To celebrate Pride month, Linders asked some LGBT+ people about what Pride means to them.

Having grown up in Castlebar, make-up artist Lorcan Jude Devany journeyed all the way up to Dublin for his first ever Pride.

“I went to college in Tralee,” Lorcan says, “and Pride wasn’t as huge a thing in Tralee so I think I travelled up to Dublin for it.”

Back before Mother Pride Block Party was a thing, an impromptu street party took over the cobbled slopes of Exchange Street, Lorcan remembers.

“The first Pride I came to in Dublin it would have been an amazing experience with the parade and then afterwards there was like a huge block party down in Mother.”

“Everyone was having the best time ever!”

You do feel really proud of who you are

During the parade, as with Áine’s parade friend, Lorcan noted a sense of acceptance.

“The clearest feeling during the parade is that sense of Pride.”

“You do feel really proud of who you are in that there are so many people who are supportive and not afraid to be visible.”

To get to know what Pride means to Lorcan a bit better, we asked him a few questions.

1) Tell us about the first time you were at Pride.

My first pride was at the first Mother street party. It was a really amazing event, everyone was having such a great time and you’d run into people from all over the country, some I hadn’t seen in years. There was a huge sense of community.

  2) What is your favourite Pride memory?

Probably my first time attending the march. There’s something so overwhelming and beautiful about seeing that much support from friends and families coming together to celebrate something so special.

  3) Why do you think Pride is important?

All you have to do is look at the lives and states of LGBT+ issues in places like Chechnya, Uganda and Iran to understand why Pride is important.

Pride isn’t just a celebration of LGBT+ rights, but a cry of rebellion against countries that seek to oppress and destroy other humans because of the way they were born.

  4) What are you the most proud of as an LGBT+ person?

That I’m not afraid to hold my boyfriend’s hand in public. Not only because of where I live, but because I am lucky enough to have the awareness that love is love between whoever wants to share it.

I am proud of not being afraid of who I am and proud of anyone that feels the same.

  5) Do you have any favourite Pride outfits?

I wear black jeans and a black tee every day and generally the same thing for Pride, hah! I do go nuts with glitter though. It’s like showing a little pride all year round!

What does Pride mean to you? Let us know in the comments below.