It's Pride Month...

by Ashley Heidebrecht, LMSW, Director

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Every Pride Month, we see rainbows and celebration, but behind the colors is a deeper truth: LGBTQ+ people are under attack, and not because we’re a threat, but because we’re being used as a political distraction, and too many people want no part in intervening.

Many people hesitate to engage meaningfully with LGBTQ+ issues not necessarily out of overt hatred, but because of deeply embedded narratives about morality. In many religious and cultural contexts, queerness is framed not as an identity, but as a moral failing, something to be pitied, corrected, or quietly endured. These moral frameworks make it difficult for people to separate their discomfort from perceived righteousness. As a result, LGBTQ+ identities are often treated as subjects for quiet judgment rather than human experiences worthy of open dialogue, celebration, or defense. This hesitation gets masked as "respecting both sides," but in truth, it reinforces stigma by treating queer existence as inherently controversial.

Complicating this further is the belief that being "tolerant" or "accepting" is enough. Many well-meaning individuals pride themselves on being nonjudgmental yet still cling to the idea of “love the sinner, hate the sin”, a phrase that implies inherent wrongness in LGBTQ+ identities while allowing the speaker to feel morally generous. This mentality creates a ceiling for acceptance; it refuses to affirm queer people fully, instead offering conditional support that stops short of advocating for rights, inclusion, or dignity. True allyship requires more than passive tolerance, it demands the courage to confront these inherited moral scripts and move from silent acceptance to outspoken solidarity.

Right-wing politicians and influencers are spreading misinformation about queer and trans people, painting us as dangerous or immoral, to stir fear, gain votes, and distract from broader rollbacks of rights that affect everyone. While attention is fixed on trans youth and drag shows, these same politicians are also attacking reproductive rights, education, privacy, and democracy itself. And on the other side of the political spectrum, we are seeing some politicians abandon their "support" of trans people because it's viewed as too inconvenient to continue.

This isn’t just about LGBTQ+ people. It’s about a deliberate strategy to divide and control. Harming the LGBTQ+ community is seen as a desired objective by some, and as collateral damage in search of "traditional" society by others.

That’s why we need cisgender and heterosexual people to step up, not just in quiet support, but through real action. That means:

• Recognizing that “tolerance” is not enough

• Addressing your own biases

• Challenging misinformation in your community

• Confronting your own discomfort or silence

• Voting for policies that protect everyone’s civil liberties

• Supporting LGBTQ+ people with your voice, your resources, and your courage

Neutrality is not an option anymore. If you’re not actively helping to build a world where queer people can live freely and safely, you’re helping maintain the one where we cannot.

This Pride, choose to show up. Not just for us—but for all of us.

If you want help getting started or furthering your ongoing efforts, check out our LGBTQ+ Allyship and You training.