Not everyone is the same, and what matters most is learning about our fellow humans and how to treat everyone with the respect they deserve! It’s super important to be proud of who you are - so let’s jump into these facts and we can all learn more about the LGBTQIA2A+ movement together! The work of equality isn’t finished yet, so let’s have a look at some stories from the movement’s history!

1. Some of the world’s greatest athletes identify as LGBTQIA2A+!

From the legendary British Olympian Tom Daley to the USA’s star football player Megan Rapinoe, loads of the best sportspeople in the whole world are proud of who they are! They’ve lived through enormous challenges to get to the top and are stronger for it!

2. The LGBTQIA2A+ community is super supportive!

Sometimes being different can make you feel alone in the world, but thankfully the LGBTQIA2A+ community is one of the strongest in the world, and global events like Pride help people find their chosen families, who help each other through thick and thin!

3. Justin Fashanu was the first openly gay English football player!

In 1990, Justin proudly told the world that he was a gay man in a newspaper interview, this is known as ‘coming-out’. It was very difficult for him to be the first professional footballer to say so, and lots of people were really horrible to him but Justin’s strength showed everyone that change was possible, and that the world of football could change!

4. The first Pride march was in 1970!

It seems like a long time ago, but on June 28th the first Pride March took place in New York City, thousands of people joined together to shout with one voice that discrimination of the LGBT community had to end! Pride is now celebrated the world over! Nice!

5. Before Pride marches was Stonewall

In 1969 the police in New York raided an LGBTQIA2A+ bar called the Stonewall Inn, hurting lots of people and arresting many of the people who were hanging out there with their friends. Because of this, a riot broke out as members of the community fought back against police violence and even more people were hurt. The people of New York were angry about this violence toward gay people and the fight for equality really stepped up!

6. Pride started as a protest!

When the first Pride march happened many people didn’t understand the Gay rights movement, and sadly lots of people were against it. The police were very violent towards the people on the march and lots of people were hurt. Since then times are changing and hopefully soon everyone, all over the world, can celebrate who they are in safety.

7. The amazing runner Sha'Carri Richardson is openly bisexual!

One of, if not THE, fastest women in the world is openly bisexual and proud of it! She won the 2023 100 metre sprint in the World Championships and is on course to set loads more world beating records! She is proof that whoever you are, and whoever you want to be, there is a place for you at the top of the leader board!

8. Same-sex marriage was first allowed in the Netherlands in 2001!

It’s incredible it took so long, but the Netherlands was the first country in modern times to make marriage between people of the same sex legal! This first step started the journey of many countries to allow LGBTQIA2A+ people the same rights as straight people, in the Netherlands it also meant that same-sex couples could adopt children for the first time!

9. Same-sex marriage has been around since ancient times!

Right back in history, as far as ancient Mesopotamia, 6000 years ago, there are records of men marrying other men. The Roman Emperor Nero married two men in his lifetime, this shows us that the LGBTQIA2A+ has a long history, even if there is still lots of work to do!

10. In Britain, it took until 1967 for homosexuality to not be a crime!

That’s right! Before then, it was actually a crime to be with the person you wanted to be. Gay men could be arrested by police and even sent to prison. It took until 2014 for same-sex marriage to be legal in England, Wales and Scotland. It wasn’t until 2020 that it was allowed in Northern Ireland!

11. It is still a crime to be LGBTQIA2A+ in some countries.

It’s sad, but true, in 2024, it is still illegal to love who you want to in 70 countries. This means that you can be arrested for simply being the person you want to be. There are lots of people trying to change this, but in some parts of the world being LGBTQIA2A+ is really hard, and sometimes dangerous too.

12. The maths genius Alan Turing was arrested for being gay

Alan Turing worked in Britain during WW2 and his incredible brain cracked the Nazi 'enigma code’ which shortened the war by many years and saved thousands of people’s lives. But even though he was a hero, in 1952 he was arrested for what the government thought was a crime! A long time after his death, in 2014, Turing was officially pardoned by Queen Elizabeth II and the government apologies, his face is now on the £50 note! Amazing!

13. The first openly gay American politician was Harvey Milk!

Harvey Milk was a super confident and outspoken member of the New York LGBTQIA2A+ community and in 1977 became the first openly gay government official! He did a lot for his community and fought back against laws that he felt discriminated against people unfairly.

14. Elliot Page was the first openly transgender person on the Time Magazine front cover!

It’s a big deal to be on the cover of Time Magazine and in 2021 Elliot Page changed the world forever by being featured on it! Elliot helps the LGBTQIA2A+ community through loads of education programmes and charity work to help people learn how important accepting other people is!

15. The LGBTQIA2A+ movement shows what people can do when they work together!

The world has come a long way toward equality and thousands of people have worked incredibly hard to make sure we are all treated with the respect we deserve. While there is still a long way to go, by teaming up and working together, you really can change the world!