Celebrating Pride & Beyond
For us, Pride isn’t just for June. We’re passionate about supporting such an important symbol of love, hope and freedom all year round, with both our people and our customers. To do this, we don’t just want to support from the side-lines, we want to hear from you. We want to share your advice for the LGBTQ+ community to help inspire and educate others. We want to give you the platform to raise awareness.
When did Pride begin?
Pride began in 1969 as a protest in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. It hasn’t always been the celebration it’s known as today. When an unprompted police raid began at the Stonewall Inn (a bar known as a safe haven for gay and transgender people), members of the community protested with a riot which was then carried out for up to six days. This brave resistance against the law enforcements was the beginning of a new era and went on to be recognised every June.
Even though Pride Month is celebrated by many every year, there are still persecutions happening around the world against those from the LGBTQ+ community. This is why we want to help show our support for such an important movement and why we want to hear from you.
We want to hear your story
If you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, we would love for you to share a piece of advice to help inspire others. If you could go back in time, what would be the best advice you would give to your younger self?
We’d also love to share any romantic love stories. It’s no secret we’re a little obsessed with proposals and weddings, (all special occasions in fact!), so we’d love to see and share your most special moments too.
To help raise awareness throughout Pride Month, you could be featured right here on our blog and on our Instagram - @beaverbrooksthejewellers and Facebook page - @Beaverbrooks to help inspire our readers. Send your story and your best pic to stories@beaverbrooks.co.uk to get involved.
To help get you inspired, Mike from our Middlesbrough store has shared his story with us and some very moving advice to his younger self. Mike also talks about how Pride is a moment of reflection for him and others who have or are facing adversity.
We also take a look at some monumental moments that have helped drive the LGBTQ+ movement throughout history, including the brave people who were part of Stonewall Uprising riots in 1969.
Mike, Middlesbrough store
Mike and his partner Scott
Mike is the supervisor of our Middlesbrough store and has shared what Pride Month means for him, as well as the most heartfelt story of his amazing relationship with his partner Scott. If there’s any couple that could brighten up your day, it’s these two. We’re just a little jealous of their holiday snaps!
“In July, my partner, Scott and I will be celebrating our 15-year anniversary. It is more than a romantic relationship; we are the best of friends. We enjoy each other’s company, and we make each other laugh. Scott is also there for my darker days – he has been and continues to be my strength and comfort.
Spending time together is our favourite pastime; we both enjoy regular date nights, visiting restaurants, and partying (even if it is in the kitchen whilst we are making dinner). Most of all, we love sipping pina coladas on a beautiful beach when the sun is shining.
Even after all this time, I still feel like the luckiest man on the planet to spend time with Scott every single day.
Pride month differs for everybody but for me, it is an opportunity to celebrate how fortunate I am to be loved and accepted for who I am. To have family and friends who love and care for me. To have my diversity celebrated, accepted and cherished.
Pride is a rainbow of celebrations but it also a moment of reflection for those who have faced adversity, those who have struggled to be accepted and those who still face difficulties. Pride is about honouring individual journeys. This is my pride.”
Mike and Scott have been together for 15 years
Mike’s advice to his younger self
We asked Mike what advice he would give to his younger self to help inspire you and others from the LGBTQ+ community.
“If I could go back in time I would hug and tell myself that everything is going to be okay. I would reassure myself that life does get better, even though at times it may seem like it doesn’t. I would also tell myself to stay true to you because you are an amazing individual and you can accomplish anything you work hard for, no matter what your sexual orientation is.”
We would love to hear if you have any advice to share to help inspire others.
LGBTQ+ icons throughout history
To celebrate Pride Month, we wanted to take a look at some incredibly inspirational people throughout history from the LGBTQ+ community, who helped to lay the foundations of the LGBTQ+ movement. Here’s some facts on how Pride has become what it is today.
Gilbert Baker
As the designer of the rainbow flag, Gilbert Baker helped define the LGBTQ movement. The flag was first unveiled at the San Francisco Pride Parade in 1978. It’s now recognised instantly around the world and has become a universal symbol for the community.
Marsha P. Johnson
One of the main instigators of the Stonewall Uprising and a transgender woman, Marsha P. Johnson also organized Street Transgender Action Revolutionaries, helping homeless transgender youth in New York City.
Sylvia Rivera
Rumoured to have thrown one of the first bottles during the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, Sylvia Rivera was also fighting for LGBTQ rights for years before that. She worked alongside Marsha P. Johnson to launch Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) and co-founded the Gay Liberation Front and Gay Activists Alliance.
Peter Tatchell
A human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell helped organise the first Pride March in Britain in 1972. His commitment to the cause is stronger than ever as evidenced by his recent arrest in Moscow during the 2018 World Cup over Russia's treatment of LGBTQ people.
Share your Pride story
We reached out to you on Instagram and our hearts were warmed by some of the lovely advice some of you have already shared with us for the LGBTQ+ community. Here’s a few of our favourites…
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Things always work out in the end!
Don’t worry, life is tooooo short!! Be the best you!
Just hang in there, there is a whole community waiting for you ❤
Be brave
We hope that’s left you feeling inspired to share your story and advice to others at stories@beaverbrooks.co.uk.
We can’t wait to hear from you and hear your advice – we’d love to share it to help educate and inspire others.
