It’s the people. Who make communities, who make events, who make movements. That’s the core thing we have lost and found, over and over.
In this moment of fear and facism and failures of our society, we are hopefully finding that we need to center people. Not corporations, not the government, not public opinion. None of these are what give Queer people the right to exist. We just do.
That existence is vital, especially as we see the decline of our public acknowledgment. Being here, now, visibly with other Queer people is powerful. When we can find each other and build community, that makes us invincible. It proves that we are not something to be swept under the rug. We are stronger and more unmoving than any show of rainbow capitalism or government proclamation. In the face of fear, we have to be brave, together and build collective power.
We have seen that the federal government and the rainbow capitalism of corporate sponsors aren’t going to protect our rights to anything, especially if there isn’t a benefit for them. The only thing we have to protect us is us. And so, in small ways and big, we build resilience together because, whether we have outside support or not, we will always be marching in the front.
As we celebrate Pride, I hope we remember that our joy is rooted in the fight. The fight for ourselves and our liberation, but also the liberation of all people systemically pushed to the margins. As hard as we fight for ourselves and our own Queer community, I hope that we particularly fight for Black, immigrant, homeless, Palestinian, disabled and Trans people across the world, not just in our backyards. Our liberation is always intertwined.
That’s what I want to express with this cover. We reached out to subjects from this week’s stories, as well as community members, staff and vendors, so that I could draw us, as we are. With the help of many, I was able to gather photos that represent Queer people as they want to be seen and draw each one as a little portrait that together makes up a bigger tapestry. And each one represents a person beloved and cherished by their community. In my own way, I tried to honor that love and give that back in art. As I drew these portraits, I became overwhelmed with the enormity of love, respect and support we have and how much more we deserve.
There is no Pride without all of us and the countless forebearers whose shoulders we stand upon. We represent a rich history, and we are just people who make mistakes and fight and live every day. Our society seeks to otherize Queer folks who don’t fit the narrow mold set for us. But we are each our own unendingly complex human being, with needs and feelings and preferences and flaws, and no box will contain us unless we let it. So honor your elders, don’t let yourself be hemmed in by anyone’s standards and build what you can with the people you love.
And let’s remember the people who cared for us without even knowing us fought and loved, so that we could too. So go out and fight and love, for yourself and the people who come next. That always has and will be the point.
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This article appears in June 18, 2025.