5 things to know before attending your first Pride

Is it your first time attending a Pride march? Whether you’re celebrating in Dublin, Galway or Letterkenny here’s some tips and tricks from other LGBTQ+ young people to make sure you have the best possible day.

Skip the nice shoes and wear your most comfortable pair

You want to serve a lewk, but you also want to be able to march and dance the day away. So – opt for something comfy if you can while you get those steps in! You can still boots the house down without the platform stilettos.

Check the weather forecast

If it’s hot, you’re going to need suncream and a bottle of water. If it’s lashing rain, and we pray to Chapell that it won’t) you’re going to need something waterproof. Even just a change of socks can truly save your day – so check the forecast and pack suitably, so you can comfortably sashay all day.

Pride is a protest

The celebration of Pride can mean different things to different people. It brings community together. It’s fun. But it’s also a day of remembrance and solidarity for the queer rights activists that brought us Pride and an opportunity to use your voice to protest for the rights of LGBTQ+ people in Ireland and across the globe. So while we enjoy ourselves – remember to proudly use your voice on the day to call for the future you want to see for LGBTQ+ people.

Be prepared for noise

Like anything that brings lots of people together, Pride is fun and exciting and empowering, but it can also be a bit of a sensory overload. If that’s something that you find overwhelming, make sure you bring some headphones or earplugs and take breaks away from the crowd when you need to!

Spread queer joy!

Pride is an amazing opportunity to meet other LGBTQ+ young people like you and to celebrate being part of a wonderful, diverse and exciting community of LGBTQ+ people. Remember that it will be lots of other people’s first Pride too – include them in your gang or if you’re going by yourself or with a parent, be brave and go and introduce yourself to a group, you won’t regret it.

If you’re looking for a Pride event, parade or festival to attend near you, our friends in spunout have created this handy Pride Guide on their website or get involved with your local LGBTQ+ youth group and attend a Pride festival with them!