Protesting Matters Now More Than Ever for the LGBTQ+ Community.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s timeless reminder, “He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it,” lands like a gut punch in today’s America. For the LGBTQ+ community, his words aren’t abstract—they’re a stark warning as waves of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric crash over us. And let’s be clear: silence is not neutrality. Silence, in this climate, is complicity.
A Flood of Anti-LGBTQ+ Attacks
The United States has seen an alarming rise in legislation targeting LGBTQ+ rights. In 2023 alone, over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced across the country. From bans on gender-affirming care for trans youth to the erasure of LGBTQ+ identities in school curriculums, these legislative assaults don’t just threaten individual freedoms—they aim to dismantle an entire community’s existence.
Consider Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law. What started as a ban on classroom discussion about LGBTQ+ topics in early grades has metastasized into broader censorship. Or the slew of drag bans masquerading as child protection laws but actually criminalizing queer expression. The message is chillingly clear: your existence is up for debate, and the verdict is already in.
The Cost of Silence
The stakes are too high to stay quiet. For the LGBTQ+ community, silence doesn’t just embolden the opposition—it puts lives at risk. Anti-trans legislation that blocks access to healthcare has been linked to increased rates of mental health crises and suicide among trans youth. School censorship isolates queer students, leaving them to navigate adolescence without affirming representation or support. These aren’t abstract consequences; these are tangible harms happening now.
For allies, silence can be just as damaging. A refusal to speak up signals to lawmakers and hate groups that there will be no pushback, no resistance. It’s an invitation for escalation.
Protesting as Resistance
Protesting isn’t just about taking to the streets (although we’ll see you there with glitter and signs). It’s about making noise—loud, unapologetic noise. Call your representatives. Show up at school board meetings. Flood your social media feeds with LGBTQ+ affirming messages. Donate to organizations fighting back, like the ACLU or the Trevor Project. Protest is as much about raising awareness as it is about refusing to disappear.
The queer community has a rich history of resistance. From Stonewall to ACT UP, protest has always been a lifeline for survival. We can’t let that legacy stagnate. The fight for marriage equality may have given some a sense of complacency, but the attacks we’re seeing now prove that hard-won rights can vanish overnight if we’re not vigilant.
Why This Matters to Everyone
This isn’t just an LGBTQ+ issue. If you’re a woman who values reproductive rights, a person of colour fighting systemic racism, or a worker battling for fair wages, the playbook being used to strip LGBTQ+ rights is coming for you next. Oppression doesn’t operate in silos; neither should resistance.
Dr. King’s call to action isn’t just a historical footnote—it’s a blueprint. To accept the injustices facing the LGBTQ+ community today is to cooperate with them. So, will you stay silent, or will you join the protest? The choice, like the stakes, is yours.
Take Action
Feeling fired up? Good. Here are a few ways to channel that energy:
- Contact lawmakers: Use platforms like 5calls.org to easily reach your representatives.
- Join local protests: Check out organizations like Queer Nation for upcoming events.
- Donate: Support groups like Lambda Legal and The Trevor Project.
- Vote: Make sure you’re registered and ready for the midterms. Anti-LGBTQ+ lawmakers thrive on voter apathy.
Silence isn’t an option. Stand up, take a deep breath, and let’s shout together. – TML