A few weeks ago, I presented an award to Dolores Huerta at the annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast in San Diego. Dolores co-founded the United Farm Workers, and at 94 is still fighting the good fight. In my remarks I said, “For Dolores, justice is indivisible, and she has long recognized that the struggle for LGBTQ rights is inseparable from the broader fight for human dignity and liberation.”
Dolores and Harvey were contemporaries. They marched together, organized together, and they called attention to the injustices faced by farmworkers and queer people…they dissented…together. That was nearly 50 years ago.
Fast forward to today, to a world where dissent is increasingly criminalized as we continue the annual season of Pride celebrations — the vibrant tapestry of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer (LGBTQ+) pride stands as a testament to the power of resistance. From its humble beginnings as a commemoration of the riots at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 to the global celebrations we see today, pride has always been, at its core, a protest. However, as governments and institutions around the world clamp down on dissent, the very essence of pride – its radical roots – is under threat.
The criminalization of dissent takes many forms, from outright suppression of protests to the enactment of laws targeting marginalized communities. In recent years, we’ve witnessed a troubling trend of governments stifling dissent under the guise of maintaining order or preserving so-called traditional values. This crackdown is particularly pronounced when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, as authoritarian regimes and conservative lawmakers seek to erase the hard-won gains of the queer community and literally criminalize our very lives.
But pride refuses to be silenced. It stands as a defiant declaration of existence in the face of oppression, a celebration of diversity, and a demand for liberation. Each pride parade is a reclaiming of public space, a rejection of shame, and a reclamation of power. It is a reminder that the personal is political and that our very existence is an act of resistance.
Pride is Political
At its core, pride is a protest against the criminalization of our identities. It is a refusal to be confined to the shadows, to be denied our humanity, and to be stripped of our rights. In countries where being LGBTQ+ is still illegal, pride takes on an even greater significance, serving as a beacon of hope for those living under the shadow of persecution.
But pride is not just a protest against external forces; it is also a call to action within our own communities. As we fight against the criminalization of dissent, we must also confront the ways in which oppression manifests within our own ranks. Pride must be inclusive, intersectional, and accessible to all members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially those who are most marginalized. We must all advance together and leave no part of us behind.
In recent years, we’ve seen a growing push to depoliticize pride, to turn it into a sanitized, corporate-sponsored spectacle devoid of its radical roots. But to do so is to betray the very essence of pride and the countless activists who risked everything to make it possible. Pride was born out of struggle, and it must remain a space for protest if it is to retain its power.
A Call to Action – This Pride Month and Beyond
As we navigate these turbulent times, it is more important than ever to remember the radical origins of pride and the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights. We cannot allow ourselves to become complacent or apathetic in the face of injustice. We must continue to resist, to organize, and to demand change.
The bottom line is that philanthropy has a role and responsibility in the creation of this change. Funders for LGBTQ Issues continues to be a leader in this change. They are releasing the 2022 Resource Tracking Report: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Grantmaking by U.S. Foundations in the next two weeks. The 20th edition of the annual Resource Tracking Report not only provides a snapshot of funding for queer communities and issues across the country in 2022, it also reveals gaps in funding and highlights opportunities for US-based foundations to make strategic funding decisions that best support domestic LGBTQ communities and issues within the current philanthropic and political landscape.
If philanthropy hopes to become a place of refuge for LGBTQ+ people, they must include more LGBTQ+ staff. A 2022 survey from Change Philanthropy showed that while gay and transgendered people are protected against employment discrimination under the Title VII Civil Rights Act of 1964, nearly half of all LGBTQ people working in philanthropy are not open about their sexuality to most of their coworkers and trans people working in philanthropy account for a just 1.5% of board and staff in philanthropic institutions.
With wealthy right-wing extremists gearing up through Project 2025—for the elimination of LGBTQ+ civil rights law agencies and offices, it is clear that the attack on bodily autonomy is at dire risk. That is why philanthropy must take action now.
As Audre Lorde reminds us, “your silence will not protect you.” We must speak out against the criminalization of dissent, both within our communities and in the world at large. We must stand in solidarity with all those who are fighting for justice and equality, knowing that our struggles are interconnected.
Pride is more than just a parade; it is a symbol of hope, resilience, and resistance. It is a reminder that despite the forces arrayed against us, we will not be silenced. As long as injustice exists, pride will endure as a beacon of hope, lighting the way forward towards a more just and inclusive world.
Russell Roybal is the Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer at NCRP. As a Latinx, male-bodied, non-binary queer leader, their activism is rooted in a tradition of public service and the pursuit of social justice.
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