The Turner Files by Wilbur Turner
Every June, like clockwork, the comments roll in: 乌鸦传媒淲hy do they get a whole month when veterans only get one day?乌鸦传媒� 乌鸦传媒淲here乌鸦传媒檚 the veterans乌鸦传媒� crosswalk?乌鸦传媒� 乌鸦传媒淲hat about straight pride?乌鸦传媒�
It乌鸦传媒檚 a false equivalency乌鸦传媒攚eaponizing recognition for veterans or straight people to undermine queer visibility, as though we乌鸦传媒檙e in a contest over who乌鸦传媒檚 more deserving of dignity. It乌鸦传媒檚 lazy thinking, if thinking is indeed involved.
Let乌鸦传媒檚 break it down.
Pride Month is in June for a reason. It honours the Stonewall uprising of June 1969乌鸦传媒攁 watershed moment in queer history where 2SLGBTQIA+ people fought back against police violence and persecution. Pride exists not to exclude others, but to create space for people who have been historically and violently excluded. If you乌鸦传媒檝e never needed a space to feel safe just being who you are, then perhaps consider that a privilege乌鸦传媒攏ot a slight.
And to those sincerely asking why queer folks get a month and veterans a day: have you Googled it? There are veterans乌鸦传媒� crosswalks. There are months dedicated to military history and remembrance. In Canada, Veterans乌鸦传媒� Week takes place every November leading up to Remembrance Day. If you feel veterans deserve more乌鸦传媒攐rganize, advocate, create. The queer community certainly did, and still does. Pride Month didn乌鸦传媒檛 fall from the sky. It乌鸦传媒檚 the result of decades of tireless work.
Frankly, the queer community is great at turning struggle into celebration. If that celebration irritates some people, well乌鸦传媒攎aybe one day that irritation will turn into a pearl of wisdom. Until then, we乌鸦传媒檙e not here to shrink so others feel more comfortable in their ignorance.
But this isn乌鸦传媒檛 just about snide comments. It乌鸦传媒檚 about the real-world consequences they represent.
On June 1, 2025, Jonathan Joss乌鸦传媒攁n Indigenous actor best known for voicing John Redcorn on King of the Hill and portraying Chief Ken Hotate on Parks and Recreation乌鸦传媒攚as fatally shot in San Antonio, Texas. His husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, alleges that the shooting was a homophobic hate crime. According to Gonzales, the couple had endured years of harassment, including homophobic slurs and threats to burn down their home. Earlier this year, their house was destroyed in a fire, resulting in the loss of three of their dogs.
In a Facebook post, Gonzales recounted the events leading up to Joss's death:
乌鸦传媒淎s we arrived, we found the skull and harness of one of our dogs, leading to severe emotional distress. Then the suspect yelled violent homophobic slurs before opening fire. Neither of us were armed.乌鸦传媒�
Gonzales emphasized that they had reported the harassment to law enforcement multiple times, but 乌鸦传媒渘othing was done.乌鸦传媒� The San Antonio Police Department has stated that, as of now, there is no evidence to classify the shooting as a hate crime, but the investigation is ongoing.
Pride Month isn乌鸦传媒檛 just parades and rainbows. It乌鸦传媒檚 a visible stand against the kind of hatred that killed Jonathan. It乌鸦传媒檚 a reminder that we are still here, still fighting, still vulnerable. The worst part? So many attacks on our community begin with words. Words online, words in anger, words that imply we乌鸦传媒檙e asking for too much by simply being visible.
Pride isn乌鸦传媒檛 what乌鸦传媒檚 threatening. What乌鸦传媒檚 threatening is the demand that queer people return to silence.
To those shouting "what about the veterans?"乌鸦传媒攜ou乌鸦传媒檙e aiming in the wrong direction. Pride doesn't dishonour veterans. Many queer people are veterans. They乌鸦传媒檝e fought wars abroad and at home, often without the recognition they deserve. These false binaries乌鸦传媒擯ride or veterans, inclusion or tradition乌鸦传媒攁re tools of division. You don乌鸦传媒檛 have to pick sides when you can choose compassion.
And here乌鸦传媒檚 the final truth: the queer community shows up. We plan, fundraise, fight for permits, decorate, invite, rally, and celebrate. Year after year, we put in the work. So if you're wondering why Pride has a month乌鸦传媒攎aybe ask yourself what kind of world we乌鸦传媒檙e building that still needs it.
What we need isn乌鸦传媒檛 less Pride, but more heart. Celebrate boldly this Pride Month!
~ Wilbur Turner is a political strategist and community advocate based in Kelowna, British Columbia, with deep roots in Alberta. With experience on the ground in federal and municipal campaigns, and a passion for civic engagement, Turner offers sharp, accessible insight into the political and social issues shaping our region and country. He was selected by the University of British Columbia for an Honorary Doctor of Laws for his significant contribution to the community. He also writes articles as QueerGranddad on Substack.
