‘We do it for the LGBT+ community’

Having been involved in Bristol Pride for the past nine years, Daryn Carter is an experienced party planner. When we meet by City Hall in the run up to Pride Day on Saturday, July 14, organisers have already set up camp with a wristband exchange and information hub, decorated enthusiastically with colourful flags.

Next year marks the ten year anniversary of Bristol Pride, and as the organising team gear up to celebrate a decade of progress, they have been recognised as one of the top 50 Pride events around the globe, joining Manchester, Brighton and Birmingham as the only cities in the UK to make the list. It’s an outstanding achievement, given that there are more than 140 Pride events in the UK alone.

“I actually found out about us being named on that list through reading a news article. I thought, ‘is Bristol on there?’ And oh yes, we were!” Daryn laughs. “Obviously, we all want to be the best, but strangely enough there isn’t actually much rivalry between Pride organisation teams. We’re all in the same boat and do it for our LGBT+ community.”

A collaborative effort from LGBT+ people has formed not just a local or national community, but something global to be celebrated, Daryn says: “We get a lot more people coming to Bristol Pride from Europe than we used to, and that’s such a great thing.” The furthest someone has travelled for Bristol Pride that Daryn knows of was from Azerbaijan. As he recounted the story, it was clear just how touched he was that an event he had helped organise had provided this person with a safe space and platform to celebrate themselves in.

Bristol Pride has grown into a huge free celebration that takes over the city each July

Having grown up at the end of the Section 28 era, which made the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in schools illegal, Daryn is now keen to work within schools and encourage open discussion about growing up gay in Bristol. “I’m both impressed and amazed at how brave children feel now,” he says. “Children aren’t born with hatred. They learn it.”

Bristol Pride is clear that it is a family-friendly event, and at the children’s area this year, events such as Drag Queen Story Time will be taking place. Organisations like youth mental health charity Off The Record have also been invited to have a presence in the youth area, which is aimed at 13 to 21-year-olds. “It’s a great space for young people who may not yet know where they stand or belong,” Daryn says. They can talk to adults who have been in the same position and get the support they need to find themselves.

The increasing normality of seeing gay people in the mainstream media is helping too. “It’s a simple thing but it’s essential,” Daryn says, “although a better representation on television would be nice as it still is not great and still tends to be stereotyped”.

Encouraging young people to find themselves is one of Daryn’s aims for Pride

The reasons to celebrate Pride range from it offering time for the whole LGBT+ community to party, to encouraging visibility and creating a sense of solidarity and safety around the city. There is still a need to raise awareness of issues affecting bisexual and transgender people, Daryn says: “pockets of phobia” still exist, but he is working hard to ensure Pride is inclusive.

“It is so important to showcase the diversity that exists within our community and we can do that through the parade,” Daryn continues. “The city centre route is deliberate to make sure we get visibility for the community.”

While Pride Day is of and for the LGBT+ community, it is supporters including Stonewall, Aviva and Unite Students that have really helped Bristol Pride to get people involved and talking about the issues.  “Bristol is a big hub of businesses and headquarters. Events like these get people talking and through those conversations, we can challenge hearts and minds,” Daryn says. “LGBT+ members of staff who push their employers to take action are our champions.”

As for what he is most looking forward to about Bristol Pride Day 2018, Daryn laughs. “Monday, when it’s all over and I can get some sleep!” he jokes.

Bristol Pride Day takes place on Saturday, July 14 with a parade through the city centre, finishing on the Harbourside with live music. Find out more by visiting www.bristolpride.co.uk

Daryn Carter is one of the contributors to Bristol24/7‘s community interest project Talking LGBT+ Bristol, a film about love, struggle and change. It will be screened on the Big Screen in Millennium Square at 2pm and 5pm on Saturday, July 14 as part of Bristol Pride Day.