PRIDE

Pride is a historical comedy-drama film directed by Matthew Warchus and was released in 2014, and like many good movies is based on a true story. The movie is set in the England of 1984 where Margaret Tatcher, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and leader of the Conservative party, is on power and there is social unrest from miners unions due to the closure of collieries; a movement of those in power to shut down the British coal industry and reduce the power of trade unions.

A group of lesbians and gays decides to unite forces and help the miners’ fight forming a group called LGSM, lesbians and gays support the miners. A unexpected support that causes confusion and rejection to many at first, but that shows many valuable lessons.

The first is how the struggle of both groups is a powerful tool for unity. On the one hand, gays and lesbians’ rights not being recognized by the government and being continuously rejected and stigmatized by society; for which they undertake a continuous fight against the suppression of the government through strikes. On the other hand, the miners’ unions trying to get together and organize themselves to keep alive an industry that is the sustain of many families that earn a living through the industry and have nothing else.

The second is how empathy and an effort to understand others’ people perspectives and get rid of prejudices is the key to a better life. The movie shows how getting together and mixing, helps them realize that there is nothing different about being gay or lesbian, and opens a source of joy and learning between them; as the only difference between each one of them is their own personalities.

Overall, the movie is living proof that in a democracy, people that unionizes and works together for a worthy cause can change the course of history. And if there is one sentence I had to pick from the movie it would be what one of the characters, Ben, says about gays being called perverts and how they have always reacted to those kind of insults, and says the following “There is a long tradition in the gay community, when somebody calls you a name like that, you take it and you own it”.