Is Pride still a thing?

We had been used to seeing rainbow flags reappear every June across towns, on corporate logos and on social media platforms. But as Pride Month 2025 unfolds, an honest question echoes: Is Pride still a thing?

For some, it feels over-commercialised; for others, it feels political.

But we want to reflect critically on what Pride means in 2025. We want to explore its roots, its evolving role, and why it remains necessary, especially in workplaces and public spaces.

For those in the LGBTQIA+ community, those who support it, and those trying to understand its continued relevance, this is a call to look over the rainbow.

The origins of Pride

Pride began as a protest. In the beginning, it was not about parades or sponsorships.

To understand why Pride Month is celebrated, we must return to the night of the 28th of June 1969, in New York City.

The Stonewall Uprising was sparked when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, in the early hours of the morning. Raids like this were common in the 1960s. LGBTQIA+ people, especially trans women, drag queens, and Black people, were regularly harassed, arrested, or publicly humiliated. But the community fought back.

Led in large part by Black and Latinx trans women such as Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, the Stonewall Uprising was a resistance to police brutality and systemic discrimination. Over several nights, demonstrations spread through the city, calling out systemic abuse and demanding recognition of LGBTQIA+ rights. What started as a clash with police turned into a nationwide movement for liberation.

That spirit of defiance laid the foundation for Pride Month as we know it. This origin matters because when we ask “Is Pride still necessary?” we must also ask: Are the conditions that sparked Stonewall truly gone?

While some legal protections now exist in many countries, LGBTQIA+ communities still face discrimination, violence and exclusion. For some, Pride is a celebration of identity and progress. For others, it’s a moment to grieve, resist and demand more from society.

This image was AI-generated. Image description: A woman with a rainbow coat and a drag queen stand defiantly at the entrance of the “Stonewall Inn”. A police officer looks outraged at them. A speech bubble from one of the women says, “Well, I suppose this is what they’ll call a ‘parade’ in 50 years.”

Pride 2025: celebration, performance or change?

Many people in the queer community have raised concerns about “rainbow-washing”, the practice of businesses displaying Pride symbols in June without offering real support the rest of the year. It’s led to a growing tension between visibility and reality.

Is Pride still a thing when so many organisations use it as a marketing opportunity? Is Pride more than a performance if queer people still face workplace discrimination, hate crimes, or legal regression?

If organisations received praise not for a Pride flag on a window display, but for implementing inclusive parental leave policies and trans healthcare benefits, that's where we would see a difference between performative and purposeful.

To be clear, visibility does matter. For many LGBTQIA+ people, especially in conservative or isolating environments, seeing a rainbow badge or inclusive signage can offer a moment of relief, a signal that says “you’re safe here”. Visibility can open doors to conversations, belonging and self-acceptance.

But visibility without substance is not enough. If the message of inclusion fades the moment June ends, then the real work is being neglected. Pride must not be reduced to a seasonal marketing trend.

Where is Pride celebrated?

From small community gatherings in rural towns to the high-energy parades in London, Brighton, and Birmingham, Pride is celebrated across the UK and around the world. But how Pride manifests is as diverse as the people it represents.

Where is Pride celebrated? The answer: wherever queer joy, resistance and community can safely (or defiantly) gather.

Why celebrate Pride Month at work?

When most adults spend the majority of their waking hours at work, their workplace can be either a powerful source of support or a place full of hurdles. LGBTQIA+ people deserve safety, representation and equity in the places they spend most of their lives.

A 2025 UK survey found that nearly 40% of LGBTQIA+ employees still feel the need to hide their sexual identity at work. For many LGBTQIA+ employees, inclusion isn’t just about whether they’re given a rainbow badge in June. It’s about knowing whether their identities will be respected in meetings and lunch break conversations.

Celebrating Pride at work matters because it sends a clear message: this is a space where you are valued for who you are, not despite it.

Here’s where employers often go wrong:

Focusing on visibility (rainbows, Pride events) without engaging staff in dialogue or change.
Overlooking the unique needs of support of trans, non-binary and queer employees.
Failing to address microaggressions or heteronormative behaviours that go unchallenged.

When they should commit to the following instead:

Conduct regular equity audits to understand gaps in inclusion.
Create inclusive language guides and policies (not just for Pride Month, but embedded in all HR processes).
Offer staff the opportunity to engage in Gender Sensitivity Training and Sexuality Training.
Establishing internal LGBTQIA+ employee networks (for large organisations).
Recognise multiple intersections understanding that queer people may also experience ableism, racism, and classism within the workplace.

This image was AI-generated. Image description: In an office Pride event, an HR manager is enthusiastically handing out rainbow cupcakes and stickers. A non-binary employee raises an eyebrow at him and says, "Thanks. Mind if we get gender neutral toilets too?".

Pride may not be perfect, but it can still be powerful

Pride in 2025 may look different from how it began, but its spirit endures. It evolves, just like the LGBTQIA+ community it represents.

So yes, Pride is still a thing. It’s a protest. It’s a celebration. It’s a conversation starter. It’s a call to action.

In an office, an employee is staring at a calendar with June circled in rainbow colours, saying: “Oh, is it that time again?”; next to them, a queer colleague is sipping coffee, with a thought bubble: “For you, it’s a month. For me, it’s my life.” — This image was AI-generated. Image description: In an office break room, an employee is staring at a calendar with June circled in rainbow colours, saying: “Oh, is it that time again?”; next to them, a queer colleague is sipping coffee, with a thought bubble: “For you, it’s a month. For me, it’s my life.”

About Us

Vandu Training is a training and consultancy provider specialising in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). We offer training sessions, including specialist workshops on sexuality and gender sensitivity, designed to support workplaces in building inclusive, respectful and safe environments.

But our work doesn’t stop at training. We use our website and social media platforms to regularly share resources, insights and reflections on key topics affecting seldom-represented communities. Blogs like this one are part of our ongoing commitment to informed, community-led dialogue.