Happy Pride Month, John!
For as long as I can remember, there’s always been a special electricity in the air in June. While I’ve been out and proud for decades, I remember clearly what it was like to be a gay kid, fearful of being myself, without the support of my community.
I’m amazed at how much things have changed over the course of my lifetime, but we all know that this Pride Month comes at an extremely challenging time for LGBTQ+ Americans.
As we speak, there are nearly 500 pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation moving through state legislatures across the country. These coordinated and cruel attacks have been particularly targeted at the freedom and dignity of transgender children, their ability to access gender-affirming care, participate in school sports, and be accepted into their communities.
The experts are clear on what the impact of these bills will be: Trans children have a higher risk of attempted suicide and other mental health challenges when they face bullying, rejection, or denial of health care.
Bills aimed at restricting the rights and dignity of trans children aren’t just bigoted and ill-informed – they’re dangerous, deranged, and extremely personal to me.
I knew I was gay at 11 years old – and it was sometimes very lonely and scary. I know the feeling of having my very existence questioned, while laws and lawmakers were not on my side. I know anyone who has ever felt on “the outside” can understand the feeling of not belonging and feeling vulnerable. You don’t have to be gay or trans to know that we need to stand up for our kids.
We can and we must – loudly and proudly – defend transgender youth who are being used as a rallying cry for hatred and bigotry by partisan extremists. LGBTQ+ children are counting on adults like you and me to stand up and fight for them.
This Pride Month, I pledge to remember the struggles and bravery of our queer ancestors — trailblazers like Leslie Feinberg, Marsha P. Johnson, and Harvey Milk — and do everything in my power to honor their activism through continued action to protect the progress we’ve won in the fight for LGBTQ+ liberation, particularly for our transgender community.
Happy Pride Month, John.
Becca Balint
