Pride and Prejudice
Pride in a Time of Tension
Pride Month has always been a celebration of identity, history, and progress. This year, however, in the face of progress it unfolds under the pressure of a fear-based narrative amplified by the current administration. Recent policy shifts and proposed legislation have targeted the LGBTQ+ community and rolled back protections, limited healthcare access, and reinforced harmful myths (GLAAD, 2024). The volume is up, and so is the scrutiny.
Much of this rhetoric has centered on drag performers, who are being villainized as threats to children. These portrayals are not only biased but dangerous. They reduce an art form and a long-standing space for queer expression and joy into something sinister. At the same time, adults in the LGBTQ+ community are navigating increasing hostility in public discourse, workplaces, and healthcare settings. The consequences aren’t abstract; they are lived every day. So this year, while Pride remains a time to show up and be seen, it’s also a time to ask: What’s the cost of visibility in a culture that keeps trying to erase you?
Facing the Current Challenges
Lately, it feels like there's been a surge of noise around queer and trans lives, not from within the community, but from outside it. Fear-driven narratives have been gaining traction, especially around drag performers and transgender individuals. Drag is being painted as inherently inappropriate, and gender-affirming care is being framed as dangerous for youth. These claims are not only misleading, they're harmful distractions (GLAAD, 2024).
Much of the fear around gender-affirming care is based on the assumption that it causes irreversible changes in children. But the reality is, for youth, gender-affirming care most commonly includes puberty blockers—a safe and reversible medical intervention that gives young people time to explore their identity without the added stress of unwanted physical development (Tordoff et al., 2022). When stopped, puberty resumes without lasting harm (Olson-Kennedy et al., 2016). The care is thoughtful, evidence-based, and supported by every major medical association in the United States, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, Endocrine Society, and American Psychological Association (AMA, 2021; AAP, 2018). Not receiving this kind of care comes with real risks. Research shows that transgender youth without access to gender-affirming care experience significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and vulnerability to violence compared to those who receive support (Day et al., 2018; Johns et al., 2019). So while parents fighting to provide gender-affirming care for their children are seeking to support and protect them, they are often judged or accused of harm—despite the medical consensus and evidence showing that such care is both necessary and can even be lifesaving.
One of the most vocal criticisms currently aimed at the LGBTQ+ community involves drag performers, with opponents falsely asserting that drag performances are a danger to children. Conservative lawmakers and media figures have amplified claims that drag shows are sexually explicit and that children exposed to them are being groomed or corrupted (GLAAD, 2024). These portrayals intentionally blur the line between adult performances and family-friendly drag events, ignoring the long history of drag as a form of theatrical expression, community building, and storytelling. There is no credible evidence that drag performers pose any unique risk to children. On the contrary, many family-oriented drag events emphasize inclusion, acceptance, and self-expression, offering children the opportunity to learn about diversity and celebrate creativity in a safe environment (Craig et al., 2021). This matters because creative, artistic children are disproportionately at risk for bullying and peer rejection in school settings (Poteat & Rivers, 2010). When these children have access to safe spaces where creativity and identity are honored, it supports the development of a healthy sense of self and improves long-term self-esteem (Ryan & Deci, 2000). Meanwhile, children are regularly exposed to hypersexualized content through mainstream media and entertainment, largely from dominant, straight-centered culture. Yet the scrutiny continues to fall disproportionately on the LGBTQ+ community. This selective outrage is deeply unfair. It silences people who are already carrying more than their share, people who deserve space, not suspicion. The cost of visibility is being forced to constantly justify your existence in spaces meant to offer safety and belonging.
The Emotional Weight of Being Politicized
There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from constantly being framed as a debate. When your existence is treated like an issue to be argued over, it chips away at your sense of humanity. No one should have to defend their right to exist. This is the emotional price of visibility—being treated like a problem to solve instead of a person to support. For many in the LGBTQ+ community, the issue extends beyond laws and policies. The deeper harm lies in the message these actions send, suggesting that identity must be approved by others or that essential care can be debated. This kind of pressure affects the body. It influences the nervous system and shapes how people move through the world.
Inclusion means safety. It means knowing your identity isn't being treated like a bargaining chip for political gain. When people are politicized instead of protected, the harm runs deep (Meyer, 2003). This weight doesn’t exist in isolation, it compounds over time... chipping away at a person’s sense of belonging and security.
Defending the Right to a Human Experience
The right to live fully as yourself is fundamental. And yet, for so many in the LGBTQ+ community, that right is often questioned, debated, or stripped away under the guise of legislation or morality. In response, many have found purpose in protecting their own humanity and the humanity of others. This resistance reaches beyond politics; it is a deeply personal commitment. For many, visibility means facing the risk of being targeted and still choosing to show up. That choice is a powerful and costly act of courage.
Pride is not just about a celebration; it’s a reclamation. It’s the unapologetic assertion of identity in a world that too often tries to define people by fear or silence. Psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl wrote, "The salvation of man is through love and in love" (Frankl, 2006, p. 37). For many in the LGBTQ+ community, Pride is an act of love: love for self, for others, and for the truth of who they are. That kind of love, rooted in authenticity and courage, has always been a powerful response to fear. It reminds us that dignity is not granted by society; it’s lived and affirmed through the act of being fully oneself.
Conclusion
As we reflect on Pride Month, it's essential to honor the journey of the LGBTQ+ community. The resilience, visibility, and refusal to shrink in the face of erasure matter deeply. Pride reminds us of the strength it takes to live visibly and authentically, and the collective responsibility we all share in protecting that right. No one should have to carry this weight alone. True inclusion requires shared responsibility and the willingness to create a world where every person’s experience is respected and valued.
Let this month serve as more than a celebration. Pride Month represents a commitment to protect the dignity and humanity of every individual, every day of the year. If you or someone you care about is navigating the mental and emotional toll of being part of a politicized identity, The Barefoot Therapists is here to offer support, clarity, and compassion. You don’t have to carry it alone. We will always stand proudly with you.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2018). Ensuring comprehensive care and support for transgender and gender-diverse children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 142(4), e20182162. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-2162
American Medical Association. (2021). AMA strengthens policy opposing restrictions on transgender medical care. https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-strengthens-policy-opposing-restrictions-transgender-medical-care
GLAAD. (2024). Anti-LGBTQ legislation tracker. https://www.glaad.org/blog/anti-lgbtq-legislation-tracker-2024
Tordoff, D. M., Wanta, J. W., Collin, A., Stepney, C., Inwards-Breland, D. J., & Ahrens, K. R. (2022). Mental health outcomes in transgender and nonbinary youths receiving gender-affirming care. JAMA Network Open, 5(2), e220978. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0978
Olson-Kennedy, J., Rosenthal, S. M., Hastings, J., & Wesp, L. M. (2016). Health considerations for gender non-conforming children and transgender adolescents. UCSF Transgender Care, 17–24. https://transcare.ucsf.edu/guidelines/youth
Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674
Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s search for meaning (4th ed.). Beacon Press.
Britannica. (n.d.). Why is Pride Month celebrated in June? Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/story/why-is-pride-month-celebrated-in-june