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Happy Pride Month, John! 🏳️‍🌈
Every June, we honor the history of the LGBTQ+ community, and their ongoing fight for equality and the freedom to live full lives unencumbered by discrimination. This year, amidst the Pride celebrations and parades, we have to recognize the tumultuous legislative year we’ve had. LGBTQ+ folks have faced a record number of threats and challenges from leaders at the local, state, and national levels. This year alone, over 500 anti-LGBTQ bills [[link removed]] and anti-trans bills [[link removed]] have been introduced across the country attacking various rights and freedoms like free speech and expression, access to healthcare, education, and more.
While Pride can be a party, at its root Pride is a protest. Pride started as a fight for the right of LGBTQ+ people to live their lives in public, without apology. With that in mind, this Pride Month, we want to highlight the power of youth organizing when it comes to protecting LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms.
LGBTQ+ Organizing in the Alliance Network
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New Hampshire Youth Movement
New Hampshire Youth Movement (NHYM) and coalition partners spent the year fighting SB 272, an anti-trans forced-outing bill. In May, the legislative session ended with that bill indefinitely postponed. We are celebrating alongside the youth organizers in New Hampshire who have worked tirelessly to defeat every anti-trans bill filed in the 2023 legislative session. Young people once again demonstrated how the power of youth organizing can shut down inhumane legislation and uphold the rights of trans and LGBTQ+ young people.
Forward Montana
This year the Montana state legislature fell into the limelight after State Rep. Zooey Zephyr was silenced during the debate over banning gender-affirming care of minors. Forward Montana stood in solidarity with Rep. Zephyr [[link removed]] , drove over 1,000 calls against SB99 to pressure lawmakers, and organized a legislative session debrief with young LGBTQ+ community members.
Loud Light
In Kansas, Loud Light has been fighting on the legislative front lines against several anti-trans bills including HB 2238, a bill that would ban transgender women and girls from competing on sports teams. The Kansas Legislature overrode the governor’s veto of this damaging bill. Loud Light is mobilizing their network while honoring the activists who fought before them through “Pride was a Riot," [[link removed]] an event dedicated to exploring the history, theory, and practice of civil disobedience in the LGBTQ+ movement.
Continue reading about the Alliance Network’s LGBTQ+ advocacy over on our blog!
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As the legislative session winds down, let’s continue to hold our heads high and remember that Pride is a continuous celebration of advocacy and action for LGBTQ+ freedom. Equality is made for all , and young people know it. Let’s keep fighting.
In Solidarity, [link removed] [[link removed]]
Eliana Reed
Content Manager
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