On June 7, 2025, participants in the WorldPride parade proudly display a massive Pride flag in front of the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
As Pride Month enters its final stretch, we recognize how queer communities have used Pride Month to spotlight progress, push for rights, and celebrate identity. 2025 has been marked by events that not only highlight the progress made in LGBTQIA+ rights but also shine a spotlight on the challenges that remain.
So, this Pride month, we highlight some standout moments from the first half of this year:
- Welcoming New LGBTQIA+ Voices
One of the most heartening aspects of Pride Month 2025 has been the number of public figures who have courageously shared their identities, adding new voices to the LGBTQIA+ community across entertainment, sports, and youth culture. Modern Family alum Aubrey Anderson-Emmons came out as bisexual in a lighthearted TikTok clip, while country artist Tanner Adell confirmed her pansexuality at the Billboard Women in Music Awards. In the K-pop world, Lara Rajagopalan and Megan of the girl group KATSEYE publicly embraced their queer and bisexual identities, with Megan’s Weverse livestream drawing widespread support. Bain from the boy band JUST B also made headlines after coming out as gay during a U.S. concert. Other notable names include Grey’s Anatomy star Alexis Floyd; comedian James Tom, and Olympic medalist Yared Nuguse —all of whom added visibility to the spectrum of queer identities.
2.Queer Excellence at the 2025 Tony Awards
The 78th Annual Tony Awards, held on 9 June at Lincoln Center in New York, delivered a night of powerful performances and historic wins-many of them driven by LGBTQIA+ talent. Hosted by acclaimed actress and bisexual icon Cynthia Erivo, the ceremony spotlighted queer excellence both on and off the stage. Singer Adam Lambert went viral for his jaw-dropping vocal run during Erivo’s opening number, while Cole Escola made history as the first nonbinary performer to win Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for their self-penned dark comedy Oh, Mary!.
In another resonant moment, actor Jak Malone used his acceptance speech for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical to challenge the “rotten old” gender binary, urging broader recognition of gender-diverse talent in theatre. Broadway’s embrace of LGBTQIA+ creators and characters was also evident in nominations and wins for productions like Suffs, Hell’s Kitchen, and The Outsiders, all of which featured strong queer storytelling or creators.
- Historic Marriage Equality Milestones in Asia and Europe
2025 has been a groundbreaking year for marriage equality, with two countries making historic strides in recognising same-sex unions.
In Southeast Asia, Thailand became the first country in the region to legalise same-sex marriage, joining Taiwan and Nepal as one of only three nations in Asia to have passed such legislation. Meanwhile, in Western Europe, the tiny country of Liechtenstein officially legalized same-sex marriage on January 1, 2025, after years of advocacy and parliamentary debate. The law passed grants same-sex couples full marital rights, including adoption and inheritance protections.
- Global Pride Marches and Rising Resistance
In a world where queer communities are still fighting for safety, equality, and dignity, Pride marches continue to serve as both a celebration and an act of defiance in nonwelcoming or hostile communities. This was especially clear at the WorldPride Parade in Washington D.C. on 6 June, which took place just a couple of months after the Trump administration introduced a wave of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation across several U.S. states. Protesters carried bold banners with messages like “You can’t spell military without T” and “Deport Trump to CECOT,”. The event underscored that Pride is not only about visibility and expression, but also about protest and resistance against regressive policies.
According to GayCities, several of the world’s largest Pride events are still to come. Notably, São Paulo Pride, one of the globe’s biggest queer celebrations—with millions of attendees each year—is scheduled to take place between 25 June and 5 July. Other massive Pride gatherings are also expected in cities like New York, Madrid, and Berlin.
As LGBTQIA+ communities continue to face political pushback and rising violence around the world, it’s important to honour the parades, marches, and coming out stories. These moments are not just celebrations of identity and communal stride — they are reminders that true queer liberation is still unfinished and unrealized, even in the most “progressive” countries. Every step taken in joy is also a step taken in resistance.
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