By Jonathan Jones

Pride can be used as a term for haughtiness, for arrogance, for conceit and the dictionary does define it as such however I also found the following definition listed:
Pride
n.
A sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect.

Police in Russia have once again violently broken up a march by gay activists in Moscow. It was due to be a peaceful protest, simply demanding equal rights and fair treatment for gays and lesbians in Russia. Russian gay rights activist Nikolai Alexeyev and British campaigner Peter Tatchell were among those arrested and detained.

I have been asked in relation to events such as Moscow Pride "why do gay people keep turning up when they know they're going to be at risk of beatings and arrest?" This to me is pride, plain and simple. Showing up and being true to oneself against often considerable opposition isn't merely an act of defiance against those who wish to hold us back, it's a show of unified strength.

A way of saying that we wish to be fully accepted and integrated within society. It's not about special privileges, we're merely asking to be able to live as ourselves, safely and freely. Pride in relation to being gay isn't about 'flaunting' who we are, it's a dignified statement of intent.

It's PRIDE in the truest sense of the word.