Every June, Pride Month is celebrated around the world in recognition of the LGBTQIA+ community and its ongoing struggle for equality, visibility, and human rights. The origins of Pride can be traced back to 1970, when activists in cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles organized marches to commemorate the Stonewall uprising of 28 June 1969. These events aimed to draw attention to the discrimination and oppression experienced by LGBTQIA+ people and became the foundation of a global movement for social change.
Pride has always been more than a celebration. Throughout history, festivals, marches, and public gatherings have played an important role in social movements, helping marginalized groups gain visibility and advocate for their rights. Researchers have highlighted that LGBTQIA+ events can strengthen community bonds, foster solidarity, and create spaces where people feel represented and supported. In many cities around the world, Pride has become a powerful cultural and social statement, contributing to greater acceptance and progress toward equality.
In Spain, one of the most significant moments in LGBTQIA+ history took place in Barcelona. On 26 June 1977, around 5,000 people gathered in La Rambla in what is widely recognized as the first major LGBTQIA+ rights demonstration in Spain. Organized shortly after the end of Franco's dictatorship, the march called for freedom, visibility, and equal rights. Although the demonstration was met with police intervention, it marked a turning point for LGBTQIA+ activism and remains a landmark event in Spain's democratic history.
Last year, Our Story - Storytelling for LGBTQ+ Community Wellbeing was represented at Prague Pride through a registered group during the project's second international training course in the Czech Republic. Participants had the opportunity to come together for diversity, to exchange experiences, and reflect on the importance of inclusion and visibility. The activity highlighted how creativity, intercultural learning and shared experiences can help create safer and more welcoming spaces for LGBTQIA+ people.
Let’s come back together one more time to the memories from last year's march in the capital of Czech Republic!
