Celebrating Pride Month 2025

Every June, communities around the world come together to celebrate Pride Month to honour the LGBTQ+ community, recognise their history, celebrate their achievements and acknowledge the ongoing fight for equality and inclusion. It’s a vibrant and heartfelt reminder of how far we’ve come and how far we still need to go. 

Pride Month is a powerful movement that brings together individuals, organisations and communities in both advocacy and joy. Whether it’s through parades, educational events or community initiatives, Pride creates space for LGBTQ+ voices to be heard and celebrated. 

A brief history of Pride Month 

The origins of Pride Month trace back to a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history: the Stonewall Uprising of 1969 in New York City. What began as a response to ongoing police harassment at the Stonewall Inn sparked into a powerful wave of activism and became a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

In the UK, the first official Pride march took place in London in 1972. Since then, Pride has grown significantly in both scale and impact, with vibrant celebrations held across the UK and around the world.

How to get involved in Pride Month 2025

Whether you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community or a supporter, there are countless ways to participate in Pride Month. 

🎉 Attend Pride parades and events

Joyful and colourful Pride parades are at the heart of the celebration. They’re an opportunity to show up and celebrate love and identity in all forms. Keep an eye out for local events and join in the festivities! 

This year, Portsmouth will be hosting UK Pride! Head down to this free event at the seafront and Southsea Common on Saturday June 7 to join the festivities! The Pride Parade meets at The Southsea Beach Cafe at 11.00am!

Some incredible acts are set to perform, with Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud as the headline act, alongside entertainment from Ru Paul's Drag Race UK winner Kyran Thrax and alumni Victoria Scone and River Medway, plus Katie Price, Sabrina Washington from Mis-Teeq, Pink-ish, Got to be Venga, Freddie, Bollyqueer, Ella Morgan, Louis Cyfer, Cherry Liquor and many more.There will also be performance on the community stage as well as stalls and food and drink available.

Visit Portsmouth

💜 University of Portsmouth named Official Partner of Portsmouth Pride! 💜 

The University is proudly supporting Portsmouth Pride again this year after committing to a three year partnership agreement! 

The University and the Union will have a stall at the main event on the common at the all-day Portsmouth Pride event following the UK Pride parade. Volunteers from across the University and Union will be running a stall, inviting visitors and members of the public to reflect on what Allyship means to them:

• Write your thoughts on a heart-shaped post-it – whether it’s a word, a message, or a personal experience;
• Stick it up on our Wall of Allyship – helping us build a big, bold display of support and solidarity;
• Then spin the Pride Wheel for a chance to win some university merchandise!

We'll see you there!

📚 Educate yourself and others 

Understanding the struggles and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community is key to being supportive. Read about the movement’s history, learn from activists and engage with books, films and podcasts that highlight LGBTQ+ stories. 

We’ve previously highlighted individuals who paved the way for progress during LGBTQ+ history month. If you haven’t already and are interested in reading about activism and social change in the LGBTQ+ community, links to the articles are included below.

• LGBTQ+ History Month - Week 1
• LGBTQ+ History Month - Week 2
• LGBTQ+ History Month - Week 3

And don’t keep the knowledge to yourself! Whether it’s over coffee or on social media, sharing what you learn helps spread awareness.

💖 Support LGBTQ+ organisations 

LGBTQ+ charities and organisations do vital work towards promoting equality and providing support. If you’re able, consider donating or volunteering. If you’re short on time, even something as simple as following and engaging with these organisations on social media can help increase their visibility and support their mission. 

Pride month is a time to celebrate and reflect. By showing up and supporting, we can all contribute to a world of equality and inclusivity. Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

Source: Pride Month 2025