Cities That Have Shown Up to the Pride Parade Fashionably Late

In Western culture, Pride celebrations have become as normal as they can be with a new wave of queer activists and allies who are out and proud with their support. When we’re in our own bubbles of LGBTQ+ positivity, in person or online spaces, it’s easy to forget the fight that is still going on around the world. Gay history runs deep in every culture, some more overt than others. Some cities have yet to publicly celebrate their queer communities and others that have been doing so for decades. Then, there are the inbetweeners who have only just shown up to the party. Here is your hard and fast list of cities (or countries) new to Pride.

1. Guyana

The country of Guyana held its first Pride event back in 2018, when allies and members of the queer community gathered to protest the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. As the last remaining country in South America that hasn’t decriminalized same-sex marriage, the rallies held to support the queer population are carrying Pride celebrations. Gay marriage and gender recognition have yet to be seen in the grand scheme of policy, but the organizations at work in Guyana have since inspired other countries to come together to fight for LGBTQ+ right. 

2. Lugano, Switzerland

Across the Atlantic, also in 2018, Lugano, Switzerland, hosted a march in support of LGBTQ+ rights in the Ticino region. The heavily saturated Catholic population protested the event, but the queers persevered. Over 7,000 people were in attendance. Advocating without a specific political agenda in mind, people came from all around the country in favor of the celebratory facet of Pride.

3. Rwanda

In Rwanda, LGBTQ+ people had their very first Pride a few years ago in 2021. Though there are no legal ramifications for same-sex couples or attraction, discrimination runs rampant in other ways. Livelihoods are at risk, from education to employment to healthcare, many members of the queer community need to keep their sexuality underwraps. Despite the anxieties of the public, the Pride event was proposed as a way to promote inclusivity and successfully raised awareness on their behalf.

4. Columbus, Indiana

It’s no secret that the United States is a political playground with conflicting views and values on a state to state basis. Columbus, Indiana, is one of the conservative pockets of Midwest America. Government leaders, including former VP Mike Pence, represent the right-leaning views of their hometown. In 2018, however, in spite of the unrest around the country, Columbus held it’s first Pride which garnered a crowd of 2,000. Even more impressive, they did so outside of Pride Month and decided to show their support early in the month of April.

5. Kaunas, Lithuania

Kaunas took its place as the second city in Lithuania to host it’s own Pride in 2021. Though the initial parades held in the country’s capital received backlash from the greater public, Kaunas followed through with it’s plans to celebrate. The city, unaffiliated with Baltic Pride (a regional-based organization), relied exclusively on crowd-sourced funding and shifted swiftly into an anti-elitist political statement. Queer activists fought the government’s oppression of the event and were successful in their pursuit of putting down roots for future celebrations.

6. Antarctica (yes, we know, technically a continent)

Wrapping it up with a silly tid-bit, Antarctica's whopping parade population of 10 showcased their support for the queer community. Members of the McMurdo Station banded together for a photo with the iconic rainbow flag and celebrated Pride Month at their local bar. As the southernmost continent is governed by the United Nations, and therefore LGBTQ+ safe, it makes history as the first completely queer-positive continent!

As Pride Month floods our social feeds with rainbow-everything and positivity, it’s important to recognize the places where people are still fighting for their right to exist. While the rest of the world continues to make progress on the front lines for future LGBTQ+ protection, allies and queer people alike need to prioritize keeping up with global policy. Hopefully, with the consistent efforts of organizations and activists, Pride can be celebrated worldwide.