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CBS News
a day ago
- Politics
- CBS News
San Francisco's Pink Triangle returns for Pride Month
As San Francisco prepares for Pride Week, an enduring symbol of that celebration appeared Saturday morning on the hills above the city. The Pink Triangle is an annual tradition, but this year, hundreds of people arrived for the installation as a show of defiance to the federal government's targeting of the gay and transgender community. For 30 years, the Pink Triangle has towered over the city during Pride Month. But founder Patrick Carney said it began almost on a whim. "The first one went up in the dark of night and we thought it was just sort of a fluke to add a little color to the parade," he said. "And then we realized that people didn't know what it was, so that's why it's here after 30 years." The deeper meaning of the symbol is not a cause for celebration. The pink triangle was the insignia given by the Nazi's to suspected homosexuals as they were shipped to concentration camps for extermination. "With the Pink Triangle, we're just trying to remember what happened and how it ties into Pride," said Carney. "Because part of celebrating and appreciating any Pride is knowing where you've been. And this is it, this Pink Triangle. So, we have to have it here for Pride. Especially with what's happening in Washington. It really is more important than ever this year." With the Trump administration targeting transgender individuals and challenging previously established same-sex rights, participation in the installation of the triangle reached an all-time high. More than 800 people showed up in the cold, foggy morning to hammer down the sections of pink canvas making up the one-acre symbol. "And it shows that we still need it. That many people wouldn't show up if this project wasn't needed," said Carney. "They wanted to come up to help build it to make sure it was a part of Pride Month." After the installation was complete, local leaders spoke about this year's Pride celebration being about a lot more than just a fight for LGBTQ rights. "We are going to be at the vanguard, fighting to save this American republic," said SF Board of Supervisors president, Rafael Mandelman. "And that's what Pride is about this probably will be, as least for the next three." "When we look up here from any point in San Francisco, and we see this triangle, it reminds us of what we stand for," said CA Assemblymember Matt Haney. Then he showed the crowd his cap from the Navy ship named for gay rights crusader Harvey Milk, a ship that has been ordered by the Secretary of Defense to be renamed. "Erasing people is what they do," said Haney. "Celebrating people and history and identity is what we do." Carney has shepherded the Pink Triangle project through 30 years and its continued existence is reflected in his personality. "Persistence, longevity, stubbornness, I'm still here," he said, with a laugh. "And someday I'll find a successor. But, no, we had no idea that it would still be going on. And it really is important, especially this year. It's more important than ever after what's happening in Washington, D.C." The Pink Triangle will remain on display until the end of Pride month, on Sunday, June 29. And while it will continue, its meaning has changed. It began as a warning about man's inhumanity towards those seen as "different." Now, it's become a symbol of defiance to that very same thing.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
As World Pride begins in Washington, some foreigners stay away
Across Washington, large rainbow flags are flying next to the stars and stripes as the city plays host to World Pride, a global celebration of LGBTQ culture and identity. But getting the world to come has proved challenging this year. Some international travellers are choosing to skip the biennial event over travel fears, while others are protesting President Donald Trump's policies. Alice Siregar, a Montreal-based data analyst who is transgender, had planned to attend. But travelling to the US at the moment was unthinkable, she told the BBC. "It is a risk to now come over and especially as a trans woman," she said. The US capital won the bid to host World Pride years before Trump's re-election. In January, the event's organisers had projected the celebration, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of Washington's first Pride march, would attract three million visitors and contribute nearly $800 million to the local economy. But their expectations have now dropped to about a third of their previous estimates. Hotel occupancy rates are also down compared to last year. Ms Siregar, 30, holds both Canadian and US citizenship but says she has been unable to renew her US passport because of new rules implemented by the Trump administration that prevents transgender Americans from changing their gender on official documents. The White House says it is defending "the biological reality of sex". She could travel south with her Canadian passport, but she is worried border agents may not accept her gender, which is listed as female on her Canadian documents. Reports of other foreign travellers being detained and taken into custody have raised her concerns, she said. "It's too dangerous to risk it," she said. A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection said that a person's gender identity does not make them inadmissible. "A foreign traveller's gender as indicated on their passport and their personal beliefs about sexuality do not render a person inadmissible," the spokesperson told the BBC in a statement. "Claims to the contrary are false." But Ms Siregar is not alone in her concerns. Several European governments including Germany, Finland, and Denmark have issued travel advisories for transgender and non-binary citizens travelling to the US. Equality Australia, an advocacy group, also issued a travel alert for gender non-conforming people and those with a history of LGBTQ activism. Egale Canada, one of the country's largest LGBTQ charities, said it was not participating in World Pride because of concerns for the safety of their transgender and non-binary staff. Egale Canada has previously participated in World Pride events in London, Sydney and at home in Toronto. "We are very concerned about the general tone and hostility towards domestic LGBTI people in the US, but also to those who may be visiting the US from other jurisdictions," its executive director Helen Kennedy said. Trump's repeated comments about making Canada the 51st US state was also a factor, she added. Ms Kennedy said the organisation wasn't boycotting World Pride itself, but protesting against Trump's policies on LGBTQ issues. Since coming into office, Trump has rolled back some LGBTQ protections, including revoking a Biden-era executive order on preventing discrimination "on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation". He has also banned diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in federal agencies. Supporters say those policies help correct injustices, but others, including Trump, say they are themselves discriminatory. His administration has also banned transgender people from serving in the military and banned federal funding for gender care for transgender youth. It has also threatened to suspend funding for states that allow transgender athletes to compete. Trump has defended his actions, saying trans women in sports is "demeaning for women and it's very bad for our country". Some of these policies are currently being challenged in court. This week, US media reported plans by the navy to rename a ship that had been christened to honour Harvey Milk. The former Navy sailor and activist was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, in 1977. While former President Joe Biden held a Pride month event on the White House lawn in 2023 and issued a proclomation in support of the community last year, Mr Trump has not spoken in recent days about the celebration. Asked about the president's position on World Pride, a spokesman for the White House told the New York Times that Trump was "fostering a sense of national pride that should be celebrated daily" and that he was "honoured to serve all Americans." Capital Pride Alliance, the organisation running this year's World Pride in DC, told the BBC it has recieved "an unordinary amount of questions and concerns". "Our celebration is quite literally in the footsteps of the Capitol Building and a block away from the White House, something that a lot of people are conscious of," Sahand Miraminy, Capital Pride Alliance's director of operations, said. For the first time, Pride in DC will have an enclosed perimeter and weapons detectors, he said, in part because this year's event will draw larger crowds than usual. World Pride events will also see an elevated presence of the Metropolitan Police Department's LGBTQ+ liaison unit that will be "first priority" to respond to emergencies, Mr Miraminy said. Washington's Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged that visitors "feel scared that an environment is developing that is anti-LGBTQ". But "we can't live in fear, we have to live our lives [and] be as best prepared as we can," she said. Kelly Laczko, the co-owner of Her Diner in DuPont Circle, one of DC's most vibrant LGBTQ neighbourhoods, said she's also increased security for the weekend. "I feel like normally with Pride we are ready for the celebration," she said. "And obviously the current administration has put a big damper on that." Although she will not be in Washington, Ms Siregar said she hopes others do visit. "I do think that people in the US should attend and be safe in attending," she said. "It's important that people stand up more than ever now." Ms Laczko agrees. "Even joy can be an act of defiance," she said.
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
As World Pride starts in Washington, some foreigners stay away
Across Washington, large rainbow flags are flying next to the stars and stripes as the city plays host to World Pride, a global celebration of LGBTQ culture and getting the world to come has proved challenging this year. Some international travellers are choosing to skip the biennial event over travel fears, while others are protesting President Donald Trump's Siregar, a Montreal-based data analyst who is transgender, had planned to attend. But travelling to the US at the moment was unthinkable, she told the BBC."It is a risk to now come over and especially as a trans woman," she US capital won the bid to host World Pride years before Trump's re-election. In January, the event's organisers had projected the celebration, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of Washington's first Pride march, would attract three million visitors and contribute nearly $800 million to the local economy. But their expectations have now dropped to about a third of their previous estimates. Hotel occupancy rates are also down compared to last year. Ms Siregar, 30, holds both Canadian and US citizenship but says she has been unable to renew her US passport because of new rules implemented by the Trump administration that prevents transgender Americans from changing their gender on official documents. The White House says it is defending "the biological reality of sex".She could travel south with her Canadian passport, but she is worried border agents may not accept her gender, which is listed as female on her Canadian documents. Reports of other foreign travellers being detained and taken into custody have raised her concerns, she said."It's too dangerous to risk it," she said.A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection said that a person's gender identity does not make them inadmissible. "A foreign traveller's gender as indicated on their passport and their personal beliefs about sexuality do not render a person inadmissible," the spokesperson told the BBC in a statement. "Claims to the contrary are false."But Ms Siregar is not alone in her concerns. Several European governments including Germany, Finland, and Denmark have issued travel advisories for transgender and non-binary citizens travelling to the US. Equality Australia, an advocacy group, also issued a travel alert for gender non-conforming people and those with a history of LGBTQ Canada, one of the country's largest LGBTQ charities, said it was not participating in World Pride because of concerns for the safety of their transgender and non-binary staff. Egale Canada has previously participated in World Pride events in London, Sydney and at home in Toronto."We are very concerned about the general tone and hostility towards domestic LGBTI people in the US, but also to those who may be visiting the US from other jurisdictions," its executive director Helen Kennedy repeated comments about making Canada the 51st US state was also a factor, she added. Ms Kennedy said the organisation wasn't boycotting World Pride itself, but protesting against Trump's policies on LGBTQ issues. Since coming into office, Trump has rolled back some LGBTQ protections, including revoking a Biden-era executive order on preventing discrimination "on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation". He has also banned diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in federal agencies. Supporters say those policies help correct injustices, but others, including Trump, say they are themselves discriminatory. His administration has also banned transgender people from serving in the military and banned federal funding for gender care for transgender youth. It has also threatened to suspend funding for states that allow transgender athletes to compete. Trump has defended his actions, saying trans women in sports is "demeaning for women and it's very bad for our country".Some of these policies are currently being challenged in week, US media reported plans by the navy to rename a ship that had been christened to honour Harvey Milk. The former Navy sailor and activist was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, in former President Joe Biden held a Pride month event on the White House lawn in 2023 and issued a proclomation in support of the community last year, Mr Trump has not spoken in recent days about the celebration. Asked about the president's position on World Pride, a spokesman for the White House told the New York Times that Trump was "fostering a sense of national pride that should be celebrated daily" and that he was "honoured to serve all Americans." Capital Pride Alliance, the organisation running this year's World Pride in DC, told the BBC it has recieved "an unordinary amount of questions and concerns"."Our celebration is quite literally in the footsteps of the Capitol Building and a block away from the White House, something that a lot of people are conscious of," Sahand Miraminy, Capital Pride Alliance's director of operations, the first time, Pride in DC will have an enclosed perimeter and weapons detectors, he said, in part because this year's event will draw larger crowds than usual. World Pride events will also see an elevated presence of the Metropolitan Police Department's LGBTQ+ liaison unit that will be "first priority" to respond to emergencies, Mr Miraminy Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged that visitors "feel scared that an environment is developing that is anti-LGBTQ". But "we can't live in fear, we have to live our lives [and] be as best prepared as we can," she Laczko, the co-owner of Her Diner in DuPont Circle, one of DC's most vibrant LGBTQ neighbourhoods, said she's also increased security for the weekend."I feel like normally with Pride we are ready for the celebration," she said. "And obviously the current administration has put a big damper on that." Although she will not be in Washington, Ms Siregar said she hopes others do visit."I do think that people in the US should attend and be safe in attending," she said. "It's important that people stand up more than ever now."Ms Laczko agrees. "Even joy can be an act of defiance," she said.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
At Nats Park, a tradition continues and a ballpark becomes a ‘safe space'
Sasha Colby got the invite, then got to work. The first trans woman of color to win the reality TV competition 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' Colby said she had been practicing for her ceremonial first pitch at Nationals Park, and — as she toed the rubber Thursday — felt pretty good about her chances of throwing a strike. But it turned out there was a minor oversight in her preparation.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Elon Musk's estranged transgender daughter gloats after Tesla bosses stunning fallout with Trump
Elon Musk 's estranged transgender daughter has subtly reacted to her billionaire father's explosive fallout with Donald Trump. Vivian Wilson, 21, rose to notoriety in the last year for publicly bashing her estranged father, who claimed he was 'tricked' into letting her transition at 16, a contention she strenuously denied. Her Tesla CEO father and commander-in-chief went head-to-head Thursday in a war of words after Musk turned on the president with a flurry of insults over his 'big, beautiful Bill.' Wilson addressed the feud on her Instagram Stories with a video of herself laughing captioned, 'I love being proven right.' She said, 'I do not want to comment,' then burst into a fit of laughter. She followed up with post from Threads paired with the song 'Job Application' by Chase Icon and the caption, 'Such beauty in life.' Trump was asked about Musk's criticism when he was supposed to be hosting the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office on Thursday. 'Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will any more, I was surprised,' the president told reporters. The president suggested that Musk was angry - not over the bill ballooning the deficit - but because the Trump administration has pulled back on electric vehicle mandates, which negatively impacted Tesla, and replaced the Musk-approved nominee to lead NASA, which could hinder SpaceX's government contracts. 'And you know, Elon's upset because we took the EV mandate, which was a lot of money for electric vehicles, and they're having a hard time the electric vehicles and they want us to pay billions of dollars in subsidy,' Trump said. 'I know that disturbed him.' Musk posted to X as Trump's Q&A with reporters was ongoing, writing, 'Whatever. 'Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill,' he advised. 'In the entire history of civilization, there has never been legislation that [is] both big and beautiful. Everyone knows this!' Musk continued. 'Either you get a big and ugly bill or a slim and beautiful bill. Slim and beautiful is the way.' The spat quickly turned personal with Musk then posting that Trump would have lost the 2024 election had it not been for the world's richest man - him. 'Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,' Musk claimed. Trump asserted that he had asked Musk to leave his administration and said the billionaire went 'CRAZY!' Wilson addressed the feud on her Instagram Stories with a video of herself laughing and a Threads post saying, 'Such beauty in life' 'Elon was 'wearing thin,' I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!' Trump wrote. The president then threatened to pull SpaceX and Tesla's government contracts. 'The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it!' Trump wrote. Musk then taunted Trump to act and said, 'This just gets better and better,' he wrote. 'Go ahead, make my day.' The Tesla boss then escalated their fight and claimed that Trump is 'in the Epstein files.' '@RealDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public,' Musk wrote. 'Have a nice day, DJT!' Trump didn't directly respond to Musk's Epstein charge, instead posting what amounted to a shrug on Truth Social, while also continuing to back the 'big, beautiful bill.' 'I don't mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago,' Trump wrote. 'This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress.'
