DC PRIDE Month 2026: A Celebration of Commitment and Resilience

This year, as we celebrated DC PRIDE Month alongside the national observance of LGBT+ History Month, we turned our focus to the powerful themes of Commitment and Resilience. 

Building on the momentum from the College’s Black History Month, we set out to honour the enduring spirit of the LGBTQ+ community, celebrating those whose unwavering commitment to equality has shaped history and whose remarkable resilience continues to light the path forward.

The month provided a vital opportunity for our entire College community to reflect on our own roles in fostering an inclusive environment and to draw inspiration from stories of courage and perseverance. The main aims of DC Pride 2026 were to engage everyone with the achievements and struggles of the LGBTQ+ community, while actively promoting Dulwich College’s core values of Equity and Respect for All, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive in our diverse society.

This year, pupils once again played an important role in bringing this vision to life, leading initiatives and specialised societies that allowed them to explore issues within the LGBTQ+ community that felt most relevant to them. 

A few highlights from this year’s programme included:

• Lessons in Resilience: We were thrilled to welcome back RAF Pilot Matt Lindley, one of the first openly gay RAF pilots who delivered a powerful assembly focusing on this year's theme. He shared a compelling story of personal resilience when a flight didn’t go as planned, demonstrating that challenges can be met with courage and a supportive community. 
• Exploring Our History: The Upper School History Society engaged in a profound and important session examining Section 28, the controversial law introduced under Margaret Thatcher's government. This talk provided crucial context for understanding the recent history of the LGBTQ+ community in the UK and the lasting impact of institutional discrimination.
• Commitment in Action: A special assembly was held with our guest speaker, Laks Mann MBE, a dynamic strategist and award-winning expert in equity and inclusion who shared insights from his extraordinary 25-year career. From finance to the Metropolitan Police as the UK’s first openly gay South Asian and Sikh officer, and as a trusted advisor to the Mayor of London, his journey is a testament to the themes of commitment and resilience.
• Visible Support: A small but powerful new tradition was introduced this year with DC: Pride ribbons. These ribbons provided a simple way for pupils and staff to visibly show their support and allyship for the LGBTQ+ community throughout the month.

We have been thrilled with the response to DC Pride this year. It has given pupils meaningful opportunities to explore important issues, learn from inspirational changemakers, and reflect on their own role in building a community founded on equity and respect.