superficial equality. Rather, we want every queer person around the world to feel safe and happy to express who they are within.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
While asking for better from those in power, we must also provide one another with mutual aid and support via grassroots initiatives and community organisations. @voices4ldn is currently fundraising to support a Chechen refugee, who is fleeing persecution and seeking asylum in another country. Please donate via link in @voices4ldn’s bio (or swipe up link in stories) to support a queer person in need.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Here are some other organisations you should follow and support:
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
@weexistlondon
@londontranspride
@wearetransmissions
@lgbtiqoutside
@swarmhive
@notaphaseorg
@africanrainbowfamily
@blackmindsmatter.uk
@switchboardlgbt