Pride event attendees should exercise caution while participating in commemorative events this month as the threat environment for LGBTQ individuals in the US is elevated, and the US government has issued two warnings that foreign terrorist organizations and sympathizers may seek to target or disrupt LGBTQ-related events. While incidents so far this year appear to have been non-violent, many pride event organizers are adding security measures to help mitigate any issues. Large-scale pride events will almost certainly have increased security measures, and attendees are advised to exercise situational awareness, maintain vigilance of their surroundings, and report suspicious activity to local authorities. The first two weeks of Pride Month 2024 have already seen incidents of online anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and threats to pride events, vandalism, and theft or destruction of pride flags. In recent months, authorities have investigated several bomb threats targeting family-orientated drag events, although they determined each to be hoaxes aimed at disrupting the events.
FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of State Advisories
On May 10, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security warned that “Foreign terrorist organizations or supporters may seek to exploit increased gatherings associated with the upcoming June 2024 Pride Month.” The warning did not mention a specific event or terrorist organization, although it highlighted the anti-LGBTQ sentiment of the Islamic State (IS), including its previous calls for violence toward the LGBTQ community and its praise of mass casualty events such as the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando in 2016. The alert also included the example of the thwarted attack on the Vienna Pride Parade in Austria in June 2023. On May 17, the Department of State issues a similar warning to US citizens outside the US.
While neither agency gave a rationale for their warnings, authorities have investigated several bomb threats targeting LGBTQ-related organizations and events across the country. Several threats targeted drag shows like Drag Story Hour and referenced the events as the motive for the attack. On March 23, the Reading Public Library in Massachusetts received a bomb threat shortly before Drag Story Hour, and on April 8, a gay bar in Arlington, Virginia, received a bomb threat during Drag Story Hour. On June 9, a local business in Austin, Texas, scheduled to host a Drag Lunch, closed for the day after receiving a bomb threat via email. Police found no evidence of credible threats during any of their investigations. On May 4 and 5, the Bozeman Police Department in Montana received four separate bomb threats targeting areas and businesses that they believed had a connection to upcoming pride events. Further investigation revealed that the threats were almost certainly hoaxes, as they originated from Nigeria and Russia.
On March 23, Pennsylvania Police conducted a planned sweep of the Lancaster Public Library ahead of Drag Story Hour, when K9s alerted police to a suspicious package. Organizers canceled the event but received an email approximately two hours later threatening the detonation of explosive devices within the library. The email contained an implicit reference to the pride event as the motive for the attack. Police later determined that the email was a hoax, likely originating outside the US and capitalizing on the cancellation of the event due to the suspicious package alert.
Anti-LGBTQ Hate-Motivated Violence Has Increased in the US in the Past Year
While US society is largely tolerant of the LGBTQ community, with decreased tolerance in right-majority states, the threat of discrimination, hate crimes, and violence remains. While the reporting and classifying of anti-LGBTQ crimes has likely improved, FBI statistics show that 2022 saw the highest number of anti-LGBTQ crimes reported in the past five years. There was a 10-percent increase in anti-LGBTQ crimes compared to the previous year; 17.2 percent of hate crimes in the US were motivated by sexual orientation, and 4.1 percent were motivated by gender identity. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), along with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), recorded 356 anti-LGBTQ hate-motivated incidents across the US between June 2022 and June 2023 and recorded the highest total number of incidents in the states of California, Florida, New York, and Texas. GLAAD and ADL also recorded 145 incidents during Pride Month in 2023, most of which were incidents of harassment and vandalism, but also included assault.
Several companies that released pride-related merchandise or collaborated with LGBTQ individuals during Pride Month 2023 also received threats. Far-right activists vandalized several Target stores displaying the store’s Pride Collection. Buildings associated with Target and Anheuser Busch, the company that owns the Bud Light brand, received bomb threats.
In the first half of Pride Month 2024, there were incidents of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, threats to pride events, vandalism, and theft or destruction of pride flags. On June 3, the Colorado Republican Party posted to X, formerly Twitter, an animated flame GIF with the caption, “Burn all the #pride flags this June” after sending an email newsletter titled “God Hates Pride.” Several individuals from two Colorado towns reported the theft of pride flags from their homes after the email. There was theft and destruction of pride flags and banners reported in other locations, including in Poulsbo, Washington, where 14 pride banners outside a gallery were slashed, and Carlisle, Massachusetts, where 200 pride flags were stolen from the town center. On June 14, the caretaker of a rainbow flag installation near the Stonewall National Monument in New York City discovered over 150 flags vandalized. As a safety precaution, organizers of Pride Niagara canceled its annual Pride Prom in response to several online threats.
Pride Organizers’ and Law Enforcement’s Response to the Advisories
Pride event organizers have stated that while threats toward pride events are not new, they have taken the federal advisory seriously. Various event organizers have responded by hiring private security, increasing physical security measures, and working with law enforcement to ensure increased police presence at their events. For pride events in cities known to draw large crowds, local law enforcement will likely monitor online activity regarding the event and remain in contact with other security and intelligence agencies.
Following several online threats and the subsequent cancellation of the Pride Prom, organizers of Pride Niagara also erected temporary fencing around their Pride in the Park venue and increased security on the day of their event. Philly Pride 365, the organizers of the Philadelphia Pride March, which occurred on Sunday, June 2, hired private security for the event. The Philadelphia Police Department also increased its foot patrols, monitored online activity regarding the event, and remained in contact with other security and intelligence agencies. The president of Philly Pride 365 stated that the Department of Homeland Security did a “sweep” of the area before the event and that federal partners were present. Organizers of Spokane Pride had a dedicated space for counter-protesters which were monitored by “peace angels,” individuals wearing white robes and large wings that partially obstructed the view of protesters. The Downtown Spokane Partnership also installed a temporary surveillance system at the site of a pride mural that has been defaced twice in May.
The mayor of New York City stated that the New York Police Department (NYPD) will have an increased security presence at the NYC Pride March, including security personnel in plain clothes, and will rely on intelligence sharing and social media monitoring. The NYPD’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism unit has reportedly prepared an event security plan.
Organizers of San Francisco Pride (SF Pride) have stated on their website that while they have never called for an increased police presence during SF Pride, they will work with law enforcement during times when authorities believe increased security is necessary. However, the organizers have hired private security to implement a screening process and conduct bag checks before the event and have updated the event’s website with a list of prohibited items, including oversized banners, noisemakers, and selfie sticks. The organizers also strongly discourage attendees from bringing bags to the event, although bags meeting the requirements outlined on the event’s website will be permitted.
Risk Mitigation Strategies for Pride Events
- Consider the following risk mitigation strategies for navigating pride events this upcoming Pride month:
- Follow all official instructions.
- Maintain situational awareness.
- If you are faced with a violent or potentially violent situation, immediately seek shelter in upscale hotels or large public buildings, such as libraries, theaters, hospitals, or museums.
- If you are in a dense crowd and you do not see any crowd control measures, consider getting out. If you feel the crowd begin to sway, wait until it stops moving and navigate your way to safety.
- Report all suspicious persons or packages to the authorities immediately.
- If celebrating abroad and police or other authorities harass you, immediately contact your diplomatic mission.
Author(s)
