Stop the Erasure! Protect LGBTQ Symbols and Lives!

This administration’s efforts to erase LGBTQ+ visibility, starting with bans on pride flag pins and the removal of rainbow crosswalks, go beyond symbolism. The crosswalk outside the Pulse nightclub, a memorial for 49 lives lost, could be removed under the directive to "keep roads free from political messaging." I'm a gay American, and it's who I am; it's far from a “political message.” These actions reflect a coordinated attack on LGBTQ+ rights. Trans youth face bans from sports and healthcare, inclusive education is under threat, and public memorials for queer lives are being dismantled. Such normalization of erasure signals that LGBTQ+ Americans are less deserving of dignity and safety, paving the way for hate. We demand that Congress act now to protect LGBTQ+ visibility and rights. Legislate against the removal of memorials and symbols, enforce hate crime protections, and publicly denounce these attacks as state-sponsored bigotry. LGBTQ+ Americans are here to stay, and we will not stand for this. It's time for leaders to stand with us.