Having the Best Time at Gay Pride When You Have Psoriasis

Did you know that in six United Nations countries around the globe, you can still face the death penalty simply for being gay?

In many others, while the so-called ‘crime’ of homosexuality isn’t punishable by death, it is still frowned upon and penalties range from fines to imprisonment. It’s no wonder then that so many gay people still choose to hide who they really are.

Even in liberal countries such as America and the UK, hate crimes against gay people still go on. Many gay people fear to show public displays of affection because they worry about verbal or physical attacks.

But the situation has improved and continues to do so. Same-sex marriage is now legal in many states and lawmakers continue to make sure gay people feel accepted through changes to legislation that reinforces LGBT rights.

Local Gay Pride events

One of the ways gay people continue to express both their celebration and struggle is through local Gay Pride events. These happen in major cities (like New York in the US and London in the UK), and in local towns. Pride is a great event because it’s a chance for anyone - gay, lesbian, trans, or other - to come together in a safe setting. I have been to many of them, including in London and Manchester.

However, you may worry about going if you have psoriasis. Again, the condition can cause people to stare or make rude comments and Pride isn’t immune to this.

However, it’s important to remember that most people are going to celebrate Pride and not look at your skin.

Nonetheless, if you are anxious about it, see if some of the advice below can help.

Advice for attending Pride events with psoriasis

1. Plan your outfit in advance

Remember Gay Pride is a protest and a celebration, and if you’re going to express yourself openly without fear of judgment, then you need to own it. Plan your outfit in advance and consider what’s going to make you feel the most comfortable. If you’re worried about flakes falling on to your clothes, try picking garments that are light in color.

You may benefit from wearing cotton clothing as opposed to other types of garments. This is less likely to rub if it’s a particularly warm day. That means it will cause you less irritation, and it means it’s less likely to stain from scratching and itching. 

If you’re self-conscious about showing your arms or legs, try wearing long-sleeved T-shirts and trousers or jogging bottoms. It’s important to feel good in your own skin though, so if you don’t fancy doing that, try being brave and let your psoriasis show through! Honestly, nobody will care, and if they do, they are not worth thinking about.

2. Try to get a group of friends together and plan what you want to do

You don’t have to be LGBT to go to Pride. In actual fact, allies are more than welcome (after all, if gay people are going to fight for their rights, they need straight people on-board too). See if any of your friends want to go and try and get a group of you together. You can plan your journey and what you want to do at Pride (stand and watch the parade; go for a few drinks or see if there are any other events).

3. See a therapist before you go

Chatting through any pre-Pride anxieties with a trained professional can help relax you before the day. Try going a few times a couple of weeks before Pride. You can discuss how your skin condition may affect your overall experience, both positively and negatively, and for the negative thoughts, how you can re-train them to enjoy your Pride event.

A few sessions before you go to Pride may not be enough if you have more severe mental health problems, but what it may do is give you the confidence to go to Pride which when you’re out there, should lessen your anxiety and make you feel motivated.

4. Contact a charity or group participating in the Pride event

If you don’t have any friends to go with who want to go or you want to try something new, it may be worth getting in touch with a charity or organization that is supporting Pride or who are part of a parade. This would be a great way of combining your interests with celebrating your sexuality. Equally, there may be some great psoriasis organizations taking part, so see if you can support any of them.

5. Read up on Pride online or in books, or take a look at some YouTube videos

There are some great articles to read online about Pride and what to expect at the event. These may help lessen some of your anxieties around the event and therefore make you feel more comfortable when you’re there.

Equally, there are great books that show you some of the photography from when Pride first started as a riot to how it’s become more of a celebration. You could also try watching YouTube videos. There are various LGBT people who have documented their first Pride and are overwhelmed by how it’s helped them accept their sexuality and feel good about themselves.

Psoriasis shouldn't affect being able to attend these events

I hope you have a good time if you do plan to go to your local Pride or one further away. Your skin condition shouldn’t affect how you see yourself and you shouldn’t let the opinions of others dictate how you see yourself. Having social support around you, combined with a little therapy, that should go the distance to help you relax and enjoy your time. Good luck!