This year, the Trump administration hasn’t officially acknowledged Pride Month, but it has ramped up its actions related to LGBTQ issues. Some of these actions have drawn criticism from supporters of LGBTQ rights.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt stated that there was “no plan” for Trump to recognize June as Pride Month this year.
Throughout his first term, Trump did not issue a Pride Month declaration but acknowledged LGBTQ contributions in a 2019 social media post. This year, however, he has chosen not to mention Pride Month publicly. Instead, the education department noted efforts to restrict the participation of transgender students in school sports and facilities for girls and women, designating June as “Title IX month.”
“This will be tough news from the Trump administration, but June is still Pride Month, whether they acknowledge it or not,” said Brandon Wolf, national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign. “Pride has always been about protest, regardless of acceptance.”
June marks the anniversary of the first Pride Month events, which took place in 1970 to commemorate the Stonewall riots in New York. In contrast, former President Clinton was the first to formally declare June as “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month,” a tradition continued by President Biden.
This year, the administration’s disregard for Pride Month isn’t the only notable aspect. On Tuesday, Representative Mary Miller (R-Ill.), whom Trump endorsed, introduced a resolution proclaiming June as “Family Month” instead of Pride Month, stating that this recognition aims to honor God’s design.
Miller expressed her disapproval of the programming from “Sesame Street,” which recognized Pride Month, claiming that it promotes harmful ideologies to children. This reaction aligns with a longstanding allegation among opponents of LGBTQ rights that such identities are linked to predatory behavior.
“This hostile rhetoric reflects the intimidation that LGBTQ individuals face, showcasing the resistance to Pride that still exists,” noted advocates, highlighting international pride events that draw millions.
This year’s Pride Month has seen notable actions from Trump’s Pentagon, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordering the renaming of a Navy oil tanker that honored gay rights activist Harvey Milk, which is expected to be announced next week.
Milk, a Korean War veteran and California’s first openly gay elected official, played a pivotal role in opposing anti-LGBTQ measures in the late 1970s.
The proposal to remove Milk’s name from the ship has sparked widespread media attention and backlash. Former potential Secretary of State candidate James Stablidis voiced his disagreement, questioning the choice to change the ship’s name during Pride Month.
The Navy is also considering renaming several ships named after civil rights leaders, including Harriet Tubman. Senate Republicans have blocked a resolution aiming to prevent the removal of these names.
Additionally, the military has ordered transgender service members to self-identify and start the voluntary separation process.
In an email, Alex Wagner, a professor at Syracuse University and former deputy secretary in the Air Force, criticized recent actions from Hegseth, arguing that they reflect poorly on LGBTQ individuals in the Pentagon. Wagner has strong convictions about the military as a vehicle for social justice and civil rights.
Hegseth, a vocal opponent of initiatives promoting diversity in the military, remarked in a recent speech that he views the notion of diversity as a weakness rather than a strength.
Following Senate confirmations, discussions at the Department of Defense about recognizing various identity months, including Pride Month, have come to an abrupt halt.
