Why Pride Month Matters so Much in 2025. Be The Transformational Change
- Morgan Messick
- Jun 11
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 5
Every June, rainbow flags rise high and streets come alive as millions in the LGBTQ+ community (and those who stand beside them) gather to celebrate Pride Month.
But behind the smiles and festivities, Pride carries a much deeper meaning. It's rooted in a history of protest - a response to decades of discrimination, violence, and erasure.
Today, Pride is both a celebration of how far we’ve come and a rallying cry for how far we still have to go. In 2025, as LGBTQ+ rights face renewed attacks across the country and around the world, Pride remains a powerful act of visibility, resistance, and community.
We celebrate because we’ve survived.
We keep marching because the fight is far from over.
Pride Began As Protest
The first Pride wasn’t a parade. It was a response to violence and oppression.
In June 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn - one of the few safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people at the time - the community fought back. That uprising, led by trans women of color like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera (alongside drag performers, sex workers, and street youth) ignited a global movement for LGBTQ+ rights.
Pride Month’s history and significance are rooted in this resistance. Even as Pride has grown into a worldwide celebration, that original fight for visibility, safety, and equality remains at its core.
Why Pride Still Matters in 2025
In 2025, Pride still carries a heavy weight because across the U.S., LGBTQ+ rights are under attack in ways that echo the very discrimination that sparked Stonewall over 50 years ago.
More than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced - many targeting trans youth, healthcare access, education, marriage equality, and other resources that allow us to exist openly and safely.
At the same time, book bans are erasing queer stories, politicians are openly using anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric to fuel hate, and violent attacks against the community are happening across the country.
This isn’t just political debate - it’s about safety, survival, and basic human rights. In this climate, LGBTQ visibility is more important than ever. Showing up for Pride isn’t performative. It’s a declaration:
We exist and we’re not going anywhere.
Celebration Is Resistance
Amid the anger, fear and exhaustion, Pride Month remains a radical act of joy. Dancing in the streets, waving flags, living openly - all of it defies those who would prefer LGBTQ+ people to be silent, invisible, or erased.
Pride reminds us that our existence itself is powerful, and sustains us to continue the fight for equality. Here’s how you can show up and get involved:
Pride Is A Movement, Not A Month
As Pride Month celebrations come and go, we can’t forget the real work still ahead. Pride Month 2025 is about so much more than parades, parties, and merch - it’s about protecting LGBTQ+ rights in 2025 and for generations to come.
At Be the Transformational Change, we’re committed to that fight. Whether you’re part of the community or a dedicated ally, your voice matters. This month - and every month - show up, speak out, and stand strong for what’s right.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not represent an endorsement of any candidate or political campaign by our organization.
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