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Belfast Pride 2022: Rampant Rainbow Capitalism



This year was my first time attending a Belfast pride march, and I was lucky enough to be able to spend it with my girlfriend and her mum. It was their first pride too. After years of the march being cancelled due to covid, it was incredible to see the people of Ireland coming out in their thousands to protest for equality, love, and for acceptance. I felt safe walking through Belfast holding my girlfriend's hand, whereas usually, I would feel on edge that we could be on the receiving end of abuse, which has happened more times than I could count. It felt liberating to watch the unapologetic display of humans simply being humans in love, regardless of gender.


However, this experience was somewhat tainted by the barely masked display of rainbow capitalism and blatant homophobia. We saw brand after brand advertising themselves with rainbow-coloured logos, who will undoubtedly have changed these back to their usual colours by the end of the day and will have done nothing to truly help the lives of the members of the LGBT+ community. The number of homophobic signs, particularly concentrated around Cityhall, were a stark reminder that although we have come a long way in terms of gay rights, there is still hate out there, and we are far from equality. Pride has and always will be a protest. A protest of human rights, social justice, and the spreading of unconditioned love.


We cannot have climate justice without social justice, and when it comes to climate action, no one can be left behind. When I saw gas companies sporting banners of rainbow-coloured gas canisters at the march, I almost laughed in disbelief. This is the epitome of greenwashing. Gas and oil are not sustainable ways of fueling our world; the longer we live in blissful ignorance, the more people will suffer.


Belfast is increasingly becoming more and more open to the love of people regardless of sexuality, but we still have a long way to go. Let's keep on this upwards trajectory and not let the bigots win. Spread love, not hate.

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