Gay Pride events are as important now as they have ever been. Whilst we are fortunate to come from a part of Europe (UK/France) where being gay means we have almost the same rights as our straight counterparts, sadly there still exist many places where simply being gay can get you killed.
There are over 70 countries in the world where being gay is an illegal crime. What’s worse is that in 7 of these, the governments actively impose the death penalty for consensual same-sex acts, specifically: Brunei, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan.
Today Pride events are not only an important way to celebrate who we are, but they act as a crucial symbol to LGBTQ communities around the world to show we are not alone and we are fighting together for full equality and recognition everywhere.
In this article we celebrate the 10 best gay Pride events from around the world, which we think are the most unique and important. Whichever Pride event your travels take you to, always make sure you have adequate travel insurance.
1. New York (USA): where Pride was born
New York is where the Pride movement was born. Following the police raid of the gay Stonewall Inn on 28 June 1969, the LGBTQ community said “ENOUGH!” and started a serious of demonstrations led by drag queen Marsha Johnson. This became the catalyst for LGBTQ movements across the US in 1970, and then around the world.