It's Pride Month 2025!
Celebrations are happening up and down the UK - and across the world
Last updated 3rd Jun 2025
It's an annual event steeped in history, filled with celebration, and fuelled by protest... That's right: Pride Month is officially back!
Why June? That's because this is the month when the Stonewall Riots took place, all the way back in 1969 over in the United States.
This is said to be a pivotal point in the rights of LGBTQ+ people not just in America, but around the world.
Today, Pride has become a way to get people together, show just how far the rights of queer people have come, and also recognise just how much work is left to be done.
You can check out plenty more on Pride Month's history here: Pride Month 2024: A look back into our history
This year has already seen so much happen in the UK and internationally.
From the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman, to sporting governing bodies banning transgender athletes and the nation marking a quarter of a century since the so-called pre-2000 'gay ban' on serving members of the Armed Forces, there's plenty of reasons to get us out on those parades.
But some who won't be taking part this year will be members of political parties, with a number of Pride events writing a joint letter in their collective suspension of party political participation.
Bosses of events in Birmingham, Brighton, London, Glasgow and Manchester are instead urging politicians to stand 'unequivocally' with the LGBTQ+ community, in their 'direct call for accountability and a refusal to platform those who have not protected our rights'.
You can check out the full statement below:
Pride Month - around the UK
Let's take a look across the four corners of the UK.
Hits Pride has caught up with those raise awareness and work all year round to support the LGBTQ+ community.
They tell us just what Pride Month means to them... and why it's vital it continues to be an important month in the calendar.
The LGBT Foundation
Based in Manchester, we've been catching up with Alex Matheson, who's from the organisation which is a national charity that celebrates and empowers our diverse communities to realise their full potential, every day.
They provide services and activities that give a lifeline to those in need, offering hope and support on their journey towards achieving their aspirations - all with a vision of a world where queer liberation enables meaningful and lasting change and plays a vital part in a more equal and just society.
Alex told us this Pride Month feels significant.
She said: "On a personal level, this month has always been about recognising those historic fights, and being able to take the time to celebrate how far we've come.
"I guess at the moment, that feels slightly different at the moment.
"In the UK, we've dropped down the 'Rainbow Rankings', and that feels pretty significant.
"We once topped the list, but this year, we're 22nd, and I think that's really telling in just how far we've dropped as a country in recognising, essentially, the human rights of our communities.
"This month, this year, has a bit of a different tone to it."
But despite what's been a challenging start to 2025, Alex added there's still a message of hope.
She added: "It feels like every single day there's new things in the press that are negative.
"However, the advantage of things like Pride Month is having opportunities to be able to stop and still celebrate, and still recognise that we are in such a better place compared to when this all started with the Stonewall Riots all the way back in 1969."
But it goes without saying that the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman under the Equality Act has had an impact on the LGBT Foundation - something seen by organisations up and down the UK.
Alex explained: "As you can imagine, we've had a huge increase in calls to our helpline, which is our front door to our communities, essentially.
"We've particularly seen more people coming forward who are concerned around how this ruling will impact them, especially over increased isolation and discrimination."
Within their Manchester Base, they're hosting their monthly 'Community Cafe' in June, with the focus on uplifting and supporting those who are experiencing real concern at the moment.
And staying in Manchester, looking ahead to a month of celebration, Alex said how, sometimes, Pride doesn't need to be just about those big moments on the calendar, adding: "Although the main Manchester Pride isn't happening until August, there's lots of local activity happening, and that's also really exciting, because we get to engage with our communities and share all of the awesome stuff that our organisation does."
The team at the LGBT Foundation have launched their first-ever billboard campaign, focusing on 'what a woman looks like', and their strapline, 'queer hope and joy' - which you can read more about on their website.
The Kaleidoscope Trust
The Kaleidoscope Trust is a special organisation, who don't just look inwards - but actively open their arms outwards - internationally - as they fight for a future where LGBTI+ people everywhere can live free, safe and equal lives.
Based in London, Alex Farrow is the organisation's Chief Executive, who tells us how Pride Month gives people a forum to discuss the important issues.
He told us: "The fight for LGBT rights is continual, but Pride as a season gives us the chance to talk about these issues when the most people are listening.
"Pride, for us, is a time for celebration, particularly as our community was unable to do this openly and freely for so many decades.
"It's also a moment for us to reflect on where we are when it comes to our rights.
"This Pride Month does feel particularly different because of how our community around the world is facing just so many different challenges.
"Whenever we pause to see where we are, it's important to see the progress we have made, but right now is undoubtedly a difficult time for LGBTQ+ rights globally, with funding being cut - particularly from the US AID budget - as well as so many countries enacting anti-LGBT legislation too.
"We are up against a real avalanche when it comes to our rights and freedom, and so cutting through that can be difficult.
"I feel enormous pride to feel in a country that has such widespread acceptance, that whatever your identity, but that's just not the case everywhere."
LGBT Youth Scotland
Scotland's national charity for queer people aged 13-25 is called LGBT Youth Scotland - and spanning a nation that hosts the diversity of the cities to the barren mountains of the Highlands and islands, it's a task Stefan Kaye and the team have embraced with open arms.
Helping the country's young people navigate life as LGBTQ+ individuals, and of course celebrate all things Pride, Stefan says it's actually sometimes the smaller-scale events which do a great job of promoting a community feeling.
Stefan added: "There's a lot we're looking forward to.
"The big cities are always fantastic events, but one of the things I'd personally recommend to people is to check out some of the smaller pride events, which really is an opportunity for communities to come out and celebrate.
"For young people, seeing those around them day-to-day, enjoying Pride, can be really powerful.
"A big part of Pride for us is about joy, and making people feel included.
"It also means celebrating queer excellence in all its forms, and how people can be seen and visibly supported.
"2025 really is a time for organisations and individuals to really step-up."
Queer Britain: the National LGBT+ Museum
Showcasing the decades of queer culture, Queer Britain: the National LGBT+ Museum in London has welcomed over 100,000 visitors since it opened in 2022.
They call themselves 'Queer' because they say ‘Q’ is the most inclusive letter under the LGBTQ+ umbrella.
Bosses say they want to be part of the conversation that helps remove the last of its sting.
This Pride Month, they're celebrating 20 years of Black Pride.
Andrew Given is the Chief Executive, and told us: "UK Black Pride is now the biggest global majority Pride event in the world - and we're really excited to be working them throughout the month of June."
He added that this year has seen so much change in the international conversation around those who are LGBT+ - but they're there for those who are trans, just like they are for everyone else.
Andrew said: "We are the national LGBTQ+ museum, and the trans community are an essential part of that.
"They were with us in the first Pride march in 1972, and our museum will always be a safe space for trans stories.
"The recent court rulings have created yet another legal minefield because trans people are protected by the Equality Act, so the latest decision on women being defined by biological sex pushes bits of this Act up against each other.
"All trans people want to do is exist - and get along with their lives."
But Andrew's hopeful things will change for the better.
He added: "Queers are not just for June, though, we are available all year round! There are 11 other months of the year, and that's exactly why this museum exists.
"At the moment, it kind of feels like we're in this hamster wheel.
"When I was growing up, all the rhetoric we are seeing now about the trans community was directed towards gay men.
"The one thing that our galleries demonstrate is that progress is inevitable.
"It might not be as quick as we want it to, but we've just got to keep the fight up."
Here NI
To Northern Ireland, and Here NI work to support LGBTQIA+ women , regardless of the gender they were assigned at birth, and their families.
They do this through providing information; peer support; facilitating training; lobbying government and agencies on your behalf, and offering a community space for meetings.
Cara McCann is the Director of the organisation, which has just celebrated 20 years.
She said: "The main issue for our organisation is the lack of security with the funding that we get - so it's all about being resilient for us, because we're just so passionate about helping as many of those who need us as we can.
"It's particularly important nowadays, especially with the increase of LGBTQIA+ rhetoric around the world.
"One thing that I have learnt is that we can't act alone to be able to survive this - and we need to just be kind to each other."
They've recently been awarded cash from the National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland - and will be using the £20,000 to host a number of special training sessions.
Cara added: "As queer people, we share various facets of our identity with our family members but usually one thing that we don't share is our LGBTQIA+ heritage.
"That's why we thought it was so important to apply for this money, to make sure our heritage is accessible, visible, and that it won't be forgotten."
And to many - Here NI really is providing a lifesaving service: a message the organisation want people to know this Pride Month.
She said: "I think we can't ignore 2025 has been particularly difficult, so one thing Here NI has been doing is being visible as a women's organisation - which is inherently trans inclusive.
"And if we didn't have hope - what would we, as an organisation, be doing here?
"Our work is really lifesaving, and that's not coming from me, that's from the feedback we get.
"But we need long-term, sustainable funding to have the impact we need to have.
"Sadly, we don't even get the crumbs on the table."
CBB's Danny Beard
Celebrity Big Brother runner-up and Drag Race UK star Danny Beard says he hopeful for the LGBT+ community in the future.
He said: "Growing up as a queer person, we watch Disney films with a prince and a princess. We never watch Disney films with two princesses or two princes or a transgender prince.
"So although the world isn't built for us - when you truly step into yourself it gets better. Never be anything other than yourself."
It's a lesson, Beard - who uses he/they pronouns when out of drag - wants the younger people to take away from his journey.
"Being authentically you will get you to where you want to be and you need to not be afraid of it. For so long I was afraid to be myself. I didn't have friends and I wasn't liked."
"Drag was the gateway to my dreams. It was the gateway to the armour and the mask to get me where I wanted to be. It is such a magical art form and it's always been at the forefront of our community. Drag can be anything you want it to be and that's the power it has.
"You only have to look through history at how many drag queens have influenced, helped, affected and supported our community to know how inherently political being a drag queen is. I'm very privileged that I'm even here talking to you as a drag queen."
Pride Month, which coincides with the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots of 1969, honours the progress made - and yet to be made - for LGBT+ people everywhere, and Beard says it's more important now than ever to celebrate.
"Pride Month is incredible because it's such a massive visible thing.
"Visibility is important. It's tougher for parts of our community now than it has been for a very long time.
"There's a lot of things wrong with this country, but listen, I'm a drag queen in a pair of heels who's been on a reality show - I'm not a politician - however, if we all just started giving each other a little chance and got to know each other a little bit more, it would help a lot.
"If you've got an opinion on a trans person, maybe go out and meet a trans person - get to know one. If there's one thing I'm taking from this little micro experience of CBB is if you give everyone five minutes of your time, you'll find that we all have got a lot more in common than we think.
"If we started thinking like that, we're going to have a little bit more empathy for each other and then a little bit nicer to each other."
You can also check out more on LGBT+ History Month here: LGBT+ History Month 2025: Activism & Social Change
Support is out there
The Terrence Higgins Trust - who provide services relating to HIV and sexual health
Stonewall - who stand for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace people everywhere
NHS - mental health support for those who are LGBTQ+
LGBT Youth Scotland - Scotland's national charity for LGBTQ+ young people, aged 13-25
Here NI - offering a place for lesbian and bisexual women in Northern Ireland
The Mosaic Trust - supporting, educating and inspiring LGBT+ young people in London
Micro Rainbow - dedicated to supply housing to LGBT+ asylum seekers
The Kaleidoscope Trust - a UK-based international charity fighting for a future where LGBTI+ people everywhere can live free, safe and equal lives