Pride as a Call to Action: Why Our Movement Matters More Than Ever

On the surface, June may look like nothing more than a month of vibrant parades, rainbow flags, glitter, corporate sponsors, and celebration. But for most LGBTQIA+ people and the trade union movement, Pride is—and has always been—a protest.

​This year, as we mark Pride Month 2026, we need to look beyond the corporate branding and remember our roots. The original Pride movement of the 1980s was born from a necessity to survive in a climate of severe state-sanctioned hostility and the tragic neglect of the HIV/AIDS crisis. It was born from the need for LGBTQIA+ people to be seen for who they are: ordinary human beings wanting the same basic rights and protections as everyone else.

​Today, for many, it feels like we are well and truly on the path to being catapulted back to that hostile era. There is a chilling resurgence of those same exclusionary tactics, hateful language, and division—not just from outside the LGBTQIA+ community, but from within as well. Divisive comments like, "I have no problem with the LGB part, it's the rest of the alphabet squad that needs to go," are making many within the community feel the need to take a defensive stance for their own protection. There is a sense that by distancing themselves, they might be safer from the hate and more accepted—but the truth couldn't be further from that.

​This is nothing more than a basic divisive tactic to turn one minority group against another—to break them, making it easier to eventually push LGBTQIA+ people back into the shadows: out of sight, out of mind. If ever there was a time when we all need to stand united, it is now.

​The Return of the "Internal Enemy"

​We are currently navigating a difficult political climate where the far right is actively using gender and sexuality as political instruments to demonize and divide communities that have previously co-existed. Throughout the UK, Europe, and the wider world, we are seeing a disturbing trend: the normalization of hate-motivated harassment in every form imaginable.

​Recent reports show that hate-motivated harassment has surged significantly over the last few years. This isn't just happening in the abstract; it is happening in our schools, workplaces, on our social media feeds, and in our daily interactions. LGBTQIA+ individuals—particularly our trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse colleagues—are facing a systematic attempt to push them out of public life. When the far right labels our existence as "damaging to the social fabric," they are not just debating policies; they are stripping away people’s dignity and demonizing our co-workers, friends, and families.

​The Threat to Our Hard-Won Rights

​Perhaps most concerning is the direct threat to the legislative protections that keep us safe at work. Proposals to repeal or gut the 2010 Equality Act, alongside the repeal of recent workers' rights bill updates, are not merely "policy debates." They are a direct attack on the safeguards that prevent discrimination, harassment, and wage inequality.

​When political groups—such as Reform UK—suggest replacing foundational equality legislation with "mothers and women's protection" bills, they are often using a smokescreen to undermine the very principles of equal pay and workplace protections that unions and their members have proudly fought decades to establish. The TUC has warned that these proposals could effectively legalize discrimination, making it harder to challenge unfair treatment and threatening the hard-won progress toward genuine workplace equality.

​Why Pride is Still a Protest

​If the 1980s taught us anything, it is that solidarity is our greatest defense. Just as LGBTQIA+ communities stood side-by-side with trade unionists during the miners' strikes, we must continue that proud legacy today.

​Pride is a democratic warning system. It forces us to confront which institutions are willing to trade human dignity for a "quieter" political life. We cannot allow our rights to be eroded by those who seek to "launder dehumanization as debate."

​As CWU members, our strength lies in our unity:

• ​Challenge Harassment: If you see online abuse or hear "casual" transphobia or homophobia in the workplace, speak up. Silence is interpreted as consent.

• ​Protect the Equality Act: Our union is at the forefront of the fight against these legislative threats. Stay informed through CWU communications and support campaigns that defend collective bargaining and human rights.

• ​Visibility as Resistance: Being openly, unapologetically yourself in spaces that tell you to hide is a radical act of defiance. This Pride Month, let’s celebrate our community, but let’s also commit to the fight ahead. If we work together, we can keep our hard-won rights and protections.

  
  

​We must ensure that our workplaces remain spaces of safety, inclusion, and solidarity. We are not just marching for a history that has passed; we are marching to prevent it from happening again, for a future where no one is left to defend their humanity isolated and alone.