I had the pleasure recently of sitting down with Mark Kenneth Woods to talk about the sixth and final season of his remarkable docuseries, Pride, now streaming on OUTflix in the UK. It’s a show that has taken viewers on a journey across the globe, uncovering LGBTQ+ history that often goes unnoticed or forgotten. As Mark and I talked, it became clear just how much this series means, not only as a record of queer history but as a living, breathing testament to community, resilience, and the ongoing fight for acceptance.
Mark reflected on the bittersweet feeling of closing this chapter. “It’s like, whew. It’s, yeah, it’s been a while. So, yeah, no, I’m feeling good though. I mean, we have been all over the world and, yeah, it’s good to kind of let it go, I think, at this point. But, yeah, it’s been amazing.” From Johannesburg to Manchester, and even his hometown of Vancouver, the journey has been nothing short of incredible.
Pride isn’t just about the parades and festivities, it’s about the stories behind them, the histories that shape our communities. Mark shared how even in places you wouldn’t expect, like Tulsa, Oklahoma, there is rich queer history waiting to be uncovered. “Tulsa was just a shocking surprise to me… It’s just sort of like, there is LGBTQ history in every place. You know? And that’s what kind of surprised me, I guess. I mean, to go to a place like that and find so much history.”
That’s the heart of the series: reminding us that queer people have always been here. “There’s no place on earth where there is no LGBTQ history. I want people to know that. In any time or place, we’ve been there. We aren’t new. We’ve been there forever. We’ve always been a part of it.” This message feels especially urgent now, as we see attacks on LGBTQ+ rights in many parts of the world. Mark acknowledged the challenges but also shared a note of hope: “I do feel, even though we went from sort of like a really happy time to a sort of dangerous time, I finally feel like things are swinging back. So I’ll say that there’s hope.”
For anyone who hasn’t yet experienced Pride, or who might have missed earlier seasons, I can’t recommend enough going back and watching the entire series. It’s a powerful reminder that our stories are not new, that we belong, and that pride is about more than celebration—it’s about community and acceptance. Mark put it simply: “The definition literally of Pride is to not feel shame. So if you’ve felt that in your life, to go somewhere where you don’t feel that.”
Making this series has clearly changed Mark as much as it has informed viewers. “I’ve met so many people and I’ve been to so many places. I’m definitely tired, I can tell you that. But it has been incredible, of course… I’ve just learned from a lot of people. I mean, you know, that makes you a better person and a more empathetic person.”
As the series closes, Mark is already moving on to new projects, but the legacy of Pride will remain. It’s a gift to our community and to anyone who wants to understand the rich, complex history of LGBTQ+ people around the world.
You can stream all six seasons of Pride on OUTflix right now. And if you want to hear the full conversation with Mark Kenneth Woods, listen to the interview on Stage & Screen with Harvey Morton.
This series is more than just a show, it’s a reminder that pride is about knowing where we come from, celebrating who we are, and looking forward with hope.