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| Attacks on LGBTQ+ Americans cast long shadow over Pride month | Attacks on LGBTQ+ Americans cast long shadow over Pride month |
| (2 days later) | |
| Many LGBTQ+ Americans remain on edge and fearful of what the recent backlash means for their future | Many LGBTQ+ Americans remain on edge and fearful of what the recent backlash means for their future |
| St Cloud, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, hosted its first official Pride celebration just last year. This year, the organizers made the difficult decision to cancel, in large part because of the state’s recent law effectively banning drag shows with minors in attendance. | St Cloud, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, hosted its first official Pride celebration just last year. This year, the organizers made the difficult decision to cancel, in large part because of the state’s recent law effectively banning drag shows with minors in attendance. |
| The other reason was a death threat; a sign appeared in a nearby community that read: “Kill all the gays.” | The other reason was a death threat; a sign appeared in a nearby community that read: “Kill all the gays.” |
| “That happened just north of where we were to host the event,” said Kristina Bozanich, a local photographer and business owner who started the 2022 event, which has no affiliation with the city. | “That happened just north of where we were to host the event,” said Kristina Bozanich, a local photographer and business owner who started the 2022 event, which has no affiliation with the city. |
| “Ultimately, we felt that we needed security, and then we did not have the funds for security to ensure that we would be able to be responsible if something were to happen.” | “Ultimately, we felt that we needed security, and then we did not have the funds for security to ensure that we would be able to be responsible if something were to happen.” |
| For decades in the US, Pride events have been a celebrated – and even profitable – part of the month of June, dedicated to the history and culture of the LGBTQ+ community. But recent legislative attacks on trans Americans and hateful political rhetoric about queer identity have cast a shadow over Pride this year, even in states traditionally supportive of gay rights. Extremists have cast threats and attacks against members of the LGBTQ+ community, forcing events to ramp up security or cancel. Elected officials have tried – and sometimes succeeded – to ban the emblematic rainbow flag. Companies have backtracked on their support. | For decades in the US, Pride events have been a celebrated – and even profitable – part of the month of June, dedicated to the history and culture of the LGBTQ+ community. But recent legislative attacks on trans Americans and hateful political rhetoric about queer identity have cast a shadow over Pride this year, even in states traditionally supportive of gay rights. Extremists have cast threats and attacks against members of the LGBTQ+ community, forcing events to ramp up security or cancel. Elected officials have tried – and sometimes succeeded – to ban the emblematic rainbow flag. Companies have backtracked on their support. |
| As the end of Pride month approaches, which often culminates in weekend-long events, many LGBTQ+ Americans remain on edge and fearful of what the backlash means for their future. | As the end of Pride month approaches, which often culminates in weekend-long events, many LGBTQ+ Americans remain on edge and fearful of what the backlash means for their future. |
| “When I march in Pride this summer in San Diego, which is one of the largest Pride celebrations in the state … I’m going to feel a little less safe,” said California state senator Steve Padilla, who came out as gay at San Diego’s Pride in 2005. “But we can’t go back in the closet. And we can’t be invisible.” | “When I march in Pride this summer in San Diego, which is one of the largest Pride celebrations in the state … I’m going to feel a little less safe,” said California state senator Steve Padilla, who came out as gay at San Diego’s Pride in 2005. “But we can’t go back in the closet. And we can’t be invisible.” |
| Homophobia and queer hatred has a long history in the US. In 2021, hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people rose by more than 50% from the previous year, according to the FBI. But Padilla agreed this year’s Pride at least feels different. | Homophobia and queer hatred has a long history in the US. In 2021, hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people rose by more than 50% from the previous year, according to the FBI. But Padilla agreed this year’s Pride at least feels different. |
| In Hillcrest, for example, an area of San Diego affectionately known as the “gayborhood”, a man said he was called gay slurs before being doused in gasoline and set on fire Monday. In Calexico, the city’s youngest and first openly transgender mayor, Raul Ureña, and his father were accosted during a Pride-flag-raising ceremony last week. | In Hillcrest, for example, an area of San Diego affectionately known as the “gayborhood”, a man said he was called gay slurs before being doused in gasoline and set on fire Monday. In Calexico, the city’s youngest and first openly transgender mayor, Raul Ureña, and his father were accosted during a Pride-flag-raising ceremony last week. |
| Officials in several cities and school districts in Padilla’s district have also attempted to ban the Pride flag. Orange county, just north of San Diego, succeeded, at least on public property. | Officials in several cities and school districts in Padilla’s district have also attempted to ban the Pride flag. Orange county, just north of San Diego, succeeded, at least on public property. |
| “In California, you see these local school boards and cities attempting to mimic and to follow the talking points and the political playbook that they’re seeing actually implemented in other places where it’s possible,” Padilla said. “They’re trying to emulate and copy what they see in Florida, or Texas or Alabama, or other places.” | “In California, you see these local school boards and cities attempting to mimic and to follow the talking points and the political playbook that they’re seeing actually implemented in other places where it’s possible,” Padilla said. “They’re trying to emulate and copy what they see in Florida, or Texas or Alabama, or other places.” |
| “It’s a dark opportunism,” Padilla added. | “It’s a dark opportunism,” Padilla added. |
| Elected officials across the country have been targeting the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans for years, often disguised as a way to save children from “pedophiles” and “groomers.” So far in 2023, nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in the US, according to the ACLU. Such efforts limit trans Americans’ access to life-saving healthcare, prohibit any mention of sexual orientation or gender identity in schools, and even criminalize drag shows or punish businesses that host them, like Florida did in May. | Elected officials across the country have been targeting the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans for years, often disguised as a way to save children from “pedophiles” and “groomers.” So far in 2023, nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in the US, according to the ACLU. Such efforts limit trans Americans’ access to life-saving healthcare, prohibit any mention of sexual orientation or gender identity in schools, and even criminalize drag shows or punish businesses that host them, like Florida did in May. |
| “From an artistic or cultural representation, drag has been in music and movies in all different forms, and we have certainly been entertained by it for years,” said Bozanich, who lost her headlining performers after Florida’s law passed. “I don’t think it’s on accident, and I don’t think it’s fair.” | “From an artistic or cultural representation, drag has been in music and movies in all different forms, and we have certainly been entertained by it for years,” said Bozanich, who lost her headlining performers after Florida’s law passed. “I don’t think it’s on accident, and I don’t think it’s fair.” |
| Efforts to ban books have even become entangled with Pride month celebrations. The library in Ferndale, Michigan – known as Detroit’s “gayborhood” – found its entire young adult Pride display simultaneously checked out and replaced with religious texts in mid-June, as part of a national “Hide the Pride” campaign, spearheaded by rightwing group CatholicVote. The titles, which included queer history books and a guide for parents looking to support their trans and non-binary kids, were referred to as “smut” and “x-rated,” according to the Detroit Metro Times. | Efforts to ban books have even become entangled with Pride month celebrations. The library in Ferndale, Michigan – known as Detroit’s “gayborhood” – found its entire young adult Pride display simultaneously checked out and replaced with religious texts in mid-June, as part of a national “Hide the Pride” campaign, spearheaded by rightwing group CatholicVote. The titles, which included queer history books and a guide for parents looking to support their trans and non-binary kids, were referred to as “smut” and “x-rated,” according to the Detroit Metro Times. |
| “So much of this particular moral panic about book banning the country over, it’s about books with queer themes, it’s really about books with trans themes,” said Mary Grahame Hunter, the youth services librarian for the Ferndale Area District Library who identifies as queer. “So part of the experience of these book bans is not just an assault on intellectual freedom, which it totally is. If you’re a member of a marginalized group that’s being targeted … it can be absolutely crushing.” | “So much of this particular moral panic about book banning the country over, it’s about books with queer themes, it’s really about books with trans themes,” said Mary Grahame Hunter, the youth services librarian for the Ferndale Area District Library who identifies as queer. “So part of the experience of these book bans is not just an assault on intellectual freedom, which it totally is. If you’re a member of a marginalized group that’s being targeted … it can be absolutely crushing.” |
| On a broader ideological scale, the US appears behind several other countries with respect to views on gay marriage, which was legalized in all 50 states only eight years ago, in 2015. | On a broader ideological scale, the US appears behind several other countries with respect to views on gay marriage, which was legalized in all 50 states only eight years ago, in 2015. |
| According to a 30-country Ipsos poll published earlier this month, 54% of Americans believe “same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry,” following 18 other countries and just slightly under the average of 56%. The US also had the eighth highest percentage of respondents, at 18%, who feel same-sex couples should not “be allowed to obtain any kind of legal recognition.” | According to a 30-country Ipsos poll published earlier this month, 54% of Americans believe “same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry,” following 18 other countries and just slightly under the average of 56%. The US also had the eighth highest percentage of respondents, at 18%, who feel same-sex couples should not “be allowed to obtain any kind of legal recognition.” |
| When the Texas GOP met to finalize the party’s platform last year, thousands of Republicans agreed to define homosexuality as an “abnormal lifestyle choice” and that LGBTQ+ people should not be protected from discrimination. Houston, where the meeting took place, had already canceled its Pride festival at the beginning of the year citing costs and safety reasons. (The parade is still on.) | |
| It’s just not politics either. So-called “rainbow capitalism” is under threat, as companies retract their attempts to profit from supporting the LGBTQ+ movement or tone-down their corporate Pride campaigns. Target, for example, pulled some Pride merchandise from its shelves in late May after conservative backlash, including confrontations with workers in stores. Bud Light lost its spot at America’s top-selling beer after Anheuser-Busch used a trans influencer in an ad. And the Starbucks’ Union recently announced that employees at some stores have been prohibited from displaying Pride decorations, although the company denies having any new policy. | It’s just not politics either. So-called “rainbow capitalism” is under threat, as companies retract their attempts to profit from supporting the LGBTQ+ movement or tone-down their corporate Pride campaigns. Target, for example, pulled some Pride merchandise from its shelves in late May after conservative backlash, including confrontations with workers in stores. Bud Light lost its spot at America’s top-selling beer after Anheuser-Busch used a trans influencer in an ad. And the Starbucks’ Union recently announced that employees at some stores have been prohibited from displaying Pride decorations, although the company denies having any new policy. |
| “People are not born bigots. They learn this stuff. It’s generational. It’s cultural,” Padilla said. “You have to see and be vigilant to protect equality for all people, and I think that we got a little content in modern history.” | “People are not born bigots. They learn this stuff. It’s generational. It’s cultural,” Padilla said. “You have to see and be vigilant to protect equality for all people, and I think that we got a little content in modern history.” |
| This article was amended on 26 June 2023. An earlier version said that the Texas GOP met to finalize the party’s platform “last week”. This should have said last year. |
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