Gays sound off with their complicated feelings on Pride this year.
By Alex Reimer
Pride may have started as an uprising against homophobia and discrimination. But over the ensuing decades, it morphed into a celebration. Until recent years, the trajectory on LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance kept trending upwards.
Now, it’s on the decline.
Gallup released this week its annual poll on the U.S. support for LGBTQ+ rights. For the fourth straight year, attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people are going down. At its peak in 2022, 71% of Americans said they supported gay marriage. This year, the number stands at 65%.
On the morality question, 62% of Americans say homosexuality is moral, down from 71% in ’22.
With trans rights eroding and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people faltering, there’s not a lot to celebrate these days. Taking part in boisterous parades and block parties can seem forced and tone deaf.
To which some would say, “good.” Pride was never about that in the first place. Perhaps the event can return to its roots. Because let’s be honest: Fortune 500 companies and defense contractors sponsoring parade floats doesn’t exactly scream “queer liberation.”
The politics around Pride are always complicated, and that’s especially the case with a retrograde admin in Washington. This week, we asked Queerty readers how they’re feeling this June. Here’s what they had to say…
What are your feelings on Pride this year and why?
“The Pride Parade has become too corporate. No more floats promoting your brand. It needs to return back to the beginning when the parade was a demonstration march against the prejudice and discrimination facing the LGBTQ+ community. I believe that younger generations have forgotten what this parade was all about. It’s not a party. It’s a revolt!” — Richard in Queens, NYC
Richard brings up feelings that are widespread: gay pride is inherently radical. That feeling of rebellion is certainly back: now only the bold show up. While that may be galvanizing, it also embodies the fear that’s permeating through marginalized communities. And that’s not a positive…
“I feel the GOP and their puppet stooges have used fear mongering and judicial manipulation to set back gay rights to the 1950s. Threats of violence and arrests and deportations have forced gays back into closet or underground. Pride this year is a setup to destroy and debase anyone who participates. It’s sad and tragic.” — JB in St. Marys, Georgia
Along those lines, Black and Brown LGBTQ+ folx are facing heightened threats of discrimination and racial profiling. Thanks to a Supreme Court ruling, federal immigration agents can apprehend people based on their appearance. This admin has sent ICE everywhere: hospitals, schools, airports, places of work. It’s feasible to believe they may have a presence at ICE events. Be safe out there.
“U.S. support for LGBTQ+ rights is declining. That’s very true. But the pendulum swings. RuPaul will be the next president.” — Jimmy in Chicago
Stop! That! Train! Jimmy is onto something. The cultural pendulum in America swings back and forth. The number of Obama-Tr*mp voters shows that many Americans aren’t ideologically rigid. Speaking of RuPaul, here’s what he once presciently said about the matter…
“Throughout our culture, there are little windows and pockets of time when people are open. After 9/11, there was a hostility and fear that was just in the air. After that died down, and Obama got into office—it’s not because of Obama—but Obama is a result of this openness that happened. …
“Obviously, in the late ‘70s there was an openness with dancing, and people were moving below the waist. Obviously, in the ‘60s. There have been little pockets. Those windows open, they close. They open, they close. I think we’re experiencing that right now. But it will close again. It’s not always that way.”
“I am excited for it–and remember the joy and fun it was before corporate dollars came into it. Sometimes you need to go back into the past a little to re-align and move forward.” — Kevin in Oregon
Kevin harkens back to a more fun-loving time, before gayborhoods became gentrified with private equity condos and expensive coffee shops. Companies milk gay people for their rainbow dollars and then cast them aside when their bottom line is threatened. The sheer number of corporations pulling back on Pride-related efforts is telling: many are only allies when it’s profitable. That’s the danger of getting in bed with capital.
“How do I feel about Pride in 2026 ? It’s one of extreme emotions. Extreme sadness at first, as my local downtown Knoxville, Tennessee Pride Parade is canceled for the second consecutive year as no Insurance Company will cover the festivities. No Insurance company wants to be affiliated. I have watched this small city grow from not having any Pride-related celebrations to thousands of participants coming from all over the country just a few short years ago. Seeing the sense of community, acceptance, safety, and belonging at past local celebrations was simply euphoric, as it was unimaginable for this area in my youth.
“Now It feels like we are back to where we started and all of the progress here that was so difficult to achieve has been erased. Shame on Knoxville! Shame on Tennessee! From that emotional extreme I find the other. That the spark of hope that began decades ago is back and Pride will return just in another form, because the bigots may rain on my Parade, but the essence of Pride is going nowhere. You know the saying, ‘We are queer, and we are here!’ Happy Pride to each and every one of you beautiful souls out there!” — Bradley in East Tennessee
The situation in Knoxville personifies the rift in red states across the country. A college town, Knoxville leans more left than the rest of Tennessee. But conservative state legislators try to overpower their state’s blue cities. They create environments that punish investment in the LGBTQ+ community–just like the federal government. But amid all the threats, Bradley is right: we have to stand strong. Thank you for your inspiring words!
“Pride makes me feel supportive, because everyone matters.” — Rob in Seattle, Washington
“We need it more now more than ever! It’s an act of resistance!” — Jonathan in Norfolk, Virginia
“I look forward to Pride this year and every year because it’s a chance to celebrate our authentic selfs and continue to be visible and hold space for our entire community. It’s also a time to reflect on our queer history and culture and to stand up against all forms of oppression and discrimination. We are resilient, we are beautifully diverse and we are not going anywhere. Happy Pride!!!” — Ravi in NYC
That’s an uplifting way to look at the current climate. Our queer elders sacrificed their safety to fight for the rights we enjoy today. It’s easy to forget: Obama wasn’t even pro gay marriage in his first term! We’ve come a long way, and we owe it to them to keep showing up and fighting.
“It feels like year after year, Pride gets smaller and smaller, and I always have to ask myself, ‘What EXACTLY are we celebrating?,’ especially with the political climate and threats from all sides. It also doesn’t help that not a lot of my LGBTQIA+ friends are represented well at Pride, and often feel left out and marginalized by the very community that’s supposedly to accept them.” — Ryan in West Chester, Pennsylvania
“Pride every year seems to be getting smaller and smaller, and less and less inclusive. I don’t see myself represented at all in any of the Pride events and festivities (as well as my fellow BIPOC and disabled LGBTQIA+ folxs).” — Jeremy in New York, New York
Ryan and Jeremy hit on the exclusionary element of Pride festivities. At NYC Pride, for example, a weekend’s worth of tickets can cost close to $1,000–and that’s before Ubers, drinks, accoutrements, etc. When the debauchery becomes exclusive, it loses its meaning.
“I’m finding it hard to muster much enthusiasm. With all of the violence that we’re inflicting on the world, partying seems uncouth.” — Connor in Delaware
It’s hard to argue with Connor. Partying right now kind of feels like dancing while the world ends. But then again, world events are out of our control. Maybe dancing off the existential dread isn’t a bad move…
“My first Pride event was 15 years ago—I snuck into the block party near me and nervously darted my eyes hoping I wouldn’t see anybody I know. Now, I am getting ready to throw my own Pride party, as I have every year for the last decade. Pride reminds me how PROUD I am to be gay!” — Randy in Indy
Great stuff, Randy. If you’re struggling to celebrate this year, think of that closeted kid who would’ve given anything to feel free.
Source: https://www.queerty.com/why-are-we-celebrating-we-need-it-more-than-ever-gays-sound-off-with-their-complicated-feelings-on-pride-this-year-20260607/
