The Many Voices of Pride: Jo’s story

Jul 11 2019
Written by In partnership with Uber

“I define myself as gender blind which means I don’t see gender.” (Uber)

The LGBT+ community is made of many different identities, all of which are as valid and important as the others, and every single one deserves to fly their flag with pride.

For Pride 2019, PinkNews has teamed with Uber to tell stories that show how important visibility is to a diverse rainbow of sexual and gender identities.

This is Jo’s story…

How do you identify?

I define myself as gender blind which means I don’t see gender.

I don’t consider the gender when I’m attracted to a person.

For me, being pansexual means being free to love a person without caring about their gender, sexual identity or how he defines himself or herself or themselves.

Is it easier to be a queer person today than in the past?

I think the younger generation don’t believe in labels anymore. As a queer generation we are coming into a brighter future; it’s much easier to come out, especially in an environment like London.

For instance, we barely go to gay bars or specifically gendered places anymore.

In a way we are appropriating spaces and penetrating the mass media; taking part in it, absorbing it and making it a normal thing.

What does Pride mean to you?

The first time I went to Pride was when I was 14 years old and there was a huge parade in my city.

It was a fun time and interesting to see drag queens wearing classical Neapolitan dresses.

To me Pride means being whoever I want to be, wearing whatever I want to wear and liking whoever I want to like.

It’s the acknowledgment and recognition of all our struggles and fights every day and every year.

Why are flags important to the LGBT+ community?

I believe the flags give you recognition and strength to believe in who you are. If I’d never seen the pansexual flag I would never have realised it was a thing.

I would just think it was a kink or fetish but it’s actually about being yourself and knowing other people experience the same thing.

Read all the personal stories from the Many Voices of Pride campaign here.