A rainbow flag hangs across a Washington townhouse fencepost along one of my usual walk routes, but aside from that reminder, I almost forgot June was Pride Month.
Instead, I’ve seen a litany of X posts about June being everything from “life month” to “Title IX month,” “nuclear family month” and “Sacred Heart of Jesus month” – attempts by conservatives to reclaim the early summer season.
Following a steady rise and peak of pride efforts in 2022 and 2023, the June reclaiming efforts emphasize the declining number of Americans who favor same-sex marriage and gay rights, according to a new Gallup poll.
Tennessee and Indiana became the first states to declare June as “nuclear family month,” reemphasizing how a family consists of a husband, wife and their children. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun posted the announcement on X on Monday, saying, “This proclamation recognizes the important role families play in shaping the future of our state and our country.” Pride month seeks to redefine family, but Tennessee and Indiana are reclaiming its original meaning.
Similarly, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Friday that June would be celebrated as “fidelity month,” a time dedicated to cultivating “fidelity to God, family, community, and country,” and to a “healthy, stable, well-ordered society.” Utah also celebrates fidelity month, a God-centered and family-centered occasion to “encourage virtue” among citizens.
Students for Life of America and other pro-life organizations view June as “life month” since the reversal of Roe v. Wade happened in June 2022. A video the group posted on X says, “No matter what the left says, June is life month.” Oklahoma announced Tuesday that June will be celebrated as life month in the state. Many in the pro-life movement preach traditional family values and condemn LGBTQ couples who seek out surrogacy or adoption so they can raise a child in an incomplete household.
The U.S. Department of Education advertises June as “Title IX month,” with its post saying, “The days of allowing men in women’s sports and private spaces are over.” The Trump administration has cracked down on transgender athletes in hopes of preserving women’s spaces. Although the fight for women’s sports is not over, the department has reclaimed June from the transgender pride that introduced men into women’s spaces.
The Catholic Church has named June “the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is consecrating America to Christ’s Sacred Heart on its solemnity, June 12.
In Major League Baseball, known as America’s national pastime, the Texas Rangers are reportedly the only club not holding a Pride celebration. Instead, the team is sponsoring a Faith and Family Night June 18, including testimonies from several players on how faith impacts their lives on and off the field.
It appears many Americans have found other things worthy of pride, reclaiming the month of June for traditional and virtuous American values.
