There is a lot more to Pride than rainbows, parties and parades, and as two gay business owners, we would love to share with you why Pride Month is so important to us, and what it represents for LGBTQIA+ people around the world. 

The History of Pride

On 28 June 1969, Manhattan police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in New York City, and began interrogating patrons and bar staff over the absence of a liquor license. They made a series of violent and unjust arrests, which led to resistance from the crowds that had gathered outside. As tensions grew, several days of protests and unrest took place on the streets. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for members of the gay, lesbian and trans community, who came together to take a stand against centuries of discrimination. 

The first Pride march took place in New York in 1970, exactly a year after the Stonewall Riots. It was in remembrance of the people who fought for equality the year before and paved the way for change. 

The Legacy of Stonewall

Pride marches became an annual event to honour the trailblazers of gay liberation. Over time, June became widely recognised as Pride Month, and the celebrations have taken on many forms – from rainbow striped merchandise, colourful parties and parades, to workshops, education and activism. Regardless of how people choose to celebrate - the core essence of Pride remains the same: it is a celebration of love and empowerment, of dignity and self-affirmation, of visibility and acceptance of Queer people all over the world.  

For us, the founders of A House Like This, Pride is a time to give back and give thanks to the people who have fought, and are still fighting, for equality. It is a time to acknowledge the privilege we personally have as a gay couple, to live together in our London home, with comparatively less stigma and fear than if we lived in some other parts of the world. It is a time to lend our voices to the people who don’t yet have the freedom to love who they love. 

Become an ally   

Whatever your orientation, and however you choose to identify, you can show your support for the LGBTQIA+ movement during Pride month, and at any other time of the year. 

Give back: There are some incredible charities that support Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer, Intersex and Asexual people in the UK. Find an organisation that resonates with you and get in touch to see how your donation will be used. We were particularly moved by Mind Out and their #mindoutforeachother campaign, their work to improve the wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ people really resonated with us and we will be gifting 10% of all sales made at ahouselikethis.com this month to this incredible Brighton based cause. 

Support LGBTQIA+ artists and businesses: By supporting the work of Queer artists and entrepreneurs, you are encouraging a marginalised group to share their unique perspective with the world and enable their voices to be heard. Jo Boyer, Feel Good Club and Divine Savages are some of our personal favourite makers and content creators. Music is a big part of a A House Like This and we’re huge fans of Queer artists like Tom Aspaul, Rina Sawayama, MNEK and Kim Petras to name a few - add these to your Pride playlist!

Educate yourselves and others: If you’ve learnt something by reading this post, use your voice to empower others and help make further steps on the road to true equality. Until all Queer people are able to live without fear, shame and discrimination, there is still work to be done. To find out more, visit Them.us or The Trevor Project. 

No matter what this diverse, impassioned and jubilant month of celebrations means to you, we hope you will take the time to remember its significance, and have a very happy Pride.