Press Release
Global Pride Report Celebrates LGBTIQ Resilience in the Face of Attacks
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New York, New York - June 10, 2024 — In the face of discriminatory laws and hostile political discourse, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) people and allies pulled off Pride and other queer visibility initiatives in over 100 countries in 2023, Outright International found in a new report published today. Titled "Beyond the Rainbows and Glitter: Pride Around the World in 2023," the report provides a detailed analysis of the state of Pride and LGBTIQ visibility events globally.
Outright’s research finds that in 2023, 101 of the 193 United Nations member states held LGBTIQ Pride or other public-facing visibility events, with at least 61 of those countries holding Pride events in more than one city. This is a slight decline compared to Outright’s previous report, which found that activists held public Pride events in 105 countries in 2022.
In 2023, no public Pride or LGBTIQ visibility events were held in 92 countries. In many of those countries, Outright found that activists, prioritizing safety, held private events to commemorate Pride, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), or other key dates for LGBTIQ communities.
“Pride involves a delicate balance between the safety and well-being of LGBTIQ communities and the urgency of being seen, heard, and recognized,” said Ohotuowo Ogbeche, Outright’s Global Researcher and the lead author of the report. “Visibility is crucial to achieving our communities’ advocacy objectives, but the threat of violence remains real. Governments should act urgently, everywhere, to protect the freedom of assembly and expression and ensure that Pride events can take place safely.”
Outright’s research found that in a year in which anti-rights, anti-gender actors enacted legislative attacks on LGBTIQ people from all sides, LGBTIQ movements sometimes strategically retreated and regrouped, and sometimes pushed forward with full force. In jurisdictions including Uganda, Russia, Iraq, and multiple U.S. states, governments enacted harsh anti-LGBTIQ laws in 2023 and early 2024, aiming to exert control over LGBTIQ people's bodies and lives, instill fear, suppress dissent, and undermine their dignity and fundamental rights.
Among the case studies included in the report, Outright found that in the face of increased political hostility, activists in Argentina, El Salvador, Italy and the U.S. state of Florida, demonstrated resistance and resilience, holding vibrant Pride events that insisted on their communities’ right to exist. Other Pride events in 2023 emphasized inclusion of communities that face intersectional forms of discrimination. In South Africa, Black LGBTIQ people have created alternative Prides that focus on intersectionality within the movement, building alliances at the grassroots level, and decrying hate crimes, femicide, racism, and homophobia. Intersex organizations in Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela used Pride as a platform to advance recognition and advocate for the rights of intersex people.
In Mauritius, where the highest court decriminalized same-sex relations in October 2023, Pride has played a role in reducing hostility and portraying LGBTIQ individuals as integral members of society. According to activist Tanya Lallmon, Pride in Mauritius has contributed to growing tolerance among the general public.
“[Pride has] played a role in reducing hostility and portraying LGBTQI+ individuals as integral members of Mauritian society,” said Lallmon. “Over time, there has been a noticeable increase in media attention, casting the event in a favorable light. This heightened visibility brings attention to LGBTQI+ issues and helps integrate discussions on LGBTQI+ rights into broader human rights discourse.”
"Beyond the Rainbows and Glitter: Pride Around the World in 2023," which was produced with support from Balenciaga and seed support from Google.org, also contains coverage of 2023 Pride events in Bangladesh, Belize, Hong Kong, India, Italy, and Kosovo, as well as a discussion of disability inclusion and migrants’ and refugees’ perspectives on Pride.
Pride and LGBTIQ visibility events are crucial to build public awareness and support, connect communities, articulate advocacy demands, and sustain resistance against oppressive regimes. Outright International calls on governments around the world to uphold the rights to freedom of expression and assembly for LGBTIQ populations, allowing Pride and other queer visibility events to flourish.
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