June is Pride Month, an annual celebration of LGBTQIA+ communities that takes place across the UK and around the world. It is also a time to reflect on the history of Pride and the role that communities have played in advancing equality, inclusion and belonging.
Pride has its roots in the Stonewall riots of June 1969 in New York, a pivotal moment in the struggle for LGBTQIA+ rights. The UK's first Pride march followed in London in 1972. More than 50 years later, Pride events have become established annual fixtures in towns and cities across the country, including the North East, bringing people together to celebrate identity, community and progress.
For many years, Pride events across the North East have been supported through a combination of voluntary effort, community fundraising, corporate sponsorship and local authority backing. However, changing political priorities, funding pressures and rising operational costs are creating new challenges for organisers.
Recent decisions by some North East councils to withdraw or reconsider support for Pride events have generated significant public discussion. In Durham, the withdrawal of council funding for Pride in 2025 prompted a widespread community response. Trade unions, community organisations and local supporters came together to ensure the event could still take place.
The Durham Miners' Association called on people to “do the right thing and stand shoulder to shoulder with the LGBT+ community”, highlighting the strength of collective action when communities face uncertainty.
Elsewhere in the region, organisers are exploring new ways to sustain Pride celebrations. Newcastle Pride has launched a public fundraising campaign, citing increased operational costs, reduced sponsorship income and changing safety requirements as factors affecting Pride events nationwide. In Sunderland, organisers of OUT North East's Summer of Pride programme have turned to community fundraising and public support in a bid to secure future events. Gateshead has already received funding for Pride events this year, but this is unlikely to continue with the newly elected council leader saying, “the finance of Pride and the celebration of Pride is not a matter for this administration or council, it is a matter for those groups alone.”
While circumstances vary from place to place, these developments highlight something that will be familiar to many organisations across the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector: the need to adapt, innovate and collaborate in response to changing environments.
Funding is rarely stable, reliable and secure. However, the story emerging from Pride events across the North East is not only about funding. It is also about the strength of communities and the role of the VCSE sector in bringing people together.
For decades, voluntary organisations, grassroots groups, charities and community activists have been at the forefront of supporting LGBTQIA+ people. They have created safe spaces, provided advocacy and advice, organised cultural events, supported young people and helped foster understanding across communities.
That work continues today.
Rainbow Home, a specialist VCSE provider working with people who have fled persecution based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity is working with trusted partners to present an installation of banners created for Newcastle Pride Fringe 2026, led by Curious Arts. Chief Executive, Jill Hardie explained the importance of visibility and support during Pride and the role in strengthening community and belonging, “This exhibition helps preserve the voices and creativity of LGBTQ+ people seeking sanctuary, ensuring their stories become part of the North East’s cultural memory. We hope to strengthen community identity, challenge public perceptions, and inspire greater understanding and solidarity.
“By providing tools enabling people to express themselves and be seen, the work empowers future activism, enriches local culture, and builds a more inclusive region where everyone can belong.”
Peter Darrant, Chief Executive of OUT North East has also reflected on the wider impact of Pride events, saying: “They generate income, positive publicity and bring ALL communities together.”
These perspectives highlight the wider contribution Pride makes to communities across the North East. Beyond the celebrations themselves, Pride creates opportunities for connection, visibility and participation, while demonstrating the value of community-led action in sustaining inclusive spaces.
The responses seen in Durham, Newcastle and Sunderland also reflects a wider reality across the VCSE sector. Organisations throughout the North East, continue to respond to increasing demand, financial pressures and social challenges. Yet they continue to provide vital support, advocate for communities and create opportunities for people to participate fully in society.
These discussions are taking place against a wider backdrop of changing political and public debate around LGBTQIA+ rights. The UK’s position in ILGA-Europe’s 2026 Rainbow Map of laws and policies affecting LGBT+ people has continued to decline, falling to 43.9%, down almost 2% from 2025 and significantly lower than its 2015 score of 86%.
Reflecting on these findings, Consortium, the UK’s largest network of LGBT+ groups and organisations said “At Consortium, we work alongside LGBT+ organisations across the UK. We see every day how national policy and public debate show up in people’s lives. They show up in advice lines, youth groups, peer support spaces, trans-led organisations, community centres, Pride committees, mental health services and tiny grassroots groups doing far more than their funding should reasonably allow.
“So, when the UK’s score falls again, this is not just a ranking on a website. It is a reflection of what communities are living through.”
The changing climate has particular implications for trans communities.
Amnesty International’s recent report, ‘Like a snowball’ identifies “an organised backlash against trans people’s rights” stemming from a response to proposals to reform the Gender Recognition Act in 2017/18.
The report highlights the role of the media in “normalising anti-trans rhetoric” through a “disproportionate amount of coverage about trans people from 2020 to 2025”. A key finding in the report is that “media reports about trans people have a negative sentiment, while trans people are hardly seen in stories. When they do appear, it is as criminals or murder victims.”
At VONNE, we know that strong communities are built through collaboration, participation and mutual support. Our members work every day to strengthen communities across the region, including LGBTQIA+ communities, often in challenging circumstances.
Many organisations argue that the significance of Pride extends beyond the events themselves. This was reflected in comments shared with VONNE by the North East Pride Youth Partnership, whose member organisations have experienced discrimination online.
A representative from the partnership told VONNE, “The members of the Pride Youth Partnership speak for the young people in our services. Having a visible Pride event in their community means a lot to young people. It tells them where they are safe and where they can expect to be themselves without harassment.
“It tells them their council will continue to represent them when they come forward to get help with their disability or report homelessness, domestic violence or abuse - all issues that LGBTQIA young people will experience disproportionately.
“Not flying the Pride flag or funding Pride events is not a brave political statement; it is a sign of how much the local councillors care about the marginalised communities they are there to represent.”
As Pride celebrations continue across the North East this summer, the contribution of the VCSE sector remains clear. Through volunteer action, community leadership and collective support, organisations and communities continue to demonstrate the resilience and determination that have always been at the heart of Pride.
At a time of financial uncertainty and changing political debate, the experiences of Pride organisers offer a powerful reminder of the strength of community action. Across the North East, people continue to come together to support Pride, demonstrating resilience, solidarity and a sense of belonging that have always been at its heart.
For these reasons, we should take pride in the North East.
Share your experiences with VONNE
The experiences of Pride organisers and LGBTQIA+ organisations reflect wider challenges facing the VCSE sector across the North East. As VONNE continues to champion the role of voluntary and community organisations, we want to better understand how changing funding environments and local policy decisions are affecting communities.
If your organisation is supporting LGBTQIA+ people, delivering Pride-related activities, or experiencing similar challenges in your area, we'd welcome hearing from you. Your insight helps us build a clearer picture of the issues facing the sector and strengthen the evidence we share with decision-makers.
Together, we can continue to demonstrate the value, resilience and impact of the VCSE sector across the North East.