Pride Month, the worldwide celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and rights, kicks off Saturday with events around the globe. But this year’s festivities in the U.S. will unfold against a backdrop of dozens of new state laws targeting LGBTQ+ rights, particularly transgender young people. Here are things to know about the celebrations and the politics around them.
There also have been efforts to ban or regulate drag performances. Most of the policies are facing legal challenges. Since Roe vs. Wade was overturned in 2022, leading to restrictive abortion laws in most GOP-controlled states, LGBTQ+ advocates are worried about losing ground too, said Kevin Jennings, CEO of nonprofit civil rights organization Lambda Legal. On the eve of Pride, the organization announced a $180-million fundraising goal for more lawyers to challenge anti-LGBTQ+ laws.