Latest news with #LGBTQPrideMonth
San Francisco Chronicle
17 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Letters: S.F.'s Pink Triangle symbolizes LGBTQ+ empowerment. Why vandalism won't change that
Regarding 'Man arrested in vandalism to S.F.'s Pink Triangle celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month' (Crime, June 19): The vandalism of the Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks this week is an example of the struggles our community has faced throughout time. The damage should remain because it sends a powerful message. We will wear this scar as a badge of resilience, courage and our continuing struggle for equality for the rest of Pride Month. For the past three decades, the Pink Triangle has been a symbol of what can happen if hatred is allowed to go unchecked. The graffiti and defaced panels of the Pink Triangle remind us of the ongoing discrimination and hatred experienced by many in the community. If this can happen here in LGBTQ+ friendly San Francisco, think what might happen in other less accepting places in the U.S. and around the world. This hate empowers us. We will remain our true selves, speak up and keep living our lives as joyfully as possible. There is no going back in the closet as some would like us to do. Patrick Carney, co-founder, Pink Triangle, San Francisco Don't wait I'm not a green card holder nor an undocumented immigrant. I'm not attending a university on a student visa. I'm not a corporate executive fearing my political views will bar me from federal contracts. I'm not a lawyer who's been coerced into performing pro bono work to undo diversity, equity and inclusion. I'm not connected to any university, museum or nonprofit organization that had its tax-exempt status and/or funding canceled for promoting policies inimical to government ones. I'm not employed by any federal, state or local government. I'm not a university professor, teacher or student. I'm not personally affected by rising consumer prices. I don't live near oil or gas drilling. I'm not worried about the financial stability of Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare and the Veterans Affairs Department. I'm not affected by dictates issued on and after Jan. 20. In 1946, German Pastor Martin Niemöller berated himself for failing to oppose Nazi attacks on Communists, Socialists, trade unionists and Jews, until he, too, was attacked and no one remained to speak on his behalf. I'm not waiting. Paul L. Newman, Merion Station, Pa. Trump keeps promise Nearly 80 million Americans voted for Donald Trump, including eight counties in California that were blue in 2020. President Trump is keeping to his promise to all Americans, even if you didn't vote for him. Trump is president of the United States, and that makes him accountable to U.S. citizens, not those who are here illegally. Christine Larson, Castro Valley
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Usually demure Cartoon Network skewers 'bigoted' trolls on their Pride Month post; Reddit can't get enough of the sass
The official Instagram account of Cartoon Network marked the ongoing Pride Month by posting some fan art of several LGBTQ characters from its former shows. The post received love from fans, but also a lot of trolling and hate, including homophobic comments. However, the Cartoon Network social media team decided not to take the hate lying down and clapped back at the 'bigoted' comments, earning praise on social media. Earlier this week, Cartoon Network shared a carousel post featuring fan art of queer CN show characters. "You are an EXPERIENCE! Pride is a reminder to live bravely in your authenticity - use your voice, stand up for others, and spread love," read the caption. The post also credited the original artists whose work was used. However, several comments slammed CN for 'ruining their childhood'. One read, "My childhood is gone, there is nothing else to say." It received a sassy reply from the CN team that read: "Doesn't seem you are a grown up though." When one commented wrote, "This is a joke, right," the account responded, "Look in the mirror, you'll see one." The following day, Cartoon Network added two comments on the post. One read, 'Watching comments be mad about characters from a show that aired 15 years ago.' A post shared by Cartoon Network (@cartoonnetworkofficial) The exchange was shared on Reddit with the caption: "Cartoon Network responded to users who left bigoted comments underneath their recent Pride Month post on IG, which showcased fan art of various LGBTQ+ characters." The top comnment read, "I typically roll my eyes at snarky corporate social media stuff, but i like this. Another added, "Based Cartoon Network. One of my first memories ever includes watching that channel lol." Many remarked that the characters in the post were known to be queer anyway, which made the backlash strange. "My favorite part about this is that all of the characters shown are canonically LGBT. It's not just fan art or headcanons. like, did any of these people actually watch either of these shows? Marceline and Bubblegum are canonically in a lesbian relationship; they wear each other's clothes, sing each other love songs, and they kiss on screen in the finale episode. Don't get me started on Steven Universe," wrote one. Another added, "I love Adventure Time, but I'm confused that people thought Marceline and Princess Bubblegum were straight." Even Cartoon Network joined the chorus and added a comment that read: "Some of y'all need to rewatch some episodes and it shows." Pride Month, sometimes specified as LGBTQ Pride Month, is a month-long observance dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ pride and commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer culture and community. It is observed every year during June.
Hindustan Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
In Trump's America, Pride marches are losing financial support
The organizer of this year's San Francisco Pride didn't expect rejection when she contacted sponsors, but amid US President Donald Trump's anti-diversity offensive, several longtime backers have withdrawn their support. "It was quite frightening," said Suzanne Ford, executive director of the California-based group which is among America's most influential gay rights organizations. "In about a week and a half period, several corporations came back and said 'We're not sponsoring this year,'" she told AFP. In total, Ford's group faced a $300,000 budget hole, with longstanding partnerships suddenly unwilling to fill it ahead of the late June festivities. "It's disheartening," Ford said. One of Pride's major partners, the brewer Anheuser-Busch, has withdrawn, according to the organization. The brewing company did not respond to requests from AFP. The lack of sponsorships is "newsworthy for sure," noted Eve Keller, co-president of the USA Prides network of nearly 200 march organizations nationwide. Several US companies have opted to stop financially supporting organized events, especially those in June, designated as LGBTQ Pride Month. Pride organizations are reluctant to call them out, however, for fear of cutting ties. "Some are still talking with us," Ford said. "We hope they return." In some cities where 2025 Pride marches have already occurred, groups proceeded with "tighter" budgets, according to Keller. "They just didn't have headliners could not hire the biggest, best band," she added, although for her, the main focus in 2025 was to ensure the safety of participants. In San Francisco, the companies all pointed to "budgetary reasons" for scaling back their contributions, said Ford. But "I think you could read between the lines," she added. "No one wanted to be on record saying anything, you know, that would hurt them with the administration or with people that support the administration." Since returning to the White House in January, Republican billionaire Trump has led a crusade against programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion . Companies that implement such policies are threatened with prosecution, and several major brands, including Meta, Target and McDonald's, have either abolished their DEI programs or drastically reduced them. The so-called "anti-woke" pressure campaign comes as US capital Washington hosts WorldPride, a global event for LGBTQ rights, culminating in a major parade this weekend. June Crenshaw, one of the rally's organizers, estimates she suffered "about a 20, 25 percent reduction" in business partnership and support. "So we've had to look at other ways in which to finance programming, etc, really leaning on the community and individual donations," she said. WorldPride organizers also decided to turn away from their "long and strong partnership" with the Kennedy Center after President Trump seized the reins of Washington's renowned cultural institution, Crenshaw added. According to Bob Witeck, a communications consultant on LGBTQ topics for major brands, companies fear that taking part in these events could expose them to "visible risk" during a sensitive political period and "put themselves in harm's way needlessly." But several firms "are still engaged," he stressed, including "through the nonprofits they serve." San Francisco's Ford noted that "pinkwashing" the practice of superficially promoting LGBTQ rights is no longer fashionable. They "just want to do the right thing." eml-mlm Meta TARGET
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Republicans suggest PBS ‘grooming' children with Pride post
A group of congressional Republicans accused PBS on Monday of 'grooming' children after 'Sesame Street,' one of the nonprofit TV network's flagship programs, shared a social media post recognizing Pride Month. 'On our street, everyone is welcome. Together, let's build a world where every person and family feels loved and respected for who they are. Happy #PrideMonth!' the longtime children's education show wrote in a post early Sunday on the social platform X. The post, uploaded at midnight on June 1, the official start of LGBTQ Pride Month, included an illustration of 'Sesame Street's' colorful cast of puppets holding hands, their outstretched arms arranged in the order of a rainbow. The Republican Study Committee (RSC), a coalition of GOP House members whose membership is not public, responded to the post with a meme of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and the words 'I am once again asking PBS to stop grooming children.' Representatives for PBS, 'Sesame Street' and Sanders did not immediately return requests for comment. The RSC did not respond to an email asking for additional comment on the post. The group's accusation comes amid a broader battle between PBS and Congress and the White House over the broadcaster's federal funding, which President Trump threatened last month in an executive order. PBS sued the Trump administration over the order, which claims it and the nonprofit radio network NPR produces 'biased and partisan news coverage.' NPR is also challenging Trump's order. The 'Sesame Street' Pride Month post drew backlash from other House and Senate Republicans, who used it to justify the administration's argument that it cut funding from PBS. Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.), whose website identifies her as an RSC member, also accused PBS of 'grooming' children with the post, which she said 'is evil and should infuriate every parent in America.' 'DEFUND!!' Miller wrote Monday on X. 'Federal funds aren't for grooming,' Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote from his personal X account, responding to a separate 'Sesame Street' clip from a 2020 episode that featured 'Queer Eye' host Jonathan Van Ness. Reacting to the same clip, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) said, 'PBS is grooming children on American taxpayers' dime. This is unacceptable. Congress must defund them and hold the executives accountable.' The strong responses to 'Sesame Street's' post, including accusations of grooming, also come as the Trump administration increasingly targets LGBTQ Americans with policies and rhetoric that advocacy groups and LGBTQ people say threaten their safety and basic rights. Executive orders signed by Trump since his return to office in January aim to bar transgender people from serving openly in the military, ban trans athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports, end federal support for gender-affirming care for minors and slash funding for LGBTQ health programs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Evers raises Pride flag over Wisconsin State Capitol
The Progress Pride Flag flies over the Wisconsin Capitol. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner) For the seventh time, Gov. Tony Evers ordered the Progress Pride Flag to fly over the Wisconsin State Capitol for LGBTQ Pride Month. This year, Pride Month begins on the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which gave same-sex couples the right to get married in 2015. But Evers' celebration of LGBTQ pride is occuring as the administration of President Donald Trump attacks the rights of transgender people and a recent Gallup poll found that Republican acceptance of same-sex marriage has fallen to its lowest level in nine years. 'When the Pride Flag flies above the People's House, it sends a clear and unequivocal message that Wisconsin recognizes and celebrates LGBTQ Wisconsinites and Americans,' Evers said in a statement. 'Every day, but especially today and this month, we reaffirm our commitment to striving to be a place where every LGBTQ kid, person, and family can be bold in their truth and be safe, treated with dignity and respect, and welcomed without fear of persecution, judgment, or discrimination. I promised long ago that, as governor, I would always fight to protect LGBTQ Wisconsinites with every tool and every power that I have. I will never stop keeping that promise.' In the executive order Evers signed Friday, he notes that the LGBTQ has been under attack in recent years, including in Wisconsin where Republicans have tried more than once to pass legislation attacking transgender children. 'Despite historic victories, in the last several years, there has been a significant increase in anti-LGBTQ legislation introduced in state Legislatures across the country, including in Wisconsin, that have targeted LGBTQ kids and people and increased dangerous anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, as well as efforts on a state and national level to erase LGBTQ history and stories.' The Progress Pride Flag flying above the Capitol includes the recognizable LGBTQ rainbow colors and a chevron of additional stripes that represent LGBTQ people of color, the transgender community and people with HIV/AIDS. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
