Reflecting on LGBTQ+ Pride around the world, NO HATE, Banned Books, and Extreme Heat
Join me in celebrating Pride to celebrate LGBTQIA+ all year round, resist fascism, read banned books and stay cool this summer
Veronica’s Musings…
LGBTQIA+ Pride is special to me and LGBTQIA+ people around the world. While June is officially Pride Month, Pride is celebrated at different times all around the world. I love this because it keeps celebrating and spreading queer and trans joy all year round. Our community, and all of society, needs this more than ever to survive until we can thrive again.
There was a plot twist this year. The World Cup match in Seattle was on Saturday of Seattle’s Pride weekend, so it was deemed our Pride match. It turned out to be a match between Iran and Egypt. Both are countries where being LGBTQIA+ is a crime. It was wonderful to see all the LGBTQIA+ Pride flags and other expressions of liberation for all groups. My hope is that this was a message to the queer and trans people of Iran and Egypt that they are not alone.
Budapest Pride was especially inspirational. Their June 27, 2026 Pride march came a little more than a year after Victor Orbán's government passed legislation and a constitutional amendment to outlaw the event. One Pride marcher said she felt the mood was more relaxed now that Orbán's government, which ruled for 16 years, had been defeated.
"There used to be a lot of tension. But now I see people as being somehow happier," she said.
This kind of courage inspires me and gives me hope that in 2028 our U.S. LGBTQIA+ community will experience more ease and happiness too.
Resource Highlight
One campaign I am currently involved with is No Hate in Washington State. Even in Washington we are facing two MAGA millionaire-funded initiatives on the November ballot. If these poorly thought out initiatives pass, they will replace existing rules and laws that better meet the needs of all children and families.
IL26-001 removes common sense protections for child abuse victims. IL26-628 could put all girls at greater risk of harm by requiring invasive genital exams or hormone tests to play sports. This is a misguided attempt to keep trans girl athletes (a trans girl is a girl who was assigned male at birth) out of sports in public schools. Instead it will put a cloud over the head of all girl athletes and humiliate those who are singled out to prove that they are cisgender (a cisgender girl is one who was assigned female at birth).
Washingtonians, please get informed about these initiatives, consider voting NO, and discuss them with loved ones and neighbors. Many people are unaware that we have this initiative on the November state ballot.
For those in other states, check out this anti-trans bill tracker to see what is going on in your state. Please stand up for our trans neighbors. They are an important part of our communities. None of us are liberated until all of us are liberated.
Here is my calendar link if you would like to learn more about how to support Washington’s LGBTQIA+ communities. Or send me an email: veronicasmith@data2insight.com
Book Highlight
Read and Protect Banned Books Today!
During National Library Week 2026 (April 19–25), the American Library Association (ALA) released data documenting attempts to censor books and materials in public, school, and academic libraries during 2025. As ALA continues to document the harms of censorship, we celebrate those whose advocacy and support are helping to end censorship in our libraries.
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) offers direct support to communities to defend their right to access information. Please consider a donation to OIF to ensure this important work continues.
These are my fave banned books. What are yours?
Looking for Alaska by John Green
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
1984 by George Orwell
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Here is the full list of books banned from 2010-2019.
#SelfCareCorner
Keep Cool this Summer
There are heat warnings all over the world this summer. Even in Seattle! Please keep cool and hydrated. And check on loved ones and neighbors when there are heat warnings. Check out these tips from the American Red Cross to be prepared when high heat hits your community. Extreme Heat Preparedness Tips
You can contact the Disaster Distress Helpline for free if you need to talk to someone. Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
