President Biden wants new measures to protect the rights and safety of LGBTQ+-people. He said that when he hosted the largest Pride celebration in White House history on Saturday.

– These laws and regulations are an attack on the most basic values ​​and freedoms we have as Americans, Biden said.

He drew applause from guests on the White House lawn.

No more cancellations

But in several places in the United States, there will be no Pride celebrations like before.

Pride in Tampa, Florida canceled an outdoor festival because contributors feared they would be affected by the new laws.

Florida has become the center of what is called the “culture war”. There, conservative Ron DeSantis won ground for policies that prevent children from getting LGBTQ+ information.

– I was not aware that it would create such a disturbance, says Carrie West in the pride of Tampa.

In April, the group Equality Florida issued a warning against travel to Florida for gay people. The rights group feared for his safety.

Shortly thereafter, Pride organizers in St. Cloud, near Orlando, canceled this year’s celebration due to what they call a climate of fear.

Also in conservative Texas, the Houston festival was canceled. This is, among other things, due to the increase in insurance and security expenses.

Back to the 60s

Social networks are full of incentives. Among other things, there are conspiracy theories that the queer community is linked to pedophilia and Satanism.

Surveys show that support for queer people is now lower in the United States than it was during the peak of the LGBTQ+ movement’s breakthrough.

PJ Ashley is the head of The Sanctuary of the Treasure Coast, which is a center that works for gay rights. She says she talks to several older people who say they feel like they’ve stepped back in time.

– They feel they are afraid to come out and say something now. So we’re back to the 1960s. Everything they fought for is what we’re losing now, says PJ Ashley.

Lots of Pride celebrations though

At the same time, many Pride events are taking place in major US cities which are proceeding as planned with thousands of participants.

– We have very good security plans and have had them for several years. So I would say it’s business as usual, says David Clarke, spokesperson for NYC pride in New York.

And in Washington, there was a party at President Biden’s house on Sunday night. There were thousands of guests gathered. Among them is Transport Minister Pete Buttigieg, who was the first openly LGBTQ person to serve as minister.

Also among the guests were survivors of two nightclub shootings in Colorado Springs in November and Orlando in 2016.