It’s that time of year again, when we change our logo to a version featuring the Pride progress flag. I’ve written a blog for Pride Month before, back in 2023. A lot has changed since then, and not all of it for the better.
Living in the ‘Brighton bubble’ as a queer person means that I am lucky to have access to LGBTQI+ art, performances and culture, and I can be authentically myself here.
Recently I went along with a friend to see ‘Happy Hype’ by Switzerland-based dance collective Ouinch Ouinch at The Dance Space, where we’re based, here in Brighton. It was the perfect way to set the tone for Pride month, and a reminder about the joyful aspects of queerness, especially as we’re seeing rollbacks of LGBTQI+ rights happening all around us both in the UK and worldwide.
The reality is that according to the Rainbow map, which ranks 49 European countries from 0-100% on their respective legal and policy practices for LGBTQI+ people, the UK has slipped down to 45%. This is largely due to the recent UK Supreme Court ruling affecting Trans people which has already begun having real-world impact on the wellbeing and safety of my friends and my community. Whilst many charities and arts organisations are thankfully publicly re-asserting their support, I’m certainly seeing less ‘pinkwashing’ from brands and businesses. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing- in my previously mentioned blog from 2023 I wrote about the importance of authenticity when it comes to communications relating to the LGBTQI+ community.
So how does Comms come into all this?
Can social media really reflect the reality of the LGBTQI+ experience in 2025, in the UK? How do we know when to switch off? Often when opening my phone to scroll through my personal feed, I find myself feeling dejected and anxious when I put it away, unable to focus on what I was doing. The things I see on social media aren’t not happening- many friends are finding ways to leave the country and are experiencing more transphobia and homophobia- but it is important to remember that social media magnifies. One thing is certain to me: our offline communities are more important than they have ever been.
Meta’s rollback on its safety guidelines and factcheckers, social media is becoming an increasingly divisive place- especially for LGBTQI+ people. Reason Digital- a Digital organisation working with charities and non-profits- recently announced they would no longer be using Meta platforms for their own online communications in response to these rollbacks.
It’s great when organisations speak out about LGBTQI+ issues, but protection for their staff- especially their social media staff- who will have to deal with negative online comments must be a priority.
If your charity or organisation is posting during LGBTQI+ awareness days, remember to do it authentically, not just for the sake of it. (Look at Lush & Ben & Jerry’s for some great recent campaigns around LGBTQI+ issues.) I also recommend reading The Unmistakeables‘ well-written weekly DEI mailout, frequently covering LGBTQI+ issues through an intersectional lens.
At Dance Professionals Fund our commitment to the dance community is unwavering. We proudly support all dance professionals—regardless of sexuality, gender identity, race, age, or background. Everyone deserves access to support, care, and dignity.
We are committed to making sure our application processes, working culture and communications reflect the diversity of the dance industry. This Pride Month, and every month, we stand with our LGBTQI+ community and reaffirm our promise: your identity will never be a barrier to accessing the help you need.
