Why Pride Always Has and Always Will Matter

Every June, cities around the world are awash in rainbows. Streets fill with music, flags, parades, and protests. Pride Month is a celebration — but it’s also a remembrance, a resistance, and a promise. Pride has never been just about parties or parades. It was born from protest — from the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, when LGBTQIA+ people, led by trans women of colour like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, stood up against brutal police raids and systemic oppression. Pride began because people were tired of hiding. They demanded to be seen, heard, and respected.

Pride matters because visibility matters.

For generations, queer people have been told they don’t exist, or worse, that they shouldn’t. Invisibility feeds shame and isolation. When we see LGBTQIA+ people living openly — loving openly — we learn that we are not alone, that our existence is valid, and that we are worthy of joy. Every rainbow flag waved is a beacon for someone still searching for themselves.

Pride matters because rights are not guaranteed. Progress is not a straight line. Hard-won rights — marriage equality, anti-discrimination protections, access to healthcare — are still challenged and rolled back around the world. In some places, just living openly can mean risking your job, your safety, even your life. Pride reminds us that the fight isn’t over. It’s a call to protect what’s been gained and to push forward for what’s still needed.

Pride matters because it changes hearts and minds. The first Pride events were radical acts of defiance. Today, they are also powerful tools of education. They show the world that LGBTQIA+ people are not “other” — they are family, friends, neighbours, coworkers. Visibility, celebration, and storytelling transform public understanding and make it harder for prejudice to survive.

Pride matters because our stories matter. Each person who steps into the light makes it a little easier for the next. Every coming out, every love story, every fight for dignity adds another thread to a rich, beautiful tapestry of human experience. Pride is a time to honour those stories — those who came before us, and those who are still finding their way.

Pride will always matter because we are still here. Even in the face of hate. Even in the face of fear. Even when the world tries to erase us or reduce us to symbols. Pride is the proof that joy, resilience, and love endure. It’s not just a month — it’s a lifeline. It’s a promise to the generations that will come after us: You are seen. You are loved. You belong.

Pride is not just a moment. It is a movement. It’s a promise we make to ourselves and to each other: That no matter how heavy the world feels, we will keep dancing, loving, speaking, living — proudly.