Simon Warburton, Matron in Bed Management and Patient Flow shares why celebrating Pride Month is important to him.
Content warning: story includes description of physical violence
“I’m often asked why Pride is still necessary. It usually comes with, ‘but you’ve got equality now, you can get married,’ and on paper, that’s true, so job done and rainbow tick!
“In 2009, walking home after a night out, I was attacked by three men. The police recorded it as a hate crime. Physically, I was lucky, my injuries healed over a few weeks but what took much longer was rebuilding my confidence.
“I’m incredibly grateful to my extended family and friends for how they carried me through that time. I also know my mum will never forget seeing a shoe print on my face as that is an image that sticks with you, whether you want it to or not.
“What’s harder to explain is this - I feel more cautious now than I did then, as a 20-year-old. Back then, I thought Pride was mainly about the party, the music, the colour and a great day out. Looking back, that came from a place of naivety I don’t quite have anymore, these days, I understand Pride a bit differently.
“There’s more conversation now about LGBT equality, but those conversations often feel more polarised and often more hostile. I’m genuinely proud to work for LSCFT, where our leaders are clear and consistent about standing against discrimination. Not everyone has that and, in some places, that support has been quietly rolled back. It shouldn’t be something we feel lucky to have but it is.
“Day to day, I still catch myself checking in, am I too camp? Am I safe here? I’ve left pubs and bars because words the LGBT community reclaimed years ago are being thrown around as slurs again. In 2026, in my own hometown, I don’t feel confident holding another man’s hand in public and even a simple hug can draw attention or comments that remind you, subtly or not, to shrink yourself a little. It’s exhausting and it’s not something most people ever have to think about.
“I know I’m fortunate in many ways as I can often ‘pass’. I’m a white man, which gives me a level of privilege many in the LGBT community don’t have. I have a brilliant family and strong friendships around me, not everyone gets that foundation.
“So when people ask why Pride still matters, this is why. It matters because LGBT young people are still far more likely to experience bullying, self‑harm and serious mental health challenges than their peers. It matters because in parts of the world, people are still persecuted, or worse, simply for who they are or who they love and it feels that this is getting worse. It matters because, despite the progress we’ve made, many of us still don’t feel able to be fully ourselves in everyday life. It matters because when I applied the Trusts Microsoft Teams pride background, I worried that colleagues would think I was 'too much'.
“Pride isn’t about claiming special treatment. It’s about visibility, safety, and belonging. It’s about saying, kindly but clearly, we’re still here, we still matter and there’s still work to do.
Happy Pride Month everyone.”
