Peoria LGBTQ+ community staying proud despite the political climate
PEORIA (25News Now) — June marks Pride month globally for the LGBTQ+ community, where members are encouraged to be their authentic selves.
Some are feeling intimidated, however, due to actions from the White House.
Since January, President Donald Trump has issued several executive orders against LGBTQ+, specifically transgender, individuals. On his first day back in office, he signed an executive order declaring that the federal government will only recognize two genders: male and female.
In June, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the Navy to rename USNS Harvey Milk, a ship named after naval veteran and San Francisco board member Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay man elected to office in California. Milk was murdered in 1978.
Despite these actions, “loud and proud” transgender Black woman Alexander Martin still feels empowered to speak out about her journey.
“I’ve known from a young age that something within me didn’t resonate with me, and didn’t resonate with cultural expectations,” she said.
Martin spent years searching for her true identity.
“I started exploring a little bit more and started to use queer to describe myself accurately to where I was at, she said.
Martin said she is not alone in her concerns over the future. Many within the LGBTQ+ community have felt the same way.
“People who signed up because they want to protect our nation were told that because of who they are, they can’t,” she said, referring to a recent ban on transgender military service members.
According to the AP the President has put restrictions on transgender military service and pulled more than $125 million in health funding.
“I generally support the administration’s move to reduce or otherwise tone down so-called ‘Pride Month’ observations,” Republican State Representative William Hauter (R — Morton) said in a statement to 25News.
“Pride Month has become another example of progressive overreach forcing recognition and celebration of an increasingly radical political ideology that the government has every right, even a duty, to reject,” he continued.
Executive Director of Central Illinois Friends Deric Kimler said this is a direct target at those who are a part of this country.
“The folks that believe in every single word that man (Donald Trump) says [are] dangerous to the LGBTQ+ community, and that’s where the real concern comes in,” he said.
Martin said she is proud of being a transgender woman.
“I’m so loud you can’t deny it anymore, you can’t fight it anymore or hold it back,” she said.
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