From Rebellion to Celebration: The History of Pride Month

Every June, rainbow flags begin to appear in windows, on lampposts, and across social media feeds as communities across the UK and the world mark Pride Month. But beyond the glitter and parades lies a rich and radical history—a history born out of protest, defiance, and the unwavering fight for LGBTQ+ rights. At The Eddystone Trust, we know that understanding this past helps us appreciate how far we’ve come—and how far we still have to go.

The origins of Pride can be traced back to 28 June 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Stonewall was a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ people—particularly those who faced multiple layers of marginalisation, including trans people, drag queens, people of colour, and those living in poverty.

In the early hours of that morning, yet another police raid began. This wasn’t unusual—LGBTQ+ spaces were regularly targeted—but this time, the community fought back. What followed was several nights of protest, resistance, and solidarity. Figures like Stormé DeLarverie, a Black lesbian performer, are credited with sparking the uprising, later saying, “It was a rebellion, it was an uprising. It wasn’t no damn riot.”

These events became a turning point in the LGBTQ+ rights movement—and would inspire what we now know as Pride.

A year after the Stonewall uprising, activists held the first Pride marches in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago under the banner of Christopher Street Liberation Day. These events were unapologetic declarations of visibility and a refusal to be silenced.

But before this, there had already been activism. From 1965, LGBTQ+ Americans had been organising Reminder Day pickets, reminding the public of the rights denied to LGBTQ+ people. The movement was growing—and gaining strength.

Inspired by what was happening across the Atlantic, two British activists, Aubrey Walter and Bob Mellor, founded the UK branch of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) in 1970 after a trip to the US. While homosexuality had been partially decriminalised in England and Wales in 1967, LGBTQ+ people still faced widespread discrimination, criminalisation, and police surveillance.

The GLF was bold, loud, and political. It organised its first public demonstration that same year at Highbury Fields in London, in protest of the arrest of Louis Eakes for “importuning”—a charge often used against gay men for actions as innocuous as smiling or winking.

On 1 July 1972, the UK saw its first official Pride march, with around 2,000 people gathering in London. It wasn’t a parade—it was a protest. Peter Tatchell, one of the organisers, later said:
“Our aim was to show that we were proud, not ashamed. Determined to come out of the shadows and stand up for our rights.”

Throughout the 1970s and ’80s, Pride marches were held across the UK—though not always consistently or easily. They were grassroots-led, sometimes disorganised, and often met with hostility. Still, they persisted.

Then came Section 28.

Introduced in 1988 by the UK government, Section 28 banned local authorities from “promoting homosexuality.” It had a chilling effect on LGBTQ+ education, support services, and representation—particularly for young people. Some councils pulled their support for Pride events, while others resisted and continued funding them defiantly.

The movement pushed back. Protests against Section 28 helped galvanise the community. In its wake, the UK charity Stonewall was born—founded to fight for LGBTQ+ rights, and to make sure another law like Section 28 would never happen again.

While London hosted the UK’s first Pride, cities and towns across the country soon followed:

Today, Pride takes place in almost every corner of the UK—from Plymouth to Glasgow, from Newport to Newquay.

Over the past decade, Pride has grown into a vibrant, visible celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and rights. At The Eddystone Trust, we believe Pride is both a celebration and a call to action. It’s about remembering the courage of those who fought for LGBTQ+ rights—and continuing that fight today.

LGBTQ+ people still face higher rates of hate crime, mental health challenges, and health inequalities. Trans and non-binary people are under relentless attack in the media. Young people are still growing up in environments where they feel unsafe to be themselves.

Pride is not just a party. It’s a powerful reminder of resilience, resistance, and community.

This June, we honour the history. We celebrate the progress. And we recommit to a future where everyone—no matter their sexuality, gender identity, or background—can live with dignity, pride, and equality.