Local Life - Wigan - August 2018

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“They have both been really supportive. My dad
was in the parade last year, somebody didn’t make
it so he stood in for them, and he had these butterfly
wings. Thinking back to it, it was great to see my dad
getting involved and being so supportive.”
But expressing his sexuality wasn’t without its
hardship.
“I would camp up in school, I felt like I had to, I was
really flamboyant and would come back home to
being quite reserved,” said Zak.
“There were a few incidents at school because of my
sexuality. I was quite tall in school and one guy was
quite short , he came charging into me in the hall,
he was trying to get me on the floor, he was saying
I brought shame on the name Zak, I think he had
a relative with the same name. I knew he was just
uneducated.”
Zak has been with his partner, Daniel, whom he
met at BU, for six years and they live together in the
centre of Wigan.
“Daniel has been so supportive, he is full of ideas,”
said Zak.
“Pride gives us all that opportunity to come out, it is
a talking point, and some people come out at pride
which is crazy and dramatic but great.
“I don’t think there is a need to be in everyone’s
face but visibility is important, that is the whole
reason for us, here and queer, got to get used to it.”
Wigan Pride takes place on August 11 from noon-
6pm in the town centre. For more information and
for a full line-up visit www.wiganpride.com
To find out more about the BYOU+ group please
visit www.byoupluswigan.com.