More Glitter Less Bitter: My Favourite Pride Memory

By Teana Woodward, Assistant Product Manager at Lloyds Banking Group

My favourite memory was taking part in the Pride parade under the MBNA banner in 2018. This was my first Chester pride as a Member and not an Ally of Rainbow, as someone who had only recently come out as Bisexual in the workplace, as well as my first joining the parade alongside LGBT+ colleagues, friends and family from LBG Chester, Halifax and MBNA.

It was an emotional experience, filling me with an equal amount of excitement and pride and I have to admit I literally had a lump in my throat as we were waiting to set off and start the actual walk through the town. I was very relieved to have one of my best friends and colleagues Tom holding my hand to reassure me and help give me the strength to be there as my authentic self. I remember I even wore my 7-inch platform heeled pink diamante pole dancer shoes for the parade in honour of the drag queens walking in theirs’. Thank goodness Tom held my hand over the Chester cobbles!

The vibrancy and excitement within the air was tangible. You could literally feel it. Glitter and bright colours shone from every direction, with bands playing and whistles blowing, a fire engine painted in the colours of the rainbow, filling the air with a kaleidoscope of colours and noise. I can remember the smiling faces of the public greeting us, both adults and children cheering and waving as we walked by, with bright happy faces thrilled to be given the Rainbow branded gifts we handed out, welcoming and accepting us for who we are. It made me very proud to be a part of it all.

I also remember that at the crossroads, as you enter the main part of Chester city centre, there was the usual complement of nay-sayers waving their anti-LGBT+ placards and chanting their anti LGBT+ slogans, with one brightly coloured placard held aloft amongst them, quietly but simply destroying their judgemental attitudes and prejudice stating; ‘MORE GLITTER LESS BITTER’. The supportive cheers, singing and the whistles blowing of both those of us in the parade and the crowd drowning out their bigotry and prejudice completely. A really empowering moment.