I saw yesterday that the Felon-in-Chief has decided to rename June as “Title IX Month” instead of Pride Month. Bold move for a guy who clearly doesn’t give a damn about women—just listen to anything he’s ever said. But like many of his rabid followers, he’s especially frightened by transgender people.

 

He hides behind the tired argument that trans women (assigned male at birth) are “dominating” women’s sports, implying that lackluster male athletes are suddenly transitioning just to win a medal. That narrative doesn’t even hold up against my post-stroke brain, so I’m not sure what excuse his followers have. Honestly, even on my foggy days, I still wouldn’t be caught dead with that man’s hair or his nuclear-orange spray tan—both clear indicators he hasn’t had a gay friend within a three-mile radius.

 

June is still Pride Month. Whether they like it or not.

 

But Pride wasn’t always glitter, parades, and sponsors slapping rainbows on products. The first Pride was a riot.

 

A Quick Trip Back to 1969

 

In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, the NYPD raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village. This wasn’t unusual—raids on queer spaces were common, legal, and often violent. But this time, something shifted. Instead of complying, the patrons fought back.

 

The Stonewall crowd—drag queens, trans women, butch lesbians, gay men, homeless queer youth—said no. And for several nights, the rebellion continued. There were smashed windows, bruised officers, and a neighborhood that refused to be silenced.

 

Today, we call that moment the start of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. But back then, there were no acronyms. No corporate sponsorships. Just people—marginalized and exhausted—saying “enough.”

 

It’s important to remember that the original Stonewall protest wasn’t about assimilation or representation in sitcoms. It was about survival. And the right to exist without being harassed, beaten, or institutionalized.

 

The More Things Change…

 

Over the decades, we’ve made progress. Marriage equality. Anti-discrimination laws. Representation. But as quickly as those gains were made, they can be rolled back.

 

What we’re seeing now—with attempts to erase Pride, gut protections for trans youth, and criminalize gender-affirming care—isn’t just political maneuvering. It’s fear. Fear of people who live openly, authentically, and unapologetically. And when insecure people feel threatened, they lash out.

 

We’ve seen it before. We’re seeing it again.

 

So no, we’re not being alarmist. We’re being honest.

 

Pride Is Still a Protest

 

Yes, Pride is a celebration. But it’s also a reckoning. A reminder. A battle cry wrapped in glitter. And while I’m not advocating violence, I am saying we might need to metaphorically—or occasionally literally—kick some teeth in again. Because bigotry isn’t just ignorant. It’s dangerous. And scared bigots? Even worse.

 

Pride isn’t just about waving flags. It’s about remembering who we are and how we got here. And refusing to go quietly.

 

Be kind. Be loud. Be exactly the kind of person your dog and your mom hope you are.