Thanks to the sacrifice and courage of generations of brave fighters for LGBTQ equality, we have seen a transformation of legal rights and social norms in our lifetime. The heroes of the Stonewall Uprising, the activists who shut down business as usual during the AIDS crisis, the millions of people who marched in the streets for marriage equality, and so many others took a stand and pushed back the most oppressive laws and bigoted attitudes. But now, Trump and so many other right wing politicians are making a historic effort to tear up what they have accomplished. It is up to us to carry on the legacy of struggle in this dangerous moment.
Trans people, especially trans youth, have been a main focus of Trump’s hate. At the state and the federal level, they are trying to cut off gender-affirming healthcare. Schools with policies that combat discrimination against LGBTQ students are having their funding threatened. Bosses are getting a loud and clear signal that there will be no real consequences if they fire or abuse LGBTQ workers. And a far-right ideology is spreading that promotes the idea that the only legitimate kind of family is a heterosexual couple with children that is “led” by the husband/father.
Almost everyone in society is targeted in one way or another by Trump’s program. Tens of millions of working class people could lose access to Medicaid, food stamps, and other forms of life-saving assistance. Immigrants are being hunted down by brutal ICE agents. Trump is giving a clear signal to racist cops that they will face no consequences for killing Black people. We can defeat Trump if we unite all these struggles into one powerful people’s movement to defend our rights.
If we fight, we can win. But why should we have to fight to preserve our basic dignity as human beings? Socialists believe that the only way that anyone’s rights can ever be truly secure is if we overthrow the tiny group of millionaires and billionaires who grow rich exploiting the rest of us, and promote the most hateful bigotry to keep us divided and fighting amongst each other. This Pride month is an opportunity to take to the streets and show that we will not go back – and that we will fight for a whole new system based on equality instead of division.
