Pride season has arrived for 2025 and we’re getting ready for Bristol Pride on Saturday July 12th! Pride is the perfect time to take up space, spread queer joy and show up unapologetically.
The year so far has been painful for many queer people, with the erosion of rights and protections for trans and non-binary people and harmful rhetoric in the media.
“Creative Youth Network is delighted to be supporting this year’s Bristol Pride, and in particular the Youth Area. Young people need safe spaces where they can explore their identity. They also need trusted adults, and so often it is the power of youth work – and in particular having a trusted youth worker who really understands that young person and works with them on their level – that can make all the difference for a young person finding their place in the world.”
Mark Coates, CEO, Creative Youth Network
Come and join us on the day!
Creative Youth Network and our friends at Diversity Trust, will be marching at the Bristol Pride parade on Saturday July 12th. We welcome any young people who would like to take part in the parade to come and march with us on the day. We’ll be meeting at 10am in Castle Park – keep an eye on our Creative Youth Network Instagram for more details closer to the time. If you’re coming alone, feeling nervous, or have any other questions, please contact Laura on 07435 551 406 or laura.cook@creativeyouthnetwork.org.uk.
Later in the day you’ll be able to find us at the youth area at the Pride festival on the Downs - Youth Area – Bristol Pride . We’ll be in a marquee with lots of activities to get involved with – including a DJ workshop, open mic, make-up and plenty of arts and crafts! There will also be a sensory space and experienced youth workers and wellbeing practitioners to talk to. We would love to see you there!
Queer joy at Creative Youth Network
Here’s what our LGBTQ+ youth workers and wellbeing practitioners have to say about all things Pride, queer joy, community and resistance ????
“Queer people have been marginalised and faced discrimination in so many forms – what we saw during the AIDS crisis feels scarily similar to what we are seeing happen to the trans, non-binary and intersex community today. I want to celebrate the fact that even through these injustices, the LGBTQ+ community have stood together in solidarity and continued to fight for the right just to be ourselves and to exist. To me, queer joy means being authentically you and loving all the parts of yourself and our community that society so often tells us not to. Queer joy means togetherness, celebrating our identities and refusing to make ourselves smaller.”
Zoe Twinn, Wellbeing Lead and Clinical Supervisor
“When we feel and express our joy it sends a message to those around us that
- We cannot be contained and forced into a role that other people want from us
- It is a joyous thing to be unapologetically yourself.
I think it is vitally important that young people see that. Any queer person you speak to will likely tell you that somewhere in their life they saw someone being authentically themselves and that changed the course of their life for the better. That is what happened for me anyway, even though the person in question was far away in the pixels of the internet (Ruby Rose, obviously). They showed me an alternative to the cramped box I was trying so hard to squeeze myself into.
When a young person meets someone who is unapologetically themselves it creates a little more space for them to do the same, whether they are queer or not. Authenticity is not exclusive to queer people, it is important for everyone, and the more young people can express themselves freely and emotionally, the better chance we have at a more compassionate and considerate generation of humans.”
– Erin Green, Lead Youth Worker – Refugees and Asylum Seekers
“As a young person who experienced homophobia, I feel joyous to be able to enjoy queer spaces that are safe and work alongside other members of the community in an inclusive workplace. At Pride, I will be celebrating being a part of something special with other members of the community and just having a good time.
At the Pride march we come in numbers, we can be ourselves, be bright and say, ‘we are here’! Last year at the 2024 parade, as the procession was moving past the old Debenhams, there was a small group of men with a megaphone shouting hurtful words towards the procession. People from the procession pushed back and started to chant louder and louder positive affirmations to drown out the homophobic noise!”
Anonymous Youth Worker
“For me, finding queer community was key to accepting my own queerness and living authentically. I grew up in a rural area in the 2000s where I didn’t know any openly queer adults, at a time when there was minimal positive queer representation in the media. There definitely weren’t any LGBTQ+ youth groups. I love being able to create spaces for queer young people where they can just have fun, chill-out and be in community. I can’t wait to celebrate that this year at Bristol Pride”
Laura Cook, Children and Young People’s Wellbeing Practitioner
Proud to be
Throughout the year, Creative Youth Network have Proud to Be sessions for young people aged 11-19 who are LGBTQIA+ or exploring their sexuality or gender. Proud to Be is a space for young people to be authentically themselves in a relaxed environment. The sessions are neurodivergent-friendly and led by LGBTQ+ youth workers.
Proud to Be @ The Station
Where? The Station, Silver Street, BS1 2AG
When? Every other Monday 5pm-7pm, starting Monday 28th July 2025.
With Laura, laura.cook@creativeyouthnetwork.org.uk / 07435551406
Proud to Be @ Hanham Youth Centre
Where? Hanham Youth Centre, High Street, Hanham, BS15 3EJ
When? One Friday a month, 4.15PM – 6.15PM
With Bobbi, bobbi.bibby@creativeyouthnetwork.org.uk / 07436161987
More information can be found here: Proud to be | LGBTQ+ group | Creative Youth Network. Get in touch with Laura or Bobbi if you have any questions or just want to find out more!
