ICYMI: Pride 2025 Shines in Defiance of Adversity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite political pressure on corporations, and continued widespread attacks on LGBTQ+ rights in legislatures and courts, Pride 2025 proved that the fight for equality—and the celebration of who we are—is unstoppable. Across the country, millions took to the streets to show solidarity, joy, and unshakable resilience, often in record numbers.

“This year’s Pride events demonstrated the unshakeable resilience of our community, with record-breaking participation from every corner of the country. From the largest Pride ever in Anchorage, AK to a first-ever Pride in Huntersville, NC and Decatur, IN, the community and our allies showed up and showed out,” said HRC President Kelley Robinson. “Especially in states where LGBTQ+ rights are under relentless attack, we’ve come together not just to celebrate, but to fight for a brighter future. Because these colors don’t run.”

Here’s a look at how Pride 2025 unfolded from coast to coast:

• From the largest Pride in the history of Anchorage, AK to crowds that “absolutely smashed” attendance records in St. Petersburg, FL, big gatherings were seen in every corner of the country.
  • “It’s overwhelming when you see the people come out and support the LGBTQ+ community in the way that they do,” JJ Harrier, the President of the Anchorage Pride Parade said in Alaska’s News Source.
• States where LGBTQ+ rights are seeing ongoing attacks had record-breaking Prides, such as in San Antonio, TX, Winston-Salem, NC,  and Cincinnati, OH.
  • “Organizers pointed to funding cuts for HIV testing and prevention as well as bans on gender-affirming care and threats to marriage equality as reasons to march and participate in the [San Antonio] parade.”
• It just wasn’t major cities: small towns and suburbs, such as Carmel, IN; Muskegon, MI, and the Nashville suburb of Franklin also had record breaking Prides.
• Despite the Trump administration's efforts to intimidate the LGBTQ community, towns including Decatur, IN and Huntersville, NC showed their support by holding their first-ever Pride events.
  • Vanessa Delagarza, an attendee of Huntersville Pride, told WSOC-TV that while growing up in Huntersville, “it felt like I didn’t have a community” and that “it’s awesome to see the support” at Pride events like the one in Huntersville.
• Even as large cities saw some corporations pull back sponsorships, the LGBTQ+ community still showed out.
  • Small businesses stepped up to fill the funding gap left by corporations navigating the current landscape.
• In Denver, Kansas City, and New York, streets were filled with community members and allies alike, and Washington, D.C. welcomed people from around the world for World Pride. Because pride has never been about rainbow colored logos, but about the community coming together united for equality.
  • “[The crowd at Denver Pride] is comparable to what it was a few years ago,” a source referred to as Chandler told CBS Colorado. “I feel like we're seeing even more people as our rights are more and more under attack.” 

HRC, which began Pride month by announcing we had grown to 3.6 million members and supporters, has attended over 100 Pride events throughout the country so far this Pride season. We’ll continue to uplift LGBTQ+ people everywhere, all year, and continue to fight for advancement and protection of our rights–without exception.