"Doughty's introduction set an emotional register, describing a "fraught moment" marked by budget cuts, hostile federal actions, and escalating legal threats to the broader LGBTQ community. "We're seeing the weaponization of every part of the federal government," Doughty said. "I personally used to avoid the use of the word 'weaponization' because I always thought that it sounded often overstated. Now it is not overstated."
"A prompt asking panelists to summarize the state of the LGBTQ movement in three words provided a compact map of contemporary sentiment. The Gill Foundation's Kendell characterized the movement's trajectory as "forward but murky." She conveyed confidence that progress will continue, but warned that the path is obscured by volatility and noted that the speed and scale of recent changes require many of us to relearn the landscape-a testament to the crisis-driven transformation now underway."
A virtual convening gathered national LGBTQ leaders to assess political realities and movement health. Participants described a fraught moment defined by budget cuts, hostile federal actions, and escalating legal threats. Observers reported the weaponization of federal institutions and emphasized that such tactics are now undeniable. Leaders highlighted historical resilience, noting prior existential crises overcome through persistence, creativity, and collective courage. Sentiment ranged from cautious confidence to urgency, with calls to prioritize building trans power and to relearn strategies in response to rapid, large-scale changes requiring strengthened organizing and legal defenses.
Read at San Francisco Bay Times
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