There were stalls from great organisations such as the Mosaic Trust, Brentford FC, Osterely Park House, Gunnersbury Park Museum, and awesome food from vendors like Big Mum’s Samosas.
When it came time for me to go up on stage, the Middlesex Pride team helped me keep calm and gave some helpful advice. They are the greatest people I have ever met.
My speech was about my story as an LGBTQIA+ Muslim, where my life changed when I met my best friend who inspired me to join the Just Like Us Ambassador Programme. My story reflected on my experiences as a Muslim and an LGBTQIA+ person, facing prejudice in both communities. It also expressed how Just Like Us became like my family. Fellow ambassadors help and support each other with school talks, and with life.
Despite being soaking wet by the end of the speech – thank you, English weather – the atmosphere was buzzing with warmth and joy. The crowd was kind, the team hugged me, and people were commenting on my speech, how powerful it was.
This is what Pride is about. Being visible as your full self, connecting with people with similar experiences, and making friends.
I can’t thank Middlesex Pride and Just Like Us enough for giving me the opportunity and space to talk about my experiences as an LGBTQIA+ Muslim. To be myself. They gave me something I fought for a long time: accepting everything about me, which includes my transness and sexuality, my culture, and my faith.
If you are 18 to 25, you can become a charity ambassador for Just Like Us, the LGBT+ young people’s charity – find out more.