Every June, streets around the world transform into a sea of rainbow flags, glitter and celebration. Pride parades fill city centres, music spills onto every corner, and communities come together to celebrate love in all its forms.

But Pride didn't begin as a celebration.

It began as a protest.

Why is Pride celebrated in June?

Pride Month is celebrated every June to honour the Stonewall Uprising, a series of protests that began in New York City on 28 June 1969.

In the early hours of that morning, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village. At the time, raids on LGBTQIA+ spaces were common. Being openly gay, lesbian or transgender could mean losing your job, your home or even being arrested simply for existing.

But this time, the community fought back.

The demonstrations that followed lasted for several days and became a turning point in the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement. One year later, activists organised the first Pride marches in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago to commemorate Stonewall and continue demanding equality.

That's why, every June, millions of people around the world celebrate Pride—not just to honour how far we've come, but to remember why the movement began in the first place.

From protest to parade

Today's Pride celebrations are filled with colour, music and joy, but at their heart, they're still rooted in activism.

While many countries have made significant progress in LGBTQIA+ rights over the past few decades, equality isn't universal. Around the world, many LGBTQIA+ people still face discrimination, violence and laws that criminalise who they are or who they love.

Pride is both a celebration of progress and a reminder that the work isn't finished.

There isn't one way to celebrate Pride

One of the beautiful things about Pride today is that it looks different for everyone.

March

Joining a Pride march connects you to a tradition that began more than 50 years ago. Whether you're marching in support of your own identity or standing beside friends and family as an ally, every person adds to the message: everyone deserves to live openly and authentically.

Celebrate

Pride is also about joy.

For generations, queer people were told to hide who they were. Today, dancing, laughing, holding hands in public or celebrating openly can be acts of freedom in themselves.

Joy has always been part of resistance.

Support LGBTQIA+ organisations

Many community organisations provide mental health support, legal services, housing, healthcare and safe spaces throughout the year. Donating, volunteering or simply sharing their work helps extend the impact of Pride well beyond June.

Learn

One of the easiest ways to celebrate Pride is to keep learning.

Watch a groundbreaking queer film. Read a book by an LGBTQIA+ author. Listen to musicians who helped shape queer culture. Learn about activists like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Harvey Milk, whose courage helped pave the way for generations that followed.

The more we understand our history, the more we understand each other.

Show up

Sometimes celebrating Pride is as simple as showing up.

Support your friends. Use inclusive language. Challenge discrimination when you see it. Create spaces where people feel safe to be themselves.

Small actions can make a big difference.

Pride is more than one month

At Please, we believe Pride is about connection. It's about creating spaces where people feel welcome, respected and celebrated—not just in June, but every day of the year.

Whether you're heading to a parade, watching a queer film, discovering a new artist, volunteering your time or simply learning something new, you're helping keep the spirit of Pride alive.

Because Pride isn't just a parade.

It's a reminder that everyone deserves the freedom to love, to belong and to live authentically.

Happy Pride. 🌈