Now that Pride Month 2025 is here, now is a great time to explore the multitude of identities within the LGBTQIA+ community. This guide will not only explain some important terms, but also help celebrate the many identities across the LGBTQIA+ community, and note important events throughout this month of commemoration and celebration. This is a great way to honor identity, and to foster inclusivity and awareness for all.

What does LGBTQIA+ mean?

The term LGBTQIA+ includes a wide variety of sexual orientations and gender identities:

• Lesbian: A woman who is romantically and/or sexually attracted to other women.
• Gay: Typically used to describe a man who is attracted to other men, but can also be general to mean same-gender attractions.
• Bisexual: An individual who is attracted to more than one gender.
• Transgender: A person whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.
• Queer: An umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities who are not heterosexual or cisgender.
• Intersex: A person born with physical sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.
• Asexual: A person who has little to no sexual attraction toward other people.
• +: Other identities include, but are not limited to, pansexual, agender, genderqueer, two-spirit, demisexual, etc.

Important Terms and Definitions

The subtleties present in identity could take time to unpack but you must be familiar with the following important terms:

• Non-Binary – A gender identity that does not adhere strictly to a male or female identity.
• Cisgender – A person whose gender identity is the same as the sex assigned to them at birth.
• AFAB or AMAB – This acronym simply tells us if a person was assigned female at birth or assigned male at birth. This differentiation does not give any indication of the person’s gender identity at the present time.
• Genderqueer – When an individual identifies as a non-normative gender identity, that may mix or reject the distinctions of gender standards.
• Pansexual – Someone who is attracted to people regardless of that person gender identity.
• Demisexual – A person that only experiences sexual attraction after building an emotional bond with the potential partner.
• Two-Spirit – A term for a person in some Indigenous North American cultures that possesses both masculine and feminine spirits.
• Aromantic – A person who does not experience romantic attraction or little to no romantic attraction to anyone.
• Ally – A person who supports and speaks up for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people while not identifying as one of the LGBTQIA+ identities.

These terms continue to change as we expand our understanding of gender and sexuality, and it is important to know how someone identifies as we listen.

When Is Pride Month Celebrated?

Pride Month is celebrated every June in honor of the Stonewall Riots that began on June 28, 1969, and represented a turning point in the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States, where members of the community collectively fought against police violence and social marginalization that took place in New York City. In 2025, Pride month will have taken place from June 1st – 30th.

Pride Month reflects on history and is a moment of joy and resistance; a celebration of love, realness, and power in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Global Pride Events in 2025

Here are some of the world’s major pride events happening in 2025:

1. WorldPride 2025: Washington, D.C. – May 17 – June 8, including parades, live concerts, educational panels, and a human rights conference. worldpridedc.org
2. LA Pride: June 8, 2025. Los Angeles, California. This includes the iconic Pride Parade and Festival. lapride.org
3. Chicago Pride Fest: June 21-22, culminating in the Chicago Pride Parade on June 29, 2025. pridechicago.org
4. London Pride: June 28, 2025, central London, with hundreds of thousands participating and spectating.
5. Sydney Mardi Gras: In February/March, this has one of the strongest iconic LGBTQIA+ festivals in Australia.

The Origins of Pride: A Resistance Movement

Pride Month began when many queer people contested the police raid at the Stonewall Inn, driven largely by trans women of color like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969.

At the time, no one thought twice about police raiding a gay bar or harassing a queer person. They felt it was doing what was right and never second guessed it. But when people began fighting back that night at Stonewall, it caught the police off guard. And then it happened, many queer people decided to join the resistance protests, and just like that, it grew into an LGBTQIA+ movement, and from there each anniversary in remembrance and protest became what we now celebrate as Pride Month.

In fact, the very first Pride March the following year on the anniversary of Stonewall was not a celebration, but a demonstration for rights, visibility, and justice for queer people. In a nutshell, Pride Month is a direct outgrowth of protest and often, civil disobedience to oppression, and that proudness began with resistance.

The Role of Activists and Trailblazers

The LGBTQIA+ rights movement has been influenced and impacted by many activists, many of whom sacrificed—not just their time, but sometimes their lives in the name of change. Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States, and he was fighting for anti-discrimination laws as leading a movement in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights who was then assassinated in 1978.

Audre Lorde is an example of a Black lesbian feminist poet who highlighted the complexities of race, gender, and sexuality. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, both Black trans women, were not only pivotal characters in the police riots at Stonewall, but also played a key role in the founding of organizations to assist homeless LGBTQIA+ youth. Keeping these names, and their legacies in mind reminds us that Pride is not simply celebrations and parties, it is the ongoing fight that these activists began.

Contrasting Conditions of LGBTQIA+: Where Is It Safe to Be LGBTQIA+?

Despite the advances in visibility and rights, for many countries around the world, being LGBTQIA+ is still very dangerous. In 2024, over 60 countries still criminalize same-sex relationships, including Uganda, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria, with punishment ranging from imprisonment to death. In about 13 of those countries, simply being LGBTQIA+ can result in your execution.

Transgender people and transgender identity are criminalized in a number of countries and must endure extreme restrictions. While there are only about 35 countries with legalized same-sex marriages and about 70 countries with any anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation, countries such as Canada, Spain, Sweden, and New Zealand have been indexed for safety for LGBTQIA+ in part due to the strong legal rights and social acceptance.

But overall, millions for whom ‘being out’ can still mean violence, jail, exiles, etc. Pride Month is not simply about enjoyment or even rainbow flags, it is a reminder of how far we have come in some places and how far we have to go as a global community.

FAQs about LGBTQIA+

What is the distinction between ‘gender identity’ and ‘sexual orientation’?

Gender identity describes a person’s internal understanding of their gender (man, woman, or non-binary), while sexual orientation describes the romantic or sexual attraction of an individual (gay, bisexual, asexual, etc.).

Can someone be both transgender and gay?

Yes. Gender identity and sexual orientation are two different aspects of an individual’s identity. A transgender person can be gay, bisexual, heterosexual, or have any other orientation.

Is it appropriate to ask someone what their pronouns are?

Definitely! Asking someone what their pronouns are showing respect and inclusion. You can say, “Hi, my pronouns are she/her. How about yours?”

Why are there so many Pride flags?

Each flag signifies a separate identity within the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, for instance, the bisexual flag (pink, purple, blue), transgender flag (blue, pink, and white), and asexual flag (black, gray, white, and purple).

What do the colours of the rainbow flag represent?

The rainbow flag was originally designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978, and each stripe represents a different aspect: Red is for life, Orange is for healing, Yellow is for sunlight, Green is for nature, Blue is for harmony and Violet is for spirit.

How can schools or workplaces help support LGBTQIA+ individuals during Pride Month?

By hosting educational events, modifying non-discrimination policies, showing inclusive items (Pride flags, etc.), using correct pronouns, and supporting queer lead initiatives.

What does ‘coming out’ mean?

Coming out is the process of recognizing, accepting, and disclosing one’s sexual orientations or gender identity to members of the general public. This is a sensitive process that is unique to the individual who is coming out.

Are there safe places for LGBTQIA+ youth?

Yes. Organizations like The Trevor Project, LGBTQ community centers, and online forums are offered to LGBTQIA+ youth.

What are the legal rights for LGBTQIA+ people around the world?

LGBTQIA+ legal rights differ across the globe. Some societies secure equal marriage and have non-discrimination policies; while others still prosecute same sex relationships. There is still progress made across the globe, but there are still big differences in rights.

How to Celebrating Pride Responsibly?

Celebrating Pride is two or three steps beyond waving a rainbow flag; it is standing in solidarity with the community who are still advocating for full equality. Below are a few examples to consider:

• Support Local Events: Consider attending parades, festivals, educational panels, and open mics. These are intended to be fun, but also tend to offer lots of ways for people to learn about LGBTQIA; social justice is at the forefront.
• Donate to LGBTQIA Organizations: $10 goes a long way in supporting non-profits that support LGBTQIA in health care, housing, rights, etc.
• Learn: Books, Podcasts, and Follow Queer Activists/Content Creators
• Use Inclusive Language: Respect pronouns, names, and identities.
• Support Queer Businesses: Everything from bookstores to fashion brands, your purchase empowers the community!
• Advocate: Write to lawmakers, support inclusive legislation, and speak out against injustices.

Conclusion

During Pride Month, we celebrate, but we also take action. The challenges that LGBTQIA+ people are faced with today such as discrimination, violence, access to healthcare, and legal rights continue to exist in many parts of the world. Education and advocacy can foster inclusivity; a just and compassionate society.

Pride Month 2025 is here, we honor those who came before us, lift the voices that have been silenced, and empower others to live their truth safely, and proudly. I hope that this month will serve as a shining reminder that love in all of its forms is a vehicle for change!

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