NeuroQueerz brings a calmer, more inclusive Pride experience to Manchester Village Pride
Pride is a celebration of identity, community, equality and belonging. For many LGBTQ+ people, it is one of the most important and joyful weekends of the year. But while Pride is often associated with packed streets, loud music, busy venues and huge crowds, that environment can be challenging for some members of the community.
This Manchester Village Pride weekend, NeuroQueerz is helping to create a different kind of Pride experience by providing a dedicated Calm Space for neurodivergent LGBTQ+ people, their friends, allies and anyone who needs somewhere to step away from the hustle and bustle.
Founded by Luke Boss, NeuroQueerz is focused on wellness, empowerment and belonging, with the aim of ensuring that neurodivergent people are not excluded from LGBTQ+ spaces simply because traditional Pride environments can sometimes feel overwhelming. The Calm Space isn't about taking people away from Pride. Instead, it is about giving people another way to experience it.
As Luke explains: “Everybody knows how to celebrate or party but in different ways.” He believes that neurodivergent people should have the freedom to enjoy Pride on their own terms, whether that means spending hours celebrating with others or taking some time away from the crowds before heading back into the action. “Our aim is to NOT make this stereotypical and boring,” says Luke. “It is a place to socialise, chill out, and be in the Pride weekend mood!”
A different way to experience Pride
For neurodivergent LGBTQ+ people, sensory stimulation can sometimes become overwhelming. Loud music, flashing lights, crowded streets, queues, unfamiliar surroundings and constantly changing environments can all contribute to sensory overload. But, as Luke points out, neurodiversity affects everyone differently.
“For some it impacts them so greatly that they avoid certain areas regardless, some it varies depending on the situation. Some, it's on a day-by-day basis how they are feeling, and for some, it doesn't impact them at all!” That individuality is central to the NeuroQueerz approach. Rather than assuming that every neurodivergent person needs the same support, the organisation wants people to have choices. The Calm Space can therefore be somewhere to spend a significant part of the day—or simply somewhere to recharge for an hour before returning to Pride.
Luke describes the goal as providing people with “a place to be themselves whilst fulfilling their Pride limitations and expectations.” He believes everyone attending a Pride event should be able to decide what they want to experience and what they don't. “We want people to leave our space thinking they had a good time whether they spent the majority of the day here or if they used the space to escape from the chaos for an hour and get back to party mode!”
Making Pride accessible beyond physical access
Accessibility is often discussed in terms of physical access: ramps, accessible toilets, seating and step-free entrances. Those things remain vital, but Luke believes the conversation needs to go much further. For someone who is autistic, has ADHD or is otherwise neurodivergent, simply finding their way around a large Pride event can present its own challenges.
Luke recalls attending a Pride where signage and instructions around wristbands and entrances were unclear. “Many regular street access points were closed off, and the signage was so few and far between that it frustrated me,” he says. Even instructions that appear straightforward to others can become difficult to process in a busy environment. “Things like street names don't make sense to me, especially in hectic environments,” Luke explains.
His solution is simple but potentially transformative: make volunteers and staff available to physically guide people where necessary. “Someone may not be restricted from a physical aspect, but they would benefit from someone directing them more than telling them the street name and giving lefts and rights.” For Luke, accessibility can sometimes be as simple as someone saying, “Come with me, I'll show you.”
A space where people don't have to choose between Pride and their wellbeing
One of the biggest concerns for people who find busy environments difficult is the fear that leaving the main Pride celebrations means missing out. That is something NeuroQueerz hopes to challenge. Luke points out that without spaces where people can take a break, some neurodivergent people may simply decide not to attend Pride at all. “Some Neurodivergent peeps may not come to Pride as they don’t feel there is an environment they consider a safe space,” he says.
For Luke, the answer is clear: Pride should have room for everyone. The NeuroQueerz Calm Space aims to make that principle a reality.
Luke Boss: “I didn't go to a single Pride event until I was 30”
Perhaps one of the most powerful aspects of Luke's story is that he understands personally what it can feel like to be unsure about attending Pride. “I didn't go to a single Pride event until I was 30,” he reveals. The main concerns were the crowds and the fear that there would be nothing to do or nobody to speak to. That changed when Luke finally attended his first Pride in 2019. “I loved it so much it was like being on holiday,” he says. Since then, he has attended many Pride events, both alone and with other people.
His advice to anyone who is considering attending but feels uncertain is to do some research beforehand and find out what facilities and support are available. And for those attending Manchester Pride, Luke has a particularly direct invitation: “If you are considering Manchester Pride, then come to us for the calm space on Saturday and/or Sunday!”
The space will also feature the Pride Parade on a large screen, and, Luke notes with a smile, no wristband is required.
Has the LGBTQ+ community done enough?
The question of inclusion within LGBTQ+ spaces is complicated. Luke believes attitudes are improving and says he has received tremendous support from organisations including LGBT Foundation, where he volunteers. However, he has also experienced discrimination within the LGBTQ+ community because of his disability. Despite that, he says he feels considerably more comfortable in gay bars than in regular bars.
For Luke, there is still work to be done. “Most Neuroqueer or LGBTQ+ organisations do have a section for this either, but it is too small and does not go far enough,” he says.“That is what Neuroqueerz is here for!” The organisation is ultimately asking the wider LGBTQ+ community to think differently about what inclusion really means.
One size does not fit all
For Luke, one of the most important messages of NeuroQueerz is that there is no universal solution. “One size does NOT fit all,” he says. That principle is particularly important when discussing neurodivergence because people's experiences can vary enormously.
Someone might love being surrounded by thousands of people one day but find the same environment impossible the next. Another person might never need a Calm Space but still appreciate knowing one is available. The important thing is having the choice. Luke also believes that neurodivergent people should be listened to when conversations about inclusion take place. “I hope more people soon recognise this,” he says. “We are a talented and fabulous community at the end of the day.”
More than a Calm Space
While Manchester Village Pride provides an important opportunity for NeuroQueerz to demonstrate what a more inclusive Pride environment can look like, Luke sees the organisation's work as something much bigger. He wants people to understand that neurodivergent LGBTQ+ people aren't simply a group that needs to be accommodated. They are an important part of the LGBTQ+ community with their own experiences, talents, ideas and voices.
For Luke, seeing NeuroQueerz involved in creating a calmer and more inclusive Pride experience in Manchester represents a major accomplishment. “If it wasn’t us (me and my 2 fabulous other directors) hosting this, I would be grateful there is a space I can go to at regular intervals that is just outside the gay village.” That statement perhaps sums up the importance of the Calm Space better than anything else. It isn't about separating people from Pride. It is about making sure people can stay part of Pride.
“As a Neuroqueer person, I can't stress how important a safe space is, whether it's online, in person, or a gadget you can turn on and do your own thing with.” At the heart of NeuroQueerz, Luke says, are three simple but powerful ideas: Wellness. Empowerment. Belonging. And perhaps that is exactly what an inclusive Pride should be about.
Manchester Village Pride is a celebration for the whole LGBTQ+ community. By providing a Calm Space, NeuroQueerz is helping demonstrate that accessibility isn't about changing Pride into something quieter or less exciting. It is about giving more people the opportunity to experience it.
Whether someone spends the entire weekend celebrating, drops into the Calm Space for a short break, watches the parade from a quieter environment or simply knows that somewhere safe is available if they need it, the message is the same: There is a place for you at Pride. And that can make all the difference.
The Neuroqueerz Calm Space will run across both days of Manchester Village Pride — Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August, from 12pm to 7pm, at the Holiday Inn, Manchester City Centre, 25 Aytoun St, Manchester, M1 3DT.