Bourne Free - Bournemouth's Pride and how we were there

Only one of us was able to make the date for the Bourne Free parade, but it was really good to be able to take part in this, only our second year.
Bourne Free
has been building up over the past thirteen years and it felt like a really exuberant event.  They have placed a video of the parade on the Bourne Free Facebook page 

https://www.facebook.com/playwivjay/posts/868638186524888

 

 The Bourne Free Parade organisers had arranged for Ringwood Unitarians to walk alongside the only other faith group taking part, the Metropolitan Community Church  from Pokesdown (Dorset Humanists, some of whom might also want to be mentioned at this point, were also there in strength).  This was wonderful.  What a welcome MCC gave!  And also all eyes were on them – so as a by-product, also on Ringwood Unitarians – because the MCC had co-opted their friends from Liberty Church  in Blackpool who brought their huge mannequin of Jesus.  The children in particular were mesmerized.  “Big Jesus” certainly captured everyone’s imagination, and there were many smiles at “Big Jesus” and about him, too.  Sadly there were also some jeers and boos when the parade passed one place so it just shows that not everyone is content with the idea that Jesus is there for, and welcomes, everyone. “Big Jesus” was carried on the shoulders of one person continuously from 10.30 a.m. to after 1 p.m., and he danced from one part of the crowd to the next, shaking hands, blowing kisses, and waving his rainbow balloons.  Up till now no photos of the Ringwood Unitarian rep have been sent in but here is a picture of MCC, Liberty Church and “Big Jesus”.

It was great fun and wonderful to make some new friends at MCC who, being in Pokesdown, are almost next door neighbours for Ringwood Unitarians.  We hope to build on this by meeting with them again very soon.