The LGBTQ+ community has persevered through homophobia, transphobia, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, violence, racism, misogyny and oppression by expressing pride in existence and combatting hate with love.

Historically, the word “queer” has meant odd, strange and unusual behavior and used as a derogatory word to describe LGBTQ+ folks.

But “queer” became reclaimed as the community fought to be liberated from the oppressive laws and cisgender and heteronormative culture that tried to define them.

As a nonbinary butch lesbian who came out during my time in college, I know how formative a community can be in realizing and appreciating the beauty of who you are.

When you grow up in an environment that limits the scope of what gender and sexuality can be, it puts you at odds with your own existence.

Despite the boxes people have tried to put queer people in, we find joy and pride in the little things like supporting our friends’ gender affirming care journey, holding your partner’s hand in public and finding mutual aid resources at local community centers.

We shouldn’t hide the love we have in our hearts from ourselves and much less the rest of the world.

From finding camaraderie at historic lesbian bars to drag queens using their performances to tell a story – queer joy is what knits the community together and resists hate from the outside world.

As queer spaces seek to become more inclusive to cisgender and heterosexual folks, the LGBTQ+ community in San José and beyond can’t forget its roots in arms with each other.

The only way we can enact real change in our country and community is by uniting and navigating the harsh realities of hatred with each other.

The Spartan Daily chose the theme of queer joy as resistance because of the sharp rise of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in this political climate and a co-opting of queer culture. 

Even in this year’s Silicon Valley pride parade, politicians and corporations repeatedly use the event to capitalize on the community’s resilience instead of amplifying the community itself.

We can’t continue on like this. 

San José and the rest of the Bay Area are only going to resist the fascist attack on queerness in the United States by radically connecting to its roots of joy and pride.

Our hope as a staff is that readers become more educated about the intersectionalities of the community, the resources available to them and what the future holds for us all.

Resistance isn’t founded on complacency and silence, it’s loud and fierce through the expression of our joy.

Queer joy is resistance.