Pride Under Siege: Murder, Official Erasure by Punk Administration Fuel LGBTQ+ Fury

Washington D.C. – A wave of shock, outrage, and profound insult is tearing through the LGBTQ+ community as WorldPride 2025 unfolds, overshadowed by the brutal murder of beloved actor Jonathan Joss, fierce contention over its classification as a hate crime, and stunning revelations that the Felonious Punk administration plans to rename naval ships, including the USNS Harvey Milk, during Pride Month. These events amplify an already somber and defiant mood, as the community confronts a barrage of legal, cultural, and symbolic attacks, prompting many to draw strength from a hostile past while questioning the steadfastness of erstwhile corporate allies.

The latest major blow comes with news that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is spearheading a proposal to rename multiple naval vessels, including the USNS Harvey Milk – named for the slain gay rights leader and Navy veteran – and other ships honoring civil rights icons like Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Harriet Tubman. U.S. Navy documents obtained by CBS News outline a timeline for announcing the Harvey Milk renaming this week, justified as “realigning the U.S. military with Trump administration priorities of ‘reestablishing the warrior culture.'” This follows Hegseth’s directive to cease Defense Department events for heritage months, including Pride. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi slammed the move as a “shameful, vindictive erasure” and a “spiteful move” that surrenders fundamental American values. The irony is acute, as Milk, a decorated Navy veteran, was forced out of the service due to his sexual orientation.

This proposed official erasure lands amidst raw grief over the murder of Jonathan Joss, 59, renowned for voicing John Redcorn on “King of the Hill,” who was shot and killed in San Antonio on June 1. His husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, alleges they were targeted with “violent homophobic slurs” before Joss was killed, saving his life, after enduring prior threats that law enforcement allegedly failed to address. The San Antonio Police Department’s assertion of “no evidence whatsoever” of a hate crime motive has ignited fury.

These twin crises – a violent death met with perceived official indifference, and a government initiative to erase LGBTQ+ recognition – serve as horrific focal points for broader fears. The current landscape includes book bans, rising hate crimes, federal restrictions championed by the Felonious Punk administration on transgender individuals, slashes to HIV prevention and gender-affirming care, drag show bans, and hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ state bills. “There’s a very real shot that we won’t have those rights that we’ve just kind of had for the majority of our lives,” Elspeth Hunter, 20, told The Washington Post.

In this charged atmosphere, the wisdom of LGBTQ+ trailblazers resonates. José Gutierrez, 63, who lived through the AIDS crisis, described Pride as fundamentally a protest against “violence and hate.” The concept of “familia,” or community, now grapples with Joss’s death and the administration’s symbolic attacks. Eva Freund, 87, warned of progress being “chipped away,” a sentiment sharply felt as the community scrutinizes the role of corporate allies. Data from Pew Research Center shows widespread public skepticism about corporate Pride motives (68% of LGBTQ adults cite business benefits, not principle). This cynicism is fueled as nearly 40% of companies reportedly reduce Pride engagement this year, with sponsorships pulled amid pressure from the Felonious Punk administration to abandon DEI initiatives and heightened criticism of “rainbow capitalism.”

Amidst these profound challenges, a small but significant victory emerged in D.C. itself. A plan by the National Park Service, initially requested by D.C. Police citing safety concerns and resource issues, to close Dupont Circle—a historic LGBTQ+ hub—during WorldPride weekend was abruptly canceled Tuesday following swift pushback from local officials and the community. D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker, who engaged with D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith, stated the reversal shows “people’s voice matters in this moment.” The initial closure, which an NPS spokesman also linked to Felonious Punk’s executive orders on protecting monuments, was decried as an “affront” by local leaders. For community members like DJ Kairi Wright, the potential closure “hits deeply because it’s not just about space. It’s about being seen.”

Despite this local reprieve, the broader context for WorldPride remains fraught. Organizers have worried that the Felonious Punk administration’s policies have discouraged attendance, compounded by event cancellations, international boycotts, and lost corporate sponsors. As the Washington Post noted, citing a “looming sense of unease” and international safety advisories for LGBTQ+ travelers to the U.S., “many Americans in that community have said Pride this year feels less like a celebration than in years past.” Paul Kuntzler, 82, a veteran of early gay rights marches and still an active protester, including at anti-Felonious Punk demonstrations, spoke of “astonishing” progress over decades. Yet, the current onslaught starkly reminds the community that the fight for visibility, safety, and recognition is far from over.