The impact of missing Pride events and LGBT spaces in lockdown – Metro.co.uk

The pandemic has been a struggle for so many.

But it’s been particularly challenging for the LGBT+ community – a group that’s already at greater risk of poorer mental health, including higher risks of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation, higher levels of common mental disorders and lower levels of mental wellbeing.

LGBT+ spaces and events are a lifeline, as they offer a safe place for people to meet and to be supported.

‘They also affirm of our identities, and provide opportunities for connection,’ says Dr Laia Becares, a senior lecturer in applied social science at the University of Sussex and co-author of the Queerantine study.

But the pandemic has meant these haven’t existed in physical form – and it’s been an incredible loss for the LGBT+ community.

Cavyn Mitchell says: ‘The closure of LGBTQ+ spaces during the pandemic has been difficult, not only as it means there have been fewer safe spaces but also because it means that – for the past sixteen months – connecting with other LGBTQ+ people has not been possible outside of online spaces.

‘For me, frequenting LGBTQ+ spaces or exploring new LGBTQ+ spaces when out and about was reassuring and comforting, knowing that I could exist in spaces as me without having to be hypervigilant as an out trans non-binary person.’

This sense of holding back one’s identity is something that’s been felt by Blythe White, too.

Blythe says these spaces are vital for those who can’t be open with their sexuality at home.

They tell Metro.co.uk: ‘Despite being open with my sexuality, there are lots of spaces where I feel like I can’t fully be myself and act and dress in the ways that I’d like to act and dress. With these safe spaces closed, I’ve lost places where I could be unapologetically myself.

‘Events like Pride are times when we can all come together and celebrate all we’ve achieved in the progression of LGBTQ+ rights and think about what progress we’re still yet to make.

‘The closure of LGBTQ+ spaces more generally probably affects LGBTQ+ people who can’t be open with their sexuality at home the most, as these may have been the only places where they could be themselves and, with them gone, the pandemic has meant over a year of bottling up who you are.’

Lockdown and the pandemic, in general, has been pretty isolating.

But the cancellation of last year’s Pride as well as numerous other LGBT+ events – plus the prolonged closure of venues such as gay bars – has been a huge blow. And it has left many individuals feeling incredibly alone.

Dr Laia Becares says: ’LGBTQ+ people have faced stressors during the pandemic that are not shared with heterosexual and cisgender people, including spending periods of lockdown in households that are not affirming or supportive of their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, and being separated from social networks that are supportive and affirming to their identity.

‘During the pandemic, experiences of discrimination may have become magnified because LGBTQ+ people may have been sheltering in households that were unsupportive or hostile towards their identities, or have not received support from networks and relevant organisations.’

Some young people may have had to return to unwelcoming or unsupportive households during lockdown or may have been cut off, physically, from their supportive social networks.

The lack of safe spaces for people to turn to during this difficult time has been incredibly challenging.

Tristan Marris says: ‘I’m lucky because I live near some of my LGBT+ friends, so when it’s been safe and legal we’ve been able to see each other. But having said that, I’ve not been to any sort of LGBT+ space in real life since before the pandemic hit the UK, and that has definitely made me feel more isolated over the last year.

‘And as I don’t live in a big city like London or Manchester, I’ve found being in lockdown in a place with less LGBT+ representation difficult, especially as before the pandemic I would travel to those kinds of places at least once a month anyway.’

Tristan adds: ‘The pandemic and lockdowns have affected everyone, but as an already disadvantaged community, I think LGBT+ people were always at higher risk of feeling isolated and having worse mental health because of the pandemic.’

This is something Uwern Jong has also experienced.

Uwern says: ‘I took a “keep calm and carry on” approach throughout the pandemic, but it has impacted me not being able to meet at LGBTQ+ spaces and partake in LGBTQ+ events large or small.

‘Being able to access LGBTQ+ spaces and events reinforces to me that I am not alone in this world, that there is a community and wider “family” who supports my existence and who I am, and that is comforting. And beyond that, we have a “culture” as LGBTQ+ people and that culture only authentically exists in these spaces.

‘So much of the LGBTQ+ “fight” in the past has been about acceptance and inclusion, but we have moved in more recent years to be much more about celebrating our identity – and belonging – and with that comes an inherent sense of and need for “community” – of which queer spaces and LGBTQ+ events like Pride are central to.’

Now venues are reopening and events are resuming, these vital support networks can come into place again.

However, it’s important to recognise that these spaces are so much more than just social hubs, and that any future closures will have a devastating impact on the LGBT+ community.

Uwern adds: ‘Over the weekend, I experienced two things – a return to the LGBTQ+ bars of Soho with a group of gay friends; and a BBQ/social gathering indoors with queer friends that I consider my “family” for the first time since the pandemic hit.

‘Both made me realise just how challenging it has been not to be able to interact face to face with other members of my community and how I’d had taken that for granted.

‘Both felt really good.’

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