Dear Pride Family,
We love the internet. For many of us, especially as queer kids in the early 2010s, it was a refuge—a place to learn about ourselves, find community, and exist more freely. But while online anonymity can be liberating, it also enables bigotry and hate. If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve seen or experienced it firsthand.
Online harassment is all too common, and one insidious form is the use of dog whistles—coded language that seems harmless but carries hidden bigotry. Like an actual dog whistle, these messages often go unnoticed by outsiders while signaling to those who share hateful ideologies. Dog whistles aren’t the only form of online harassment, but they can be especially hard to call out. Learn more about dog whistles.
While bad actors are responsible for spreading hate, it helps to know how to protect yourself and others:
If online negativity starts to weigh on you, touch grass. Literally. It sounds cliché, but getting outside really helps. Even Björk has a tip for escaping doomscrolling: “Just go on a walk for an hour and come back and see how you feel.” Walking engages both sides of the brain, helping to reduce stress and regulate emotions. Bonus points if you call a friend while you do it.
Still feeling overwhelmed? You don’t have to handle it alone. PFLAG offers hotlines and warmlines with call and text options for support—no need to wait for a crisis. We’ve used these resources ourselves, and they truly help.
For all the hate online, remember—there is far more love. You are standing on the shoulders of giants, part of a long history of people who fought for your right to exist freely. One of those giants is Tracie Jada O’Brien, whose scholarship program has empowered countless trans folks to access education. We invite you to join us Friday, April 4, from 5-7 PM at the LGBT Center to connect with community for Trans Day of Empowerment. . The fight is far from over, but we honor those who came before us by taking care of ourselves—because we can’t carry on their legacy unless we put our own oxygen mask on first.
Franklin Younger (they/them)
Staff Accountant
Josh Moats (he/him)
Marketing & Communications Specialist
San Diego Pride raises funds primarily through festival ticket and beverage sales, and through sponsorships, and exhibitor fees. These funds support San Diego Pride’s community philanthropy which has distributed more than $2.5 million in advancement of its mission to foster pride, equality, and respect for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities locally, nationally, and globally.
