June marks the international celebration of Pride month. In the words of Stonewall, a charity dedicated to supporting LGBT+ people in the UK, “pride is about communities coming together in celebration, protest, unity and solidarity.” June is a month where we celebrate the LGBT+ communities around the world. Here on the Online Community, we wanted to shine a light on the support that is available for LGBT+ people living with cancer and their families. We also wanted to talk more today about the history of Pride and why it is so important.
It’s important to acknowledge that the celebration of Pride in June each year doesn’t mean that this is the only time we can focus on supporting LGBT+ people affected by cancer and celebrating the LGBT+ community. Here at Macmillan, we are dedicated to supporting anyone who has been affected by cancer all year round, no matter who they love or how they identify. Cancer doesn’t discriminate and neither do we.
What is Pride?
Pride month takes place every year in June and is marked by lots of different marches, celebrations and protests. Last year, many marches had to be cancelled due to COVID-19. Many events have also been cancelled this year due to continuing restrictions. This doesn’t mean, however, that we can’t celebrate the LGBT+ Community this June. Here on Macmillan’s Online Community we are proud to support everyone and help celebrate all cultures and communities. The LGBT+ Community is incredibly diverse, and celebrating this diversity is a very important part of Pride. UK Black Pride takes place at the beginning of July and is Europe’s largest celebration for African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and Caribbean-heritage LGBT+ people and has taken place since 2005.
The history of Pride
The reason that Pride month falls in June each year, is because it marks the anniversary of the Stonewall riots, also known as the Stonewall uprising, which took place in New York City in America in 1969 as part of a broader civil rights movement.
The Stonewall uprising started after the police raided a gay bar in New York city called the Stonewall Inn. In response to this raid and the police brutality that the LGBT+ Community had long experienced, protests broke out across the city.
These protests quickly started to gain attention around the US and across the globe. It’s important to note that the Stonewell protests were not the first demonstrations for LGBT+ rights. The protests were commemorated the next year with what would become the first Pride march taking place in New York city on 28th June 1970.
UK pride
It wasn’t long after this that the first UK Pride took place in 1972 in London. UK activists had been involved in many of the key moments in the US movement and once they returned to the UK, activists started the British chapter of the Gay Liberation Front, a US organisation which was founded following the Stonewall uprising.
“Pride’ means lots of different things to lots of different LGBT+ people, which is why it’s still so important.”
Charlie – Macmillan CID intern
Pride is so important for so many reasons. In 2019, one of our Cancer Information and Development interns, Charlie, wrote a blog piece for us about the importance of Pride and what it means to them as a trans person. You can read Charlie’s full blog post on our Community News Blog.
Pride on our Community
On our Online Community we respect and welcome anyone who has been affected by cancer. The site is a safe and supportive place were anyone can access peer support. If you want to know more about making sure you are respecting everyone when posting on our Community, why not read some guidance from Anna, Macmillan’s former LGBT+ Network Lead? Anna's blog is about using inclusive language and how you can help the Online Community to be a welcoming space for everyone. Read Anna's blog here.
Our LGBTIQ+ forum
Here on the online Community we have an LGBTIQ+ forum where anyone who has been affected by cancer and identifies as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans*) or any other minority sexuality/gender identity can come together to support one another.
Support for LGBT+ people affected by cancer
We know it’s important to find the right support for you. Below are some other amazing organisations that provide support to LGBT+ people, including support for LGBT+ people affected by cancer.
The LGBT foundation is a charity dedicated to supporting anyone who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans. They have a Help Line that is open Weekdays - 9am until 9pm and Weekends - 10am until 6pm. Call free for advice and support on 0345 3 30 30 30 or by emailing helpline@lgbt.foundation. They also have a dedicated section of their website called ‘LGBT people and cancer’ that provides information on living with cancer as a member of the LGBT+ community. Read more on the LGBT foundation's website.
Stonewall provides support for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people everywhere. They have an information service that provides information and support for LGBT communities and their allies. To contact their Information service call freephone 0800 0502020. Lines are open 9:30 - 4:30 Monday to Friday. You can also email info@stonewall.org.uk.
Switchboard runs an LGBT+ helpline which is open 7 days a week 10:00 – 22:00. That number is 0300 330 0630, or you can email Switchboard for support on chris@switchboard.lgbt.
MindOut is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Queer Mental Health Service. To see the wide range of support they provide, including telephone buddying, peer support groups and online support, go to MindOut's website.
Live Through this is a dedicated cancer support and advocacy service for the LGBT+ community. On their website they have a lot of free resources for LGBT+ people affected by cancer.
Live Through This have also put together a list of links to cancer information from UK charities specifically for the LGBT+ community, such as:
There is also a full list of all the information resources, including a list of Trans & Non-Binary Cervical Screening Clinics on Live Through This' website.
Why not read some of our other blogs about cancer and the LGBT+ community?
We want to wish all of our LGBT+ Community members a happy Pride. We hope that you found this blog helpful. If you have any questions about the above resources, or if you’d like to hear more on how Macmillan supports the LGBT+ community, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by emailing community@macmillan.org.uk.
