June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in the United Kingdom. It commemorates the Stonewall riots and aims to recognise the impact LGBTQIA+ people have had and continue to have across the world.
It’s a month for communities to come together in solidarity to unite, to protest and to celebrate the heritage, culture and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual people.
Activists and allies can support by:
There are a wealth of films available on the LGBTQIA+ experience and history. It’s now as important as ever to support the work of LGBTQIA+ filmmakers and we have some lists and suggestions to get you started.
You can learn about how to become a more LGBTQIA+ friendly organisation, and think about how to support and collaborate with LGBTQIA+ led exhibitors and programmers.
When running LGBTQIA+ events is is important to consider intersectionality, including supporting global majority communities and ensuring your events embed disabled and neurodivergent access.
If you are interested in running a film event for, or inspired by, Pride, here are some resources for information and to help generate ideas, from case studies to film guides.
ICO spoke to Helen Wright, Festival Coordinator at Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF) about her experience of ensuring the festival is accessible to all audiences. Helen explains how SQIFF integrates access across their organisation and events, making this integral to their work from the very start.
More men and boys are currently diagnosed as autistic than women and girls. Find out about the gender ratio and the theories that try to explain it. We also look at gender identity – your sense of self as a man, woman, non-binary or something else – and gender dysphoria.
There are guides for being trans and guides for coping with autism, but none for how to deal with living at that intersection, writes journalist Laura Kate Dale
Eyes Wide Open What worked and why As always, our most successful events were ones we hosted ‘nominally’ with Picturehouse as a partner. We don’t have a financial stake in these screenings but rather are listed as co-presenters in exchange for publicity – these included God’s Own Country and Queerama. These films already had a … More
Project overview Iris in the Community was a Big Lottery funded project which ran from 2015 -2018. Its aims were to work with communities across Wales to make their own film and deliver their own mini-Iris film festival utilising films from our back catalogue. During the life of the project we engaged with 30 groups … More
Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF) was founded in 2014, holding its first one-off screening in September of that year and 3 annual Festivals since then. Attendance has grown from 1801 at our first festival in 2015 to 4609 in 2017 (a 156% increase). SQIFF’s audiences are made up of diverse LGBTQ+ communities and a … More
Project overview In February, Into Film organised a UK-wide season of schools screenings to coincide with LGBTQ+ History Month. Films selected by exhibitors in the programme from a curated package included: Before Stonewall, The Greatest Showman, Love, Simon, Moonlight and Tomboy. Aims To evaluate the Spring Screenings, Into Film used the generic model for Screening … More
February is LGBTQ+ History Month in the UK, a time to celebrate the rich histories, creativity, and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and gender‑diverse communities. Cinemas and film exhibitors can play an important role in visibility, education and inclusion.
Ways to get involved:
Screen diverse films: Highlight stories by and about LGBTQI+ people — including trans and non‑binary filmmakers and characters — past and present.
Host events: Organise discussions, Q&As, or panels that explore LGBTQI+ history, current issues and lived experiences.
Create inclusive spaces: Ensure your venue is safe, accessible and welcoming for all LGBTQI+ audiences and staff.
Partner locally: Work with LGBTQI+ organisations to support community events and amplify LGBTQI+ voices.
Context on transgender inclusion (UK):
Transgender and non‑binary people in the UK continue to face significant legal, social and healthcare challenges. Recent legal rulings have narrowed the legal recognition of gender under equality law, and many trans people report difficulty accessing public spaces and healthcare services, as well as high levels of harassment and a sense of insecurity in daily life. Polling has found a majority of trans people feel unsafe in public and face significant barriers to basic services and facilities [1].
By centering LGBTQI+ history and acknowledging the lived realities of trans communities today, cinemas can both celebrate diversity and show solidarity with audiences who continue to fight for equal rights and recognition.
[1] https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/10/27/trans-poll-uk-yougov-goodlaw-project
This is a report on how to support black and minority ethnic trans people.
