Ep.57 / Texas drag ban, love wins (again) & Canada’s pride budget

From wins that make you cheer to headlines that make you groan, this week on HOT AIR we’re diving into the latest in LGBTQ+ rights. Canada is putting millions toward Pride safety amid rising threats, Kim Davis’ attempt to revisit marriage equality gets shut down by the Supreme Court, and Nevada becomes the first state to enshrine same-sex marriage protections in its constitution…and much more!

Love, Lawsuits, and the Fight for Equality in 2025

In 2025, it sometimes feels like we’ve been running a relay race where every decade someone trips over the same banana peel, but somehow we keep passing the baton anyway. This week on HOT AIR, we’re diving into three major headlines in LGBTQ+ rights that perfectly illustrate that mix of wins, frustrations, and “are you kidding me, we’re still fighting this?” energy that seems to define queer life in the 21st century.

First up, Canada. Yes, Canada — the nation synonymous with maple syrup, polite apologies, and hockey fights — is also stepping into the Pride spotlight in a meaningful way. The federal government announced that the upcoming budget will allocate $7.5 million specifically to help LGBTQ+ communities cover costs related to security and insurance for Pride events. You read that correctly: seven million, five hundred thousand dollars to make sure that queer people can parade through public streets without sweating bullets over threats and insurance premiums.

Now, on the surface, that may seem like a small, almost symbolic gesture. But consider the context: in recent years, Pride events have been facing increased threats and attacks. From online harassment campaigns to actual physical intimidation at parades, the costs of simply existing joyfully in public as a queer person have skyrocketed. And that’s where this funding comes in — helping organizers pay for security personnel, fencing, liability insurance, and everything else that makes these events possible without turning them into a tactical military operation.

It’s not just about protecting attendees; it’s about protecting visibility. Pride is more than glitter and rainbow flags. It’s a declaration that queer people belong in public space. It’s a cultural and political statement, one that has historically been met with resistance, ridicule, or worse. So when Canada steps in to fund security, it’s acknowledging that queer existence is still a flashpoint — and that supporting it isn’t just nice, it’s necessary.

Of course, there’s a bittersweet undertone. Funding for security and insurance is vital, but it also underscores a hard truth: in 2025, simply being seen as queer still comes with risk. While we celebrate the financial support, we’re also reminded that joy and visibility shouldn’t have to come with a price tag. The very fact that we need to pay to protect celebrations of love and identity is a reminder that, even decades after Stonewall, equality isn’t just about legal recognition — it’s about safety, access, and the ability to exist without fear.

Next, let’s talk about Kim Davis. If you’ve been following LGBTQ+ news for the past decade, her name probably still makes you do a double take. The Kentucky county clerk who once refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples became an international symbol of obstinate opposition to marriage equality. And now, in 2025, she’s back, asking the Supreme Court to revisit Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark 2015 decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

And, of course, the Supreme Court said no. Not maybe, not “we’ll think about it,” but a firm, definitive, “nah.” The denial might not make headlines in every news cycle, but for LGBTQ+ advocates, it’s a relief. Kim Davis, who has spent years framing herself as a martyr for “religious freedom,” has been told — again — that the law is settled. Marriage equality stands. No special clerks, no backdoor loopholes, no revisionist legal fairy tales.

Reactions were predictable. On one side, progressives and LGBTQ+ supporters celebrated. Finally, a reaffirmation that basic rights aren’t up for debate every few years, even in a country where the courts have gotten creative with interpreting religious liberty. On the other side, the usual suspects erupted in outrage. Social media posts ranged from faux moral indignation to the genuinely bizarre, complete with rants about straight marriages being “under threat” and the end of civilization as we know it. It’s exhausting just reading some of them, let alone trying to process them over coffee.

And yet, for all the relief, there’s that nagging feeling we’ve all experienced before: the fight isn’t over. Denials like this are victories, yes, but they’re also reminders that there are still people willing to litigate equality away. That even when the law is clear, resistance continues. It’s a lesson in patience, vigilance, and the strange persistence of outdated thinking in modern society.

Meanwhile, while some states and courts are busy trying to roll back rights, others are stepping up. Take Nevada, for example. In a historic move, the state became the first in the nation to formally enshrine same-sex marriage protections in its constitution. Let that sink in: the very same Nevada known for quickie divorces, neon lights, and slot machines is now leading the way in guaranteeing marriage equality at a constitutional level. That’s not just a symbolic win; it’s legal insulation. Even if federal rulings wobble in the future, Nevada couples can rest easy knowing that their right to marry is protected.

Nevada’s milestone is especially meaningful in a year like 2025, when headlines remind us how fragile equality can still be. State-level protections like this matter because they create layers of security, build cultural momentum, and send a signal to other states: equality isn’t negotiable. Legal recognition is great, but constitutional backing is even better. It’s a victory for queer people living there, a blueprint for other states, and a reminder that progress doesn’t always happen in a straight line.

But let’s be real: even in the midst of these wins, there’s a disheartening side. Scrolling through social media, you see posts celebrating Nevada or Canada’s budget support, and you also see the frustration, the exhaustion, the quiet resignation that “we’re still fighting for this in 2025.” It’s a strange mix of joy and fatigue. You cheer because victories matter, because legal protections are real, because public support exists. And then you sigh because we shouldn’t still have to fight for basic human rights in a world that claims to be modern, progressive, and forward-thinking.

This tension is part of the queer experience in 2025. Even when rights are secured, even when governments show up to fund visibility or protect marriage, we live with the knowledge that these rights can be challenged again. That threats still exist. That hate still lurks, whether online, in local offices, or at public events. That’s why the Canada funding, Nevada protections, and Supreme Court denials are all interconnected stories. They’re reminders that progress is possible, that victories can happen, and that every law, budget, or amendment carries emotional weight.

It also raises a broader cultural point: visibility is a form of power. Pride events, legal protections, and public celebrations are all ways queer communities assert their existence. When the government funds safety measures, when courts uphold equality, when states pass constitutional protections, it’s not just about law. It’s about signaling: we see you, your rights matter, and your presence is not negotiable. That’s why, even amid frustration, there’s hope. Every headline, every decision, every budget allocation is a small thread in the tapestry of resilience that defines LGBTQ+ activism today.

But let’s not sugarcoat it. Frustration is real. For those of us observing these events, it’s exhausting to celebrate incremental wins while simultaneously realizing that the very idea of incremental progress still exists. That in 2025, someone can still try to undo marriage equality, threaten public Pride events, or legislate against queer joy. And yet, here we are, celebrating anyway. We celebrate because victories matter, and because persistence matters more.

And that persistence is evident across all three stories. Canada’s funding acknowledges risk and responds to it with tangible support. Kim Davis’ denial reminds us that, even when the fight seems eternal, the law is firmly on the side of equality. Nevada’s constitutional protection proves that states can not only follow federal precedent but also lead. These stories, when taken together, illustrate the complex, often contradictory landscape of LGBTQ+ rights in 2025: victories exist, threats exist, and communities continue to adapt, survive, and thrive.

At the end of the day, the overarching theme is resilience. Queer communities keep showing up, keep celebrating, and keep fighting, whether that’s through Pride parades, legal advocacy, or cultural visibility. Governments, courts, and local leaders may help or hinder along the way, but the momentum comes from the people who refuse to let discrimination dictate their lives.

So what does all this mean for the everyday listener? It means that progress isn’t guaranteed, but it is happening. It means that legal recognition matters, funding matters, and cultural visibility matters. It also means that frustration is valid, even as we cheer for victories. And it means that our collective persistence — celebrating Pride, defending marriage equality, and pushing for protections — is what ultimately keeps the arc of justice moving forward.

In other words, 2025 isn’t the year we’ve “finished” fighting for equality. It’s the year we keep reminding the world that love is not negotiable, that visibility is a right, and that progress, while uneven, is unstoppable when communities refuse to back down.

Canada’s Pride funding, Kim Davis’ courtroom denials, and Nevada’s constitutional protections are three snapshots of the same ongoing narrative: love, law, and persistence. They show that even amid setbacks, humorless lawsuits, and disheartening social posts, there is momentum. There are victories. And there is hope.

So, while we navigate this landscape — celebrating wins, acknowledging frustrations, and yes, occasionally rolling our eyes at the absurdities of 2025 — one thing remains clear: the fight for equality continues, and so does the joy, visibility, and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community.

Because progress isn’t just legal. It’s cultural. It’s emotional. It’s personal. And it’s loud, it’s proud, and yes, sometimes it’s sarcastic — just like HOT AIR.