Pride is about acceptance, equality, and celebrating the work of LGBTQIA+ people, education in LGBTQ+ history, and raising awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community.

You may be right in thinking pride is a celebration of the various LGBTQ+ rights that are now protected by UK law. But, it’s also a protest against those that are still yet to be passed by law, and in solidarity for those people around the world, who can still be given a long prison sentence for just wanting to be their true authentic self.

That being said, in the UK in recent years, progress has stalled. Hate has risen – online, on our streets and in public. And it’s having a real impact on our lives, creating an environment where we’re increasingly isolated as we think twice about how we dress, where we go, and even something as simple and human as whether we can hold our partner’s hand.

Barnsley Pride events would not happen without people in our community like you.