June 1st marks the beginning of Pride Month, a time to celebrate the achievements, resilience, and existence of LGBTQIA+ communities worldwide. It’s also a powerful reminder of the ongoing journey towards equality and inclusion. For event planners, Pride Month presents a valuable opportunity to engage audiences with diverse voices and share meaningful stories.
Why is Pride Month important?
As we honour LGBTQIA+ communities, it’s crucial to reflect on why Pride Month remains so significant. We asked Saxton Speakers Faustina ‘Fuzzy’ Agolley, Nevo Zisin, and Archie Beetle to share their perspectives on why Pride matters today. Their insights underscore the importance of advocacy, education, and community in shaping a more inclusive future.
Read on for their thoughts.
Fuzzy (she/her): Coming out later in life has been a journey of understanding my identity, mental health, and visibility. Growing up, I didn’t have role models who looked like me—women of colour, especially openly gay women. It wasn’t until later that I realised how crucial it is to see women like myself, particularly those who embraced their identities and built authentic careers.
Nevo (they/them): We are in a time of acutely rising anti-trans hatred and legislation. 2025 is the year of meaningful LGBTIQA+ training and engagement, beyond lip service and box-ticking, into sustainable practice for the safety of all staff, clients, stakeholders and humanity more broadly. We cannot underestimate the dangers growing particularly for trans and gender diverse communities. Everyone has the power to curb this fate, through diligent and proactive action.
Archie (they/them): As a queer person, Pride evokes a curious mix of emotions: rebellion, celebration, reflection, and connection. It ties me to the past, to the protests, victories, and resilience of those who came before me, who fought for the freedoms I experience today. It grounds me in the present, asking: What does being authentically queer mean to me right now? And it pushes me to consider the future: Will the next generation experience these freedoms? Are we loud enough, strong enough, united enough to protect them?
Pride is more than just glitter and Kylie Minogue - though, to be clear, both are essential ingredients. It's a powerful act of self-expression, a safe space, a protest, a moment of collective joy. Pride is a deeply human experience in a world that feels increasingly inhuman.
Why Book an LGBTQIA+ Speaker?
Representation matters. Whether you’re hosting a corporate event, panel discussion or internal leadership session, LGBTQIA+ Speakers bring powerful lived experience that ensures diversity and inclusion conversations are authentic, relevant and action-oriented. Our Speakers are experts in leadership, advocacy, business, sport, media and personal resilience—helping organisations foster environments where all voices are heard and valued.
Fuzzy emphasises the importance of seeing yourself in role models:
"I longed for connection, which was hard without stories that reflected my experiences. When I finally found women whose stories resonated, it changed everything."
She continues:
"Their struggles and triumphs helped me see myself. These connections became the foundation of my healing. Through their stories, I gained a better understanding of myself and others, and found the strength to face my mental health challenges with more clarity, intention and compassion."
Key Dates to Keep on Your Radar
While June is the most widely recognised time to celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities, there are key dates throughout the year that provide event planners with opportunities to engage LGBTQIA+ Speakers and champion meaningful discussions.
Upcoming Key Dates for LGBTQIA+ Events:
- 17th May: IDAHOBIT – International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism & Transphobia. Learn more here.
- June: Pride Month – A month-long celebration of LGBTQIA+ history, rights, and progress. This is the most popular time to book LGBTQIA+ Speakers, so early planning is essential!
- 13-19 July: Non-Binary Awareness Week – A week dedicated to increasing visibility and understanding of non-binary identities. Find non-binary Speakers here.
- 14 July: Non-Binary People’s Day – A day to recognise and celebrate the experiences of non-binary individuals worldwide.
- 30 August: Wear It Purple Day – A significant day in Australia focused on supporting LGBTQIA+ youth and creating safe, inclusive spaces for young people.
- 11 October: National Coming Out Day – A time to honour the courage of those who come out as LGBTQIA+ and to promote awareness and support.
- 16 October: International Pronouns Day – Encourages inclusive language and understanding of gender pronouns in all settings.
- 13-19 November: Transgender Awareness Week – A crucial time to elevate transgender voices and address key issues affecting the trans community.
- 20 November: Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) – A solemn day to honour the lives lost due to anti-transgender violence and discrimination.
Make Inclusion a Year-Round Commitment
When it comes to LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the workplace, token gestures aren’t enough. Pride Month is a valuable moment, but creating a genuinely inclusive culture requires long-term action.
Archie, founder and CEO of Queer Town, tells Saxton:
“As the leader of Queer Town, I’m often asked by businesses how best to acknowledge or celebrate Pride Month. My approach is always to support them in moving beyond the rainbow cupcakes and colourful cocktails. Pride isn’t simply a one-off morning tea, it’s an ongoing commitment. If your business values respect, inclusion, and fairness, then Pride should be woven into your culture, policies, and daily practices.
The cupcakes are great, but true Pride is felt in the spaces we create, the conversations we have, and the culture we build.”
By engaging LGBTQIA+ Speakers, businesses can move beyond performative gestures and create a lasting impact through education, empathy and authentic storytelling.
Let Pride Month be a catalyst to longer term strategy and an opportunity to show targeted community members that they are loved, supported and will be fought alongside. Nevo Zisin
