We went to a fun Pride Month event at one of our local libraries today. It had a bunch of folks with tables discussing an assortment of organizations that assist LGBTQ individuals and those who care about them. There were also fun little games, plenty of coloring sheets, and it was very chill and nice for all ages. It showed how Pride isn't about, "Teaching kids about sex," or anything the haters claim, it is about embracing identity and how some people might have two daddies, two mommies, a nonbinary child, a relative who lives with a man as well as a woman, and so forth. Pride is about people just living their lives and being comfortable, feeling open and free, instead of trapped in a metaphorical closet. Pride isn't just parades or fun events. It is about using one's voice and the voices of a group to insist on equal rights. stopping discrimination, and pushing back against those who would try to legislate LGBTQ people out of a public presence, or even violently try to end their lives.
It isn't hyperbole to state that 99% or so of the anti-LGBTQ sentiment comes from conservatives/Republicans/the right wing. There isn't always a religious element, but oftentimes that has a role too, as people try to interpret the bible in a fashion that allows their supposed Christian love (it's usually right-wing Christians) to morph into bigoted hate. Some people believe that being gay or trans is some kind of social illness, a psychological bacteria that if you expose a young person to it they will somehow become infected and, "Turn," into a homosexual or be trans...which is apparently bad? I personally would prefer my children to be gay or trans than hateful jerks who spend multiple hours of their days trying to rob others of rights. I don't think seeing a Drag Queen reading a book about a wolf blowing down the houses of pigs is going to make them want to be a Drag Queen too, any more than it would give the idea of trying to use their breath to assault a swine's house of hay.
Some folks say they are fine with, "The gays or trans," as long as they, "Keep it in the bedroom, you know, to themselves! That's not appropriate for the public." These are often the exact same people who put their 2-year-old little boy toddler in a shirt that says, "Ladies' Man," or don't have a second thought when it comes to encouraging their little girl to play with baby dolls, whilst their sons go roll toy cars through dirt piles. Letting your boys pretend to have a baby won't, "Make," them gay, but might help them be prepared for if they have children someday. If your daughter goes and gets some toy cars dirty, maybe she'll grow up to be a mechanic--and very well still be into men regardless of doing a, "Masculine," job. We as human beings can love all different kinds of people. I am a man who has only ever wanted to be a man and who has only ever felt attraction to women. I can still be an ally to those who feel their gender does not match what they were assigned at birth or who feel an attraction to the same sex, both sexes, or let's make sure to acknowledge our Asexual (or Aromantic) humans as well!
Even if you don't, "Get," LGBTQ people, that doesn't mean you have to be homophobic or transphobic. Hell, you don't even have to be what one would consider an ally. You just have to be willing to let people live their lives without making things harder for them. Giving LGBTQ people rights doesn't result in you having any fewer rights; it just means you recognize we're all human, regardless of what gender/sexuality/etc. As efforts ramp up more and more to rob people of rights, it further illustrates why Pride is important in 2026.
