As I walked through Civic Center on Saturday, a cacophony of rainbows filled the plaza, with people dressed to the nines — and some not at all. Sparkling jackets and Pride flags were typical accessories, and quite a few attendees carried massive rainbow-flushed butterfly wings, spreading their arms for photographers. Myself included.
2023 has been one of the most tumultuous in recent years for queer people and LGBTQ rights. State legislatures passed dozens of anti-queer and particularly anti-trans laws, restricting everything from drag performance to trans rights and healthcare.