Pride is Democracy

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Pride in Seattle and the 20th anniversary of marriage equality beginning in the United States. We have a lot to celebrate, yet over the past few years it has become clear that our community could face the most challenging circumstances in more than a generation if we all don’t get involved.

Across the country, opponents to equality continue to push for authoritarian legislation that governs, restricts or severely discriminates against LGBTQIA + people. The ACLU is tracking 515 anti-LGBT bills introduced in states during the 2024 legislative session. This is also happening on a federal level, bringing the total bills against us to at least 552.

This assault on freedom wasn’t always the norm. And we must not become desensitized to this. We must remember all the progress that has been made and continue to fight and push for it to continue, including winning marriage equality in state after state before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in our favor. That trend continued around the world, with 36 countries now legally recognizing our relationships, and others, including Japan, Thailand and India, seriously considering a move toward legal recognition.

Bullying has had a dangerous and sometimes deadly effect on young LGBTQIA+ people across the country, but strides were made to combat it. Schools tried to teach love over hate, provide appropriate books for students exploring their identity, and treat them kindly when they confided in adults.

And corporations earnestly marketed their support for LGBTQIA+ communities, especially during Pride Month when they sold pride-themed materials, and changed their brand icons on social media.

We can thank the fundamentals of democracy for bringing us these advancements. These fundamental human rights inherent in healthy democracies are essential for marginalized communities to live freely and safely.

In countries where democracy backslides, LGBTQIA+ people are used as an excuse to roll back rights for all people.

And, these antidemocracy forces now are at play in democracies worldwide, especially in the United States and Europe. Over the past year in the United States, a highly coordinated, and small but vocal group of people focused their movement on libraries. According to the American Library Association, there was a 92% increase in the number of titles targeted for censorship in 2023. More than 4,000 titles were targeted, and 1,273 demands were made to censor materials in libraries nationwide. Forty-seven percent of the targeted titles were books focused on LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities.

Following the disastrous decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, women and people who can become pregnant in 21 states now have severe restrictions or even bans on healthcare decisions that were once a right a few years ago.

Not only has the fall of Roe made life more dangerous for women, but it also threw an entire class of laws and court rulings into question. Rulings that gave us marriage equality or even struck down the criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity are weaker now than in the past 50 years. In some states, it is now illegal for trans people to get the healthcare they need or for drag performers to be seen in public.

Although this is a 911 moment for anyone who believes in democracy and the right to be free, I remain hopeful. Those working to dismantle democracy are active but represent a minority of people.

It feels like they are winning because they are showing up and using the powers of democracy to undermine the system itself. They are taking over school boards, organizing book bans, taking over election boards, organizing boycotts of brands, and more.

I am so proud to work at WE, a company with an unwavering commitment to LGBTQIA+ communities. WE’s 100 score on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) CEI survey was due in part to our substantial benefits, which are some of the best in the business, especially for an agency our size. This includes coverage for gender-affirming care and for those living in states that no longer allow access to this lifesaving medical support. WE employees can opt to either travel to another state for the care or take advantage of a one-time relocation benefit to move to a safe harbor state. The agency also regularly contributes to LGBTQIA+ organizations, to help further support our equality.

That is why I encourage everyone, whether a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, an ally, or even someone who may not quite understand us yet, to take Pride Month as an opportunity to commit to democracy. Our communities are the target of so many of the attacks coming from anti-democratic forces, and once they normalize attacking one community and its freedom, then history shows us that everyone's freedom is at risk.

We must not become numb or believe that democracy cannot survive. As antidemocracy forces have shown us, we have the tools and the power to restore our constitutional freedoms when we work together and show up.

Here are a few ways you can take action:

• Support and connect with organizations and nonprofits that focus on advocacy and change, such as the HRC and GLAAD.
• Let your voice be heard and write your local congressperson Find Your Representative | house.gov.
• Volunteer for organizations in your community that support LGBTQIA+ rights. The Equality Federation is a good place to access resources in your state.

My hope is that Pride becomes a symbol of how diverse communities joining together can restore and protect freedom for all. We must all work together and commit without hesitation to defend democracy during Pride Month, this year and beyond.