Would you take children to Pride in London?

[ThoughtsAndQuestions]

I'm asking for opinions about the appropriateness of children attending Pride in London (including the family section).

I appreciate that some may find the question offensive, for which apologies, but I'm genuinely looking for guidance.

My partner is really keen to go and take our relatively young children but my concerns are a) exposure to trans ideology (and drag queens, frankly, which I just find offensive) and b) nudity of adults and kink flaunting which seems to have become more and more prevalent.

Every instinct is screaming at me to steer well clear (which is a crying shame as if it were just a family-friendly celebration of LGB people, I think it would be great) but my partner is very upset with me for not wanting our children to go and I don't want to fall out unnecessarily. But safeguarding our children is too important to just go along for an easy life.

All opinions and experiences welcome - I'm genuinely torn about whether I'm over-reacting or whether I would actually be essentially negligent to take my children along these days.

I think your concerns about nudity and the trans ideology are well founded.

I also think it's likely to be very boozy, the weather will be very hot, the crowds will be large and noisy, the kids will be too short to see what's happening - it's just not somewhere I'd take young kids full stop, even leaving aside your other concerns. Dragging kids around in those conditions is unlikely to be much fun for anyone.

We always did pride in London when we lived there sometimes just watching, sometimes as parade members. I’ve never seen any nudity there. It is however due to be very hot this weekend, if its the usual set up there isn’t a lot of shade.

Your concerns will be the main elements/ main show.
It’s not really a LGB celebration anymore. I wouldn’t take kids.

How old are your kids? It won’t be much fun for young children - boozy, crowded etc

I am a lesbian and would have liked to take my son on the march when he was younger. (We were offered to March with a group). But I didn't because I didn't want to expose him to the risk of a terror attack as pride could bd a target. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to this one.

Thanks, I really appreciate the perspectives.

The argument that will be made in return is that the family-specific bit in Victoria Park will be absolutely fine and avoid my concerns but we have to get there through the rest of London, it is surely not like they'll have bouncers at the entrance and I can already see that they're including Drag Queen story time in that area (which I'd not be happy with in its own right and makes me question the judgment of the organisers).

Agh, it would be easier in many ways if there was 100% consensus I'm very wide of the mark but I expect I'm going to have to have this unpleasant conversation again.

Good grief, I didn't even think of that one...

Mid-primary school age. I think the idea of my partner is that we'd just had straight for Victoria Park.

Depends on DC ages/experiences in life. Older ones, secondary school, would probably enjoy the experience and benefit.

I agree with your reasons for not going.

You can be a loving family without going surely? It seems more about adults and their needs. Dc just don’t need all the “extras” that come with Pride.

If you think there's "trans ideology" and find drag queens offensive, you shouldn't go. You're clearly not an ally, what's the point of you being there if you're so judgmental.

No, there are no kinky naked people at the parade. Just colourful, happy people celebrating the day together with their allies. There are children as well and there's nothing inappropriate that they would see.

I wouldn't take young children anywhere that is "sexuality themed" ( hetro,homo, trans or otherwise)
It's on my not age appropriate list.

What parades are you going to?

Why do you assume the OP is a potential ally and not LGBT?
Im sure you can both be LGBT and recognise the overtly sexual content is not suitable for children.
In the olden days the LGB community marched in ordinary clothes to celebrate and raise awareness. That seemed to work just fine.

EDITED a mistype.

This all the way. Its not a kids event. And PP are right these days pride events are frequented by people dressed in kink influenced bondage gear and all sorts.
There are plenty of family friendly events around with needing to take primary aged kids to an event for which the main focus is sexuality.

Myself and my two daughters who were 10 and 12 at the time got stuck in the middle of pride in soho by accident a couple of years ago. It was about 4 in the afternoon and it remains one of the scariest experiences I’ve had. Thousands of drunk men with no regard or concern for anyone else around them. We were nearly separated on several occasions by the sheer weight of people crushing us and refusing to allow the children to pass by. It was awful. It felt unsafe and very unwelcoming. I would have understood it if it had been evening but it was the middle of the day.

She said that she finds drag queens offensive and the whole tonne of the post is judgemental in general. I'm not taking into account the question whether it's appropriate for children as it's completely fair to ask

Victoria Gardens will be fine and great fun- if you don't like the story time there are lots of other things to do at that time.

Absolutely not. Not because it’s inappropriate or rude. But because it’s absolute chaos, thousands of people, huge crowds, loads of noise and cans of alcohol all over the floor.

I hated it and I was 29.

I think if drag queens offend you it’s probably not a great place to be. It doesn’t bother me at all so my daughter and I went to pride in our city. She’s 13 though. There were plenty of people marching in various interesting outfits and we had a great chat about consent and exploration. I think all of the kink stuff would have gone straight over my son’s head but my daughter is a bit more savvy now so had some questions. We both loved the sparkly drag queens and my daughter was very jealous of their makeup.

I really think if you’re going to pride with judgement you won’t enjoy it. There are a million other things to do on the weekend so your kids arent missing out if you don’t take them to this.

This. You shouldn’t go with your attitude. Trans isnt an ‘ideology’ FFS

i wouldn’t personally take a primary age child because it’s going to be hot and busy, and lots of drunk people.

Other than a fear of violence, yes, definitely. Lovely, positive day.

I wouldnt go because i hate going to the loo at things like that!

Oh give over with the ‘you’re not an ally’ shite!

None of my lesbian friends go anymore because:

a) they’re grown arse women with families and it’s basically a massive street piss-up that no longer appeals

b) the T is more important than the LBG these days - and especially more important than lesbians who don’t think men can be lesbians.

Fuck sake. The gall of some people.