#2 My Queer Story

Nell talks about her experience attending her first Norwich Pride in 2018.

My Queer Story image credit: Unsplash.

Transcript: Hello, my name’s Nell. I’m from Acle, I’m 19, and this is my queer Norfolk story. So, most LGBTQ+ people remember their firsts. It’s part of the queer experience I think, letting that part of yourself out, or not, and learning how to navigate as other in a straight world. Those firsts are special though.

I vividly remember my first Norwich Pride in 2018 when I was 16. Whenever I meet someone outside the Forum or wander past now, I can still visualise the colour of that Pride parade, even when the location itself is grey and barren, except a couple of seagulls, the hope of what Pride represents still remains. Not every queer person attends Pride. Not all of use are larger than life or wear flamboyant clothing, because there’s no one type of queer person. We’re as varied and multi-faced as every individual on this planet. But what I personally love about Pride is that, the variation. There are many variables, but we come together to celebrate something wonderful: our human right to express our identity, our loves and passions wholeheartedly, to be our authentic selves.

When I close my eyes, I can remember it all. I can remember the badges that are still on one of my bags, reading Pride Norwich 2018. I can remember getting my photos done with a bunch of my friends, us all squeezing in this outdoor photo booth with weird hats and wigs and feather boas on. I can remember seeing drag queens in real life for the first time and just being amazed by how strong they appeared, even if they didn’t feel it.

The joy of being surrounded by all ages and gender identities and remembering how the first Pride was a riot. It had to be, and it still has remnants of protest-esque attributes now. Music loudspeakers, banners, ribbons, speeches. Even though it’s still a struggle, we’ve come so far and comparing what Pride has been like and what it is now is important as part of queer history. And I can’t wait to see how these events evolve in the future, even in a little area of England in Norfolk. Thank you for listening to my story.