The Masc

Raheem Sterling ready to join Chelsea in £60million transfer on one conditionPutin 'needed urgent medical help after video call with military chiefs'Neighbours shuts down forever as last scene is filmed after 37 yearsCasualty’s Arin Smethurst shares a piece on how their non-binary identity is reflected in the show and Emmerdale’s producer Kate Brooks discusses the show’s new storyline in which the older demographic is represented when a character over 70 comes out as gay to their daughter.Alongside these stories and others, we have also sought opinions and first person accounts from fans, experts and columnists to make this a day in which everyone can find something.Joshua Halm discusses the importance of representation in soaps and how LGBTQ+ characters can never be tokens, while Maisie Spackman tells us how a Coronation Street episode prompted her to come out as gay to her family.And doesn’t that reflect Pride in its purest form? A notion that everyone has a place there which is right for them and, in celebration, the community comes together to try and ensure every single one of us feels validated and supported wherever we find ourselves?There is much progress still to be made and many voices which still fear they won’t be heard; I hope that the growing openness of discussion, a snippet of which you will find here today, will help close that gap and inspire not just those celebrating this month, but those who will one day be able to celebrate in the future.This year marks 50 years of Pride, so it seems only fitting that Metro.co.uk goes above and beyond in our ongoing LGBTQ+ support, through a wealth of content that not only celebrates all things Pride, but also share stories, take time to reflect and raises awareness