The Angry Hedgehog: A Gay Pride Message

Pride Season, Irish Style kicked off with a bang last weekend with Cork being the first of th Irish cities to host their Pride parade & events. Dublin Pride will be next followed by Galway, Belfast and finally Limerick(No website as yet) will finish off the summer's festivities. However whilst all are postitive events I want to bring a sense of reality for those of us gearing up for our Pride events here in Ireland and how despite all the crap we all deal with on a daily basis, it pales in comparison to another event which occured at the weekend-Riga Pride.

The First Video is from Cork Pride Parade 2008-yes it is short but you get the idea. Great day, Good Atmosphere(on the most part-see here for a slight negative)

Cork Pride Parade 1st June 2008

Riga Pride Parade 31st May 2008

So while we remember our own battles here in this fair little island, the struggle for further acceptance, the struggle for relationship rights to be accepted, the struggle for our partners to be legally allowed to work here, we also remember that Our Battles are Somebody else's battles also. It links us and provides solidarity for those times when we get disheartened. So Go out, enjoy Pride but remember why we march. It's not just a piss Up. It has a very serious message and one which will constantly need to be reinforced. Considering the week that is in it, with that article, We can see that reinforcing the message of acceptance is still needed.