I held the giant trans pride flag right at the beginning of the Portsmouth Pride parade this year.

I shared this honour with 100 allies and community members. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, cis, heterosexual. All holding on tightly to the flag in the wind and the rain. Stopping, starting, pulling it out straight. Knees hurting. Carrying all our things for the event ahead.

Half way through the walk I got a little tearful.

I spoke to the person in front of me and said “You dont know me, but I just want to let you know that that man there [pointing at Steven] is my PhD supervisor. He’s not trans but he wanted to come today to support me. I got him the Choose Love hat he’s wearing.”

The person said to me “That’s what today is all about.”

And all that ignorance and violence I’d experienced over the last few months melted away.

Steven’s presence was a very well-timed reminder that there are people who care about and show up for trans people. And that those people show up in the most unexpected of places.