Pride month, celebrated every year in June in many countries, is a key time to highlight the diversity, inclusion and rights of LGBTQIA+ people. Whether you are a company, a local authority, an association or a cultural venue, organising an event for Pride Month is a great opportunity to affirm your commitment and create links.
But like any committed project, it requires preparation, consistency and a real focus on inclusiveness. Here’s everything you need to think about to build a strong, respectful and unifying event.
Summary
1. Understanding the challenges of Pride Month
Before even choosing a format or venue, it’s essential to understand what Pride Month is all about. It’s not just a celebration, but a special time of year dedicated to visibility, remembrance and the fight for equal rights for LGBTQIA+ people. This symbolic month takes place every year in June, as a tribute to the Stonewall riots in 1969 in New York’s Greenwich Village.
This watershed moment in the history of LGBTQIA+ struggles began in a now iconic bar, the Stonewall Inn, where an all-too-familiar police raid sparked off several nights of spontaneous protests. Outrage at the violence and institutionalised homophobia and transphobia led to a sustained mobilisation, first in the United States, then around the world, giving rise to what are now known as gay pride marches, and more broadly to Pride Month.
This month has a strong militant history. Organising an event in this context should not be reduced to a simple marketing operation or ‘colourful’ entertainment. It’s a committed approach that demands respect, knowledge and genuine attention to the multiple identities that make up the LGBTQIA+ communities. It’s about honouring past struggles, amplifying current demands and promoting a more inclusive, fairer and more supportive society.
Every initiative during Pride Month, whether cultural, educational or festive, can help to change attitudes, provided it is coherent, inclusive and sincere. And to do that, it’s essential to be well informed, to talk to the people involved, and to draw on the many articles, online resources, websites and people involved at local or national level.
2. Define the objectives of your event
As with any event, it’s essential to start by defining your intentions. Pride month is not a generic event: it is part of a major social and historical event, which requires a certain clarity of positioning from the outset.
Do you want to raise public awareness of the fight against homophobia, transphobia and all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity? Perhaps you’d like to showcase LGBTQIA+ talent through a cultural format: exhibition, concert, performance, live show, etc. Or perhaps you’d like to create a safe space for people to meet, share their experiences or take part in joint construction workshops?
Your objective can also be more institutional: to showcase your company’s, association’s or local authority’s commitment to equality, inclusion and diversity. Or simply to offer a festive, unifying event that celebrates identities and encourages pride in oneself – as is the case with many Pride marches or parades organised in cities around the world.
Whatever kind of event you are organising, these initial intentions will guide all your operational decisions. They will determine the type of venue to choose (indoor, outdoor, institutional, cultural, festive, etc.), the tone of your communications, the speakers to invite, the symbols to mobilise (the rainbow flag or its variants, for example), and even the visual or sound programming (music, decoration, atmosphere).
It’s also an opportunity to pay tribute to the emblematic figures of the movement: in San Francisco, New York and throughout North America, figures like Brenda Howard – nicknamed ‘the mother of Pride’ – have marked the origins of this worldwide movement. It’s by thinking about these stories of struggle and collective action that you can give your event the depth and coherence that will really resonate with your audience.
Don’t forget: a well-designed Pride Month event is an act of celebration, but also a powerful lever for social change. It’s a way of taking part in the continuing fight for a fairer, more open society, where everyone, whatever their name, gender or history, finds their place.
3. Choose a format suited to your audience
Pride month offers complete freedom in terms of event formats. Whether you are a local authority, a company, an association or a citizens’ group, the most important thing is to propose an event that is consistent with your audience, your resources and, above all, your convictions.
You don’t have to aim for large crowds to have an impact. An event on a human scale can leave a lasting impression if it encourages listening, expression and a real connection between participants.
Some of the most effective formats are: an art exhibition based on committed works, a screening-debate followed by a discussion, a thematic round table, or a creative workshop facilitated by a concerned person. These formats focus on raising awareness, sharing experiences and highlighting LGBTQIA+ voices.
If your intention is more festive, you can also organise an inclusive evening combining performances, DJ sets, association stands or drag shows. Even a local gathering or a happening in the public space can have a strong impact, provided it is well organised.
The important thing is not the form, but the meaning you put into it. A sincere, inclusive and well thought-out event can make all the difference.
4. Surround yourself with the right people
Organising an event for Pride Month should not be done in a vacuum. It is strongly recommended that you work with people who are directly involved: artists, activists, local associations, LGBTQIA+ groups, etc.
This ensures greater legitimacy, allows you to adjust to different sensitivities and avoids clumsiness. What’s more, it can enrich your programming in an authentic way, while supporting the committed players in your area.
You should also take the time to consult with people who come from several of the letters in the LGBTQIA+ acronym: lesbian, gay, bi, trans, intersex, asexual, etc., so as not to limit your project to a single performance.
5. Think inclusive from the start
Inclusivity must be more than just a slogan in your communications. It must be embodied in every logistical choice, every detail of the organisation and every interaction with the audiences concerned. Organising an inclusive and accessible event as part of Pride Month means creating a safe space that respects LGBTQIA+ identities and experiences.
This means paying particular attention to accessibility. The venue must be adapted for people with reduced mobility (PRM), ideally equipped to accommodate a sign language interpreter (LSF), and offer clear signage, without jargon or language barriers. If you have an international or culturally diverse audience, you should also consider the impact of the language used.
Emotional and physical safety are just as crucial. Make sure that you have an identified well-being advisor who is trained to deal with reports of inappropriate behaviour or homophobic or transphobic comments. Make sure that the setting you have chosen is recognised as a safe space, or that you can guarantee the conditions.
Finally, think about the financial conditions for access: free admission, free for those concerned, or solidarity prices can broaden participation. Pride month, inherited from the struggles that began in North America after Stonewall, is above all a time for visibility, sharing and equality. By honouring its origins and importance, you are creating an event that is true to the spirit of the Pride March.
6. Create a safe and friendly atmosphere
Whether it’s an evening or a conference, make sure you set a clear framework from the start. Specify the rules of respect, the contact details of the people to contact in the event of a problem or incident, and display your commitment to the fight against discrimination.
Add a few touches to encourage a relaxed atmosphere:
- A quiet space or a place to retreat
- A welcome drink or a convivial corner
- Highlighting messages on communication media
- A carefully thought-out playlist, or a playlist produced in collaboration with the people involved
The participants’ experience is a reflection of your values: pay attention to every detail.
7. Anticipating logistics and authorisations
As with any public event, you will need to think about the regulatory aspects:
- Request for authorisation if you are organising an event in the public space
- Civil liability insurance
- Equipment: stage, microphone, sound system, lighting, furniture
- Volunteers or supervisory staff
- Registration management (for example with a solution such as Weezevent)
Logistics are not secondary. It contributes directly to the smooth running of your event and to welcoming participants in good conditions.
8. Prepare committed communication
Once you’ve defined your event, it’s essential to get the word out to the right people, at the right time, and in the right tone. Communication around Pride Month must remain respectful, authentic and committed. It’s not about “capitalising” on a cause, but about creating a real link with the people involved, their allies and all those who are sensitive to issues of inclusion and equality.
Social networks are of course essential: whether you’re active on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook, adapt your message to suit the audience and the format. A well thought-out campaign on these platforms can reach a variety of audiences, whether they’re already engaged or looking for information. A targeted e-mailing to your subscribers, partners or local community can also increase the impact, especially if your initiative highlights the visibility of gender identities or actively combats LGBTphobia.
Creating a mini-site or dedicated page is recommended to centralise all the practical information: venue, programme, accessibility, how to register, useful contacts. It’s a clear point of reference that’s easy to share and improves everyone’s experience from the outset.
Think about media partnerships too: working with a committed media outlet, an activist blog or a local branch can give your event greater resonance. In this way, you can add value to your event and give it credibility with a wider audience.
Finally, don’t forget the physical media: posters, flyers or QR codes placed in places frequented by the LGBT community (bars, bookshops, cultural centres, coworking spaces, associations such as SOS Homophobie) are very effective relays. Word of mouth works all the better when it takes place in trusted spaces.
When it comes to communication, adopt real gender neutrality. Use inclusive language in all your materials, avoid forms with fixed orientations or genders, and mention if you offer gender-neutral toilets. These are the details that make all the difference for transgender people, non-binary people, people with questions or people who have recently come out.
Don’t forget to state clearly whether the event is free, ticketed or by reservation. A solution like Weezevent can help you structure registrations and make the experience of participants as smooth as possible from the moment they arrive. All in a climate of respect, visibility and commitment.
9. Extend the event beyond D-day
Don’t let your event end with the last notes of music or the last applause. Think about prolonging its impact:
- Share photos, testimonials or thanks on your networks
- Ask for feedback via a satisfaction form
- Debrief with your team or partners
- Collect the contact details of interested participants for future projects
An ongoing relationship is the foundation of a committed community.
10. Centralise your tools with a solution like Weezevent
If your event involves registration, access control or activities with gauges, you can facilitate the entire organisation with a tool like Weezevent.
You’ll be able to :
- Create a free or paying ticket office
- Collect data useful to the organisation (first names, pronouns, specific needs…)
- Manage quotas and send automatic confirmations
- Scan entries with a QR code
- Generate post-event reports and statistics
A simple way to ensure a professional, fluid and secure process, while respecting your commitments in terms of welcome and diversity.
Organising an event for Pride Month isn’t about ticking a box, it’s about taking action. An act of visibility, support and solidarity. With a well thought-out, humane and sincere project, you’re creating much more than a meeting place: you’re building a space where everyone can feel seen, heard and respected. With the help of Weezevent, you have the keys you need to create an event that suits you, from online registration to access control.
