As June 2023 ends, the LGBT+ community is garnering mixed results on how Pride Month was received, especially with the rise of conservative voices, as well as those of disgruntled members of the LGBT+ community who observed how it went from bad to worse.
Here are some highlights of how June 2023 went in the United States and across the world.
LGBT+ 'State of Emergency'
June began with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) declaring a "state of emergency" for the LGBTQ+ community over a record number of bills introduced across US state legislatures viewed as hostile to the community.
"LGBTQ+ Americans are living in a state of emergency," HRC president Kelley Robinson said. "The multiplying threats facing millions in our community are not just perceived - they are real, tangible, and dangerous."
The organization also planned to publish a digital guidebook with health and safety information, a breakdown of state-by-state regulations, "know your rights" details, and other materials meant to help LGBT+ travelers and individuals residing in hostile environments.
West Hollywood Pride Parade
During the first weekend of June, West Hollywood hosted its "WeHo Pride" event, which the organizers have labeled as for "the whole family." However, it was reported there were graphic scenes after photos and videos of the culminating parade on June 4 were posted on social media.
Tens of thousands were estimated to have joined or watched the parade, which was reported as one of the largest of its kind in the world. Some of the highlights included nude participants and men performing sex acts while BDSM flags were waved nearby.
Prior to the parade, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was called to Saticoy Elementary School to wedge between pro- and anti-Pride Month protesters after a parent group opposed the school's Pride Month activities.
Bud Light Brew-haha
In the lead-up to Pride Month, Bud Light has partnered with transgender theater actor and influencer Dylan Mulvaney, which caused the brand's steep decline in sales and prompted boycotts from celebrities like Kid Rock to ordinary beer patrons.
Mulvaney responded in the aftermath by doubling down on her critics, saying she was "standing up for [herself]" and would not want to give critics "the satisfaction they're on [her] mind."
As a result, Anheuser-Busch's sales plummeted and two of its executives were sacked. Captiv8, the advertising agency that directly worked with Mulvaney and Anheuser-Busch for the partnership, also announced they were in "serious panic mode" in the aftermath of the Bud Light boycott.
Nevertheless, Bud Light was adamant in supporting the LGBT+ community as it co-sponsored an "all-ages" Pride drag event, as well as the Toronto Pride event in Canada.
Read Also: HNGN's Coverage on Dylan Mulvaney
Target Targeted for Pride Merch
Target became the next major corporate victim after it released its Pride clothing ahead of June, as well as selling "tuck-friendly" women's swimwear. The company immediately backpedaled with the plan after receiving boycotts for the clothing line.
The Washington Post also reported that Target stores from several states received bomb threats after it pulled back its Pride collection, with one of the threats stating that the company "betrayed the LGBTQ+ community." No explosives were discovered in every single report.
Several Target employees have also expressed concern for their colleagues who were defending the retail giant against irate consumers. They added a majority of workers were not informed about the sudden changes regarding the Pride clothing collection.
White House Pride Party
Earlier this month, the White House hosted a Pride party on its south lawn, displaying the Pride flag at the center of the southern facade of the White House and flanked by American flags.
During the event, 27-year-old trans activist Rose Montoya flashed her breasts alongside other trans individuals. She also had a selfie with US President Joe Biden, who graced the event.
"You are loved, you are heard, you're understood, and you belong," he addressed LGBT+ children in his speech.
The White House was subsequently criticized for violating the US Flag Code, as well as Montoya's breast flashing.
US Presidential Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also announced in a press conference that Montoya's behavior was "simply unacceptable," "not appropriate" and "unfair" to the families attending the event. She confirmed Montoya and the other people seen engaging in "inappropriate" behavior would not be invited back to the White House in the future.
'We're Coming For Your Children' Heard at NYC Pride Parade Weekend
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has joined thousands of participants in the city's LGBT+ parade to culminate Pride Month.
Prior to the main event, a Twitter video went viral after it featured participants of New York's Drag March on June 23 chanting, "We're here, we're queer, we're coming for your children." The video got reactions from conservatives like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, and British de-transitioner Oli London.
Pride flags were also vandalized at New York's Stonewall Riots Memorial multiple times, the NYPD said.
Google Drag Show Shelved
Global tech giant Google has invited drag performer Peaches Christ for its Pride and Drag Show as part of this year's celebrations.
However, the company later decided to remove the show from its initial description after a petition from its Christian employees circulated. It claimed to invite the drag performer disrespected and sexualized Google's Christian co-workers and accused the company of religious discrimination.
Google spokesperson Chris Pappas explained 2023's Pride and Drag Show was planned by an internal team without going through the company's standard event process.
Other Pride Month News
Starbucks has also been in the news this month after its employees demanded better working conditions and benefits for its LGBT+ employees in a series of strikes across the US. This came after the company removed Pride flags from its coffee shops in the wake of the debacle Bud Light and Target faced.
Social media metrics for the official @Pride accounts observed a significant rise in followers, suggesting support for the cause was rising despite the perceived backlash, Newsweek reported. Of particular note is the massive expansion of support for Pride Month over Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
Football team FC Barcelona was also slammed by followers for featuring trans and Pride flags at its stadium on the same day as the Muslim holiday Eid'l Adha.
Uganda also passed its anti-LGBT+ law after President Yoweri Museveni signed a revised version of the law.
He vetoed an earlier draft imposing harsher punishments criminalizing individuals identifying as part of the LGBT+ community, which was dropped in the signed version after concerns were raised regarding the penalty as an attack on human rights.
However, the law still retained clauses pertaining to capital punishment for "aggravated homosexuality," which was defined by the law as cases of sexual relations involving people infected with HIV, as well as with minors and other categories of vulnerable people.
Meanwhile, Estonia passed its own legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, becoming the first central European country to do so amid conservative opposition from various countries worldwide.
Related Article: Estonia Passes Law Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage
