Why Pride Still Matters
Every year throughout June, Pride festivals and events take place across the globe, commemorating the anniversary of the Stonewall riots. These riots, which began outside the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, New York City, in late June 1969, are widely recognised as the spark that ignited the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. It marked the first time queer communities collectively stood up against the routine police raids on gay bars and clubs.
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Among the trailblazing activists of the Stonewall uprising were Marsha P. Johnson, a Black drag queen, and Sylvia Rivera, a Latinx transgender woman. Their courage and activism played a crucial role in propelling the fight for LGBTQ+ liberation. Without their resistance, the journey towards equality would likely have been much slower.
The Ongoing Global Struggle
Despite progress in many parts of the world, LGBTQ+ people still face widespread oppression and discrimination. According to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World), 49 countries still criminalise same-sex relationships with imprisonment, and 11 continue to impose the death penalty for homosexuality.
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In the UK and across Europe, significant legal and social advancements have been achieved from the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the late 1960s to the equal rights movements of the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Today, legal protections include gender recognition, civil partnerships, equal marriage, and anti-discrimination legislation.
The Work That Remains
Although these legal milestones are important, meaningful social reform is still a work in progress. Hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people are on the rise, with many going unreported. Stonewall estimates that over 80% of such crimes and incidents are never formally recorded. Domestic abuse within same-sex relationships is often overlooked or misunderstood, leaving many hesitant to seek support for fear of further prejudice.
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Even now, many same-sex couples feel unable to show affection in public due to fear of harassment or violence. LGBTQ+ children and young people regularly face homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying often at school or during their journeys to and from school. Shockingly, some of this abuse is perpetrated by school staff.
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LGBTQ+ adults also experience discrimination in healthcare and social care settings, leading to poorer health outcomes. Many delay seeking medical help due to concerns about prejudice, resulting in late diagnoses and more severe conditions.
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For older LGBTQ+ people especially those with Alzheimer’s or dementia in residential care there is often a fear of disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity. They may worry about discrimination or mistreatment from staff, fellow residents, or visitors during their most vulnerable years. Mental health issues, including anxiety, depression and loneliness, disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ people of all ages, with appropriate support still too difficult to access.
The Rising Attacks on Trans People
Discrimination and violence against transgender people continue to escalate, both online and in everyday life. Trans people are facing attacks in public spaces, workplaces, and even in their own homes. Media outlets and influential public figures often contribute to this hostility, spreading misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric especially targeting trans women.
Pride: A Protest and a Platform
Pride began as a protest led by Black, Latinx and transgender people of colour in New York City. While it has grown into a global celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, visibility and resilience, its roots in activism must never be forgotten.
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We must continue to stand in solidarity with our Black, Latinx, trans and non-binary siblings. We need allies, leaders and role models from both inside and outside the LGBTQ+ community to champion our rights, amplify our voices and defend the freedoms we’ve fought so hard to gain.
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Now more than ever, Pride matters. Not only as a joyful celebration, but as a vital platform to educate, raise awareness, and challenge homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in all its forms.