This pride month, we have seen a disturbing uptick in violence against the LGBT+ community. The month began with the tragic death of Jonathon Joss, a Native American musician and voice actor. Joss and his husband were targeted by one of their neighbors, who allegedly burned their house down and shot Joss in the head. In another case, a transgender man from South Carolina, Luca Strobel, was violently arrested after asking permission to use an empty woman’s restroom. In Seattle, an evangelical Christian group held an anti-trans rally which ended in violence clashes with counter protestors.
Sadly, this rise in hatred against the LGBT+ community is not new. Statistics show that hate crimes and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity have risen these past few years. The vitriol and violence have intensified especially since the Trump administration began dismantling laws and measures protecting the rights of LGBT+ people. In a series of executive orders, the administration has mandated that federal departments only recognize male and female sexes, ceased funding for gender-affirming care, dismantled DEI measures and banned transgender individuals from serving in the military. Most recently, Trump has cut specialized suicide prevention services for LGBT+ youth.
Those who discriminate against the LGBT+ community are now emboldened to target them, as there are little to no repercussions. Even law enforcement in conservative areas does not care to stop this violence and in many cases, participate in the repression. LGBT+ youth are statistically much more likely to be targeted by bullies and be shunned by their own families, leading to higher rates of depression and suicide. Adults are more likely to be discriminated against at their workplace or by their own community and are much more at risk of facing homelessness and poverty.
The current political and social atmosphere are bitter reminders of why we must continue to fight against the repression of our rights. It has taken decades for our community to receive some level of visibility and acceptance in society. Many have protested and organized over the years to achieve legal protections and services to support LGBT+ adults and youth. It is crucial now more than ever, for members of our community and our allies to join LGBT+ organizations to continue the struggle and win back our civil rights.
By Saumya V.
