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Imust start off with a confession: I never liked the idea of Pride Marches. In fact, I used to be pretty disparaging of the whole concept: why do people need a whole month to express them-
selves? Why does it have to be so large and in your face? Why can’t people just go about their business quietly?
This was all before I had even been to a Pride March and if I’m even more honest I had based it upon some preconceptions I had about the LGBTQ+ community. Some harsh ones. Surprising perhaps coming from an openly gay man.
By my journey, like many others, is still on-going and it is through attending Pride events that I have learnt more about who I am: both as part of LGBTQ+ family and as an officer.
But a bit of history first. Being homosexual within the military was (within living memory) illegal and there are countless sto- ries of serving personnel being summarily charged, tried and dismissed from the service by virtue of who they were. It wasn’t until 1998 that Stonewall; a LGBTQ+ rights group (that grew from the Stonewall Riots of the 1960s) was contacted by a group of 4 individuals from across the RN, Army and RAF to fight their case to be allowed to serve as open gay men and women.
It wasn’t until 2000 after the case reached the European Court of Human Rights that the ban was finally overturned. This paved the
way for thousands to serve their country and in turn allowed me to walk up the steps of Sandhurst one day.
Pride events now take place across the length and breadth of the country, and it is now common to see members of the Armed Forces take part. It was through this that I was first introduced to London Pride in 2019 and the overall sense I got was one of belonging. Here was a group of people that had the same shared experience as I of coming to terms with ones own sexuality and then having the confidence to be open about it. Pride is about being able to accept who you are with the support of all those around you.
I have met some incredible people and been witness to some incredible events from taking part in the marches: from veterans who are still fighting for their recognition of their service to life- long friends proposing in front of thousands of people.
Finding a place where you belong can be a hard business and for a long time, I didn’t think I’d find it. But I can say that with true honesty I was so wrong about Pride, and I wish every person, whether part pf the LGBTQ+ family, an ally wanting to show sup- port or a commander wanting to understand the experience of their soldiers: come along.
1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
A Month of Pride Capt M A Carter AGC (SPS)
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