Pride events have been taking place across the UK this summer and by all accounts they’ve been absolutely glorious.
For most people, love is love and celebrating gay pride is not only good but important. There’s always going to be a handful of knuckle-draggers who ask “well, when’s Straight Pride Day, then?” or make some other retrograde comment, but they are very much in the minority.
Comments like these are always ill-informed and ignorant, but occasionally they trip over into the laughably stupid. Assistant Chief Constable Rich Lewis with South Wales Police was celebrating Pride Cymru, posting a picture of police and air ambulance mascots representing their respective organisations at Pride.
@air_ambulance @swpolice together #swppride pic.twitter.com/cDy6a9drcl
— Rich Lewis QPM🏴 (@Richjonlewis) August 26, 2017
Nice, right? Two organisations, working closely together to keep people safe, celebrating the freedom of individuals together.
But, of course, someone had to come along and pee in the punchbowl, and that someone would be retired Monmouth county councillor Graham Down, who had this to say on the matter:
Shouldn't they be out saving lives/catching criminals?
— Graham Down (@cllrgraham_down) August 26, 2017
Aha. Of course. These mascots are neglecting their duties by coming out to support Pride. How many criminals will have escaped due to their negligence? How many innocent lives will be lost because someone was in a costume instead of a uniform?
We can all agree: it is a stupid thing to say. It is possible to run an air ambulance service and have someone wearing a costume at the same time. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true.
Of course, Graham Down knows this, he just wants to spoil the party, but when you make a comment like this, you open yourself up to an endless stream of burns, and it’s apt that Wales Air Ambulance had the best.
Hi Graham, this isn't our actual helicopter. Our 4 helicopters are currently on standby for absolutely everybody across Wales 🌈🚁 #PrideCymru
— Wales Air Ambulance Charity (@air_ambulance) August 26, 2017
Yes Graham, that is not an actual helicopter, but is in fact a man or woman in a costume. Again, hard to believe, but it’s true.
