Celebrating Pride Month
Each June, communities around the world come together to celebrate Pride Month. It’s a time to honour diversity, promote equality, and raise awareness of the challenges many LGBTQ+ people still face today. LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, along with all other identities in the community.
What is Pride Month?
Pride Month has its roots in the Stonewall Uprising, which took place in New York City in June 1969. This was a series of protests for LGBTQ+ liberation at a time when LGBTQ+ people faced widespread discrimination and harassment. A police raid on the Stonewall Inn sparked several days of protests.
These events became a turning point in the global fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The following year, the first Pride marches were held to commemorate the uprising. From there, Pride grew into the worldwide movement we know today.
Why Pride matters
While we’ve come a long way, LGBTQ+ people still face discrimination today.
Did you know:
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Two-thirds (64%) of LGBTQ+ people have experienced anti-LGBT+ violence or abuse.
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70 countries criminalise same-sex relationships.
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The death penalty for same-sex relationships is either ‘allowed’, or evidence of its existence occurs, in 11 of these countries.
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One in eight LGBT people (13%) have experienced some form of unequal treatment from healthcare staff because they’re LGBT.
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Almost one in five LGBT people (18 per cent) have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives.
Annual awareness celebrations like Pride and LGBTQ+ History Month help to increase visibility and representation, reminding us of the importance of equal rights for all.
Find out more on Stonewall’s website.
Our commitments
We believe that everyone deserves a place to call home where they feel safe, respected, and able to be themselves. Pride is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to creating inclusive, safe, and supportive homes for all our customers.
We're part of the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge scheme, having achieved the Pledge Pioneer level of accreditation. This highlights our commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion. For example through our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion customer voice group, our presence at Essex and Southend Pride, the delivery of employee training on LGBTQ+ inclusion, and more.
Come and see us at Pride
We’ll be attending both the Essex and Southend Pride events, showing our support, celebrating diversity, and helping to promote understanding and respect for all. We’d love to see you there!
- Saturday 20 June
- Free Pride March: Leaves at 11.30am from Chelmsford Theatre (Marconi Plaza), CM1 1JG
- Ticketed Pride Festival: 12pm to 10pm, Central Park, CM1 1JJ
- Saturday 18 July
- 12pm - 8pm
- Warrior Square, Southend, SS1 2JH