06/17/2026
I've seen a lot of people ask a question lately:
"Why do we still need Pride Month?"
It's a fair question. But I think the answer starts with understanding what Pride was meant to be in the first place.
For a lot of people, the word "pride" sounds like celebration, self-congratulation, or showing off. Historically, that's not really what it meant.
Pride was the opposite of shame.
For generations, LGBTQIA+ Americans were told to stay quiet, stay hidden, and pretend they didn't exist. Pride was a way of saying, "I'm not going to be ashamed of who I am."
That's very different from saying, "I'm better than anyone else."
This week's episode of Hold 'em Accountable takes a look at the history of Pride Month, where it came from, how it evolved, and why so many people still believe it matters in 2026.
As someone who has spent a lot of time thinking about questions of dignity, visibility, and belonging, and as someone who happens to be intersex, I wanted to approach this conversation from a place of history rather than slogans.
You don't have to agree with every part of Pride Month to understand why it exists.
But I do think it's worth understanding before we decide whether it still has value.
You can watch the full episode and find all of our content at:
👉 https://progressiveindiana.net
Or just tell Alexa:
"Play Hold 'em Accountable with Derrick Holder."
After you watch, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
What do you think Pride Month means today? Has its purpose changed, or is it still serving the same role it always has?
