Happy Pride Friends!

In this holiest of months where we put on all our rainbow gear and sparkles and march in parades to show the world what queer joy looks like, now more than ever, we need to remember that Pride isn’t just a party (though it is, in part, a party, and a good one at that). Pride is also about taking action and protecting our people.

After a stretch of time when it seemed like the general public in the United States was finally coming along with us, when queerness was celebrated by the masses and people called out homophobia and transphobia, I think we call all agree that now we are in the backlash. The current powers in charge of the federal government and many states are criminalizing us, especially our trans, nonbinary, gender expansive, intersex and two spirit beloveds.

But let’s be real; the government has never been the one to take care of us—we take care of us— and that is what Pride is about. As usual, trans women of color led the way and showed us what resistance and community care can look like. We need to remember Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and all the other ancestors and guides who can show us the way through these times. Remember to dance AND take action to reduce harm; remember that glitter can decorate our bodies AND our protest signs; remember that our joy is resistance and, as my dear friend and co-conspirator Sam Ames has said, our collective action needs to “make them look us in the eye.

One way we can all practice community care and take action right now is, strangely enough, by writing unique comments on a proposed rule coming out of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). I know that doesn’t sound as fun as a Pride parade or even a protest, but not all resistance has our characteristic queer flair. It is a way to make those trying to oppress us look us in the eye.

On April 28, 2026, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposed a revision to its Equal Access Rule that would roll back protections meant to ensure the safety of any trans person seeking HUD-funded support. You can click here to learn more about the proposed changes and to dive right into making comments. If you need a little more convincing, keep reading.

There are two main reasons why we need to write unique comments to resist these anti-trans rule changes (and unfortunately, we know there will be more transphobic policy coming). Again, I look to Sam to explain it best:

First, comments slow down the process. Right now, in many ways, the name of the game is delay. Every day that goes by brings us closer to the one these people are no longer in office and no longer have the same power to do damage. Every day that goes by is a day a young trans person still has access to the [housing] that may well be saving their life. Any day we can give them, we give them.

Second, if and when these rules are enacted, they will immediately be challenged in court. Because of federal judicial rules that I actually will not bore you with this time, the courts are limited in what they can consider as part of the case. They can’t look at anything outside the record. Rallies and think pieces, as important as they are, aren’t part of the record. But comments are. The comments we write today will be the tools our lawyers use tomorrow.

You can read more of Sam’s thoughts on federal comments and some past anti-trans rule change proposals that have been resisted here.

All of this is to say, during this Pride month, please join us in taking action. Submit a unique comment on the HUD rule proposal. You can download the Coffee and Comments Congregational Guide to help members of your congregation take action together. Or join Sam, Rev. Jami Yandle and me on June 25 at 6PM PST/ 9PM EST for an action hour where you will hear more about the importance of actions like these, get updated on the comments submitted so far, and make an impact together.

In Solidarity and Pride

Heather