Pride was born from resistance.
It began with people who refused to be erased, people who, in moments when it would have been easier (and safer) to stay silent, chose instead to stand up and say, “We are here.” They faced rejection, violence, and systems built to push them aside, and still found the courage to keep going.
They did that for each other and for all of us who came after.
That history isn’t distant. It isn’t something we only look back on once a year. It lives with us today, in both the visible and quiet ways people continue to show up as themselves.
Because in 2026, the need for resilience and resistance is still very real.
We continue to see efforts that challenge identity, limit visibility, and roll back protections that were hard-won over decades. While those conversations often happen at a high level, their impact is deeply personal.
It shows up in the hesitation someone feels before sharing part of their life at work. In the parent advocating for their child to be seen and respected. In the young person looking for proof that they belong. It shows up in the quiet calculations many still make every day - Is this a space where I can be fully myself?
If you’ve ever felt that moment of pause, you’re not alone.
And still, we rise.
That’s what makes Pride so powerful. We don’t celebrate in spite of the challenges in front of us, we celebrate because of them. Because every time someone shows up authentically, it continues a legacy of courage.
Because visibility matters. Because community matters. Because there is real power in telling the truth about who you are. Because joy, especially when it’s been discouraged or denied, is a powerful form of resistance.
As Jane Fonda has said, “It’s never the wrong time to do the right thing.”
That reminder feels especially important right now. Advocacy doesn’t always happen in big, visible moments. Often, it’s a choice we make every day. Choosing to speak up, to show up, and to stand beside one another even when it’s uncomfortable or difficult.
Pride is not only about celebration, it’s about action. It’s remembrance. It’s protest. It’s connection. It’s a promise
A promise to those who came before us that their courage mattered. And a promise to those still finding their voice that they will not have to do it alone.
Resilience doesn’t mean that any of this is easy. It doesn’t mean we don’t feel the weight of what’s happening around us. It simply means we keep going with care, with determination, and with each other.
And resistance doesn’t always look loud.
Sometimes it looks like showing up as your full self. Sometimes it’s speaking up, even in small ways. Sometimes it’s making space for others, listening, or reminding someone clearly and sincerely - you belong here.
Those moments matter more than we often realize.
This Pride Month, we reflect on how far we’ve come and acknowledge the work still ahead. Progress has never been linear, but it has always been powered by people willing to show up, to care, and to stand together.
So we honor the resilience of our community, past, present, and future.
We honor those who fought before us. We stand with those continuing the fight today and we make space for those who are just beginning to find their voice.
We’re still here. We’re still showing up. We’re still building spaces where people feel seen, valued, and safe to be exactly who they are.
And no matter what comes next-
We’re not going anywhere.
Rob Walter - President and CEO, LEAGUE