It almost feels like the past 60 years of activism, heroism and radical education by queer folks have been undone. From Florida’s so-called “don’t say gay” bill and Alabama’s ban on gender-affirming healthcare, a total of 28 states have introduced more than 300 anti-LGBTQ+ measures that seek to turn back the clock on our hard-earned freedoms and limit our ability to live authentically. As Pride branding has become ubiquitous, LGBTQ+ rights erode quietly in the background. But a closer look reveals a rainbow-washed house of cards that is one gentle blow away from collapsing. On the exterior, queer identities have seemingly become normalized and even lauded. Instead of attending a corporate-sponsored Pride party or speaking on a Pride panel for a company that donates to anti-trans politicians, as I’ve done in years past, I’ve decided I won’t be celebrating at all.
