Pride Month: 6 LGBTQ+ charities whose comms are worth your attention

3 Jun

June means Pride. And with it comes the annual flood of rainbow logos, carefully worded statements, and content that - let's be honest - often says a lot without actually doing very much.

I've talked about rainbow-washing before on social media, and my position hasn't changed: visibility matters, but performative allyship erodes trust. Especially right now, when the climate around LGBTQ+ rights - and trans rights in particular - feels increasingly hostile.

So instead of talking about what not to do, here are six LGBTQ+ charities whose comms are genuinely worth your attention. Not because they do everything perfectly, but because there's something specific in how they communicate that's worth learning from.

LGBT Foundation

LGBT Foundation has been around since 1975 - and their comms reflect that depth of community knowledge without ever feeling dusty.

What stands out is their consistent, year-round health and wellbeing focus. They're not just loud in June. Their social media centres the community they serve, with a warmth and specificity that never feels generic.

The lesson: when your audience is your community, let that show in how you speak.

Just Like Us

Just Like Us work with schools to support LGBTQ+ young people - and their comms model is built around their community too.

Their annual School Diversity Week gives them a brilliant recurring campaign hook, and their ambassador programme means their content features real young people telling their own stories.

The lesson: if you have an ambassador or volunteer community, they are your most powerful comms asset. Let them lead.

Gendered Intelligence

Gendered Intelligence is a trans-led charity working to improve the lives of trans people in the UK - and they've been doing that work for over 15 years, including through some of the most difficult and hostile public discourse this community has ever faced.

What I admire about their comms is the clarity and dignity they maintain under pressure. They don't get drawn into bad-faith arguments. They keep coming back to their mission, their community, and the work.

The lesson: when the noise gets loud, consistency and groundedness in your values is a communications strategy in itself.

Switchboard

Switchboard has been providing LGBTQ+ support since 1974 - and their comms reflect that quiet consistency.

Their social media is service-led and community-first: clear information about how to access support, human stories from volunteers, and a tone that never shouts. Every post comes back to the same thing - we're here, we're free, and you can reach us.

The lesson: clarity about what you offer is a communications strategy in itself.

akt

akt supports LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 facing homelessness or hostile environments - and their rebrand a few years ago is a masterclass in intentional brand evolution.

They shifted deliberately to more positive, solutions-focused language: not just highlighting the problem, but centring what they can provide. Their founder's story is powerful, but they've chosen not to make the brand dependent on it.

The lesson: how you talk about your work shapes how people understand your impact. Positive framing isn't spin - it's strategy.

Stonewall

Stonewall is one of the most recognised LGBTQ+ charities in the UK, and their comms carry the weight of that - for better and worse.

What's worth noting is how they've navigated significant public controversy in recent years while maintaining clarity about who they're for and what they stand for. Their communications have become more precise and more focused on the communities most at risk.

The lesson: in a hostile environment, narrowing your focus and being explicit about your values isn't a retreat - it's how you protect the people who need you most.

One more thing: Third Sector Against Transphobia

I know that for some comms teams, navigating LGBTQ+ inclusion - and trans rights in particular - has become genuinely difficult. The fear of backlash, complaints, or being pulled into public arguments is real. And I understand why some organisations have become quieter…

But there's a real cost to that silence. Behind all the headlines and debates are real people who deserve to feel safe, respected, and able to exist as themselves.

I'm part of Third Sector Against Transphobia- a growing community of people across the charity sector who believe charities should remain trans inclusive, and who are trying to support each other through what has become an increasingly difficult landscape. If that resonates with you, come and find us on LinkedIn.

The charity sector, at its best, leads with humanity. I don't think we should lose that when conversations become uncomfortable.

Want more charity comms examples and honest takes on the sector?