Categories: uncategorized
Date: 11 April 2012 15:06:14
"Inclusion without judgement" is the tag-line for MK Pride on 11th August - the first Pride event in the city. I heard about this event, along with some other exciting stuff going on in Milton Keynes on Saturday evening and was excited, but this tag-line was one of the things which I think excited me most. As I heard the vision for this pride festival unfold I realised that it was not some fluffy sentimental soundbite but a real aspiration which is underlying a really exciting initiative.
The Pride festival which is taking place in Campbell Park is going to follow on from the Celebr8mkparade. As their website says, "The parade is open to EVERYONE, whether you want to celebrate Milton Keynes or your group, your club, your faith, your hobby - it all makes Milton Keynes."
The fact Pride has chosen to put on a Pride event in the park to follow on from an established community diversity and inclusion event is something I see as really important and exciting. What the LGBT community are doing, as I had it explained to me, are saying - we are part of you and you are part of us - after we have celebrated with you why don't you come and join our party. This is what inclusion without judgement is all about; overcoming division and celebrating our relationships with the S community as well as the LGBTQ community(ies).
It is all part of a wider renewal of vision in MK at the moment which I am encountering both in the religious and secular arenas. In addition to learning about some existing groups I have become aware in recent months / weeks of some new shoots emerging. These include a new Venture FX pioneer coming to MK and seeking to develop a vision for mission to young adults and My Big Gay Family a not for profit organisation in MK starting up to support gay families and be a positive presence in the community. These things are not seeking to take over from or in anyway act as an alternative to the existing organisations (such as the established churches like the Church of Christ the Cornerstone or Q Alliance) but are looking to grow out of them, build bridges and become part of the wider networks in the city. As somebody who is frequently frustrated by some of the attitudes and negativity I encounter within both the church and the LGBT community what really excites me about all of these things are they are being built on hope not angst. Those involved are all really realistic about the challenges they face and the risks involved but rather than sitting there saying woe am I they are doing something about it.
Now, I am not a big fan of David Cameron and the Big Society, (I could bore you with my analysis of it...but I've already done that in various ways on here see this post and this one), but I think what we are seeing is exactly what he and the community activists on the left both recognise as good practice. All of these things are involving people being prepared to invest time, energy and talent and take risks in order to try and build a better community (based both on community and identity). These are exactly the types of initiative which we should be supporting because they are seeking to build our communities rather than destroy them.