It’s Pride month … or is it Title IX month? President Donald Trump and his administration have decided to pivot away from White House Pride month commemorations. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education is recognizing June as Title IX Month, “commemorating women and celebrating their struggle for, and achievement of, equal educational opportunity.”

Despite the federal government’s actions, coupled with budget reductions from corporate sponsors, Pride celebrations are still happening across the country, including inaugural celebrations in small towns like Shepherdsville, West Virginia.

“June is Pride Month, whether or not it is recognized by a particular federal administration,” said Grace Sterling Stowell, executive director of BAGLY, the Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth. “It’s a community celebration and a community event, and we recognize it in all the ways that our community does. And while it’s always nice to have local and national governments recognize that, if they don’t, it doesn’t change that.”

The U.S. Department of Defense announced its own renaming effort, involving the Navy ship USNS Harvey Milk. The vessel, which is named after the slain gay rights activist and politician from San Francisco, is a John-Lewis class oiler and one of a fleet dedicated to American civil rights icons.

“Frankly, I think it lacks all decency,” said Polly Crozier, director of family advocacy at GLAD Law. “Harvey Milk was a veteran who served at war with honor, and he was a dedicated public servant. I think it’s shocking and sad and shows the animus that this administration has for LGBTQ people.”

CBS News reports that other Navy oilers – like the USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg and USNS Harriet Tubman – could also be renamed soon.

Also, pushback from the federal government against the transgender community continues, as the ban on trans military members takes effect this month, despite pending court cases. The ban affects newly-graduated trans military cadets, including the Air Force, who will not be commissioned for service due to the ban.

“These actions, quite simply, make our country less safe,” said Janson Wu, senior director of philanthropy at The Trevor Project. “Thousands of transgender service members have met the same qualifications as other service members that they’re serving side by side with, and they have already more than proven themselves. So on a larger scale, this is harmful to our country, and then on the individual level, it’s devastating to individuals who have spent their entire lives committed to serving our country.”

All that and more in this week’s LGBTQ+ news roundtable!

Guests

  • Janson Wu, senior vice president of philanthropy at The Trevor Project
  • Grace Sterling Stowell, executive director of BAGLY, the Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth
  • Polly Crozier, director of family advocacy at GLAD Law, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders

Stories featured in this week’s news roundtable: