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The UK Pride season is back in a big way for 2023, and this year looks as though Pride is going to be bigger than ever. This is a time when thousands of gay boys
take to the streets, and we're delighted to see them after all the upsetting event cancellations of the last few years.
The LGBTQ rights movement has made tremendous strides over the past few decades. Much of the progress in visibility is thanks in part to Gay Pride parades held in cities around the world. The global landscape for LGBTQ rights, protections and acceptance varies tremendously by location. In normal times some destinations attract millions of visitors to their events like Madrid Gay Pride, Sao Paulo Gay Pride or San Francisco Gay Pride, while more than 70 other countries have laws that allow discrimination or persecution of LGBTQ people. You only have to look at recent events in Russia, Poland and Hungary to know just how important this continuing fight for rights is. Even in the USA there are politicans trying to rollback Gay Rights, so it's more important than ever that we show our solidarity and stand up for all in our community. We are proud that the UK has grown from having just four or five annual events decades ago, to more than two hundred and fifty Pride events planned for this year. It's a fantastic achievement for LGBTQ people in the UK, but it certainly hasn't been easy for those involved. |
What is Gay Pride?Gay Pride events, including Gay Pride parades and festivals were started in major urban centers to improve the visibility, acceptance and legal protections for LGBTQ people living in those communities. While the aim of Pride day started with a political nature, many cities around the world have such wide acceptance and legal protections that their events have now become a celebration of Pride for all. Depending on the country or city where the event is being held, the marches and parades often campaign for recognition and acceptance of same-sex marriage, legal protections for couples and families, anti-discrimination laws or trans rights. Although there are still obstacles in achieving full acceptance and protections for the LGBTQ community, recent progress has been significant. A Brief History of Gay PrideOn 28th June of 1969, a group of LGBTQ people in New York City rioted following a police raid of the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar located on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village. This series of events was a turning point for the LGBTQ community and marks one of the most significant events leading to the modern gay rights movement. The following year in June, organised demonstrations took place in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco to mark the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. As the years went on, additional cities in North America and Europe began to hold their own public demonstrations or a Pride day, eventually leading to what we know today as Gay Pride parades and festivals. Find out more about the significance of Pride in the UK and around the world in our feature: Why Pride Is Important. |
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When is Gay Pride?Find out more about the significance of Pride in the UK and around the world in our feature: Why Pride Is Important. |
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