LGBT Equality Alliance’s board president spoke at Indivisible Chester County’s No Kings rally in West Chester on June 14, 2025. Around 6,000 people gathered peacefully lining both sides of High St. to voice their anger with the current administration, their policies and behavior toward immigrants, U.S. citizens, elected officials, and the total disregard of the Constitution and democratic norms.
Here is Carrie’s speech.
My name is Carrie Stare, my pronouns are she/her, and I’m president of LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County.
I know we’re all gathered today under the banner of No Kings, but I do want to say, the only royalty that belongs in this country are drag kings and drag queens!
I want you to journey with me on a little history lesson.
Happy Pride!
Pride is not brought to you by corporations with rainbow logos or limited-edition merchandise releases. Pride is not a marketing campaign. Pride was born from protest, from resistance, from the courage of those who refused to be silent.
Pride is brought to you by Marsha P. Johnson, who is credited with throwing the first brick at Stonewall because the queer community was fed up with being brutalized and beaten.
By Sylvia Rivera, who fought for trans rights when no one else would.
By Audre Lorde, who taught us that our silence will not protect us.
By queer women who stayed by the bedsides of gay men while the AIDS crisis ripped through the gay community and the government refused to act.
By Harvey Milk, who dared to run for office and win.
By Bayard Rustin, who organized for civil rights while living as an openly gay Black man.
By so many others whose names we may never know, but whose bravery echoes in every step we take today.
Pride is not a brand. It’s a legacy. It is our job to protect that legacy and ensure history stops repeating itself because:
They tried to get rid of us in Nazi Germany.
They tried to get rid of us during the Lavender Scare.
They tried to get rid of us with AIDS.
They tried to get rid of us with “therapy.”
They’re STILL trying to get rid of us by blocking critical healthcare to our transgender siblings.
But let me tell you something, they have NEVER succeeded because we’re here.
A world without queer people has never existed and it never will.
So let’s honor and protect that legacy—not just with parades, not just during the month of June, but with purpose.
How do you do that?
Learn how to be an effective ally.
Support queer-owned businesses and grassroots organizations.
Show up for trans rights, for Black and brown queer lives, for youth who are under attack.
Vote like our rights depend on it—because they do.
Speak out, even when it’s uncomfortable.
And never let Pride be reduced to a logo.
Because Pride didn’t start with a party. It started with a riot.
Let’s carry that spirit forward—with love, with rage, and with action.
Thank you. Stay proud. Stay loud. And keep fighting.