legally curtailed.

Still, homophobia and transphobia are challenged more, and in politics even the most prejudiced politician—as Roy Moore discovered in Alabama in 2017 when he lost to Doug Jones—cannot rely on bigotry to win votes.

Abroad, we have witnessed both the violence and extreme discrimination practiced against LGBTQ people—and their brave struggles for equality—in countries including Russia, Uganda, and Iraq.

If the LGBTQ hope of the Obama era has dissipated when it comes to this country’s legislators, in pop culture progress is being made in terms of LGBTQ representation and presence. The cultural dial moves forward, even as the political one goes into a negative stasis.

There are still not enough stories and LGBTQ faces—but in the last decade the characters and stories have kept coming on the big screen, asSong Trilogy made high-profile returns to Broadway.

“ There is the heartening energy of LGBTQ campaigners of many ages and experiences. The range of voices speaking out is growing more diverse. ”

There are more out celebrities and public figures, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, who came out in 2014. Pop stars and public figures have challenged binaries and boundaries of gender and sexuality (note pop star Sam Smith's embrace of non-binary as a self-descriptor).

There is the heartening energy of LGBTQ campaigners of many ages and experiences. The range of voices speaking out is growing more diverse.

In June, New York City accommodated two processions on Pride day—one the World Pride march, with its colorful floats and millions of spectators. But there was also the Queer Liberation March, which did a