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Born this way
Pride month feels different this year.
A lot of people ask me why we still need Pride celebrations. “Don’t gay people have equal rights now?” some ask. “I don’t mind gay people, I just don’t see why they should shove it in my face all the time” is another perennial comment I’ve had to endure.
Allow me to explain why Pride matters. Right now, people from across the LGBT+ umbrella are feeling more under threat than ever in recent living history.
Take the two women pictured above, marching at Warsaw Pride last June, alongside thousands of Ukrainian refugees who fled the conflict zone, knowing that life under Russian occupation was a threat to their very existence.
Further west, progress continues to slide backwards. Brands like Starbucks, Nike and Adidas face public backlashes for daring to show solidarity with some of their most marginalized customers. And in 2022 alone, there were 141 protests against drag events across America with the numbers growing this year.
Some of the world’s richest and most powerful are using their platforms to pile on the pressure. Elon Musk, one who claims to ‘work all day’ while being involved in numerous companies, finds the time to stir up hate against those who identify as transgender. Meanwhile, deadly violence against transgender people continues to skyrocket.
If you find yourself questioning why Pride matters, I urge you: check in with your friends, colleagues, neighbors or anyone around you who identifies as LGBT+. Listen to their stories. Hear them when they say they are scared and feel threatened. Be an ally – they need your support now, more than ever.
The Memo will take a summer break across July and August. Next week’s edition will be curated by my colleague Iain Martin. We’ll be back in September and wish you a restful summer.
Five Things We Learned
The world’s greatest soccer player found a new home in Miami. Lionel Messi signed with Inter Miami, the up-and-coming team co-owned by David Beckham. With a history of tax disputes in Spain, Florida’s zero income tax may have played a part in his decision to move.
There’s a hot new attraction in Rome. Forget the Colosseum and the Spanish Steps… Largo di Torre Argentina, the ancient site where Julius Caesar met his end, is the hottest new must-visit. The newly-open site includes four temples, including one that doubles as home for 350 cats.
The Titanic sub reportedly didn’t meet industry standards 5 years ago. Reports revealed operator OceanGate was warned by industry professionals the “experimental” vessel could have “…serious consequences”. In 2019, the company argued in a blog post “innovation often falls outside of the existing industry paradigm”.
And it used a $30 video game controller to navigate. One of OceanGate’s innovations was using Logitech’s G F710, a commonly-used PC gaming controller from 2010. The original has a 4.2 /5 rating on Amazon.
Do your bit this summer by turning up to the airport on time. As Europe hits ‘peak flight’ this summer, airlines are urging passengers to arrive in plenty of time to prevent delays stacking up. European airspace is extra congested this year as airspace surrounding Ukraine and the entire Russian airspace continues to be out of bounds for all European carriers.
The Good
The UN adopted first-ever treaty protecting the high seas. The new framework will govern fishing, mining and oil extraction in international waters, in a bid to protect threatened oceanic ecosystems. Over 200 nations signed the document, with 60 yet to ratify it, including the United States.
The Bad
The United States is on track for its deadliest year ever. More than 300 mass shootings have been recorded across America this year, equal to almost one mass murder per week in the first half of 2023. Don’t forget, guns don’t kill people, drag queens do.
Watch
The mysterious death of African Entrepreneur Christian Kazadi. 29 year-old founder and Forbes Under 30 listmaker Kazadi was found dead in police custody in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A year on, questions remain unanswered. Forbes, YouTube, free to watch worldwide.
Listen
Can rooftops feed our growing cities? Meet the pioneers of rooftop farming, who are turning concrete into green spaces for fruit and vegetables to thrive. The Food Chain, BBC, free to listen worldwide.
Read
A trans man walks into a gay bar. Author Harry Nicholas’ debut book chronicles his journey of self discovery as a transmasculine, gay man. A brilliant and rare opportunity to learn about the trans experience, from a leading trans voice. Hachette, from $15.
Taste
The ultimate roast potato. Forbes expert food contributor Elizabeth Karmel reveals her secrets for the perfect crispy spud, perfectly paired with aioli mayonnaise as a Spanish-style tapas side dish. Delish!
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