Rainbows on Centre Court

10 June, 2025

Friday Pride Days, the celebration of LGBTQ+ inclusion in tennis, are set to return to the British grass-court season in 2025. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) announced the initiative as part of LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2025.

First launched in 2022 in partnership with Pride in Tennis—the LGBTQ+ network for tennis in Britain—Friday Pride Days feature a range of visible and meaningful activations. These include Pride-themed branding on umpires’ chairs (in collaboration with the ATP and WTA Tours), rainbow laces and wristbands for officials, ball crews, and staff, and the LGBTQ+ Progress flag flying proudly above center courts throughout the summer.

“Friday Pride Days have helped foster safe, celebratory spaces for LGBTQ+ tennis communities at the LTA’s major events, as well as promoting the vital work of LGBTQ+ allies at venues across the country since they began in 2022,” said James Swanson, Chair of the Pride in Tennis Network. “By continuing to hold Friday Pride Days, the LTA and Pride in Tennis are both recognizing the progress that has been made and reaffirming their commitment to ongoing work around LGBTQ+ inclusion in tennis.”

In addition to the visible celebrations, members of the LGBTQ+ community are invited to speak on-court, sharing their personal experiences of being LGBTQ+ in sport—helping to foster greater understanding, empathy, and belonging across the tennis community.

The days also serve as a platform to highlight continued efforts to increase LGBTQ+ participation in tennis. This includes the Pride in Tennis Cup, which was hosted this year in South Wales, and the Rally Allies program, designed to help tennis clubs and venues across Britain become more inclusive and welcoming environments.

“Since we launched Friday Pride Days three years ago, they’ve become an integral part of our major events, raising the visibility that our sport is open for all,” said Dave Hardman, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy Manager at the LTA. “We know that how tennis is perceived and experienced—especially through our events—significantly impacts whether people will want to access our sport. So it’s great that, through Friday Pride Days, the LTA is showing that its events and spaces are welcoming, affirming, and inclusive, where people from LGBTQ+ communities can attend and be their authentic selves.”

Fans are encouraged to take part in the festivities by dressing in bright colours and accessories inspired by the LGBTQ+ Progress flag. At key summer tournaments—including the Lexus Nottingham Open, the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club, and the Lexus Eastbourne Open—supporters will also have the opportunity to purchase Pride merchandise. Proceeds will support the LTA Tennis Foundation and the Pride in Tennis Network, funding initiatives that improve lives through tennis.

The LTA remains committed to its partnership with Pride in Tennis. Representatives from the network will be present at all LTA summer events to raise awareness, answer questions about Pride Month, and guide fans on how to connect with local LGBTQ+ tennis groups and show their support as allies. Together, they aim to share inspiring stories of how tennis is positively impacting LGBTQ+ communities across Britain.

Jake Scudder

Journalist – Topics of Tennis

This article is based off an official media release from Lawn Tennis Association