June in the U.S. is pride month, commemorating the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, which sparked the gay liberation movement in America. In 2023 alone, according to the non-profit Human Rights Campaign, more than 500 anti-LGTBQ+ laws have been proposed in 41 states – the highest number on record.
These new laws, both proposed and passed, have had a real impact. According to the Trevor Project, “nearly 2 in 3 LGBTQ young people said that hearing about potential state or local laws banning people from discussing LGBTQ people at school made their mental health a lot worse.” Pride events can have a positive impact, as the Trevor Project also points out, that young people who have “affirming homes, schools and community events” reported lower rates of attempted suicide.
The PBS NewsHour spoke to organizers of 5 LGBTQ+ Pride events around the nation about the need to create spaces for LGBTQ+ joy and visibility this year, amid fierce political and cultural backlash.
If you or someone you know has talked about contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also find them online at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
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