Why We Celebrate Pride: More Than Just a Parade

Did you know that June is Pride Month? It’s a time of vibrant celebration and powerful remembrance for the LGBTQ+ community worldwide, and its roots are deeply significant.

June was chosen for Pride Month because it marks the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969. After a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, led to the assault of many patrons, the LGBTQ+ community peacefully protested for days. These protests fundamentally changed the discourse around LGBTQ+ activism and are widely considered the beginning of the modern Pride movement.

Today, Pride events held throughout June (and beyond) are incredibly important for many reasons:

Visibility and Identity

For many LGBTQ+ individuals, Pride offers a unique space where they can express their true selves without fear or shame. It’s a public celebration of diverse identities—whether that’s sexuality, gender, or non-conformity—in a world where many still feel pressure to hide. This visibility helps challenge stereotypes and normalise LGBTQ+ lives within the broader community.

A Powerful Act of Protest and Remembrance

Pride’s origins are in protest, led by trans women of colour, which catalysed the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Today’s events still carry that legacy. While celebratory, they also serve as a reminder that full equality hasn’t yet been achieved. They highlight ongoing issues like hate crimes, conversion therapy, and global inequality.

Building Community and Solidarity

Many LGBTQ+ people experience isolation, especially those in unsupportive environments or who aren’t yet ‘out.’ Pride offers a vital sense of connection—a chance to meet others, feel supported, and know they’re not alone. Importantly, it also gives allies a visible way to stand beside their LGBTQ+ friends, family, and colleagues.

A Platform for Advocacy and Education

Pride isn’t just about the parties and parades; it’s a platform for raising awareness, promoting mental health, sharing resources, and educating both the LGBTQ+ community and the wider public. Events often feature stalls from charities, health services, and support organisations, helping people access life-changing information. It’s also a great way to support LGBTQ+-run businesses and organisations!

A Statement of Joy and Resistance

In a world where LGBTQ+ people are still marginalised or even criminalised in many places, the very act of celebrating publicly is revolutionary. Pride declares: we exist, we matter, and we’re not going anywhere. Joy becomes an act of resistance—defiant, healing, and empowering.

Pride is a powerful statement of identity, resilience, and hope. For LGBTQ+ people, it can be a life-affirming experience. For allies, it’s a chance to stand up, speak out, and show love in action. Together, Pride events remind us that diversity is something to be honoured, not hidden.

Mayo Wynne Baxter is a proud ally to the LGBTQ+ community and we’re delighted to be supporting Eastbourne Pride on July 19th and Crawley Pride on August 16th again this year.

Several of our colleagues will be attending both events (and some are even helping to set up the festival grounds at Crawley!).

As a special gesture, those attending Eastbourne or Crawley Pride may book their return travel as a Pride gift from the firm.

With best wishes for a wonderful Pride Month,

Sam Dickinson and Matt Parr