News Summary
Birmingham has commenced its Pride Month celebrations with a series of events focused on supporting the LGBTQ+ community amid significant venue changes. The festivities include a Pride Ride, awards ceremony for community leaders, and initiatives promoting HIV awareness in partnership with AIDS Alabama. A range of activities such as Pride Bingo and Drag Bingo aim to foster inclusivity and celebrate LGBTQ+ identity. In light of controversies and a shift towards a more community-focused festival model, this year’s events reflect ongoing advocacy and support for LGBTQ+ individuals in Birmingham.
Birmingham kicked off its Pride Month celebrations on June 1, 2025, with a series of events dedicated to honoring the LGBTQ+ community amid significant changes to the festival’s venue. This year’s festivities include a variety of activities designed to promote awareness, community engagement, and support for LGBTQ+ individuals.
The celebrations commenced with a morning Pride Ride at Three 15 Studio in Homewood, followed by an awards reception to honor grand marshals and pageant titleholders who have made notable contributions to the community. This event is part of a broader effort to provide visibility and recognition to the leaders within the LGBTQ+ community and maintain its vibrant culture.
In partnership with AIDS Alabama, Birmingham Pride is focusing on HIV awareness throughout the month. As part of this initiative, free tickets to the Pride Brunch are being offered in exchange for confidential HIV and STI tests conducted at El Centro/The Hub from June 2 to June 13, targeting the first 100 participants. This collaboration aims to highlight the importance of health resources and education in the community, especially among LGBTQ+ individuals.
AIDS Alabama is also encouraging financial donations to support vital services such as housing and healthcare. Additionally, the organization welcomes in-kind donations, including clothing and personal care items, and provides various volunteer opportunities for those looking to contribute to the cause.
The month is filled with community events that include Pride Bingo, Pride Skate Night, Barons Pride Night, Drag Bingo, and Youth Pride Prom. These activities aim to foster inclusive social gatherings and celebrate LGBTQ+ identity and pride.
Recently, the Code Red Ribbon KiKi Ball showcased the underground LGBTQ+ Ballroom culture, which is known for providing social support through “Houses” and competitive events for performers. This aspect of the culture highlights community solidarity while also providing a platform for artistic expression.
In line with advocacy initiatives, community members are encouraged to get involved in events such as AL HIV Advocacy Day and the Positive Leadership Council, which offer training for peer-to-peer advocacy and raise awareness for HIV-related issues.
As Birmingham Pride approaches a transition to a smaller, more community-focused model by 2026, this year marks the last use of the Smithfield site for the festival, affected by redevelopment plans. The site has hosted the festival for many years, drawing attendance from tens of thousands annually and evolving since its inception as a free event in 1997.
This year, significant changes have been made, including a ban on political parties from marching in the parade. This decision was taken due to concerns regarding their roles in fostering tension toward trans individuals. The atmosphere at the event has been marred by controversy surrounding veteran LGBTQ+ activist Peter Tatchell, who was removed from the parade while protesting against past institutional homophobia by the police. Reports confirm that neither Tatchell nor the organizers agreed with police’s request for his removal, although he was not arrested.
West Midlands Police clarified that Tatchell was removed to assist with security arrangements and stated that his participation had been unauthorized. However, organizers later expressed their disappointment regarding the incident and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting free speech and peaceful protest during the celebrations.
Birmingham Pride Month reflects ongoing efforts within the city to promote inclusivity, health awareness, and community support for the LGBTQ+ population while navigating changes to the festival’s structure and organization.
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Additional Resources
- Birmingham Times: Inside Birmingham’s Underground Ballroom Scene
- BBC News: Birmingham Pride Celebrations
- Pink News: Peter Tatchell and Birmingham Pride
- Google Search: Birmingham Pride Month 2025
- BBC News: Birmingham Pride Developments
Author: STAFF HERE BIRMINGHAM WRITER
The BIRMINGHAM STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBirmingham.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Birmingham, Jefferson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Sidewalk Film Festival, Sloss Music & Arts Festival, Magic City Classic, and civil rights commemorations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as UAB Medicine, Regions Bank, and Encompass Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREHuntsville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
