Pride Month is coming to an end. But our commitment to equality is just beginning
Because Pride is not a decoration. Pride is a political act. It is a reminder of a history of resistance, of overlooked pain and survived violence. It is also a vision of a different, freer world. But this year - in 2025 - Pride took place in a particularly disturbing context. As the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community grows, so does the resistance: legal, cultural and physical.
In the US alone, over 600 bills targeting queer people have been introduced since 2022. Drag shows are being censored, trans teens are being denied health care, and books with queer themes are disappearing from libraries. But this legislative assault is not an isolated anomaly. It is part of a broader wave of reaction - one that ranges from American religious nationalism to the Orban regime to Russia and Uganda, where being gay means a real risk of imprisonment or violence.
It cannot be overlooked that it is not just domestic forces behind this campaign - some of the hateful ideology is being deliberately exported. Political and religious groups, often funded by the US, spread propaganda that criminalises queer existence and seeks to undermine trust in scientific consensus and basic human rights. These forces do not defend 'traditional values'. They attack the very essence of an open and democratic society.
That is why we must ask again and again: what does freedom actually mean to us? Democracy? Human rights?
Liberal democracy is not a given. It requires care and defence - especially at a time when populists, authoritarians and ideologues in the guise of 'moral concern for children' are turning against it. Erasing the queer community from textbooks, libraries and public spaces is not protecting children. It is a threat to them. Young queer people who grow up without representation often suffer from anxiety, depression, and higher rates of suicidal tendencies. Conversely, inclusive environments have been proven to save lives.
This sends a crucial message: the rights of LGBTQ+ people are not a "special request." It is not about "rainbow supremacy." It is about basic fairness, equality and safety. It's about ensuring that no one has to live in fear just because of who they are. It is about children growing up knowing that they are okay - and that they have a future.
Our future must be built on openness, not fear. On solidarity, not isolation. And it must be intersectional - because queer people are not one homogenous group. They are black, white, Roma, religious, atheist, disabled, young and old, migrants and those who have never left their home village. Their struggles for equality are intertwined with struggles for climate justice, women's equality, the dignity of the elderly or the rights of people with disabilities.
Europe - and the Czech Republic as part of it - cannot remain neutral in this context. Our society often likes to boast that it is tolerant and open. But tolerance is not enough. Real support is needed. Perhaps in the form of a marriage for all law, comprehensive protection from discrimination or support for the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth. Silence today is complicity.
It is often said that Pride is just an 'American import' or a marketing circus. But this is a misunderstanding. Queer people have been part of all civilizations - from the indigenous cultures of North America to the temples of antiquity. And queer joy has always been an act of defiance. In a time when they wanted to break you, happiness was radical. And it still is.
So when June ends, our attention must not end with it. Celebrating is not enough. It's important to get involved. To support organizations, to listen to stories, to stand up for those who can't afford to do so themselves. Because human rights are not a once and for all given. We must reaffirm them again and again - in words, actions and laws.
Pride Month 2025 is slowly winding down. But queer people are here to stay. And they deserve a world that's not just safe in June. They deserve equality every day.
