I imagine you’re aware that it’s “Pride Month.”
How could you not? It feels like it’s everywhere!
This year feels slightly different, though—can you sense that?
NO HOMO
About two years ago, a video made its rounds showing a young boy approaching a pride float where men, dressed in a range of flamboyant styles, were showcasing their identities.
(Just as a quick note: I touched on this last year. My newsletter wasn’t online just yet, but Nat Sandoval captured the essence of the situation well. It’s quite surprising, really—pride marches used to be much more subdued with professional attire as the norm.)
The boy approached this rather loud display of sexuality, and one of the individuals handed him a small pride flag. To everyone’s surprise, he promptly turned, threw the flag on the ground, and stomped on it while some adults laughed in the background.
Fast forward about five months, and Donald Trump secured a significant win over Kamala Harris in the presidential race. One of his most talked-about ads revolved around her stance on taxpayer-funded gender reassignment for incarcerated offenders.
“Harris is for they/them. I am for you,” was the tagline (or something close to it).
You could definitely argue that a cultural shift had taken place, and you’d be right. Even so, much like his first election, Trump’s victory was a reflection of changes that had been brewing for years.
Andrew Sullivan, a gay conservative columnist, puts forth a compelling analysis of this shift that’s definitely worth reading. If you’re not into reading (except for the Bible and my newsletter, naturally), Emily Jashinsky created a great video breakdown.
The gist is that overall support for the LGBTQ+ community has significantly declined in the last few years.
The trend has generally been positive, but there’s a notable decline beginning around 2020.
Why is that?
“Now that we have marriage, we’re going to indoctrinate your kids into queer and gender theory, fire you for not using our pronouns, and impose drastic changes on minors’ bodies,” writes Sullivan.
It feels like an overreach. What initially began as a focus on gay and lesbian rights with a libertarian plea of “let us be” has transformed into a movement demanding compliance.
If you dare to express personal views—like quoting scripture on pride-themed merchandise—you can expect backlash from both politicians and institutions.
Think “mom” is a fine term? Not anymore. New York Democrats seem eager to replace it with the almost disconcertingly clinical “gestating parent.”
Object to it? You might be labeled a bigot.
Even now, there are activists counting down the days until corporations roll out their “pride” campaigns.
The movement often resembles an extortion scheme.
“It would be a shame if you didn’t express your love for the LGBTQ+ community this month,” one might sarcastically say on social media.
Sullivan breaks down the statistics (emphasis mine):
Support for marriage equality among centrists and moderates is plummeting. Gallup reports a drop from 71% to 65% support for gay marriage among all Americans in just three years. Independents saw a six-point dip, while Republicans’ support dropped a dramatic 18 points—from 55% to just 37%, essentially reversing two decades of progress.
Even self-identified Democrats are showing a decline in support.
The more radical elements of the LGBTQ+ movement seem to have taken over its former leaders. The focus has shifted away from core issues to wider agendas that many feel threaten jobs and the safety of children.
Like that young boy who trashed the flag, there are observable signs that public sentiment may be shifting.
As I mentioned earlier, more athletes seem to be standing against the movement’s pressures. Three players from the San Francisco Giants faced backlash for including Bible verses on their pride hats, and a minor league baseball team in Pennsylvania refused to participate in a pride night game.
More notably, corporate sponsorship for pride events has dramatically decreased, with reports suggesting a decline of around 40%. Major companies like Anheuser-Busch and Walmart have stepped back.
Ironically, some activists blame Trump for companies feeling pressured, but perhaps it’s more about the overreach and a growing fatigue with constant demands.
This year, it appears more individuals are saying no to the idea of “no homo.”
MORE LINKS
EXCLUSIVE: Trump Admin Cuts Funding for South Africa’s AIDS Program After Government Fails to Protect White Farmers
Consequences
Governor Candidate Pledges to Prevent Sharia Law in Swing State with Large Muslim Population
Important read
Canada Moves to Eliminate Religious Protections for So-Called ‘Hate Speech’
SMH
