June marks Pride Month, a time meant for celebrating the LGBTQ community. But this year, due to increasing threats and anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country, many feel the weeks meant for inclusion and acceptance are overshadowed by hate and intolerance.
Target stores pulled Pride merchandise after threats were made against employees, drag shows are being targeted and canceled nationwide, and legislation is being introduced, much of it specifically targeting the trans community.
“It never stops. So it does feel somewhat different. We seem to take two steps forward and one step back, especially our brothers and sisters in the trans community,” said Brian Hosier, chief operating officer of the Center, an LGBTQ haven in Las Vegas. “But you know, we're used to that. We're survivors. And that's why Pride is very important for us to celebrate who we are and where we are, and we will continue to fight.”
Hosier said the Center is in the process of applying for grant funding to strengthen security around the building following events like the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs last November.
With plenty of events planned for Pride, Hosier said he’s comfortable with the support from Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) year round, especially when hateful rhetoric elevates in June.
“Most people fear what they don't understand. If you take the time to understand our community and get to know folks, you embrace us, you'll love us,” said Hosier. “But fear is a big thing. And unfortunately, there's certain groups out there that use fear to cause this chaos.”
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security issued a National Terrorism Advisory bulletin warning individuals and events associated with the LGBTQIA+ community about the potential for targeted violence.
“Recent tragic events highlight the continued heightened threat environment our nation faces, and these threats are driven by violent extremists who seek to further their ideological beliefs and personal grievances,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.
In Las Vegas, the FBI field office said it’s aware of the bulletin and is taking safety and security seriously, but urged people not to avoid celebrating Pride Month.
“One thing I'll never say is never be not concerned. Right. I know that the double negative, but we're always on some level of heightened awareness,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ray Johnson. “Whenever any event happens, these bulletins help highlight that. This bulletin in particular is focusing on the LGBTQ+ communities. So I don't know that we need to heighten our posture anymore, because we already have a robust infrastructure in place to address threats as they happen.”
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Still, despite robust protections under state laws like the recently passed Equal Rights Amendment, there are efforts underway in Nevada to target LGBTQ communities. Douglas County is attempting to bar transgender girls from participating in sports. The American Civil Liberties Union said they’re prepared to litigate should it pass.
“There's so much fire and brimstone and people are so passionate about this issue. And there's not a single transgender girl playing sports on a girls team in Douglas County,” said West Juhl, the director of communications and campaigns for the ACLU Nevada. “It's a literal non-issue. And people, most people, just want to live their lives, but there's this very vocal minority that just makes a ton of noise.”
Juhl said the ACLU is tracking 450 pieces of anti-LGBTQ pieces of legislation nationwide.
Though it’s difficult to track exact numbers of those who identify as transgender, data from the Williams Institute shows only 3,300 Nevada youth (ages 13-17) are transgender, comprising 1.67% of the age group statewide.
Juhl said suicide is their biggest fear and all of the work to protect LGBTQ+ youth is rooted in suicide prevention.
Despite the rise in hateful rhetoric nationwide and heightened fears ahead of a 2024 presidential election cycle, the Las Vegas LGBTQ+ community is pushing forward for this year’s Pride Month. The official Pride parade happens in October because of the summer heat, but Las Vegas PRIDE is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023.
“We've got a lot of hot button issues that aren't so hot button. And they're things that are totally normal,” said Brady McGill, CEO and president of Las Vegas PRIDE. “We were doing Las Vegas Pride family bingo, which brings together families, kids, drag queens, in an environment where we play bingo and have a good time. Totally not salaciousand suddenly drag queens and kids seems to be controversial, which doesn't really make much sense. They’re like any other entertainer or any other person having an event out in the world.”
McGill encouraged people from all walks of life to check out local Pride events and try something new.
“We're all about celebrating and uplifting and making the world a better place each day,” said McGill.