Pride in New York City this year didn’t just feel like a celebration—it felt like a protest for humanity. On Sunday, June 29th, Tahyira Savanna took to the streets not just in support of LGBTQIA rights, but as a broader call to protect love, identity, and freedom in an increasingly hostile political climate. She marched with Caribbean Equity Project under her own non profit For Us Nation, which she cofounded back in 2018 for Juneteenth.
A March for Love and Liberation
Savanna marched with the Caribbean Equality Project under her own non profit For Us Nation, which she cofounded back in 2018. The parade was rooted in honor: for lesbian, transgender, bisexual, intersex, asexual, and pansexual people—communities who are still forced to fight for the right to love and live safely. She pointed out a contradiction we often ignore: Sex is commodified everywhere, but love still has to be protested for. That’s a powerful truth.
She marched with her Trinidadian flag draped over her back, standing in solidarity with Caribbean LGBTQIA people. “Too many young people in Jamaica, D.R., and Trini are stuck in an imaginary closet… because people haven’t learned to mind their business,” she said. “As a humanitarian, it bothers my soul that I can be happily married to my man and others have to get hurt for it.”
Is the Safety of Our Democracy Fading?
During the Obama era, America made significant progress in protecting queer people, immigrants, and vulnerable populations. But many now fear those protections are being rapidly undone. “Voting for Obama pushed our country forward, we’re all tired of being forced backwards. It’s anti-millennial truly” she added.
Since the resurgence of Trump and the rollout of Project 2025, ICE has been emboldened, and democracy itself seems under threat. The plan’s blueprint—to consolidate federal power and diminish rights—is being seen by many as a deliberate move toward oligarchy. Trump’s unauthorized missile launch on Iran earlier this month was reminiscent of a monarch’s unchecked power, perhaps even a reaction to the recent “NO KINGS” protest held across all 50 states.
The Intersection of Pride, Immigration, and Human Rights
“ICE is not allowed,” was one of the chants heard at Pride. It reflects how intersectional this movement has become. Pride isn’t just about sexuality or gender identity—it’s also about immigration, freedom, and bodily autonomy.
“We’re immigrants and we’re proud,” echoed among marchers like Savanna. It’s a reminder that LGBTQIA immigrants often face double discrimination—from their homeland and from the countries where they seek safety.
Straight Power and the Crisis of Autonomy
Straight people still overwhelmingly control political, economic, and educational systems. As a result, full safety and equity for queer people—and especially queer people of color—remains elusive.
You also connect this to a broader erosion of rights: bodily autonomy. A chilling example is how some states are forcing doctors to keep brain-dead women on life support just to carry a fetus to term—something that, by 2025, disproportionately affects Black women due to systemic racism and misogyny. It’s not just anti-abortion—it’s anti-human.
Does it make sense to our community? We will continue to connect the dots between Pride, immigration, authoritarianism, gender justice, and the deeply personal cost of political decisions.
https://tubitv.com/movies/100038090/eden-s-garden-the-jungle-has-no-face
