LGBTQ+ Rights: The global celebration of LGBTQ+ rights and culture, known as Pride Month, gets off this Saturday with activities all around the world.
However, the celebrations in the United States this year will take place in the context of many new state legislation that target the rights of LGBTQ+ persons, especially young transgender individuals.
Here are some things to be aware of about the politics surrounding the festivities.
JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH, BUT WHY?
homosexual Pride Week, a public event held in late June 1970 to commemorate the first anniversary of the violent police raid at New York’s Stonewall Inn, a homosexual bar, marked the start of the month-long worldwide commemoration.
During a period when most LGBTQ+ individuals kept their identity and orientation a secret, the raid on June 28, 1969, set off a wave of demonstrations and ignited the rights movement.
There have been marches during Pride Week every year since it began, with events held in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Events that take place outside of June include the Rainbow Pride in Tokyo in April and a significant festival in Rio de Janeiro in November.
Gay and Lesbian Pride Month was declared in June 1999 by President Bill Clinton.
WHAT IS THE CELEBRATION?
The iconic rainbow-filled parades and celebrations of Pride honor the advancements achieved by the LGBTQ+ civil rights struggle.
A federal appeals court in the United States determined in April that it is discriminatory for North Carolina and West Virginia to refuse to pay for certain medical treatment for transgender individuals who have government-sponsored insurance.
In a compromise reached in March, court challenges to a Florida statute opponents dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” were settled, making it clear that instructors are permitted to display images of their same-sex partners and LGBTQ+ themed publications on their desks.
It further states that gay-straight alliance chapters at schools should not have to be compelled to operate in secret and that publications with LGBTQ+ themes and characters are welcome to stay in campus libraries.
Greece became one of the thirty-two countries in the world to allow same-sex unions this year, while an Estonian legislation that was adopted in June 2023 also went into force this year.
WHAT IS UNDER DETECTION?
Globally, rights have been lost; in Iraq, gay and transgender individuals face lengthy jail terms, while in Uganda, the death penalty is applied for “aggravated homosexuality.” Advocates claim that anti-LGBTQ+ legislation exist in more than 60 nations.
The influx of refugees seeking asylum in Europe from Africa and the Middle East has been facilitated by the tightening of those regulations.
Republican-controlled states in the United States have enacted laws that discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals, especially transgender individuals, in a number of ways in recent years.
Laws prohibiting gender-affirming treatment for transgender adolescents are now in place in 25 states. Other states have implemented measures, such as legislation or regulations that prohibit transgender women and girls from participating in gender-neutral sports and restrooms.
Republican state attorneys general have filed a lawsuit against a federal rule that would outlaw restroom prohibitions in schools and go into effect in August. Additionally, there have been initiatives to control or outlaw drag shows.
The majority of the policies are being challenged in court.
According to Kevin Jennings, CEO of nonprofit civil rights group Lambda Legal, LGBTQ+ activists are concerned about losing progress as well after Roe v. Wade was overruled in 2022, which resulted in stringent abortion legislation in most GOP-controlled states. The group declared a $180 million fundraising target on Pride eve in order to support more attorneys in opposing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
Without political and legal vigilance, advancements like the 2015 Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationally might be lost, according to Jennings.
The Dobbs ruling two years ago, according to Jennings, “looked at what happened to reproductive rights and our community has enormous anxiety over whether we’re about to have a massive rollback of what we’ve gained in the 55 years since Stonewall.”
HOW ABOUT ENTREPRIses?
Even if prominent companies like Wells Fargo and Apple support events all around the country, a backlash caused a stir at a significant bargain store last year.
Last June, Target began selling goods with Pride themes. However, when people knocked down and attacked employees, Target pulled some of the items from the shops and relocated displays to the rear of select locations. Following that, the business saw further criticism from consumers who were angry that the merchant catered to those who had prejudices against LGBTQ+ individuals.
The retailer said that it will not stock the merchandise in any of its locations this year. Nonetheless, the business continues to support NYC Pride heavily.
ARE THE EVENTS SAFE(LGBTQ+ Rights)?
The primary goal, according to the organizers, is keeping the activities safe, although there can be difficulties.
In May, the FBI and the US Department of Homeland Security issued a warning that activities related to Pride might be targeted by foreign terrorist groups. In the same month, the State Department updated its travel advisory for Americans, focusing on LGBTQ+ individuals and activities worldwide.
Law enforcement authorities said that ISIS propaganda from the previous year encouraged followers to attack “soft targets,” and that ISIS supporters were detained for trying to disrupt a Pride procession in Vienna in June 2023.
The organizations advise individuals to be on the lookout for threats whether they come by mail, in person, or online. It is important for people to be aware of attempts to breach security, infiltrate restricted areas, or pose as law enforcement. In addition, people should report threats to the FBI and dial 911 in case of emergency.
The executive director of NYC Pride, Sandra Perez, said that the event has a strong security presence and collaborates with local agencies outside the border. The organization anticipates around 1.5 million spectators and 50,000 marchers in its June 30 procession.
Perez said, “The struggle for liberation isn’t over.” “It is really top of mind that we need to be visible and mindful of what we need to do to ensure that the future generations don’t have to face these struggles.”