by Lauren Jones
Glasgow is known for being the friendliest city in the world, with the slogan ‘People Make Glasgow’ plastered on billboards and on the side of buildings. This gives the impression that Glasgow is an inclusive, connected city. However, it is also one of the few cities to have such a noticeably significant divide in the LGBT community, so much so, that there are two Pride events.
Pride Glasgow is the ‘mainstream’ event, where the Pride parade throughout the city ends, gathering in one of Glasgow’s iconic public spaces, such as George Square, Glasgow Green, and this year, Kelvingrove Park. There’s a stage with cheesy acts showcased throughout the weekend, this year this includes Mel C, Steps, and Courtney Act. There’s also stalls giving out an array of freebies (usually rainbow wristbands and condoms) whilst also giving out information leaflets, a bar, and a food market.
Free Pride was created in 2015 in reaction to Pride being ticketed and having commercial sponsors. The ethos of Free Pride is that Pride should be taken back to its roots, being a protest, more inclusive, a safe space, and free of commercialism. This is hosted inside the CCA.
However, also new to Pride Glasgow this year is a section of the festival which is entirely free. The bandstand has been set aside to have all the benefits of the main Pride without the cost of a ticket. People can be in the heart of Pride, taking in the atmosphere without having to buy a wristband. You have the option of paying a minimum of £10 to get into the main festival, or you don’t have to, it’s entirely your choice. You’ll just be missing the main stage acts and potentially the information stalls.
So what does this mean for Free Pride? Free Pride allowed people to enjoy Pride without cost or boundaries, but with Pride Glasgow now open to people on a budget, does Free Pride still need to happen?
When it comes to Free Pride’s ethos, there are many points of contention. The reality is that people don’t want a protest. Being LGBT+ is difficult enough every day, with prejudice still going strong, feeling excluded in the workplace and in education. In 2018, LGBT+ rights are still under threat throughout the world and the general public remain uneducated on issues surrounding being LGBT+, especially being transgender, asexual, or bisexual and pansexual. However, during the Pride weekend, everyone can be out and proud, and even the ones in the closet feel less alone and have hope; being surrounded by same-sex couples and rainbows during an event which celebrates all things LGBT+ makes the daily stress and tension almost worth it. It’s a time to feel like yourself, to be proud to be you, and not have to fight to be heard because you’re surrounded by people like you. Free Pride, in all its good intentions, reminds you constantly that you’re different, that you’re separate from everyone else, that you should be shut away indoors, out-of-the-way.
As for the Free Pride’s aversion to commercialism, yes, there are corporations which hop on the bandwagon, claiming to be proud to support LGBT+ rights. However, you know what I feel when I walk down the high street and I see brands known to everyone, Levi’s, Absolut, Abercrombie Fitch, Flying Tiger, flying a rainbow flag with t-shirts that say ‘I AM PROUD’? I feel like I can be myself. Businesses showing their support for LGBT+ rights normalises being LGBT+, it makes this a message that everyone is seeing and when people buy these products, they’re supporting these companies and in turn, supporting LGBT+. Why is that a bad thing? We live in a capitalist society where you have to spend money and in turn, support corporations, and I’d rather buy products where businesses are advertising that they stand with those marginalised to this day than those who don’t. Also worth noting is that a lot of the businesses donate profits to LGBT+ non-profit organisations.
Free Pride also aims to educate, so could Pride Glasgow do more to educate those at their event? Probably. There’s many educative stalls across the festival, including Police Scotland, Sandyford, and ones that raise awareness of drug use. There could always be more, including for sex workers, and there could be a safe space or chill-out area available for those who are overwhelmed, such as those with sensory disabilities. On the other hand, at an event like this, people don’t want to be educated, they want to have fun. Maybe Free Pride is useful for those seeking education but instead it’s marketed as this revolutionary but fun event, but doesn’t this event draw in people already seeking education, as opposed to helping the uneducated learn?
At the end of the day, Pride doesn’t need to be taken back to its roots and it shouldn’t feel separationist. If the two organisations worked together, they could amalgamate both events, keeping the hard-hitting, educative talks in different sections of the festival area whilst still having all the fun of 90s bands and drag queens. I don’t know if Free Pride would ever want to merge however; in their first year of opening, there was a huge controversy caused by the organisers wanting to ban drag queens due to the discomfort they caused other trans people, and last year, three people were arrested for protesting the police presence during the event and parade. Free Pride doesn’t feel fun, it doesn’t feel like somewhere I want to go to celebrate my identity. I want to be loud, proud, and standing in a park surrounded by rainbow flags (even if the weather is very Scottish). I don’t want to feel othered, I want to feel included. I don’t want to protest on a weekend where I can be openly myself, I want to enjoy myself.
I may have to pay to enter, but now I have the choice not to. So do we still need Free Pride? What would you prefer, education or inclusion? You decide…