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A decade on, we still need Pride – attendee

Chris Craddock
BBC Jersey communities reporter
BBC Sam, Alex and Liam are gathered around a wooden picnic table outdoors on a sunny day. Sam wears a red cap, a green vest and yellow trousers, Alex wears a striped tank top and shorts, and the Liam wears a black sleeveless shirt with enamel pins and a rainbow scarf. Plastic cups of beer are on the table. In the background, people are sitting or walking, with flags and trees visible under a clear blue sky.BBC
Sam Bear (left) brought his friends Alex le Maison (centre) and Liam Wiles to Jersey for Channel Islands Pride

Three men in Jersey who experienced homophobic abuse, have spoken of the need for Pride, ten years on from the first Channel Islands celebrations.

Thousands attended the free event on Saturday with the parade starting in the Royal Square at 13:00 BST before heading to People's Park where the festivities continued.

Liam Wiles who took part in the activities recognising the LGBTQ+ community, said "it shows you why we need Pride still" and "we need to show that we're here and we're not going anywhere".

Sam Baer said: "Pride is a lasting thing and it's important we continue to be represented like this and show we exist."

A large group of people participate in a Pride parade, holding rainbow flags and wearing colorful clothing. Several individuals carry signs with the RBC logo in rainbow colors. Buildings and a clear sky are visible in the background.
Lots of people came together to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community

Pride brings people together to show support for the LGBTQ+ community but also to raise awareness of the issues many still face.

Alex le Maison praised the celebrations and said there more people in the parade than expected.

Other attendees spoke of the importance of showing solidarity with the wider community in Jersey.

Sam stands in a park during an event. He wears a black cap with a multicoloured gender symbol, a denim vest with various pins and patches, and sunglasses hanging from their shirt. A transgender pride flag is draped over his shoulder. In the background, people are sitting on the grass near tents and booths under a partly cloudy sky.
Sam Pearce was one of thousands of people at the 10th Channel Islands Pride

Sam Pearce said "I'm proud of who I am" and "I'm transgender, I'm nonbinary, I'm bisexual and in the past you weren't allowed to be these things".

Mr Pearce said growing up trans in Jersey "was a little bit difficult because we are a small community" and "I just thought there was something wrong with me".

He was happy that Jersey has become more diverse in the last ten years but admitted recent times had been tough.

"The trans community is being treated like we are predators trying to convert people against their will but we don't and we just want to make the world safe for ourselves and be part of the community," Mr Pearce added.

Taneesha stands outdoors at an event, draped in a rainbow flag and making a peace sign with her right hand. In the background, people are gathered on the grass near a stage and tents under a partly cloudy sky.
It was the first Pride event Taneesha Anne Spanswick had been to

Taneesha Anne Spanswick is pansexual and has many friends in the trans community.

She said abuse and discrimination some experience "makes people feel like they don't belong" and "they spend most of their lives hiding who they are" but having attended the Pride festival she said she was confident the wider community is an accepting one.

She added: "It's empowering to watch everyone be authentically and unapologetically themselves in a community where there's no judgement."

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