It's June, so I'm wishing everyone, and especially the LGBT readers of my column, a happy Pride Month! I think it's a good thing that we are all so aware of Pride Month nowadays. LGBT people and their allies should stand up and be heard.
This Pride Month, Ivanka Trump has also shown her support, sending out two tweets. However, sadly, they have not been universally well received. Continuing on the theme of making Ivanka responsible for everything her father stands for, the far-left crowd has rejected her well meaning messages, instead posting accusations of her being 'complicit' to the Trump administration's policies in response. Responding to love with hate, in other words.
Having this attitude towards Ivanka won't change Donald Trump's mind about anything. But it would certainly make many other people take a dim view of LGBT rights, and thus more likely to support the Trump administration's homophobic policies. Some people may think that being perpetually angry is a good thing, but in reality it only makes things worse. Just recently a poll said that marriage equality support in the US is at an all time high. It would be a shame to spoil this sentiment by being divisive and angry, especially as marriage equality is still a live battle in Northern Ireland and Australia, two countries the US shares a language and a culture with.
Even if Ivanka can't do much to change her father's mind, her support should still be welcome. The LGBT rights movement needs allies from everywhere, more than ever. Now is the least appropriate time to alienate people.
Pride Month should be for everyone who wants to partake. Don't make it any more complicated than that.
TaraElla Website
