This year, at the suggestion of one of my sons-in-law, I purchased a new Pride rainbow flag for Pride month – one that includes special colors that specifically acknowledge trans folks. Due to the unprecedented attacks toward trans folks from the federal and state governments, I saw his point.
When I went to my local flag store, the store employee said something like, “I have no problem with LGBTQ+ folks. People should be able to live their lives as they see fit without fear or discrimination. But I just don’t understand why they need to wave flags.” He was being honest about his feelings with me, and I was grateful that he felt comfortable talking to me about this.
I told him, that sadly, much of the world – especially now – doesn’t feel the way he did. If the vast majority of people felt that way – and acted that way – there would probably be no need for Pride flags and Pride month. But that’s not the case.
The ACLU indicates that there are 143 anti-LGBTQ+ bills at the state and federal levels – many specifically targeting trans folks. A sample of these include attempts to:
ban trans folks from joining the military and forcing existing soldiers out,
criminalize transgender people for using the restroom that matches their gender identity,
allow schools to misgender and forcibly out transgender and non-binary students,
prohibit transgender students from participating in sports at public schools,
overturn the Supreme Court’s decision that legalized same-sex marriage country-wide,
ban classroom discussions that touch on LGBTQ+ topics in grade schools,
ban books in public schools that address LGBTQ+ topics,
and much more.
And the demeaning rhetoric is ever-increasing. Recently our country’s Secretary of Defense derogatorily and disrespectfully called trans soldiers “dudes in dresses” while his audience applauded and cheered. This is sickening.
These efforts are deceptively presented as necessary for the health and safety of women and children, for religious freedom, or for our national security. Please don’t fall for this. The impetus for these efforts is to undermine any hint of normalizing or accepting LGBTQ+ folks in our society. They are sponsored by far right-wing religious zealots that try desperately to force their religious beliefs upon the rest of the country. So they created a set of irrational fears and placed them on the political stage.
These people are, quite simply, homophobic. Merriam Webster defines homophobia as “discrimination against, aversion to, or fear of homosexuality or gay people.” (Similar definitions exist for “transphobia” and the like.)
And homophobia is far from being religiously moral. My pastor, Rev. Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers in her most recent book See Me, Believe Me writes, “All -isms and phobias are sin, a failure to love God and neighbor as ourselves.” I believe her.
When I display my Pride flag, I’m publicly saying “No” to any of the queer-phobias. I’m letting my neighbors know that LGBTQ+ folks are welcome in this neighborhood – at least near and in my house. I’m letting them know that I’m proud to be exactly who I am, and that I encourage anyone who sees the flag to be proud of who they are as well. I’m letting them know that in my house, we strive to love God and our neighbors as ourselves.
I also fly the American flag consistently throughout the year. I fly this flag because I’m proud to be an American. I’m proud of our democracy. I’m proud of my country, what it stands for and what it strives to be. But make no mistake. Our pledge of “liberty and justice for all” isn’t a reality in America. It’s an aspiration.
I’ll fly my Pride flag until liberty and justice for LGBTQ+ folks are a reality – and maybe a little bit longer to show gratitude to God for helping us on this difficult journey.
Happy Pride Month 2025!