Giving a platform.

Sometimes I become a massive recluse, escaping the world and battening down the hatches, avoiding everything that could possible come my way. It isn't a particularly good way to work, but it's what I've become used to. 

It's almost like my life is on a cycle, with 9 months of intense work and preparation, and then three months of hiding in order to recover.

It's also clear that I take on too much at the same time, trying to balance many different pulls on my time, but the old adage is that we're best when we're busy. When I'm not busy, I get sloppy, so the only way for my to be efficient is to work on lots of things at once.

We're looking towards 2018 for Pride in London. As I work on ensuring that photography is covered on all bases, and expand my team to help I get little reminders that the world that I play a really small part in is still so vital in this city.

On the Jubilee Line a teen was assaulted until he apologised for his sexuality. This is London, one of the most liberal cities in the UK, and we are still seeing hate crimes against the LGBT+ community because of being who we are.

So it raises an interesting question: Obviously, Pride in London still has a crucial role to play for the near future in educating and giving a platform to the LGBT+ community in all its different forms, but if you are a member of the LGBT+ community, or an ally, what can you do to help combat hate crimes against people?

In the next few days I hope to publish a few additional roles for my small team at Pride in London. There are also roles throughout the organisation to fill (https://prideinlondon.org/volunteer/), and you could help us make 2018 the best year yet.

It's small steps, but we will end hate crime against anyone due to their sexuality or gender, and ensure that the LGBT+ community in London has a voice that is heard not only at City Hall, but at Westminster and around the world