Latest news with #MarshaPJohnson
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Trump administration's "divide and conquer" approach to LGBTQ rights
In Marsha P. Johnson's final interview before her death in 1992, the activist later recognized as an icon of the movement that preceded LGBTQ rights in the United States explained why she, a transgender woman, championed a cause that often excluded her. "I've been walking for gay rights all these years," Johnson said, referencing early Pride marches in a conversation that appears in a 2012 documentary about her life. "Because you never completely have your rights, one person, until you all have your rights." Since then, social and political wins over time grew to encompass everyone represented by the acronym LGBTQ, which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. But that's become less true in recent years, as lawmakers in Tennessee, Texas and a number of other states repeatedly pushed legislation to restrict access to gender-affirming care, bathrooms and sports teams for transgender people. Anti-trans sentiment was central to President Trump's 2024 campaign, LGBTQ advocates say, and it followed him into office. Many of his directives this term have closely mirrored Project 2025, a conservative policy agenda that explicitly prioritizes eroding LGBTQ rights. A "divide and conquer" approach From health care bans, to sports bans, bathroom bans, a military ban and attempts to erase non-binary gender pronouns from the federal system, Mr. Trump's most conspicuous threats to LGBTQ rights specifically target trans people, a pattern that has drawn accusations of scapegoating from his critics, given that trans people make up an estimated 1% or less of the U.S. population. LGBTQ advocates also see it as a tactic to sow division in the community. "Donald Trump ran for president on an age-old platform of divide and conquer," said Brandon Wolf, the national press secretary at the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy organization. "Inside the LGBTQ+ community, Donald Trump ran his campaign saying, I'm not targeting all LGBTQ+ people, just the trans people, and if you sacrifice that community, perhaps you will be spared." While polling data showed most LGBTQ voters didn't choose to elect him, Mr. Trump has gained increasingly loud support from a faction of gay conservatives who disavow the "radical LGBT left" and insist his policies aren't at odds with their personal freedoms. When the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced the upcoming termination of part of its 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline dedicated to helping LGBTQ youth, the gay conservative group Log Cabin Republicans called related media coverage "fake news." On TikTok, a small but popular band of conservative gay influencers post videos to similarly defend Mr. Trump's record. "Rights I've lost in Trump's America as a gay man," reads the caption of one of them, followed by an empty list numbered 1 through 5. In the comments section of another, a TikTok user responded to a thread outlining the current administration's anti-LGBTQ actions by saying, "None of that has anything to do with us being gay." Trump's orders On Inauguration Day, Mr. Trump declared in his televised address to the American public that "only two genders," male and female, would be recognized going forward by the federal government. He signed an executive order to enforce that within hours of being sworn in. Titled "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," the wide-ranging order included instructions for the State Department to prohibit trans people from using gender markers that reflect their identities on official documents, like passports, and instead require that those markers align with the document holders' reproductive organs "at conception." "The Trump administration's passport policy attacks the foundations of the right to privacy and the freedom for all people to live their lives safely and with dignity," said Jessie Rossman, the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Massachusetts, which has made headway in a lawsuit aiming to reverse the new rule, in a statement. "We will continue to fight to stop this unlawful policy once and for all." Like many of Mr. Trump's executive orders, that one has faced steep challenges in the courts, and legal experts say its long-term applicability is uncertain as some elements contradict the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, which codified discrimination protections for all LGBTQ employees under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The same conflict exists in Mr. Trump's orders to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, in which he instructed federal departments to "correct" what he called a "misapplication" of the Bostock ruling in their policies. Their uncertain futures aside, LGBTQ advocacy and rights groups feel those policies and others have already reaped consequences on the community at large — "the predictable result," said Wolf, "of a divide and conquer campaign." In response to Mr. Trump's directive to end "radical indoctrination in K-12 schools," the Department of Defense banned books with themes involving gender identity, sexual orientation and race from its schools for children in military families, which receive federal funding, according to a separate lawsuit filed by the ACLU. A textbook focused on LGBTQ figures in American history was tossed out under the ban. Meanwhile, corporations scrambling to comply with anti-DEI orders eliminated or scaled back their partnerships with Pride celebrations around the country after Mr. Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center in February forced WorldPride organizers to regroup because events were either canceled or relocated from the venue. And, in May, the Human Rights Campaign issued a memo warning that Mr. Trump's "big, beautiful bill," a "skinny" budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, would cut $2.67 billion in federal funding from programs that support LGBTQ people. Among its most urgent concerns were the administration's plans to significantly downsize public health programs for HIV/AIDS prevention as well as Justice Department programs that investigate anti-LGBTQ hate crimes, in addition to sweeping cuts to resources for the trans community. Asked where LGBTQ rights stand under the Trump administration, a White House spokesperson pointed to Mr. Trump's past appointments of openly gay judges and officials such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in addition to two initiatives during his first term to decriminalize homosexuality globally and end the HIV epidemic by 2030, although his 2026 budget proposal would hamper that. "President Trump's historic reelection and the overall MAGA movement is a big tent welcome for all and home to a large swath of the American people," said the spokesperson, Harrison Fields, in a statement. "The President continues to foster a national pride that should be celebrated daily, and he is honored to serve all Americans. The American people voted for a return to common sense, and the President is delivering on every campaign promise supported by 77 million voters and is ushering in our Golden Age." "An anti-LGBTQ administration" In addition to tangible policies, advocates say that attitudes toward LGBTQ people from the nation's highest office are contributing to higher incidences of violence against LGBTQ people and likely foreshadow harms still to come. "Overall, it is clearly an anti-LGBTQ administration," said Sarah-Kate Ellis, the president and chief operating officer at the LGBTQ media organization GLAAD. "And I think that they are consistently signaling that they want to roll back all of our hard-won rights." Mr. Trump and those in his orbit have repeatedly cast LGBTQ people and activities in a negative light. While announcing leadership shifts at the Kennedy Center in February, the president penned a social media post that pledged, in capital letters, to ensure the arts forum would no longer host drag shows "or other anti-American propaganda." His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, later said the country needs "less LGBTQ graduate majors" in an interview on Fox News criticizing Harvard University. According to advocates and academics, the administration frequently relies on political strategies to marginalize trans people that have been used against other groups in the past. The term "groomers," for example, is a historically anti-gay trope, and "gender ideology" originally demonized feminism. There were also notable moments of silence from the Trump administration, which did not acknowledge Pride Month, even as a global Pride festival took place for several weeks between May and June in Washington, D.C. LGBTQ people say that wasn't necessarily a surprise after watching their visibility decline in national forums this year, starting with mentions of "lesbian," "bisexual," "gay," "transgender," "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" being scrubbed from the White House website the day after Mr. Trump's inauguration, in a flashback to his first term. References to trans people disappeared around the same time from the website for the Stonewall National Monument, considered the birthplace of gay liberation, in a move that sparked particular outcry. Marcia P. Johnson was among the pioneering trans activists who remain named on the site despite that change. Where do LGBTQ rights stand in America? Advocates for LGBTQ rights and others in the community say they're wary of what may come next. Echoing discourse that has persisted online since Mr. Trump's campaign, Ellis said she expects a right-wing push to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage, is imminent. "Our view on this is that they will continually attack our community and find any way to dismantle our community," she said, of the right-wing forces propelling Mr. Trump. "They've only focused on trans people because they are such a small population and so marginalized. But they will go after our marriages. They will go after our families. It has always been the anti-LGBTQ movement at the center of this." At least nine state legislatures have introduced bills to reverse the Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling since Mr. Trump returned to Washington. Earlier this month, the Southern Baptist Convention voted overwhelmingly to pass a resolution that calls for the same. LGBTQ advocates emphasize that marriage equality is settled law, and research from Gallup and GLAAD demonstrate that a vast majority of Americans continue to support it. But some still worry the path to overturning Obergefell could be akin to the one that led to the fall of Roe v. Wade, which kept abortion legal for 50 years before Trump-appointed justices tipped the Supreme Court bench and struck it down. Breaking down major Supreme Court ruling on nationwide injunctions Saturday Sessions: Gordi performs "Lunch at Dune" Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez set for star-studded wedding in Venice
CBS News
28-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
The Trump administration's "divide and conquer" approach to LGBTQ rights
In Marsha P. Johnson's final interview before her death in 1992, the activist later recognized as an icon of the movement that preceded LGBTQ rights in the United States explained why she, a transgender woman, championed a cause that often excluded her. "I've been walking for gay rights all these years," Johnson said, referencing early Pride marches in a conversation that appears in a 2012 documentary about her life. "Because you never completely have your rights, one person, until you all have your rights." Since then, social and political wins over time grew to encompass everyone represented by the acronym LGBTQ, which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. But that's become less true in recent years, as lawmakers in Tennessee, Texas and a number of other states repeatedly pushed legislation to restrict access to gender-affirming care, bathrooms and sports teams for transgender people. Anti-trans sentiment was central to President Trump's 2024 campaign, LGBTQ advocates say, and it followed him into office. Many of his directives this term have closely mirrored Project 2025, a conservative policy agenda that explicitly prioritizes eroding LGBTQ rights. A "divide and conquer" approach From health care bans, to sports bans, bathroom bans, a military ban and attempts to erase non-binary gender pronouns from the federal system, Mr. Trump's most conspicuous threats to LGBTQ rights specifically target trans people, a pattern that has drawn accusations of scapegoating from his critics, given that trans people make up an estimated 1% or less of the U.S. population. LGBTQ advocates also see it as a tactic to sow division in the community. "Donald Trump ran for president on an age-old platform of divide and conquer," said Brandon Wolf, the national press secretary at the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy organization. "Inside the LGBTQ+ community, Donald Trump ran his campaign saying, I'm not targeting all LGBTQ+ people, just the trans people, and if you sacrifice that community, perhaps you will be spared." While polling data showed most LGBTQ voters didn't choose to elect him, Mr. Trump has gained increasingly loud support from a faction of gay conservatives who disavow the "radical LGBT left" and insist his policies aren't at odds with their personal freedoms. When the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced the upcoming termination of part of its 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline dedicated to helping LGBTQ youth, the gay conservative group Log Cabin Republicans called related media coverage "fake news." On TikTok, a small but popular band of conservative gay influencers post videos to similarly defend Mr. Trump's record. "Rights I've lost in Trump's America as a gay man," reads the caption of one of them, followed by an empty list numbered 1 through 5. In the comments section of another, a TikTok user responded to a thread outlining the current administration's anti-LGBTQ actions by saying, "None of that has anything to do with us being gay." Trump's orders On Inauguration Day, Mr. Trump declared in his televised address to the American public that "only two genders," male and female, would be recognized going forward by the federal government. He signed an executive order to enforce that within hours of being sworn in. Titled "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," the wide-ranging order included instructions for the State Department to prohibit trans people from using gender markers that reflect their identities on official documents, like passports, and instead require that those markers align with the document holders' reproductive organs "at conception." "The Trump administration's passport policy attacks the foundations of the right to privacy and the freedom for all people to live their lives safely and with dignity," said Jessie Rossman, the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Massachusetts, which has made headway in a lawsuit aiming to reverse the new rule, in a statement. "We will continue to fight to stop this unlawful policy once and for all." Like many of Mr. Trump's executive orders, that one has faced steep challenges in the courts, and legal experts say its long-term applicability is uncertain as some elements contradict the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, which codified discrimination protections for all LGBTQ employees under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The same conflict exists in Mr. Trump's orders to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, in which he instructed federal departments to "correct" what he called a "misapplication" of the Bostock ruling in their policies. Their uncertain futures aside, LGBTQ advocacy and rights groups feel those policies and others have already reaped consequences on the community at large — "the predictable result," said Wolf, "of a divide and conquer campaign." In response to Mr. Trump's directive to end "radical indoctrination in K-12 schools," the Department of Defense banned books with themes involving gender identity, sexual orientation and race from its schools for children in military families, which receive federal funding, according to a separate lawsuit filed by the ACLU. A textbook focused on LGBTQ figures in American history was tossed out under the ban. Meanwhile, corporations scrambling to comply with anti-DEI orders eliminated or scaled back their partnerships with Pride celebrations around the country after Mr. Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center in February forced WorldPride organizers to regroup because events were either canceled or relocated from the venue. And, in May, the Human Rights Campaign issued a memo warning that Mr. Trump's "big, beautiful bill," a "skinny" budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, would cut $2.67 billion in federal funding from programs that support LGBTQ people. Among its most urgent concerns were the administration's plans to significantly downsize public health programs for HIV/AIDS prevention as well as Justice Department programs that investigate anti-LGBTQ hate crimes, in addition to sweeping cuts to resources for the trans community. Asked where LGBTQ rights stand under the Trump administration, a White House spokesperson pointed to Mr. Trump's past appointments of openly gay judges and officials such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in addition to two initiatives during his first term to decriminalize homosexuality globally and end the HIV epidemic by 2030, although his 2026 budget proposal would hamper that. "President Trump's historic reelection and the overall MAGA movement is a big tent welcome for all and home to a large swath of the American people," said the spokesperson, Harrison Fields, in a statement. "The President continues to foster a national pride that should be celebrated daily, and he is honored to serve all Americans. The American people voted for a return to common sense, and the President is delivering on every campaign promise supported by 77 million voters and is ushering in our Golden Age." "An anti-LGBTQ administration" In addition to tangible policies, advocates say that attitudes toward LGBTQ people from the nation's highest office are contributing to higher incidences of violence against LGBTQ people and likely foreshadow harms still to come. "Overall, it is clearly an anti-LGBTQ administration," said Sarah-Kate Ellis, the president and chief operating officer at the LGBTQ media organization GLAAD. "And I think that they are consistently signaling that they want to roll back all of our hard-won rights." Mr. Trump and those in his orbit have repeatedly cast LGBTQ people and activities in a negative light. While announcing leadership shifts at the Kennedy Center in February, the president penned a social media post that pledged, in capital letters, to ensure the arts forum would no longer host drag shows "or other anti-American propaganda." His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, later said the country needs "less LGBTQ graduate majors" in an interview on Fox News criticizing Harvard University. According to advocates and academics, the administration frequently relies on political strategies to marginalize trans people that have been used against other groups in the past. The term "groomers," for example, is a historically anti-gay trope, and "gender ideology" originally demonized feminism. There were also notable moments of silence from the Trump administration, which did not acknowledge Pride Month, even as a global Pride festival took place for several weeks between May and June in Washington, D.C. LGBTQ people say that wasn't necessarily a surprise after watching their visibility decline in national forums this year, starting with mentions of "lesbian," "bisexual," "gay," "transgender," "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" being scrubbed from the White House website the day after Mr. Trump's inauguration, in a flashback to his first term. References to trans people disappeared around the same time from the website for the Stonewall National Monument, considered the birthplace of gay liberation, in a move that sparked particular outcry. Marcia P. Johnson was among the pioneering trans activists who remain named on the site despite that change. Where do LGBTQ rights stand in America? Advocates for LGBTQ rights and others in the community say they're wary of what may come next. Echoing discourse that has persisted online since Mr. Trump's campaign, Ellis said she expects a right-wing push to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage, is imminent. "Our view on this is that they will continually attack our community and find any way to dismantle our community," she said, of the right-wing forces propelling Mr. Trump. "They've only focused on trans people because they are such a small population and so marginalized. But they will go after our marriages. They will go after our families. It has always been the anti-LGBTQ movement at the center of this." At least nine state legislatures have introduced bills to reverse the Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling since Mr. Trump returned to Washington. Earlier this month, the Southern Baptist Convention voted overwhelmingly to pass a resolution that calls for the same. LGBTQ advocates emphasize that marriage equality is settled law, and research from Gallup and GLAAD demonstrate that a vast majority of Americans continue to support it. But some still worry the path to overturning Obergefell could be akin to the one that led to the fall of Roe v. Wade, which kept abortion legal for 50 years before Trump-appointed justices tipped the Supreme Court bench and struck it down.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Philadelphia's first ever queer women's sports bar set to be a slam dunk
Women's sports are gaining popularity every year, and not only are many of the fans queer, but many of the players are too, which is why Philadelphia is set to open its first-ever queer women's sports bar. Philly native Chivonn Anderson is about to open Marsha's, a brand new sports bar and venue on South Street at the end of the summer that will be an inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community and women to enjoy sports. Advertisement "Marsha's is more than a bar; it's a vibrant, inclusive space where everyone can feel welcome, safe, and seen,' Anderson told NBC Philadelphia . 'The venue features a dynamic mix of women's sports, local Philly teams, and queer film and television, all paired with an elevated food and drink menu," Marsha's shared in a press release. "Whether you're cheering on your favorite team or just looking for a place to be yourself, Marsha's is your home away from home.' Anderson isn't the only one who thinks queer-inclusive women's sports bars are a winning format. In fact, it has been so wildly successful at Portland's Sport Bra that they are in the process of opening four franchise locations across the country. The bar's name, a tribute to Marsha P. Johnson, a transgender gay liberation activist who was a prominent figure in the Stonewall uprising, is emblematic of the planned ethos for the bar: to celebrate queer history and welcome everyone. "South Street was the only place I ever felt comfortable growing up,' explained Anderson, who grew up in the neighborhood in the '90s. 'Creating Marsha's on the corner of South Street and Passyunk Ave feels like a full-circle moment. It's about building the kind of bar everyone feels welcome stepping foot in.' Advertisement There are currently only 36 lesbian bars in the entire United States, but Marsha's will bring that number up to 37. This article originally appeared on Pride: Philadelphia's first ever queer women's sports bar set to be a slam dunk RELATED
CBS News
27-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Philadelphia to welcome new queer women's sports bar this summer
Marsha's, a new South Street bar, will be the first queer-run women's sports bar and venue to open in Philadelphia. With an opening date of later this summer, plans for the space at 430 South St. — formerly home to Woolly Mammoth — include a showcase of women's sports events, Philly teams and queer film and television, an elevated food and drink menu and a commitment to cultivating inclusivity, community and neighborhood joy. Named in tribute to Black transgender activist and LGBTQ+ icon Marsha P Johnson, Marsha's is the idea of founder and Philly native Chivonn Anderson. Anderson is a previous recipient of the Philadelphia LGBTQ+ Hall of Fame Awards with the Best Small Business Leader Award for her work as Director of Development at Redcrest Kitchen. Anderson aims to have Marsha's be a lasting space for the LGBTQ+ community and has purchased the building and the liquor license. "South Street was the only place I ever felt comfortable growing up," Anderson said in a release. Coming out as a teen in the 1990's, Anderson found belonging among community there. "Creating Marsha's on the corner of South Street and Passyunk Ave feels like a full-circle moment. It's about building the kind of bar everyone feels welcome stepping foot in."
Forbes
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Noticing Less Rainbows? Why Pride Has Looked Different This June
TOPSHOT - Revellers take part in the 17th Annual Miami Beach Pride Parade on April 6, 2025, in the ... More South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Giorgio VIERA / AFP) (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images) June is Pride month, which has long been a time when brands show their support for the LGBTQ+ community through campaigns, limited-edition products and charitable initiatives. But in 2025, marketing around Pride has been noticeably quiet. As political pressure and public backlash reshape how companies approach social issues, many are reevaluating their involvement—or stepping back entirely—with last effects for corporations and queer individuals alike. Pride's Roots Are In Protest To understand today's Pride, it's worth returning to the celebration's origins. The modern LGBTQ+ rights movement was ignited by resistance. In June 1969, following yet another police raid at the Stonewall Inn—a well-known gay bar in New York's Greenwich Village—a series of spontaneous, and at times violent, protests erupted. Led in large part by trans women of color like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, these demonstrations catalyzed a movement. The following year, cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles held their first 'Gay Liberation' marches, commemorating what would become known as the Stonewall Uprising. What started as protest evolved over decades into celebration—but never divorced itself from politics. In the 1980s and 1990s, Pride events became vital spaces of mourning and activism amid the AIDS epidemic. In the 2000s, they became linked to the push for marriage equality. And as for today, Pride has become a lightning rod for cable news talking heads to discuss and dissect the interplay of the personal and political, showing us that, in some ways, very little has changed in the last five decades. A Business Case For Pride Visibility–like that found during Pride Month–has an undoubtably positive impact on the broader social conversation surrounding the LGBTQ+ community. At the macro level, visibility helps to normalize lifestyle differences within broader demographics. On a personal level, there is mounting research that representation can play a significant impact on LGBTQ+ youth's mental health and self-worth. While this is all positive for the queer community, businesses have historically seen Pride as a business opportunity, seeing an untapped market potential that's often left out of marketing strategy discussions. According to LGBT Capital, global LGBTQ+ spending power is estimated at over $4.7 trillion annually, with the U.S. accounting for approximately $1.4 trillion. Couple this with Gallup's most recent data from 2024, which estimates that more than 7.6% of U.S. adults identify as LGBTQ+, and one can see why companies have been happy to create capsule collections and marketing campaigns around Pride Month. Apple and Levi's have long built Pride collections with a donation arm to their revenue. Converse has partnered with queer artists over the years on limited releases. And even outdoor brand North Face has worked with drag performer and environmentalist Pattie Gonia on an online video series. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 31: Pride Month merchandise is displayed at a Target store on May ... More 31, 2023 in San Francisco, California. Target has pulled some of its Pride Month merchandise from stores or have moved the seasonal displays to lesser seen areas of their stores to avoid conservative backlash that has threatened workers' safety. (Photo by) The Rainbow Backlash As Pride became part of mainstream commerce, it also became a flashpoint for criticism. Perhaps surprising to some, Pride's commercial success has not always been seen as a positive within the gay community. LGBTQ+ activists and consumers began to call out what they dubbed 'rainbow capitalism': companies that drape themselves in the rainbow flag for one month a year without making meaningful, year-round commitments. The critique? That commodification of queer identity diluted its political power and played into tropes instead of brands using their economic and political influence to work on legislation that could benefit LGBTQ+ lives. In recent years, conservative backlash has begun to intensify, led in part by prominent cable news hosts and political punditry. Pride campaigns were increasingly met with accusations of 'wokeness' and 'grooming,' with right-wing media, using harmful stereotypes about the queer community as a basis for their criticism. One such incident, Bud Light's partnership with transgender celebrity Dylan Mulvaney, is often cited as when online outrage bled into the bottom line for a brand. Bud Light's brief partnership with trans influencer Mulvaney led to widespread backlash—including boycotts, viral misinformation, and declining sales. According to Forbes, the brand lost $1.4 billion in sales following this controversy. Pride 2025: A Political Chill What makes 2025 different isn't just cultural fatigue or market uncertainty. It's political. Since returning to office for his second term, President Donald Trump has ushered in an administration that is explicitly hostile to DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) initiatives, viewing them as ideological overreach, causing a national chilling effect in schools, in government agencies and among businesses. According to a recent CNN report, some corporations have been quietly warned: engaging in LGBTQ+ advocacy could result in increased regulatory scrutiny, cancelled contracts, or even targeted audits. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has rolled back guidelines that protect against LGBTQ+ workplace discrimination, while agencies like the Department of Education have removed mentions of gender identity from anti-bullying policies. All of this has affected how companies are handling Pride this month, causing a deafening halt compared to previous years. This chilling effect across companies doesn't simply affect the bottom line; it's ripple effects put vulnerable communities at further risk. The Trump administration's bullseye on anything deemed to be 'DEI' has meant federal funding being pulled from programs that support LGBTQ+ youth mental health and suicide prevention—programs that had previously offered life-saving resources. Without those safety nets, the burden shifts heavily to nonprofits and grassroots efforts. And so, without the corporate donations typically fueled by Pride partnerships, even that private sector support is drying up. WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 7: A person holds a "Trump won't erase us" sign while walking in the ... More WorldPride Parade on June 7, 2025 in Washington, DC. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Pride celebrations in Washington, DC and is host to WorldPride 2025. (Photo by) Where To Spend, Who To Support From its humble beginnings to becoming a worldwide celebration, Pride has always been political. Because of this, the placement of Pride within the wider conversation around LGBTQ+ issues has continually shifted over the years. While many corporations have put Pride on the backburner this June due to political and social pressures, other companies are sticking strong to their commitment to the queer community. For a comprehensive list of brands still moving forward with their Pride iniatives, such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Calvin Klein and Levi's, visit Pink News.
