Archie Boulter 1/6/25 Archie Boulter 1/6/25

Your guide to pride 🏳️‍🌈

At Queer Town, we’re on a mission to end LGBTIQA+ discrimination, but it's going to take a team effort. We’ve created this guide to explain why Pride Month matters and provide you with the practical tips you need to be active in your allyship, throughout June and beyond.

Pride Month: A brief history

Pride month is celebrated each June in honour of the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City, a turning point in the fight for LGBTIQA+ rights.

At the time, homosexuality was still criminalised in New York, as in most parts of the world, as well as expressions of transness and gender diversity. Gay bars like the Stonewall Inn offered rare spaces of refuge, where queer people could connect and feel a sense of safety, yet these spaces were still regularly targeted by police raids, often involving harassment, assault, and arrest.

In the early hours of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn once again. Many patrons were assaulted, and under a discriminatory law, anyone not wearing at least three items of ‘gender-appropriate’ clothing could be arrested; a law used to target trans and gender diverse folks in particular, as well as cross-dressers, drag artists and other queer identities. As a result, several people were forcefully taken into custody.

The crowd resisted. For the first time, patrons and bystanders began to fight back in scale, forcing police to barricade themselves inside the bar as hundreds of protestors gathered outside, throwing bottles and debris in protest.

Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman, activist, performer and founder of Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), is widely credited for throwing the first brick in an act of bold defiance against the growing police brutality.

What followed were several nights of protest, as thousands took to the streets. Stonewall ignited a new wave of activism, inspiring the creation of LGBTIQA+ rights organisations and, a year later, the first Pride March.

The Pride Month we celebrate today, more than 50 years on, is rooted in this moment of resistance, courage, and collective demand for dignity and equality.

4 reasons why pride month is crucial

1 it’s not all rainbows

Despite certain legal and human rights advances, evidence shows the LGBTIQA+ people are still facing daily barriers and forms of discrimination. For example, 40% of LGBTIQA+ Australians don’t feel accepted at their workplace, 50% don’t feel accepted by their family, and 70% don’t feel accepted in public (Private Lives, 2020).

We know that LGBTIQA+ people experience significantly higher rates of poor health outcomes, poor mental health and suicide rates than the broader population. Pride Month is a valuable opportunity to educate our communities about these realities in order to foster greater awareness, empathy, and inclusion for LGBTIQA+ people.

2 inclusion saves lives

At Queer Town, we know first-hand that having a safe and inclusive space can be a game-changer, and in some cases, a life-saver, for LGBTIQA+ people facing ongoing oppression and resistance.

Studies show that when it comes to work, family and the public, an LGBTIQA+ person may feel most accepted at their workplace. This makes Pride month a powerful time for organisations to engage LGBTIQA+ experts, review policies, roll out meaningful training (like our workshops or digital short course!) and show visible support for LGBTIQA+ initiatives.

Remember: inclusion in the workplace isn't just good for LGBTIQA+ people, it's good for business. There's plenty of evidence that reveals organisations who invest in diversity, equity and inclusion have higher rates of staff satisfaction, retention and profitability.

3 we’re still fighting FOR RIGHTS

While we’ve made important progress over the years, critical gaps still remain, which impact the health and safety of LGBTIQA+ people on a daily basis. Gaps like anti-discrimination protections in workplaces, schools, and housing; access to inclusive healthcare and mental health support; safety for asylum seekers; and protections against (lethal) hate crimes, to name a few! Pride Month provides a platform and a spotlight to keep these issues in focus.

4 CelebratE authenticity IN EVERYONE

At its heart, Pride is a celebration of being authentically you. It empowers everyone to embrace the freedom to live openly and proudly. Pride is more than a parade or a workplace morning tea, it's a push towards a world where everyone is celebrated, for their true selves, without fear, shame or danger. Celebrating that freedom builds a sense of community and inclusion.

"Looking back at the most challenging parts of my journey as a queer person, it's been the allies in my life that have kept me anchored. We need our allies to help us kick down doors, claim a seat at the table and have our voices heard."

– Archie Beetle (they/them) | Founder, CEO and Lead Educator at Queer Town

how can i BE AN ALLY?

BEING AN lgbtiqa+ ALLY MEANS:

• Listening and engaging with members of the LGBTIQA+ community

• Learning firsthand from LGBTIQA+ people about our lived experiences and the barriers we face

• Openly questioning systems and processes that oppress our community
• Challenging discrimination when you witness it

• Investing in LGBTIQA+ individuals, initiatives and businesses

• Celebrating authenticity alongside us!

Importantly, true allyship means using whatever privilege or power we have to contribute towards meaningful change, no matter how small. We know allyship can feel daunting, but we're here to help. At Queer Town we've created a free resource to support you take your next steps forward as an ally.

download your FREE Allyship Guide

Are you wanting to further your allyship, but you're not sure where to start? Queer Town's Allyship Guide is your go-to resource to help you support LGBTIQA+ communities with confidence.

This guide will help you:

Understand gendered language and how to use it thoughtfully
Learn how to ask respectful, considerate questions
Explore the role of visibility
Use example scripts to navigate conversations and speak up when it counts.

DOWNLOAD THIS WAY >>

Remember:

Every little action builds momentum. Whether you're practicing pronouns, educating a family member or upskilling your team, you're having a meaningful impact and contributing towards a world where inclusion is the norm.