A prominent LGBTQ+ activist has looked back on the journey the community has had through Pride in Derry over the years.
Sha Gillespie has seen attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community change astronomically. Today, she sees Derry as a welcoming place for its local LGBTQ+ community, thanks to its inclusive venues and successful annual Pride.
Sha spoke to MyDerry about how the city has changed.
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She said: "I have been here since 1993, and a huge amount has changed in terms of visibility. There are less homophobic attacks which would have happened on a weekly basis without fail.
"Friends of mine and myself were constantly getting attacked. People like Susannah Toland who was a young gay black woman living in the Bogside had to deal with so much abuse. There is a lot more support which didn't exist when I moved here."
Since first arriving in the city, Sha has seen the emergence of Foyle Pride bring a new dimension to the city and changed the scene for the LGBTQ+ community forever.
She said: "The first Pride parade in Derry in 2010 is something that will stay in my heart forever. It was such a special day and to see so many people in the parade and supporting it on the street was just fantastic.
"Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, a LGBTQ+ activist from Uganda, launched Foyle Pride in 2011. LGBTQ+ people face the most horrific oppression and threats from their communities and from the Government in Uganda as homosexuality is illegal.
"It was incredible to have her here in Derry to share their experiences and remind us what a long way there is to go. Kasha partied, danced and had a great time in Derry and said she was invigorated by her time here and went home to start planning the first LGBTQ+ Pride in Uganda.
"In 2018 Bernadette McAliskey, Eamonn McCann, Dermie McClenaghan, Michael Farrell, Kitty O'Kane, Bobby Mitchell all joined the Foyle Pride parade to show their commitment to LGBTQ+ rights, following the same route when they marched for civil rights in 1968. It was such an incredible feeling walking side by side with the people who I admire so much."
From homophobic attacks to the establishment and success of Foyle Pride, Sha was also part of the team that created the city's rainbow crosswalk.
She said: "I have to say I feel very proud to have been able to make that happen with Jim Doherty, Catherine Hemelryk and of course the Mayor at the time, Brian Tierney. I never thought in my life I would see a permanent rainbow crossing in Derry and again it sends out a message that everyone is welcome in Derry.
"It makes me smile every time I pass it. It's a beautiful sight for locals and visitors on the waterfront, between the Guildhall and Peace Bridge."
While Derry has become an outwardly welcoming city for its LGBTQ+ community, the question was raised about the lack of exclusively LGBTQ+ venues within the city.
Sha said: "That is a good question and it would be interesting to see what people think about this. My feeling is that LGBTQ+ people enjoy and are welcome in many popular bars in Derry. Bars like Sandinos, the Central, Peadars just to name a few.
"It's an interesting question when other cities are seeing their longstanding lesbian and gay bars close down as the LGBTQ+ community is happy and confident in whatever venue they want to be. Friends tell me there is only one 'lesbian and gay' bar now in Brighton and one lesbian bar in London.
" I think Derry is a very welcoming city for everyone. A lot of my LGBTQ+ friends have always had a good experience coming here and many come back regularly for Pride and other events such as Halloween.
"Derry people are very friendly and great craic, it's so good that warmth is felt by the local and visiting LGBTQ+ community in a way unimaginable just a few years ago."
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