Pride 2023: The Year of Resistance

Budweiser, Dodgers, Target… These are the most recent and most well-known cases of openly rampant homophobia and transphobia in the US.

Budweiser blatantly pulled out their support of the queer community in favor of money (a move that earned them even more backlash). Dodgers backtracked after facing heaving scrutiny. Target pulled out some of the merchandise citing concerns over the safety of their employees and customers.

Some countries, like Japan, have made great strides toward advancements of LGBTQ rights, while others, like Uganda, where the government just recently legalized life imprisonment of gay people, have regressed.

Then of course here in the US there are the powerful right-wing extremists who, to win political favors, have written and passed legislation threatening queer lives.

And these legislations, especially when they’re passed into laws, give freedom to bigots to commit violent acts against us.

In 2022, there were over 400 reported cases of hate violence against LGBTQ+ people in the United States. This violence can take many forms, including physical assault, verbal abuse, and harassment. The anti-LGBTQ rhetoric in Florida has become so bad that many Florida Pride celebrations have been canceled and queer Floridians moved out in droves.

LGBTQ voters tend to vote Democrat. I lament the queer and parents of queer Floridians who moved out of state or are thinking of moving out of state because this will make the small chance of Democrats winning any election even smaller. Yet, I understand completely why they want to get out: their lives and the lives of their loved ones are in danger.

It’s such a vicious cycle: become the majority, pass laws that threaten the lives of your opponents, opposing voters move out, and more wins are ensured to pass even more laws.

Pride supposedly commemorates the Stonewall riots, which were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the gay community in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The Stonewall riots are widely considered to be the single most important event leading to the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States.

On the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots, the first Pride march was held in New York City.

It only took twenty-five years for big corporations to start sponsoring Pride events. American Express became the first to major company to sponsor the New York City Pride in 1994. Since then, many other companies have followed suit, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Apple, and Nike.

There are a number of reasons why big companies sponsor Pride events. One reason is that they want to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community. Another reason is that they want to reach a wider audience. Pride events are attended by millions of people each year, and companies see it as an opportunity to promote their products and services to a diverse group of consumers.

However, some people have criticized corporate sponsorship of Pride events, arguing that it is a form of “pinkwashing” (when companies use the LGBTQ+ community to promote their products without actually doing anything to support the community).

Another critique of Pride events is how parades can be too sexually explicit whilst out on public streets. Critics fear that this could lead to normalizing sex and “sexual deviations” in minors in attendance.

Look, I’m not a prude. I mean, clearly: I do doll pornography.

However, I agree that public Pride events should be inclusive and family-friendly. G-rate, not gyrate. This whole debauchery image (no matter how mild) is just another ammo for bigots. It doesn’t matter that it’s been proven time and again that churches, religious people, and conservatives commit more sexual crimes than gays.

So, what can we do?

What can we, as individuals, do to help advance our rights (if you’re queer) or our loved ones’ rights (if you’re an ally)?

Give.

If and when we have the strength, the resources, and the money, we give.

Whether it’s volunteering at a queer organization, donating money to a queer charity, voting or canvassing for a political candidate who stands firmly on our side and fights for our rights, or using your platform to raise your voice and amplify others, we give.

And I get it, there are days when we’re just tired and flat-broke. I know exactly how that feels and it’s scary.

Give, but do what’s right for you. Do what you can. But always recognize your needs because they are the key to your own survival and you need to survive in order to help others.

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Dollsexposed would like to recognize these queer content creators and organizations who deserve your support, not only during Pride month but throughout the year.

Doll Content creators with stores:

@adhdalex/Marvelous Magical Miniatures
@dollodoggo
@tortured_artist_x
@tyson.thee.doll (read our interview with the Tyson Doll Project)

Organizations:

Efforts to free queer Afghans
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
Queer Works
Sage: Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ Elders
Foglifter Press
For the Gworls
Lavender Phoenix
API Equality LA
Satrang
The Trevor Project
Rainbow Push Coalition
People of Color Against AIDS Network
Black Aids Institute
Transgender District SF
Black Transmen
Marsha P. Johnson Institute
The Okra Project
National Center for Transgender Equality
Snap for Freedom
Transwomen of Color Collective
LGBTQ Fund
House of GG
Black Trans Advocacy
National Black Justice Coalition
Black & Queer Intersectional Collective
Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Brave Space Alliance
Human Rights Campaign
American Civil Liberties Union