‘It’s not just a month, it’s a state of mind’: What Pride means to me

Do I look queer enough? Is this for me? Should I have told my parents where I was really going?

These were just some of the thoughts running through my head as I took a train to London back in 2017. I was on my way to my first ever pride event, London Pride, but as far as my parents were concerned, I was going to explore museums and see the sights.