June is internationally recognized as Pride Month, or LGBTQ+ Pride Month. This commemorates the Stonewall riots of June 1969 in New York City, when patrons of the Stonewall Inn resisted a police raid. Southend Pride is held annually, usually in July. It entails a parade starting at the Royal Artillery Terrace/Southend Pier area, going through the city centre to Warrior Square Gardens.

It is there that a free event takes place, including cultural and musical activities, with stalls promoting all sorts of charitable endeavours in the city. It seeks to be (and is) a friendly, fun, family occasion, and is well attended. There is also a faith element, with representatives of a local synagogue and churches taking part. Other Christians hold alternative events or preach in the open air, including on sexuality, during the weekend.

I confess to some surprise that two of the top secondary schools in my city had decided to promote Pride Month, although I shouldn’t be as these days organisations seem to be bending over backwards to show Pride solidarity. On one school’s Facebook page, accompanying the image below, is the text: “This week marks the beginning of Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, honour its history, and recognise the ongoing fight for equality. At WHSG, we marked the start of Pride with assemblies led by our Senior Student Team, helping to educate, inspire, and promote allyship across the school. Pride is not just a celebration, it’s a reminder of the importance of creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and supported. From the legacy of the Stonewall Riots to Pride events across the UK today, this month encourages us all to reflect, learn, and stand together. Let’s continue to show kindness, speak up against discrimination, and support one another, not just in June, but every day”.

One of the ten (all supportive) comments to this “Happy Pride Month” post reads: “Pride is still vital WHSG —because too many are still held back, silenced, or shamed simply for being who they are. It’s more than a celebration. It’s a stand for freedom, authenticity, and for the right to exist without fear or judgment. It’s a call to be seen and to be heard. When people are targeted for loving freely, expressing their truth, or simply existing outside the norms, it shows us how far we still have to go. Pride is a declaration of worth. Of resilience. Of unapologetic visibility. It’s about claiming space for every identity and saying loudly: we all deserve safety, respect, and dignity. We won’t stay silent. We keep showing up, speaking out, and standing strong—because the fight for true equality is far from over”.

But I ought to declare an interest, not least because I used to organise community events that included LBGT interests. I could write reams but let me refer you to a blog I posted a little under a year ago following the last Southend Pride event: “LBGTQ+ Pride and Open Air Preaching” (see here). In many ways I admire the event organisers who I have had past positive dealings with and acknowledge they have put on fantastic events which I have attended and enjoyed. Moreover, I too recognise that all, including LBGTQ+ folk deserve safety, respect, and dignity and recognise that this did not happen in the past and still doesn’t in places. My gripe is the way impressionable youngsters may be indoctrinated and may themselves be disrespected should they not subscribe to Pride because they rightly hold to the belief that the Bible teaches us that pride is a sin, there are only two genders: man and woman and same sex relationships are not endorsed, rather the contrary.

As my recent “Whose Justice? Whose Wisdom? and the cases of George Floyd and Henry Nowak” (see here) blog shows there are other issues that children should be made aware off. If I had influence over what sort of ideology schools pushed what happened to Henry Nowak but tragically did not, because a false ideology had taken hold, would be one subject I might suggest.