Manchester Pride

Who doesn't love spending time with friends having a drink and enjoying the atmosphere together. That's what Manchester Pride is, a good time with your friends, it is no longer the message it once was, no longer the shout for equality, its just a piss up with a lot of bright colours, half naked people and a fair amount of rain.

My first Pride was 6 years ago, I remember being nervous and excited at the same time, I was joining the gay community, and back then it did feel more like a community, loads of stalls, lots of people talking about lots of things, now I feel its lost that.

The parade felt more like an excuse for advertising, either for a company or for a service, I.E. we are a gay friendly service, carry on using and trusting us, don't get me wrong some of that is good, for example the Police and other front line services.

One last complaint I have about this year's Pride, the main stage. A friend and I went to Baa Bar briefly to get some shots, came back and found that the entire main stage had been fenced off, not one way in, nor one way OUT! If you wanted out of the main stage you literally had to Que to get out. When we saw this we were quite disgusted by it, we both agree'd that if something went wrong in the main stage it had the potential to be something similar to another Hillsborough, and I don't say that lightly, after all my friend was from Liverpool.

All in all though, Curtis and I enjoyed our 3 days at Pride (we could not hack 4), we saw our friends, had some drinks and had a laugh... it's just a shame that Pride has sold out!

Walking the path to PRIDE

Sorry for the lack of updates lately, I have been immensely busy with my new job. Anyway as it is coming up to the largest LGBT event of the year in Manchester this weekend (PRIDE) I though I had better make a post.

So an update on me and Curtis; We have finally stopped arguing so much about money, I reckon this is because I have a job now, it couldn't have been easy on him supporting us both for 3 months. Things are getting back to normal now, plans for the wedding are creeping back into my mind, as well as plans for the home as our lesbian flatmate is moving out, I'm redecorating the spare room and I have found a new sofa I REALLY want! Anyway I digress.

So, PRIDE! Specifically the big weekend, also known as a four day piss up. I cannot wait for this. This year we have some friends travelling up from Wales and Liverpool and so that will be amazing, plus the playlist this year is awesome, Pixie Lott, Sugababes and Alexandra Burke, (oh and some band called Blue).

As fun as PRIDE is each year we cannot forget what its all about. We have to remember that we are gathering for a reason, for a purpose and that is that we want complete equality without prejudice from anyone. Whether that is something any minority group will ever receive who knows, all I know is that we will keep fighting for it. (Even if that means having an amazing time with our friends)

Also folks must remind all those going to PRIDE that the HIV candle lit Vigil will be held on Monday 29 August, 21:00 in Sackville Gardens.

Don't forget either to watch the parade, me and Curtis had never seen it and then last year we decided to go and we LOVED it! Especially considering afterwards I met Sir Ian Mckellen.





AMAZING!

So upcoming posts will include the likes of our funniest fights, our lowest moments, our absolute highest points and where we aim to be by my birthday next march.

Peace and Love :D
xxxxx

I am me and he is he

So it's about time you both knew a little bit more about who we are, so here you go, our Bio's.

James - I am a loud mouthed annoying person who loves my friends and family. I cannot get enough of going out, spending time with people whether they be friends, family or new people I meet. I am a massive geek, i love all things science fiction and fantasy. Particular loves at the moment are Doctor Who, Torchwood, Harry Potter, Glee, some classics are Stargate, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica and so on, but you didn't come here to read a list of things ive watched on TV.
I am confidant, ambitious and intelligent(So i like to think, though it just took me 4 attempts to spell intelligent). Currently unemployed, looking for work and trying to create an interesting blog that people would be interested in reading and also something that me and Curtis can look back on and enjoy.

Curtis - Now it's not Curtis writing this it's James, but I know him well enough to write about him. In many ways he is very similar to me, geeky, smart and lovely. but in many ways he is very different. As stated i am very social, Curtis however is not so much. He finds it difficult in large social situations, especially in ones where he doesn't know many people. He prefer's smaller occasions with me and him and 1 or 2 others, or him and his best friend Jemma. Though he has gotten much better over the years.

If you asked some of our friends to describe us as a couple, most would say something along these lines:

"They are clearly in love, though they argue ALL the time, but its not hateful arguing its just how they resolve issues that other couples might ignore. They are very different but very similar and i think that's why they work."

Sometimes we do argue over stupid things, for instance, just the other day we had a blazing row over what to watch in bed, Curtis was tired, I was drunk and we blew up at each other. The next morning we both said sorry and that we loved each other and that was that.

So the posts in this blog from now on will be about how we get on towards our wedding and about our relationship. Hopefully a lot will be lovely posts about our love, a fair few will be about row's we have and I will include plenty of pictures of us and our adventures.

Next post will be about what we have already planned for the wedding!

Hope you enjoy and recommend the blog :D

How We Met

Basically in 2008 I (James) went to my friends (Sophie) 20th birthday party, in fact she had 2. I went to both and met a lot of her friends and family. In true James fashion I leaned towards the extremely drunk and forgetting peoples names and faces. In doing so i forgot both times that i met a very cute guy named Curtis.

Now a month or so later I went a New years eve party at Sophie’s house, we all had a great night, around 50 of us; We brought the new year in true drunken fashion. Now this time I met Curtis properly, and I spoke to him for longer than 5 minutes. We spent the whole night together joined at the hip. Though he still says this isn’t true, Curtis was pouring alcohol down my neck all night, so of course I wasn’t going to leave the person plying me with free booze.
As the party wound down, i could have walked home but i thought i would stay the night with Curtis. We had that night, what i probably thought was only going to be a one off thing. I say this because I had never had a boyfriend at the time and neither had he, also i was never very confidant in myself so i didn’t expect him to want to see me again. I left on new years day grateful for a wonderful night and a lovely memory expecting never to hear from him again.

Around 2 weeks later i did.

WELCOME TO OUR LIVES

This is a blog about the lives of 2 gay guys living south of Manchester in Stockport, England. My name is James and my fiancee is called Curtis. We are engaged and due to be married around April 2013.
I thought it would be an interesting experience if i documented our Journey, as not only would i have something to look back at, but also so that i can discuss things relating to the wedding with people outside of my friends and family. Also its my hope that this blog could help encourage others who are unsure to get engaged, or hell even just to take that step and ask out that person they like but are too scared too.

I will be as honest on here as possible and this will include all of our ups as well as all of our downs and fights (and there will be a lot).

In the end i just hope that i have something nice to look back at, whilst at the same time, even if one person reads this and gets the courage to do something they have wanted to do for some time. My job will be complete :D