Amelia KirkleyIt’s June and corporate businesses are colouring their social media pages rainbow. Stories of LGBTQ+ individuals are plastered on their posts; pride flags are incorporated into their logos and donations to LGBTQ+ groups are advertised on their account highlights.
It seems though, that as soon as the clock hits midnight, turning June to July, the array of colour and level of support diminishes and fades.
Now this article is not going to shun using the month of June to celebrate LGBTQ+ individuals or attack these corporate businesses. Pride month in June is a celebration of self-acceptance and dignity. It is celebrated for a reason: originally to commemorate the Stonewall Riots now more used to acknowledge the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Instead, this article is going to appreciate Pride and recognise the importance for support and celebration not only in the month of June, but every month.
Leeds has always been supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. East Leeds, more specifically Harehills, used to hold women-only discos in the Dock Green Inn, which was organised by Lesbian groups, utilised to create strong connections among the women of Leeds through the 1980s. Unfortunately, the Dock Green Inn no longer exists in its original form and so neither do these discos.
Currently, in Leeds, there are some small inclusive places to eat and drink: Drag Brunch, Viaduct Showbar, Blayds Bar. And there are also places to receive support and establish community: Angles of Freedom, Pride Place. Not to mention Leeds Pride held every year which has been a big deal since 2006.
But is this enough? Despite Leeds’s support through their organisations, hate crime towards the LGBTQ+ community is still very much prominent. As reported by the West Yorkshire Police in 2021, 170 LGBTQ+ hate crimes were reported in Leeds. In 2024, 1682 LGBTQ+ hate crimes were reported in West Yorkshire- a breakdown of hate crimes reported in each specific town and city were not released but nevertheless this shows that hate crime towards the LGBTQ+ community is still very much ongoing.
Pride month is important in Leeds during June, but throughout other months of the year it can be difficult to find support and even with the small organisations that are dedicated to helping the LGBTQ+ community feel safe, hate crime is still committed. Let’s expand the support, spread pride and demolish hate crime. Let’s colour Leeds rainbow every month.
