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Young Londoners share what Pride Month means for them

We spoke to some of our Digital Health Ambassadors, a unique project with Partnership for Young London giving young Londoners a voice in the future of healthcare, about the importance of Pride Month and what it means to them.

Partnership for Young London: Digital Health Ambassadors

Last year, I learned that being there for someone doesn’t always mean saying the right thing. Sometimes, it just means being a quiet, safe space. It’s not about having the perfect advice or being a “hero”, it’s about listening, being present, and holding space for someone when they need it most.

I’ve realised that I often carry around pre-prepared, generic advice, the kind you hear in movies or read online. But when it comes to real conversations, especially around mental health, speaking before listening can do more harm than good. People struggle in different ways. They carry different fears, traumas, and mental health struggles, and nobody wants to be talked at when they’re already feeling unheard.

For my friend, Pride Month was both a celebration and a challenge. The pressure from social media and TV to be loud and unapologetic and carefree contrasted with their feelings of depression, struggles with self-worth and fear of being rejected. They didn’t feel ready to be loud and unapologetic - and that’s okay. Pride should be about embracing where you are on your journey, not where others expect you to be.

Instead of jumping in with solutions or trying to fix everything, I’ve found that just sitting beside someone quietly and without pressure can be the most powerful thing you can do. You don't need to make a speech and you shouldn't expect anything in return. Just being present is very powerful. Being a good friend, not just during Pride Month but at any stage of their journey isn't about doing it perfectly but doing it gently and sensitively.

As a young person in London I have struggled with my sexuality and gender. Finding myself and who I am started in secondary school and I was always lucky enough to be surrounded by an accepting group of friends, so I felt no worries about coming out to them and telling them that I like girls.

My problem started a while later when I began to feel like I didn’t fit as being labelled a girl anymore. Once telling people, I felt like a spectacle like everything I was doing now had to fit into a category of boy and doing anything else was ‘wrong’.

I used to fear Pride. I felt it meant the need to express myself to everyone and make sure I did that correctly in a way that assigned me to the right label.

Since secondary school, I’ve realised who I really am. I see myself as just a person, void of any label because I don’t feel I need that to be who I am. And that’s how I stay at peace with myself, I am just me. Sometimes I feel the questions coming from people like ‘ what are you? ‘ when Pride comes up and I don’t want to answer because I am just me. I feel the pressure to be open about myself otherwise I fear being viewed as ashamed of who I am, but I know I am not.

My experience as a young person who has struggled with their sexuality has led me to a point where I am happy with who I am and every Pride Month i am happy to reflect on how far I have come. But I am not someone who is happy to do this openly. I appreciate Pride Month as it allows expression for many people and allows reflection for myself.

Celebrating Pride Month: the mental health challenges facing LGBT+ youth

Blog post from Lukasz Konieczka, Executive Director at The Mosaic Trust

Looking after your wellbeing as a black queer student in London

Guest blog by Michael Arhin-Acquaah, part of the Black Students Mental Health project at London Southbank University

The importance of holistic mental health support for LGBTQ+ communities across London

Claire McComb, Director of Mental Health Services at elop shares her views on the unique challenges facing LGBTQ+ Londoners and the support available

Find the right help for you

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elop

Holistic lesbian and gay centre offering a range of social, emotional and support services to LGBTQ+ communities

Stonewall

The Mosaic Trust