A Pride parade — also known as a Pride march, Pride festival, or simply Pride — is a public celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, community and culture. Pride events take place in cities around the world, usually between May and October, and range from small community marches to massive multi-day festivals attracting millions of participants.
Where It All Began
The origins of Pride trace back to the early hours of June 28, 1969, in New York City. Police raided the Stonewall Inn, a bar popular with the gay and transgender community in Greenwich Village. But that night, instead of quietly submitting to the arrests and harassment that had become routine, the patrons fought back. Trans women of colour like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were among those at the forefront of the uprising. The ensuing protests lasted several days and became known as the Stonewall Riots.
One year later, on June 28, 1970, the first Pride marches were held in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago to commemorate the anniversary of the uprising. These were not celebrations — they were bold acts of political protest, demanding visibility and equal rights at a time when homosexuality was still criminalised in most US states.
Pride Today
Since those early days, Pride has evolved into a global movement. Today, Pride parades take place in more than 100 countries across all continents. Some have grown into enormous events: the São Paulo Pride Parade regularly attracts over three million people, while events in New York, Madrid, London, Amsterdam and Sydney draw hundreds of thousands each year.
Modern Pride events typically combine a parade or march with street festivals, concerts, panel discussions, film screenings and art exhibitions. Many cities organise a full Pride Week or even Pride Month (June), filling their calendars with cultural, political and social events. The rainbow flag, designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978, has become the universal symbol of the movement.
More Than a Party
While Pride has undeniably become more festive and commercial over the decades, its roots as a political demonstration remain vital. In many countries, LGBTQ+ people still face persecution, imprisonment or even the death penalty. Pride events in cities like Istanbul, Warsaw, Budapest and Kampala continue to be acts of courageous defiance. Even in countries with strong legal protections, Pride serves as a reminder that equality is an ongoing effort — from fighting discrimination in the workplace to combating hate crimes and ensuring transgender rights.
Pride is ultimately about visibility, solidarity and the simple but powerful message: every person deserves to live openly, freely and with dignity, regardless of who they love or how they identify.
The Difference Between CSD and Pride
In German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), Pride parades are traditionally called "Christopher Street Day" or CSD, referencing the street where the Stonewall Inn was located. Everywhere else in the world, the term "Pride" is used. The events are essentially the same — a celebration and demonstration for LGBTQ+ rights — just with different names.