Pride 2021: Celebrations Around The World & How You Can Get Involved

It’s June 28th, the day that the Stonewall Riots began in the early hours of the morning in New York City in 1969. The uprising started when police raided the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village and roughly hauled employees and patrons out of the bar, prompting six days of protests and clashes with the police. The Stonewall Riots were a turning point for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world, and now — more than five decades later — the month is dedicated to Pride celebrations and protests, with new movements appearing every year.

From Malawi to Poland, here are some of the most notable Pride celebrations from around the world. Plus, if you weren't able to get out on the street, check out 10 ways you can still get involved and support the LGBTQ+ community.

A First Pride Celebration in Malawi

In Malawi, the LBGTQ+ community celebrates first Pride parade — For a few hours over the weekend the streets of Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, were covered in rainbows, as about 50 members of the country’s persecuted LBGTQ+ community took part in the country’s first Pride parade. Homosexuality remains illegal in the country, where a conviction carries a jail term of up to 14 years

Euros 2020 Protest in Munich

Soccer officials denied the Munich stadium’s request to use rainbow coloured lights during the Germany vs Hungary match to protest the new anti LGBTQ+ law in Hungary, so they found other ways to make up for it — from lighting up other buildings in the city and handing out pride flag to spectators to a person running across the pitch with a rainbow flag whilst the Hungarian national anthem was sung. Watch what happened here.

Trans+ Pride marched on in London

Despite other Pride events being cancelled in London, Trans+ Pride took to the streets as protesters gathered to call for an end of oppression towards transgender, non-binary, intersex and gender non-conforming people. Speakers and attendees included Munroe Bergdorf and Drag Race UK star Bimini Bon-Boulash, check out photos from the march here.

The Largest Pride Parade in Central & Eastern Europe in Poland

In Poland, the largest Pride parade in central and eastern Europe took place in Warsaw on June 19, amid a backlash in Poland and Hungary against LGBTQ+ rights. Poland's right wing president has said that what he calls "LGBT ideology" is worse than communism, and has vowed to block gay marriage and adoption. See photos from the parade here.

A First Pride in the Inuit Community of Kuujjuaq, Canada

In Kuujjuaq, Canada — the tiny Inuit community of Kuujjuaq in Quebec celebrated its first ever Pride parade as around 80 people marches through the village.

Reparations Fees for White Attendees in Seattle

In Seattle, the Taking B(l)ack Pride celebration for BIPOC members of the LGBTQ+ community lifted the voices, narratives, and contributions of black queer and trans voices. The event welcomed white allies and accomplices who paid between 10 and 50 dollars in reparations fees to keep the event free of cost for BIPOC people.

Police Fired Tear Gas at a Pride Rally in Turkey

In Turkey, Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators at the annual Pride parade in Istanbul where marches have been banned since 2015. This year, authorities used the Covid-19 restrictions to ban the parade and at least 20 people were detained amid increased government hostility toward LGBTQ+ people in the country. Read more about the situation in Turkey and find out how you can help here.

Not able to attend a Pride celebration in person? Don't worry, here are 10 more ways you can get involved and support the LGBTQ+ community.

Donate to LGBTQ+ organisations — do your research online and find a local or global charity that you want to donate to.

Buy from local queer businesses — support your small, local, queer businesses by shopping from them.

Support an LGBTQ+ sex worker — find an LGBTQ+ sex worker who's content you enjoy and support them directly bu subscribing to their onlyfans or buying their clips.

Support LGBTQ+ art & culture — watch a LGBTQ+ movie, visit an LGBTQ+ art exhibition, listen to music from an LGBTQ+ artist, read LGBTQ+ authors.

Fight for the human rights of LGBTQ+ people everywhere — educate yourself on the struggles LGBTQ+ people are facing in other countries around the globe.

Educate yourself — learn the history of Pride and read about the challenges LGBTQ+ people face globally

Display a Pride flag & wear Pride swag - badges, pins, tote bags - whatever it is, wear it proudly.

Ask your company about their LGBTQ+ policies — does your employee have a diversity and inclusion group? What are they doing to actively support LGBTQ+ communities? Find out and get involved.

Promote legislative change - campaign for legislative change and take a stand on anti-LGBTQ legislation both in your country and around the world.

To celebrate Pride 2021 all proceeds from The Pride Collection on The Store by Erika Lust are being donated to ILGA World (The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association). That means that your money is going directly to a worldwide federation of more than 1,700 organisations from over 160 countries and territories campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex human rights. Find out more about the initiative here.