Every summer, Hamilton comes alive with music, colour, and celebration as Bermuda Pride takes to the streets. But beyond the parade and performances lies the deeper purpose of the week: funding and sustaining OUTBermuda’s advocacy work throughout the year.
“Pride is our biggest fundraiser,” says Joshua Samuels, OUTBermuda Executive Director. “It’s what keeps the lights on and allows us to run the programmes our community depends on.”
Those programmes include the OUTLET Youth Group for LGBTQ+ youth and allies, Safe Zone Trainings for businesses and institutions, bursaries for students, empowerment grants, and subsidised one-on-one counselling in partnership with Solstice. These services reach people at different points in their lives, from young people seeking connection to adults navigating coming out later in life.
And while the funding matters, so does the space Pride creates. “Every year we see new faces,”says Samuels. “Sometimes it’s someone newly out, or someone who’s just moved back home and finally feels safe enough to show up.” That visibility, he emphasises, is critical.
It’s not just symbolic. For many, it’s their first time experiencing an environment where they’re fully accepted. “We often have people who are questioning their identity attend our events,” Samuels explains. “That experience of belonging can be life-changing.”
Still, Pride also reveals how far there is to go. At the 2025 Parade on July 5, a small religious protest reminded attendees that public discrimination hasn’t disappeared. “For some allies, it was a shock,” Samuels says. “But for others, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, it was just another reminder that the work isn’t over.”
One of this year’s key achievements was the release of OUTBermuda’s first Policy Manifesto, led by OUTBermuda Board Director Taj Donville-Outerbridge. Published close to Bermuda’s general election, the manifesto laid out a series of legislative goals, from healthcare access to inclusive education and legal reforms. “It’s a living document,” they explain. “We’ve been gathering feedback from partners and the public through forums like our Teatime event.”
Another story captured the emotional heart of why Pride still matters. OUTBermuda received a message from an older Bermudian man who had recently come out to his friends. He was excited to attend Pride for the first time, but those same friends told him he shouldn’t go.
“It speaks volumes,” says Josh/Samuels. “Coming out is a lifelong process. Fear and stigma still exist, even in 2025. Pride is there to say: there’s space for you, no matter when you arrive.”
Pride is also helping put Bermuda on the global map. This year, OUTBermuda participated in World Pride in Washington, D.C., helping to amplify the island’s profile internationally. Locally, Pride brought visitors to the island and boosted small business engagement. The organisation highlighted restaurants offering Pride Week specials and encouraged participants to support LGBTQ+ ally businesses. “Pride is a social movement, but it also has an economic impact,” Samuels. “It can be a platform to grow a more inclusive economy.”
Behind the scenes, the scale of the event often belies its limited resources. OUTBermuda has just two full-time staff members. Pride is made possible thanks to a handful of contractors and a volunteer team, many of whom balance full-time jobs or other responsibilities. “It’s a labour of love,” Josh/Samuels says. “We simply couldn’t do it without them.”
Another challenge is visibility, specifically, the fear many still feel about being seen at a Pride event. “There are people, especially allies, who worry that showing up might ‘out’ them,” he explains. “But if we want to shift perceptions, we need more people to feel comfortable standing beside us.”
That broader understanding of the LGBTQ+ community is something OUTBermuda continues to work on. After hearing that trans voices were underrepresented in past years, the organisation responded by adding trans members to the Pride planning teams. They’ve also made an effort to acknowledge and represent lesser-known identities like asexual and aromantic people.
“There’s still a lot of confusion about who Pride is for,” Samuels notes. “People assume it’s only for gay or lesbian people. But the LGBTQ+ umbrella includes many genders, orientations, and relationship types, even those that might appear heterosexual from the outside.”
Looking ahead, OUTBermuda remains focused on legal reform, public education, and growing community partnerships. Same-sex couples still cannot legally marry in Bermuda. There are no formal protections for gender identity, and discrimination continues without consequence.
“Some people think the work is done just because we have a parade,” Samuels says. “But Pride isn’t a marker of arrival. It’s a rallying cry for how far we still have to go.”
Tel: 441 705 1266 | Email: executivedirector@OUTBermuda.org | Web: www.OUTBermuda.org
Services: LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Education and Resources
