Attending a Pride weekend or festival is a very exhilarating and exciting time for anyone. Picking up a rainbow flag and waving it proudly as you march through the streets of a major city can make you feel fantastic and even more confident in who you are. It’s a whole lot of fun and a great time to celebrate who you are with like-minded people.
It’s also key to consider your safety during these festivals and street parties. As with any large-scale event, there are still some things that could go wrong, and you will need to use your common sense to ensure that you can celebrate the festival while staying safe at the same time. Here are some tips that can help you stay safe at your first ever Pride.
Know Your Alcohol Limits
As Pride is always one big party, there will be a lot of alcohol going around. It is perfectly fine to drink if you are over the legal age limit, but you need to do so sensibly. If you drink too much, you will get quite drunk and your judgement will become impaired. You might end up doing something that you regret once you sober up! Plus, being too drunk increases your risk of being a victim of certain crimes, such as pickpocketing and mugging.
Don’t Egg On The Police
Sometimes, large crowds can often become quite agitated and aggravate the police. If this starts to happen, it really is important that you don’t join in and that you try and move away from the trouble. There have been lots of instances throughout history where the police have used excessive force or arrested individuals on a false basis. There are even lawyers representing police officers in court to try and prevent negligent police officers from being punished for this kind of behavior. To ensure you don’t get caught up in this, simply stay away from all the law enforcement unless you need their help.
Watch Your Valuables
You never know who is getting up close to you in the crowds at festivals, and there could be some pickpockets out there amongst everyone. To make sure that you don’t get any money or other valuables stolen, you should keep an eye on everything at all times. Don’t take more with you than what is necessary – just a small bag should be enough and it will be easy to keep it close to you.
Remember Sun Protection
Pride festivals are largely outside during the late spring and summer months. That means that the weather will probably be really nice, and you’ll likely enjoy a very sunny day. So, you need to remember to take some sun protection with you. Put on plenty of sunscreen before you leave for the day and take a small bottle with you so that you can top up when needed. You should also wear a cap to keep the sun off the back of your eyes. Don’t forget your sunglasses and a bottle of water either.
Have fun!
