Many of my mates know I am intensely proud of Manchester, for a start. I was born right in the centre – in a car park. Well, it became a car park after the old St Marys Hospital was knocked down, an event which I am glad to say did not precede my arrival. Manchester has changed in so many ways since I arrived from Derbyshire, fledgling child of the 80’s, halo still intact. 
 Canal Street was once a backwater of dubious origins....  |
Looking at the old street photographs tucked away in the City Library, its amazing how much of that change has happened in just 20 years. Canal Street, in the heart of the Gay Village, was once a backwater of dubious origins and I can see the rancid cars, derelict warehouses and empty streets which are a far cry from the commercialisation and hedonism that is infused throughout the area today. This months Europride celebrations for me though are not just proof that lesbian and gay rights and acceptance have made a massive leap forward, but also the way that Manchester as a city will see its inhabitants. Europride is a show of strength and a gathering of the gay-in-some-association masses, but for me its also going to be an interesting lesson in how Mancunians see it’s gay community. 
Saturday’s carnival parade will have floats of an outrageous and even saucy nature... |
The past years of Mardi Gras will be nothing compared with Europride – this will out shadow them ten-fold, if not more. And because of that very fact, it lays the gay community open to more criticism and finger pointing than ever before. Perversely, it’s a fact that the gay community takes this firmly on its shoulders and questions why it should be questioned by those who have a homophobic view of gay life. Saturday’s carnival parade will have floats of an outrageous and even saucy nature driving through the heart of the city, showing bits of painted flesh and gaudy costumes to make more than a few jaws drop. And yet I just know there will be those who think the gay community live a life like this every day of the week. But if Europride was all about educating others then events like the parade would be full of sensibly dressed men and women, who travel on public transport, shop in high street shops and speak the same words as other Mancunians. Well, more or less. I have friends coming over from Germany and the Netherlands, all of whom have visited before, and loved our city. My city. 
I am looking forward to Europride with apprehension and excitement... |
Manchester really is a great and wonderful place to live, even with its problems repeated in cities through the world. Better the devil you know. I am looking forward to Europride with apprehension and excitement though, knowing that there will be many who find it difficult to understand why gay life should exist at all, especially this particular fortnight when the city will show a part of its bohemian side in force. My strong desire though is for the hundreds of thousands of visitors to leave here, after seeing that we haven’t just got a great looking city but one that has a growing population that is forward thinking, open armed and accepting in its attitude to others of different colour, gender, religion – and sexuality. A pipe dream? I’ll let you know in two weeks… Find out more about EuroPride by clicking here | 
