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Washington, June 6 (EFE) - It may seem paradoxical that Washington, the capital from where the President of the United States, Donald Trump, leads what activists describe as an offensive against LGBTQ+ rights, is the host of this year's World Pride.
At first, some voices called for a boycott as a form of protest, but a few hours before the event began, the slogan is clear: to raise their voices for the rights of the collective.
"It's an extremely difficult moment for the United States. That's why it's so important for people to demonstrate, take to the streets, form community, and show that LGBTQ+ people belong in all spaces," says Brian Bond, executive director of PFLAG, the largest support organization for the community in the country to EFE.This weekend, Washington becomes the host of World Pride, a celebration that promotes the visibility and normalization of LGBTQ+ rights. Furthermore, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Pride parade in the American capital.
Trump's Offensive
Since his return to the White House, Trump has pushed at least four measures that activists consider direct attacks against the community: he eliminated legal recognition of non-binary people by establishing that in the U.S. there are only "two sexes", he withdrew passports with gender "X", he banned trans women from competing in women's sports, and he excluded trans people from the Armed Forces. He has also lashed out at public policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion, causing numerous companies to abandon these commitments to align with his stance."Our country should be leading the defense of the collective's rights, but what we see is that their freedoms are being trampled," Bond denounces.
Despite the calls to action, many people have decided not to attend the event in the capital. In 2019, World Pride brought together about five million people in New York; for Washington, around three million were expected, although estimates point to a notable reduction due to the Trump presidency.
"People are scared, but, despite everything, the city is prepared. We are welcoming," says Ryan Bos, executive director of Capital Pride Alliance, the organization in charge of the event, in statements to the local Fox network.The arrival of Pride Month has highlighted a change in attitude in large corporations, many of which have stopped publicly showing their support for the community.
While years ago it was common to see product launches and advertising campaigns featuring trans people or same-sex couples, this year it's difficult to find examples of support like these in large companies.
In fact, the Washington celebration, as reported by the media, no longer has the sponsorship of two companies that had traditionally supported it: the multinationals Comcast and Deloitte.
"Queer people have always existed"
Despite regretting that rights are being undermined, historian Jay Watkins, an expert on LGBTQ matters at William & Mary University (Virginia), points out that "LGBTQ people have always existed beyond governments."
"Even if we lose many of those bills, there are far fewer people who are going to inflict violence on queer people," Watkins confidently states.
Anyway, he calls for a strong fight against setbacks, especially for transgender or gender non-conforming people, who, he says, "have always been the most attacked."According to the annual report by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), 52% of the aggressions against the collective in the last year were directed against trans and non-binary people (485 out of 932 attacks).
Furthermore, a study by the Center for American Progress revealed that LGBTQ+ people continue to face significantly higher levels of discrimination than the rest of the population, highlighting the importance of events like World Pride in Washington. EFE
