GoPride Gerry is a column of Gerald Farinas
This isn't just politics; it affects everyday survival. We are seeing laws that block people from getting lifesaving, affirming healthcare. We are still fighting just to go to work without facing harassment or abuse. And we are seeing the rollback of simple protections that keep us from being denied a place to rent or buy a home. It is hard to wave a flag when you are constantly forced to defend your right to exist safely.
And let's be honest about the cost of this fight. It is incredibly heavy. We have lost too many people to suicide and violence. We have seen people lose their families, their homes, and their jobs. On top of that, so many of us have been rejected by faith communities that should have been a place of safety and love. These are real, painful scars that our community carries every single day.
But even with all of this hurt, there is a reason not to give up. The American system was actually designed to be changed and fixed over time. The people who started this country did not hand down a perfect, finished product. They built a system that allows for constant reform. History proves that laws can be rewritten and progress can be won, even when it feels impossible.
Our hope doesn't come from thinking things will just magically get better. It comes from knowing that the system can be changed because we have forced it to change before. As the country marks 250 years, we can acknowledge how far we still have to go without losing sight of the goal. Total equity is not locked away from us. The road is incredibly hard, and the cost has been way too high, but the future is still something we can shape.
