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In 2025, Pride is important.

June represents Pride month in the UK. Pride month is an opportunity for the millions of individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community to come together and celebrate love, friendship, acceptance, equality and how far the movement has come. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the issues that affect the LGBTQIA+ community, along with looking at what can be done moving forwards.

Why does Pride month exist? A brief history.

It was not uncommon in the 1960’s for police to raid gay bars. This is because until 1966 it was illegal to serve alcohol to a gay person and in 1969 homosexuality was still considered criminal offence. This meant that a lot of gay bars operated without a licence, making them vulnerable to police raids that often were accompanied by unnecessary force and brutality.

At around 1am on 28 June 1969, plain clothed police officers entered the Stonewall Inn in New York. The patrons and staff were locked in, and police began checking identification, slowly letting people out. These people formed a crowd outside.

The Stonewall Inn’s employees and those deemed to be ‘cross-dressing’ (dressing in the clothes of an opposite gender) were arrested.

“The turning point came when the police had difficulty keeping a dyke in a patrol car. Three times she slid out and tried to walk away. The last time a cop bodily heaved her in. The crowd shrieked, “Police brutality!” “Pigs!” A few coins sailed through the air…escalated to nickels and quarters. A bottle. Another bottle. Pine says, “Let’s get inside. Lock ourselves inside, it’s safer.”

Full Moon Over the Stonewall, by Howard Smith

The LGBT+ community, frustrated with police brutality, resisted the raid until around 4am, where crowds dispersed.

Word of the raid spread throughout the city, and thousands of protesters gathered around the Stonewall Inn and surrounding areas. Lesbians and trans women of colour were some of the key people involved in the act of resistance, including Stormé DeLarverie, Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson.

The resistance continued through the next week, stretching over six days.

It is important to note that while the protests are widely referred to as the ‘Stonewall Riot’, Stonewall veterans have stated they prefer the term ‘rebellion’ or uprising’.

“It was a rebellion, it was an uprising, it was a civil rights disobedience-it wasn’t no damn riot.”

Stormé DeLarverie, Butch lesbian who participated in the Stonewall Uprising

The impact of the Stonewall Uprising sparked advocacy conversations internationally. Several organisations were set up following the event, with the Gay Liberation Front being the organisers of the first Pride event, which took place on 28 June 1970 in New York City, marking Stonewall’s one year anniversary.

The first UK Gay Pride rally took place a few years later on 1 July 1972, after UK activists involved in the US movement returned to the UK and formed a British chapter of the Gay Liberation Front.

While we have come a long way, there is still a long way to go.

The first UK Pride rally was held 52 years ago, and Pride celebrations continue year on year in an increasing number of locations. While homosexuality is no longer considered a criminal offence in the UK, there are still issues that the community are facing.

A set of 2023 Statistics from the Home Office revealed that hate crimes against Transgender individuals rose 11% from the previous year, with 4,732 crimes being reported. On this, the Home Office said increased discussion of "transgender issues" may have led to offences rising.

It is important that we continue to work towards a fair society for all members of the LGBTQIA+ community. No one deserves to be subjected to abuse because of their gender or sexuality.