We asked our LGBTQ+ Community of Belonging what Pride means to them, here’s what they said
Across Hippo, the responses moved between celebration and worry, memory and community, allyship and safety. People spoke about partners, family, first finding others who understood, the legacy of Section 28, trans rights and the need to keep showing up for people whose rights are still at risk.
What comes through is not one definition of Pride, but several. Pride as joy. Pride as protest. Pride as safety. Pride as solidarity. Pride as a reminder that progress still needs people behind it.
Although the responses we received were unique and spoke to individual lived experiences, there are some key commonalities:
- The ability to live your life in safety and free from shame
- Celebrating who you are and being your entire self openly
- Embracing community and supporting each other
- The importance of allyship
- Celebrate how far we have come as a community but also recognising that Pride is also a protest - we have a long way to go.
Here are some our their own words:
“We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere”
“Pride is such an important time of year. My partner is trans, and right now she finds being anywhere in public difficult. We’re lucky to live in a city that is mostly queer-friendly, but the national narrative is scary and bleak for trans people. Having dedicated time to celebrate ourselves, and say to everyone ‘we’re here, and we’re not going anywhere’ as a community is so powerful.
It can bring mixed emotions – it’s a joyful celebration and a space for queer people to feel free to be our entire selves. But it’s also a reminder that Pride is still a necessary protest, and that progress isn’t linear. We will celebrate wonderfully how far we have come, but we never forget that there is still a long way to go.”
Hannah Atkinson
Senior Content Designer
Pride as protest, grief and hard-won joy
“I’ve been around since Pride was a call simply to be seen – a collective grieving, and a protest against Section 28 – and, more recently, a joyful celebration of hard-won rights. But for me, it’s also an opportunity to recognise those who aren’t so lucky: people who can’t celebrate, and who risk their liberty or even their lives by coming out or sharing their love.
Lately, though, I worry that the progress we’ve made here could be lost. That makes it even more important to celebrate what we have; for me, that means being out, and holding space for all our LGBT+ friends.
Pride has always meant including those with different experiences and views, where we can. Above all, it represents maintaining vigilance and empathy in the face of difficulty – because these rights can be taken away if we don’t stand together.”
Kev Wiltshire
Senior Content Designer
Allyship that shows up
“To me, Pride is about empathy, basic human rights, and the beautiful confidence that comes when people can show up in the world exactly as they are. Seeing folks living comfortably in their identities is a massive joy; attending one of my family members’ weddings recently was truly one of the best days of my life.
Being an ally means showing up for my family, friends, colleagues, and strangers alike. It means being a guaranteed safe space, championing representation, and challenging bias in any room I walk into. I’m always trying to broaden my understanding, like reading LGBTQ+ authors and stories in my book club, because the queer people in my life constantly encourage me to be open and express myself, and I want to ensure they have the safety and visibility to do the same.”
Helen Swarbrick
User Researcher
Finding people who understand
“Pride for me is about community, being able to yourself without fear and standing in the gap for those whose rights are at risk.
When I first came out, I found it really difficult as I had noone in my life who I could talk to or relate to. Over the years since then, I have been lucky to be able to build a community of people who have had similar experiences and we can support each other. This community has also given me the strength to live my life proudly and stand in the gap for those who cannot.
We live in a world where some of the rights we had fought for as a community are being eroded, even living everyday life can be dangerous for some. Pride means celebrating what we have achieved and how far we have come, while still standing for the rights and dignity for those who cannot.”
Dan Kumar
Delivery Manager
Feeling safe enough to be yourself
“For me, Pride is about feeling safe. I spent most of my life growing up in an area where being queer was dangerous, and often led to violence. I learned early on that being visibly different could make you a target, so for a long time authenticity didn’t feel like an option. Pride reminds me what it feels like to exist without carrying that fear around, to simply be myself, without wondering whether I’m welcome or whether I need to make myself smaller.
That feeling has shaped the way I move through the world. Whether it’s in my work, my friendships, or my community, I care deeply about creating environments where other people feel that same sense of safety and belonging. Pride is about more than simply being who I am, but helping to build a world where everyone can show up as their authentic selves, knowing they’ll be accepted, valued, and able to belong.”
Aya Stead
Senior Technical Consultant
Standing on the shoulders of others
“As with all civil movements, we stand on the shoulders of giants, so I will never fully know the struggles and sacrifices of previous generations. Section 28 was in force for almost all of my school years, however. The untold stigma, shame and harm caused by which shaped the lives of so many queer people.
A recent survey showed 75% of the UK now supports equal marriage. Yet this remains a legal reality in just 20% of countries worldwide. Meanwhile, UK trans people continue to face intense vilification. They fought on the frontlines for LGB liberation; it’s our collective responsibility to stand by their side now.
Pride is absolutely a celebration of identity and self-expression, but for me, and countless others, it’s also about solidarity with our queer siblings and resistance to the forces determined to push back our progress.”
Pete Mercer
DI&B Lead
Pride is still needed
Together, they show Pride as celebration, protest, grief, safety, allyship, community and solidarity. A place for people to be seen, and a reminder that not everyone can be visible safely. They also show why Pride is still needed.
Because progress is not permanent just because it has happened once. Because safety is not shared equally. Because people should be able to move through the world without fear.
At Hippo, Pride is a reminder to keep building a culture where people can show up as themselves, not only during Pride Month, but throughout the year.
