San Francisco’s giant Pink Triangle is installed atop Twin Peaks prior to each Pride weekend since 1996. The triangle is nearly 200 feet across and visible for up to 20 miles. The Pink Triangle, used by the Nazis to identify LGBTQ prisoners in the concentration camps, has since been embraced by the LGBTQ community as a symbol of pride. But we shouldn't forget its tragic origins. The Third Reich demonstrated how easily a government could turn its people against each other, how facilely it could criminalize, imprison, torture and murder people based on their identities, a trend we’re seeing played out in many parts of the U.S. and other parts of the world, with rises in hate crimes, violence and murder. LGBTQ people in many parts of the world continue to live in fear for their safety. As long as bigotry and hatred persist anywhere, we are all at risk. As long as anyone is not free, none of us is truly free.
Have fun at Pride events. But please also keep an eye out for danger, for yourselves, and for those around you. Fascists, transphobes, homophobes and other assholes may be looking for targets.