Today, June 1st, marks the first day of Pride Month! This annual event honors the many contributions the 2SLGBTQIA+ community has made throughout history and continues to make today. Like a rainbow cutting through an overcast sky, Pride Month affirms that queer people will always find joy, even when the odds stacked against them seem insurmountable.
There is much that could be said about such an important, historic month. One could consider, for instance, the Stonewall riots—how a balmy summer night in 1969 saw the birth of the gay liberation movement. One could acknowledge that Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, two trans women of color, led these riots, paving the way for thousands of queer activists who followed. One could even lament how these histories are actively being erased today, as the Trump administration attempts to remove Pride flags from the Stonewall National Monument. Indeed, today’s hateful, close-minded attacks on queer history strongly echo the actions of those prejudiced police officers who raided a gay bar 57 years ago.
This year, however, much of the resistance to Pride has manifested more subtly than in decades prior. All across the nation, Pride organizers have struggled to secure sponsorships from corporate donors, resulting in a severe lack of funding. This silent withdrawal may not be as visible as a homophobic sign or a flag torn down from a monument, but it is just as consequential. After all, Pride is an extremely expensive event. Permits must be purchased, performers must be paid, and insurance must be secured. Then, there’s the expense of equipment, security, staging, and clean-up. Heck, even Porta Potties cost a pretty penny.
To see the damage this has done, one need look no farther west than Pittsburgh. The city’s Pride director, Dena Stanley, believes Pittsburgh will only be able to secure 30-40% of the sponsorship dollars they were able to fundraise a few years ago. Luckily, individual donations and a state grant saved the event, but other cities were not so lucky. Tampa, Florida, and Arlington, Texas, have both cancelled Pride altogether due to a lack of funding, leaving the local queer communities devastated.
Of course, this withdrawal of corporate funds has not come out of nowhere. Many corporations are afraid to donate to Pride for fear of rousing Trump’s anger. As the president cracks down on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives nationwide, an increasing number of institutions have betrayed their supposed “values” in favor of palatability and profit margins. With its rainbow flags and revolutionary spirit, Pride remains too confrontational to receive financial support. Fortunately, all is not lost.
Pride has always been more than the corporations backing it. Pride is a protest—of hatred, of close-mindedness, and of shame. It is a gathering of powerful activists and allies all striving toward harmony and acceptance. In times of such rampant queerphobia, it is transcendent, radical love like this that is the greatest protest of all.
We can keep Pride’s disobedient attitude alive by holding these complicit corporations accountable. Let’s speak their capitalist language by refusing to give them our money. Companies as various as Amtrak, Anheuser-Busch, Benefit Cosmetics, Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, Citi, Comcast/Xfinity, Deloitte, Diageo, Garnier, Goldman Sachs, Lowe’s, Mastercard, Meta, Nissan, Pepsi, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Skyy Vodka, Target, Visa, and Walmart have all withdrawn their support. We can apply pressure wherever and whenever we can by taking our business elsewhere.
We can also spread Pride’s message of love by giving to local queer organizations and supporting small, queer-owned businesses. Many nonprofits like the RRC have places where you can donate on a one-time or regular basis. Most cities also publish travel guides advertising local queer-owned and queer-friendly businesses. While you’ll never be able to give as much money as a multi-billion dollar corporation, your support is much more meaningful because it actually comes from the heart. Give what you can, when you can. Every little bit helps keep Pride alive.
I look forward to seeing you all at York Pride on June 13th. Although I’ve been out of the closet for four years now, this will be my first ever Pride! I can’t wait to see all my fellow queer people out there, living and loving without a hint of shame. Let’s keep Pride’s radical spirit alive—today, this month, and all year long!
Talk more soon,
Hunter
