To mark Pride month, Respect and Inclusion Partner at Housing 21, Tahir Idris shared the significance of pride marches and how they can help to overcome the inequalities faced by the LGBTQ+ community.  

According to the 2021 census, there are more than 1.3 million people in England and Wales that identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual and 262,000 people responded saying that their gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth (those who are placed under the umbrella term; Trans). This is about 0.5 percent of the UK population. 

In 2025 Hungary has banned all LGBTQ+ events as recently as March 2025, utilising facial recognition technology to identify event organisers and attendees in a bit to repress and outlaw LGBTQ+ people. 

San Francisco Pride and Pride Toronto, two of the largest LGBTQ+ celebrations in the world, have both lost major corporate sponsors due to Trump’s equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) purge. 

The recent UK Supreme Court ruling shows LGBTQ+ rights are still under scrutiny. 

Examples like these are exactly why we still need Pride in 2025. 

So how can we do our bit to help? 

The first thing we must do is become aware that inequalities and barriers exist, and that they impact a significant portion of the UK population. 

Examples of inequalities faced by the LGBTQ+ community are: 

The LGBTQ+ community face inequalities in areas that include healthcare, the current wait time to be seen at a gender identity clinic is 5+ years. 

LGBTQ+ students are more likely to be bullied and isolated due to a lack of support available when it comes to employment: 21 per cent of LGBTQ+ employees reported being fired, 23 percent reportedly were not hired for the role, and 22 percent missed out on promotions because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.  

Almost one in five people have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives because they are from the LGBTQ+ community.  

Arguably one of the most visible ways to raise awareness of these inequalities is participation and support of LGBTQ+ Pride parades. 

Why do people go to LGBTQ+ pride parades? 

Does supporting a big street party really help solve healthcare, education, employment, housing and social services inequality? 

No, but it certainly helps. 

Pride parades in the UK have a rich, important history, and still serve a purpose even if they are no longer overtly a protest. 

Pride parades are an opportunity to show up in great numbers to celebrate and honour those who are suffering discrimination. It is an opportunity to demonstrate our support in numbers and highlight the need for services and better protections. Organisation’s participation also allows for Pride parades to be bigger, louder and give space for more LGBTQ+ voices into the public space. 

We are proud to announce that Housing 21 will have a large presence at Manchester Pride Parade this August. We have a float booked which will be a fabulous display of energy and colour, demonstrating our commitment to equality, respect and inclusion for all. And our residents and colleagues will be represented as one at the event.  

More details here Home – Manchester Pride