This week was one of those rare, maddening, inspiring reminders that being queer in America means holding conflict in one hand and joy in the other. We saw breakthroughs in drag representation, and we saw the Supreme Court quietly side-eye our civil rights. Again. We saw cities raise Pride flags in public solidarity—and lawmakers try to claw back marriage equality with the other hand.
So let’s go deeper. What do these headlines mean? And more importantly, where do they point us?
🧔♂️ Drag Kings Take the Stage (Literally)
The News: LGBTQ+ streaming platform Revry is producing the first-ever drag king reality competition. Hosted by New York drag icon Murray Hill, the show will spotlight masc-of-center and nonbinary performers who’ve long lived in the shadows of a queen-centric drag mainstream.
Let’s Talk History:
Drag kings aren’t new—they’ve been here as long as drag itself. From early 20th-century vaudeville to Stonewall-era performers like Stormé DeLarverie, kings have shaped queer performance culture. But unlike drag queens, they’ve been largely absent from the mainstream media explosion sparked by RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Why It Matters:
This isn’t just a reality show—it’s reparative visibility. Drag kings challenge not only performance norms but also masculinity itself. When a trans-masc artist dons a suit and turns a macho stereotype into camp, it’s more than entertainment. It’s critique. It’s reclamation. It’s saying, “I can become the man you fear—and laugh while doing it.”
The show opens a door for younger queer audiences to see a broader spectrum of drag—and of themselves—reflected back. Let’s be honest: that kind of mirror saves lives.
🚨 Police Raid Amanda Lepore’s Queer Event—And It Feels Personal
The News: On May 3, State Police police raided a queer nightlife event at P Town Bar in Pittsburgh featuring trans icon Amanda Lepore. Officials cited liquor license issues; witnesses described an aggressive, over-the-top police response.
The Bigger Picture:
Queer nightlife has never been just about dancing. It’s where we gather, grieve, organize, flirt, perform gender, and exist without apology. Historically, it’s also where we’ve been most vulnerable to state violence. From Stonewall to Pulse, to this very moment at P Town Bar, LGBTQ+ spaces remain criminalized—especially when gender nonconformity and trans bodies are present.
Why It Matters:
This wasn’t just a licensing raid. It was a disruption of queer joy in one of sacred spaces. At best, it shows a disturbing lack of awareness by local officials. At worst, it was a targeted escalation at a trans-led, nonbinary-inclusive space.
And let’s be real: this came during a national climate where drag performers are under legislative attack and queer nightlife is being surveilled more closely than ever. It’s part of a larger pattern of control—and we see it.
🏛️ Oklahoma Republicans Want SCOTUS to Repeal Marriage Equality
The News: GOP lawmakers in Oklahoma filed a formal petition asking the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges—the 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage across the U.S.
The Strategy:
This isn’t a fringe move—it’s part of a broader campaign to revisit landmark civil rights rulings in the wake of the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. Legal conservatives believe Obergefell was “judicial overreach.” The goal? Return marriage law to the states, where at least 30 still have anti-LGBTQ+ constitutional amendments on the books, dormant but ready.
Why It Matters:
This is a stress test. A legal dare. The petition is asking: “Hey, conservative justices—are you bold enough to take this on?” If the Court bites, we could see a devastating rollback of federal LGBTQ+ protections. And even if they don’t, the fact that state governments are gearing up for the possibility means this isn’t just symbolic—it’s strategic.
For many LGBTQ+ couples, this isn’t about theory. It’s about whether their marriage certificates will still mean anything next year.
🏳️🌈 Boise and Salt Lake City Officially Recognize Pride Flags
The News: Boise, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah voted to make the Progress Pride Flag an official municipal symbol. That means it will fly alongside state and U.S. flags during Pride Month and LGBTQ+ commemorations.
The Political Context:
This is happening while other cities and states—like Florida and parts of Texas—are actively banning the display of Pride flags in schools and public offices. That contrast is stark.
Why It Matters:
Visibility isn’t fluff—it’s power. For queer and trans youth in red states, seeing a Progress Flag on a government building is a signal: You are not invisible here.
And let’s be real: Salt Lake and Boise aren’t exactly bastions of queer liberalism. Which makes these actions even more radical. They say that even in politically complex regions, municipal governments can lead with courage and declare public support for marginalized people.
In a time when reactionary forces are trying to push LGBTQ+ people out of public view, this is what pushing back looks like—with a flagpole and a policy.
🪖 SCOTUS Refuses to Hear Challenge to Trans Military Ban
The News: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a legal challenge to the Trump-era ban on openly transgender military service—effectively letting the policy stand.
The Fallout:
Despite President Biden’s executive action to “reverse” the ban in 2021, the original policy still lives in bureaucratic gray zones. Trans service members are often required to serve under their birth gender, and many are blocked from accessing gender-affirming care through military channels.
Why It Matters:
This isn’t just a policy issue—it’s a moral failure. The Court’s refusal to weigh in sends a loud, chilling message: that discrimination based on gender identity is still up for debate.
It also highlights a lack of follow-through from the Biden administration. If the Court won’t protect trans service members, the White House must—not just with press releases, but with legal clarity, enforcement, and funding. Otherwise, we’re left with symbolic gestures and no structural change.
💬 Final Thoughts: This Week Was a Mirror
What we saw this week was a reflection of where we are as a community. Some of us are being celebrated. Others are being targeted. Some of us are walking red carpets. Others are dodging raids. And all of us are watching courts, city halls, and news feeds with the same question on our lips: What happens next?
Here’s what I know: we celebrate every flag raised. We challenge every right attacked. And we amplify every queer voice given space to shine.
So keep showing up. Keep watching. And keep holding joy and rage in the same hand. We keep being Proud!
Because if this week proved anything, it’s that all are still needed.
💖 Always Proud,
–Sal
Featured Photo via @murrayhill
Research, Fact Checked, Drafted by Sal. Enhanced with AI
