How to Celebrate LGBT+ Pride Month

Last Updated: January 18, 2023

LGBT+ Pride Month is celebrated every June and is a chance for people to recognise the impact of the LGBT+ community and promote a stance against discrimination. There are many ways to celebrate it regardless of your identity.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Celebrating as a Community

1
Join a pride parade. Pride parades are perhaps one of the most recognisable events of pride month because it brings together everyone in the community. Get to know events happening near you via local groups on social media and participate with loved ones.
- Pack snacks, water, cash, your phone, a hat for sun protection, and sunscreen. If you have sensory issues, consider headphones or earplugs, because Pride can be loud.
- It’s always best to go with another person whom you trust, be it a friend, a partner, or a parent.
- Let another person you trust know that you will be attending the parade, and make sure you each have one another’s contact information in case you need help at any point.
2
Join a rally. While pride parades are fun yearly events that celebrate the diversity of sexuality and gender through colourful displays, rallies are slightly more serious and political. Nonetheless, they can still be an enjoyable event. Find out from local advocating groups and learn more about the call for change (e.g. marriage equality).

Advertisement
3
Support organisations that advocate for LGBT rights. This can include donating to local charities, purchasing from fundraisers or simply choosing to shop at businesses that have publicised their support during pride month.
4
Visit a gay bar/club. If you are old enough to enter, you may find that many LGBT-inclusive bars/clubs typically host their own events during pride month. Gay bars are also an excellent place to network and meet other people in the community.
5
Throw your own party. Invite all your supportive friends and family members to your rainbow-themed event as a way to celebrate diversity amongst everyone.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Being a Voice

1
Join online activist groups that actively fight for LGBT rights. Show your part by signing petitions, sharing posts relating to the issue and talking to others around you.
2
Assess the LGBT friendliness of your own workplace/school. This includes identifying workplace inequalities in both the infrastructure and policies. Are students/employees protected from discrimination? Are bathrooms trans-friendly? Once you are critical of the environment, you can then push for improvements.
3
Actively support people that are struggling with their identity. You may have experienced or are experiencing what they have right now, and your support could have a very large impact on others. Reach out to them on online support forums or volunteer on helplines.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Showing Appreciation for Others

1
Consume LGBT-friendly media. In a heteronormative world, proper representation of minorities in media matters. Support LGBT-friendly authors, producers and artists by purchasing their works and sharing it with others.
2
Make your own LGBT-themed art. Demonstrate your pride through paintings, sewing rainbow-coloured items or music.
3
Post on social media. Try sharing LGBT-friendly content, by either signal boosting things made by others, or making your own.
4
Celebrate and respect older members of the community. They were raised in an era where the public's attitudes on the LGBT community differed from the current day and age. Reading their books, watching documentaries or even speaking to them at pride events can earn you wisdom, motivation and knowledge on queer history.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I draw the LGBT flag?

Community Answer

The LGBT flag is made of 6 horizontal stripes featuring the colors of the rainbow - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.
Question

I'm pan, and going to a pride festival soon. I'm scared, as it is my first time. Help?

Community Answer

There's nothing to be scared of! Pride is supposed to be fun, and it will be. Just be yourself and have a good time. Hopefully you're going with some friends, and I'm sure they'll make you feel welcome and comfortable (as will everybody else). I was scared the first time I went to my school's gay-straight alliance club, but I did it, and now I'm not scared anymore!
Question

I can't do a lot of this stuff because I'm not out to my dad and I'm not really comfortable talking to my mom about it. What can I do?

Community Answer

Hang out with friends at school or work to celebrate! Real friends, even if they're not LGBT+, will be proud to support you. Or, tell your parents you're "going out with friends" if you want to go to an LGBT+ fair, club, bar, or parade.

Warnings

Be aware of radical groups that may propose an anti-rally at LGBT events. These situations can quickly turn into violent confrontations. Opt for a more mature approach by drowning them out with love or by simply ignoring them.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 11 Not Helpful 0
Stay away from exclusionists within the community. Some people think that the LGBTQIAPN+ acronym is sorted in order of importance, and think it is okay to bully people whose letters don't appear at the beginning. Do your best to avoid bullying and harassment, and don't support anyone who engages in these activities.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 8 Not Helpful 0
Many corporations may market with rainbows during pride month, but return to being indifferent to the LGBT community after June has passed. While not particularly harmful, you should be aware that supporting them during pride month may not directly help the community in any way. Instead, get to know and purchase from businesses that are actively inclusive (e.g. Lush).

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 9 Not Helpful 1