Reflections from a Ballymena native, Christian, and Pride marshal.

Coming Home

This Saturday I will travel home to Ballymena once again for Mid and East Antrim Pride.

It is only the second year of the parade, and it will be the second year that I have served as a marshal. That fact alone says something important. Pride is no longer something that happens only in Belfast, Dublin, or other large cities. It is happening in towns and communities across Ireland, including the place where I was born and grew up.

For me, returning to Ballymena for Pride carries a significance that goes beyond a single event. Like many LGBT people of my generation, I grew up in a time when being openly gay in a town like Ballymena often felt impossible. There were gay people here, of course. We always existed. But many of us learned to keep quiet, to remain invisible, or to leave in order to find spaces where we could be ourselves.

Why Local Pride Matters

That is why local Pride events matter.

They are not simply celebrations. They are acts of visibility. They remind people that LGBT people are not strangers arriving from somewhere else. We are sons and daughters of these communities. We grew up in these streets, attended these schools, worshipped in these churches, and supported local clubs and organisations. We have always been here.

When a Pride parade takes place in Ballymena, it sends a message to young people who may be wondering whether they belong. It tells them that they are not alone. It also reminds the wider community that diversity is not something imported from elsewhere; it is already present among neighbours, friends, colleagues, and family members.

Pride and My Own Story

There is another reason this event is special for me. It was through volunteering with the Belfast Pride Committee that I met my husband, Andrew. Pride, therefore, is not merely a public event in my life. It is woven into my own story. Had I not become involved, our paths might never have crossed.

As a marshal, I see my role as helping to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone taking part. Pride works best when it is open, friendly, and accessible to all who wish to support it.

Last year, that meant standing at Broadway alongside a PSNI officer, placing myself directly between the protestors and the parade. I did so drawing on my years of experience with Belfast Pride, where I served as the festival’s liaison inside the police control room. I knew how to read the crowd, anticipate flashpoints, and maintain the calm, steady presence needed when tension rises. The role in Ballymena may feel smaller in scale than the city parade, but it is a deeply practical way of using my experience to contribute to something larger than myself.

Faith, Protest, and Respect

There will almost certainly be protesters again this year, just as there were last year. Peaceful protest is part of living in a democratic society, and nobody should be prevented from expressing their views.

What saddened me last year was not the presence of protest itself, but the manner in which some people chose to express their opposition. Some participants in the parade, including families and children, were subjected to comments that were deeply hurtful and, at times, openly hostile.

Many of those protesting did so in the name of Christianity. As a Christian myself, I find that difficult to reconcile with the faith I profess. The Jesus I encounter in the Gospels consistently reaches out to those on the margins, treats people with dignity, and calls his followers to love their neighbours. Christians may disagree on many things, but surely we can agree that disagreement need not become contempt.

For me, that is another reason why Pride matters. It is not simply a celebration of identity. It is a visible affirmation that every person is worthy of respect, kindness, and welcome. Those are values that I believe arise not in spite of my Christian faith, but because of it.

Building a Tradition

This year’s parade is only the second, but every tradition has to begin somewhere. The first Ballymena Pride was historic because it happened. The second is important because it demonstrates that the event was not a one-off. It shows commitment, resilience, and a growing confidence that there is a place for LGBT people within the life of Mid and East Antrim.

Looking Forward

When I return home this weekend, I will be doing so not only as a participant but as someone who believes deeply in the value of visibility, community, and belonging.

Pride in Ballymena matters because it tells the truth: LGBT people are part of this town, have always been part of this town, and deserve to be seen as part of its future.

As a Christian, I believe every person bears the image of God. As a son of Ballymena, I know that LGBT people have always been part of the fabric of this community. And as a marshal, I am proud to play a small part in helping ensure that, for one day at least, that truth can be seen openly in the streets of the town I still call home.