Film Evening. Watching PRIDE

Director: Matthew Warchus. Writer: Stephen Beresford

When KnP (kabiyak ng puso) told me that we are watching a film that evening mentioning about the era of Thatcher, I just said yes without checking on the story. And what a revealation while watching it.
It is an entertaining but inspiring film based on the story of the miners in the Dulais Valley in South Wales during the longest strike in British history from 1984-1985 which get support in form of money donation for the miner's cause from the LGSM, Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners.

Storyline from imdb.com

In 1984 20 year old closet gay Joe hesitantly arrives in London from Bromley for his first Gay Pride march and is taken under the collective wing of a group of gay men and Lesbian Steph, who meet at flamboyant Jonathan and his Welsh partner Gethin's Soho bookshop. Not only are gays being threatened by Thatcher but the miners are on strike in response to her pit closures and Northern Irish activist Mark Ashton believes gays and miners should show solidarity. Almost by accident a mini-bus full of gays find themselves in the Welsh village of Onllwyn in the Dulais valley and through their sincere fund raising and Jonathan's nifty disco moves persuade most of the community that they are on the same side. When a bigot tries to sabotage the partnership with a tabloid smear Mark turns it back on her with a hugely successful benefit concert to which most of the villagers, now thoroughly in tune with their gay friends, turn up. The miners are defeated and return to work but at the Pride march ..

From the German film leaflet. "So auch die außergewöhnliche Liason zweier Gruppen, die sich im Sommer 1984 in England gefunden haben: Bronski Beat trifft Gaelic Folk oder auch...eine ausgelassene Schwulen-und Lesbentruppe aus London trifft auf streikende Waliser Bergarbeirter. Irritationen beim ersten Aufeinandertreffen sind vorprogrammiert!...

It is a touching film showing that solidarity is possible despite Angst and difference. It is inspiring to be reminded of these courageous individuals who were demonstrating not  only for their immediate concerns but joining others' fight for equality and respect. Couldn't help but cry in some scenes while laughing my heart out, too. Go and see the film. It's a beautiful film. It makes you yearn to join the next demo.

Pinay von Alemanya

Cologne Pride. Christopher Street Day Parade in Cologne. Demonstrating for the Rights of LGBT

Love is in the Air

Orange Queens

Black and Pink Duo

Can I have a photo, please, pretty please.

Aren't we too overdressed for this hot day?

Baraka - meeting point for LGBT

"Fighting the Bad Guys" (Amnesty International)

Amnesty International calling attention for the rights of LGBTs

Aids Help

Blue or Pink or White. We are.

Russia-do you hear us?

Alohah!

Tourists wanting to grab souvenir posing with attractive parade participants

Mixture of all Pink and Pro-LGBT

On the way to the parade

Pretty Women

Christopher Street Day (CSD) - a yearly celebration and demonstration for the rights of LGBT
(Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders) has this motto for 2013 "Wir sind. So oder so." (Rough translation: We are. Like This or That.) Cologne Pride  (video of the parade) ends its yearly weekend activities focussing on the situation of LGBT and demand for equal treatment for married LGBTs with a colorful parade presenting LGBT different organizations and their concerns.

It traces its origin on the Stonewall Riots, the first big uprising of LGBT people against police assaults that took place at the Stonewall Inn, a bar in New York's Christopher Street in the district of Greenich Village on June 28, 1969. (Source: Wikipedia)