Why Pride Feels So Important This Year: Visibility, Community, Joy

Every June, we gather in parks, streets, and community centers across the country to celebrate Pride Month. We honor LGBTQ+ history, reflect on our progress, and, most importantly, uplift queer joy. And this year, that is so important.

In 2025, we’ve witnessed a disturbing escalation in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policy at both the state and federal levels. Politicians have pushed harmful legislation that targets our rights, especially those of transgender people and LGBTQ+ youth. We’ve seen attempts to ban inclusive books, restrict healthcare access, erase us from government programs and systems, and more. At a time when we should be building a more inclusive future, some policymakers have shown that they are wholly devoted to pushing us backward.

Pride Month is a chance to be visible and tell them that we’re still here and we are not going anywhere.

Our community has shown time and again that we will not be intimidated. Through community organizing, legislative advocacy, and a commitment to helping the most vulnerable among us, we’ve turned outrage into action. At Rocky Mountain Equality, we’ve helped defeat several discriminatory bills, pushed back at harmful federal policies, and helped shore up the defenses in place for our community in Colorado.

But that kind of advocacy and organizing isn’t the only way to fight against the attacks on our community. Pride is a powerful reminder that joy is resistance. When we come together, march, dance, or raise our flags, we’re not just celebrating who we are. We’re affirming our right to exist safely and visibly in every part of public life.

I want all members of the LGBTQ+ community—especially those feeling isolated or under attack—to know: you belong here, you are loved, and your community is fighting for you.

Check out Pride events across Colorado here, and join us in celebrating community and joy. Pride isn’t just a party, it’s a reminder that none of us are alone.