First the bad news.
The number of Americans who support gay marriage rights has fallen from 72% to about 68% over the last two years.
Ten years ago on Jan. 26, the Supreme Court issued one of the nation’s most historic and profound opinions ever, making it clear that the U.S. Constitution’s protections extend to all Americans, whether they are straight, gay, lesbian, queer, bi-sexual or transgender.
In their 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled the right to marry is “fundamental,” calling it “inherent in the liberty of the person.”
More than anything else, the iconic ruling made clear that LGBTQ+ people are just that, people.
Pride celebrations from that point out were just that, celebrations of a long-fought victory over cruel discrimination a dearth of common sense.
Colorado no longer needed its “civil union” law, which at least tried to provide some sense of economic and legal equity. Before that, same-sex spouses had no legal rights when it came to making critical medical decisions or even receiving death benefits.
Post Obergefell v. Hodges decision saw same-sex couples finally enjoy the same rights as all other couples.
Gay and transgender Americans became even more able to live openly as other Americans, while making clear that gender or sexual orientation does not define people any more than does being straight.
In the past few years, however, some of the old intolerances and hate has returned, especially for transgender Americans.
Although 58% of Americans support the ability for transgender soldiers to serve in the military, that number has fallen from 71% in 2019, according to Gallup polling.
No doubt the declines are, at least in part, the result of intense insults, defamation and disinformation broadcast feverishly by President Donald Trump, members of his new administration and his political acolytes.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is leading the charge to force out transgender members of the military, what is clearly nothing more than a hateful and irresponsible destruction of careers and U.S. military skills and talent.
“No more dudes in dresses,” Hegseth said at a military conference, defending his decision to boot transgender members of the military. “We are done with that s—”
He said that equal rights for all Americans is being “woke,” and he wants the military and the United States to “leave wokeness and weakness behind.”
You can’t miss the irony of an entire presidential administration and band of cultish MAGA followers who hold such open contempt for transgender people and, especially, drag queens, yet have such a profound affinity for all kinds of cosplay and dabbling in jarring quantities and applications of facial makeup.
Rather than insult so many talented and skilled drag queens, Trump and much of his mob should ask nicely for tips and tricks.
The insults are ruthless and increasingly accepted as banter that would never be accepted the same way if it targeted Blacks, Jews or other American minorities.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, regularly hurls “communist groomers” as an insult for just about all things LGTBQ+.
Trump, who during his first administration offered at least tacit support of the gay and trans community, has gone silent or offers cheap slights, such as this week calling CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who is openly gay, “Allison Cooper.”
Here in Colorado, GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert helped build her career on dissing drag queens.
Boebert was once tabbed by LGBTQNation.com as the third most prolific generator of LGTBQ hate speech in the nation, behind only Greene and GOP Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“Sending a message to all the drag queens out there: stay away from the children in Colorado’s Third District!” Boebert tweeted previously.
Since then, the GOP held Congress, the White House and a growing number of states have pushed bills and policies chiseling away at hard-won gay rights.
Now for the good news.
Colorado continues to be an outlier. Last year, state lawmakers shored up the ability of the state to ensure the rights of transgender residents and backed up its commitment to same-sex marriage.
While Aurora’s amazing annual Pridefest at the Aurora Reservoir got pushed aside over a political squabble centering on access to the reservoir and funding, Aurora Pride will persist, planning for a more centralized event in August, organizers say.
And while the setbacks in public opinion are worrisome, the vast majority of Americans still support the rights of all LGBTQ+ Americans, and even ensuring that transgender Americans can serve in the military.
For those who don’t? Consider this: As many as 30% of Americans don’t believe climate change is the result of humans. Also, about 35% of Americans don’t believe evolution is real.
Pretty easy to guess who believes what.
Happy Pride to all.
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We certainly know that Dave Perry believes that children are “born in the wrong body” and need to be convinced to mutilate their perfectly normal developing bodies to “correct” that.