What Nearly 500 CockBlockers Told Us About Pride in 2026

We asked our community how they spend Pride, what it means to them, whether it still feels important, who they meet, what they bring, and what kind of Pride person they are.

Nearly 500 CockBlockers responded. And honestly? You surprised us.

Yes, there were bars, parties, hookups, lube, harnesses, short shorts, and at least a few of you treating Pride like an Olympic event. But the themes that came through most clearly were:

Visibility
Connection
Community
Safety
Friendship
Showing up

This is what we learned.

Pride Is Still About Visibility

When we asked what Pride means, the top answer was:

A reminder that visibility still matters - 69%

That was followed closely by:

A celebration of how far we’ve come - 65%
A chance to feel connected to community - 64%

That tells us something. Pride is not just a party. It is not just a parade. For many people, Pride is still one of the few times they can be fully, visibly, publicly themselves. One respondent put it beautifully: “I still find Pride to be one of the few places I can hold my husband’s hand in public without fear.”

That sentence stayed with us. Because visibility can sound abstract until you remember what it can mean:

Holding hands
Kissing hello
Wearing the thing you want to wear
Showing up with your partner
Not scanning the room first
Not shrinking yourself

Pride Feels More Important Today, Not Less

We also asked whether Pride feels more or less important today than it did ten years ago. The answer was clear:

60% said Pride feels more important today

Only 13% said less important. That result feels significant. Because in theory, progress should make Pride feel less urgent. Marriage equality happened. More people are out. Queer culture is more visible. But a lot of respondents talked about the current political climate, the feeling that rights are being challenged again, and the importance of remembering where Pride came from.

One person wrote: “We are in a very weird time defending our existence, again. Another said: “Pride is a party as much as a protest.” That may be the whole thing. Pride can be joyful and political. Pride can be sexy and serious. Pride can be a parade and a reminder. And a protest.

Pride Creates Connection

We asked whether people had ever met someone new at Pride. The most common answer was:

Yes, a new friend - 54%

That might be our favourite result. Yes, there were new casual encounters (36%). And a few even met their spouse. One respondent wrote: “Met my husband in 1995."

Sometimes Pride is one weekend. Sometimes Pride is the place where your life splits into a romantic before and after. But for many, Pride is the place where you meet a friend, find your people, see someone like you, and finally feel less alone.

The Quiet Observers Have Entered The Chat

We asked respondents to choose one Pride personality. The winner was not 'Dance-Floor Demon' or 'Shirtless by Noon'. The biggest single answer was:

Quiet Observer - 37%

This is a plot twist we loved. Because Pride is often perceived as if everyone is extroverted, shirtless, and dancing. And although Pride wouldn't be nearly as fun without these people, a big part of our community experiences Pride more quietly. Watching. Supporting. Walking around. Showing up. Taking it in. Being present.

Not everyone needs to be on the float. Some people are on the sidewalk, feeling everything. And yes, the shirtless delegation is still represented (11%). We see you too.

How CockBlockers Actually Spend Pride

We asked how people usually spend Pride. The top three answers were:

57% hang out with friends or family
52% attend a parade or community event
28% hit the bars or clubs

Pride can be a lot of things. It can be friends and family. It can be a parade. It can be nightlife. It can be sex. It can be travel. One respondent said they spend Pride quietly at home. Another said they celebrate with their boyfriend. Another said they make a point of being more visible whereever they can.

There is no single correct way to do Pride. Which is good, because not all of us can do twelve hours in direct sunlight and deal with a bathroom line longer than the actual parade.

The Real Pride Survival Kit

We asked about your Pride survival essentials. The winner was not sexy, but it was correct:

Comfortable shoes - 58%

We are a sex toy company, and even we respect arch support. SPF (40%) beat glitter (9%) by a landslide. Though now we're wondering, could glitter be a form of SPF? The rest of the Pride survival kit:

A charged phone (36% chose a portable charger)
A look (36% chose a Pride t-shirt)
A plan (21% chose a recovery brunch reservation)
And lube (28%)

What People Spend Money On During Pride

We also asked what people spend money on during Pride. The top answer was:

Drinks - 53%

No shock there. And “drinks” doesn’t have to mean alcohol. Cocktails, mocktails, sparkling water, one heroic iced coffee - Pride can be thirsty work either way. We were pleased to see that adult products was second place at 41%, with Pride merch a close third at 40%.

Pride Is Not Just For Big Cities

Nearly half (45%) of respondents live in a big city. But not everyone does. 26% live in a small city. 17% live in a suburb. 7% live in a town or village. 5% live in a rural area.

We also asked whether people consider where they live progressive or conservative.

44% said progressive
35% said moderate
19% said conservative

Pride does not mean the same thing everywhere. In a big city, Pride might mean crowds, clubs, flags, friends, and a hundred ways to be visible. In a small conservative town, Pride might mean wearing something subtle. Finding one safe event nearby. Driving thirty minutes to another city. Holding your partner’s hand for a moment and feeling the weight of it.

One respondent wrote: “I live in a very small, conservative city. There’s still a lot of homophobia here and in the rest of the world.” Pride is not only for the places where it is easy. It matters most where it is not.

The Generational Part

One thing that stood out in the open comments was age. Our survey skewed towards millennials and Gen Xers. But some of the most powerful comments came from older respondents. One person in their seventies wrote about only recently feeling safe enough to be out, and about wanting acceptance from younger generations.

Another respondent wrote: “I implore the youth to carry the torch gaily forward.” That line deserves a moment. Because Pride is not just a celebration of identity. It is also an inheritance.

Someone marched before you.
Someone came out before you.
Someone lost friends before you.
Someone risked more than you may ever have to risk.

And if we are lucky, someone after us will inherit something better. That is part of Pride too.

So What Did We Learn?

We expected to learn how people do Pride. We did. But we also learned why Pride still matters. Here is what our community told us:

Pride is visibility.
Because being seen still matters.

Pride is connection.
Because people meet friends, lovers, spouses, and chosen family there.

Pride is safety.
Because holding hands in public should not feel brave, but sometimes it still does.

Pride is joy.
Because dancing, flirting, drinking, hooking up, dressing up, and feeling hot are not separate from liberation.

Pride is not one thing.
It is loud. It is quiet. It is political. It is sexy. It is personal. It is communal. It is sometimes exhausting. It is sometimes life-changing.

And for many people, it feels more important now than ever.

Thank you to everyone who answered our first CockBlock Pride survey. We read your answers. We laughed at some. We sat with others. But mostly, we felt grateful you took the time to share. We love learning about our community. What should we ask next?