Dart Harbour Master shares importance of supporting Pride events

Dart Harbour Master Paul Britton has shared a "personal reply" about the importance of Pride events and official support for them, saying "I’m lucky, I survived".  

Paul, Harbour Master and CEO of the Dart Harbour and Port Authority in Dartmouth, took to social media to share his personal story of why Pride events are so important in the wake of a successful Dartmouth Pride. 

Paul said: "For me as a gay Harbour Master, pride is a very important event. I grew up during the horrific period of the infamous Section 28 legislation, which meant that schools and local authorities were no longer able to teach me about homosexuality, creating a chilling climate of fear across schools, councils, libraries, youth services and health settings to talk about any issue linked to LGBT people.

"Children were bullied and teachers couldn’t step in. People committed suicide because they couldn’t understand themselves, people died from AIDS because they didn’t get decent health information. Calling something ‘gay’ was seen as an insult.  

"For me personally, the lack of information and gay role models was probably the reason it took me until I was 27 to really understand who I was, effectively losing a decade of my life and driving me into a very dark time.  

"I’m lucky, I survived, and now I’m genuinely proud to be a gay man – it is a vitally important part of who I am.  

"People have questioned whether pride is still needed. Growing up, I never saw a pride parade.  If I had, I would have seen people like me, professional people working in normal jobs, having normal lives, supported by friends and family, and surrounded by a rainbow variety of other LGBTQ+ people.  

"If Dartmouth Pride can give one young person a hint of how they can be who they were born to be, then it is a huge success. Even now, being me is illegal in 64 countries worldwide. My marriage is only recognised in 38 countries.  

"Even here in tolerant, safe Britain, LGBTQ+ rights have gone backwards in the last few years, with a loss of certain rights for my Trans friends. Hate crimes based on sexual orientation have increased by 20 percent in the last five years in the UK, and those based on gender identity have increased by 50 percent."

The flag Paul's husband created for Torquay Pride 

He continued: "I myself have twice experienced hate crimes here in sleepy, friendly Dartmouth.

"On our post supporting pride, people have described being gay as a mental illness, gay people as being paedophiles, and being people set on wrecking the world. There are people who have said they would rather cancel their weekend trip than meet a homosexual – I would suggest you avoid the Dart entirely, as I am equally gay and proud all year around!  

"As always, I am so pleased that so many members of our community and allies have commented on their support for pride on our post, and have given quiet, sane replies to this vitriol.  

"This is why I support Pride. My husband went one step further, and personally made the incredible 90m  pride flag that was carried triumphantly through the streets of Torquay earlier in the month. The amazing teams organising Dartmouth Pride and the other similar events throughout the region do so much to make sure that we’re not forgotten.  

"Pride is needed now, as much as ever, the LGBTQ+ community need to continue push the simple gay agenda – our right to exist."

June is Pride Month and you can find out more about Dartmouth Pride and next year's event on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DartmouthPride