Standing up to hate: Reflecting on the Pride flag

Plus, meet some of NPR's LGBTQ+ employees. [View this email online]( [NPR Up First Newsletter]( by [Suzanne Nuyen]( June 17, 2023 Good morning. This is a special Pride-themed edition of the Up First newsletter. Catch up on the NPR network's Pride coverage this month and meet some of NPR's LGBTQ+ employees. Standing up to hate by [Lennon Sherburne]( Weekend Edition news assistant It stared at me. The miniature Pride flag laid with its edges slightly crumpled, unblinking and unnoticed by other partygoers as the sun beat down on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. It was one of hundreds of flags I saw that day at the Pride festival. But instead of shimmying in the wind with its siblings, it lay there without a word. I stared back. [ Members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community participate in the Pride Walk and Rally through downtown Washington, DC on June 12, 2021.]( Drew Angerer/Getty Images I've been told it's taboo in this country for the American flag to touch the Earth. As a child, my great-grandmother — a woman born into the First World War — said that if the flag hits the ground, it should be burned to preserve this country’s values. But what about our flag? What is its fate if it hits the floor? I’m not sure. I do know that we — the queers, queens, dykes and enbies — are burning. Our lives and history are being set aflame to preserve this country’s "values." The Human Rights Campaign declared a [nationwide state of emergency]( for LGBTQ+ people this month. [Hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills]( have been introduced in Congress, and more than 70 have been signed into law this year. A flame can turn deadly in under a minute. Maybe 2023 is the year of kerosene and politics. I didn’t pick up the flag. I left it behind on the tar and went about my day. Part of me still wonders where it ended up. Maybe it was swept away into a trash bag. I hope someone slipped it into their pocket and took it home. I hope it had a chance to dance with its siblings like everyone else did that day as we stood up off the ground and basked in the sun. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- LGBTQ+ faces at NPR NPR Meet a few of NPR's LGBTQ+ employees and read about how they're telling their stories. [Erika Ryan]( All Things Considered producer Producers are like Swiss army knives! I do everything from booking guests to writing scripts and articles to pitching and producing radio segments. Being queer is a huge part of who I am. Using our lived experiences to bring depth and diversity to the stories we tell only makes us stronger. [Brianna Scott]( All Things Considered and Consider This producer I look at the world through my lens as a Black woman who is queer. Growing up, I didn't always notice folks like myself in the journalism I consumed. Whether I'm working on a story specifically about LGBTQ issues or not, I seek diverse sources because that's how we'll genuinely expand our audience. [Emily Abshire]( product editor, Digital News Platforms I love the community we've built with each other. In 2022, I broke my back and was paralyzed from the waist down in a rock-climbing accident. I got hundreds of well wishes from people at NPR — even people I didn't know very well or at all. There's a lot of love and support here. I think NPR is proud to give a platform to all voices and I love seeing employees tell stories that are meaningful to them. Sasha Solovyeva, web team designer Growing up as a queer kid in Russia, I couldn't write stories I cared about and I had to filter myself with my coworkers. Because of this, it has been incredibly meaningful to work at NPR, where I can do what I love. I try to create digital experiences that appeal to a diverse audience. It's been a great joy. Doing it in a place full of queer role models has been the cherry on top. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stories you may have missed [ A table with religious-themed Pride merchandise. ]( Jason DeRose You might see more religious groups at Pride events this year. The progressive Interfaith Alliance group, which involves Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and others, has organized a national initiative called [Faith for Pride](. The project aims to counter anti-LGBTQ+ messages and legislation across the U.S. How comfortable are you with the word "queer?" While its usage is growing more popular with Gen Z, there's debate about whether the term should be used at all. Here's a brief look at the [complex history]( of the word. (via LAist) Target, The North Face, Bud Light and others have all faced backlash this year for their pro-LGBTQ+ campaigns. While some companies have held to their convictions, others have stumbled. Experts say [consistency and intentionality]( are essential to building trust with the LGBTQ+ community during and beyond Pride. LGBTQ+ influencers and creatives say they're seeing fewer opportunities this year as brands rethink how they participate in Pride amid boycotts. Erik Gordon, a clinical professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, said companies have [found themselves in a culture war]( and now risk alienating both their liberal and conservative markets. --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( --------------------------------------------------------------- This newsletter was edited by [Carol Ritchie](. Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Up First emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]