Deep political divisions are evident in how Americans view Pride Month, with nearly a fifth of the population wishing for its cancellation, a survey from Talker Research reveals.
The poll of 2,000 Americans found that 17 percent believe Pride Month should not be celebrated at all, and an additional eight percent feel it is "too much" and should be scaled back. Conversely, 28 percent consider Pride Month important and worthy of support, while 21 percent support the idea but feel indifferent to its practical observance.
These divergent views align closely with political party affiliations. Support for Pride Month is more than twice as high among Democrats, with 44 percent believing it is important, compared to 17 percent of Republicans. Furthermore, 32 percent of Republicans indicated that Pride should be canceled, a sentiment shared by only six percent of Democrats.
This finding echoes recent research from Gallup, which noted a slight decrease in support for LGBTQ+ issues in the U.S. in recent years, largely driven by Republicans.
Robert Kesten, President and CEO of the Stonewall National Museum Archives & Library, commented on the survey data and the shifting statistics regarding LGBTQ+ issues. He expressed concern that fear is causing some LGBTQ+ individuals to conceal their identities in unwelcoming communities, particularly if they lack the resources to relocate.
"People in those communities are not as out. People don’t want to be the outsiders in inhospitable communities, and few people feel comfortable being outsiders even when they are not under attack," Kesten stated. "If they’re able to protect themselves by covering up their identity, they will do so, especially if they do not have the resources or ability to move to a more inviting place to live."
Kesten also pointed to the influence of homophobic content in right-leaning media, suggesting it shapes public perception. He noted that even support for same-sex marriage, which had been rising, has seen a slight decline, attributing this to effective marketing strategies and fear tactics.
Despite these trends, the survey also indicated encouraging signs. Forty-four percent of all respondents believe that support for LGBTQ+ Americans has increased over the past year, a figure that rises to 56 percent among those who identify as LGBTQ+.
Regarding the perception of support, 39 percent of all respondents (and 24 percent of LGBTQ+ respondents) felt that support had neither increased nor decreased. Seventeen percent of all respondents, and 20 percent of LGBTQ+ respondents, felt that support had actively decreased.
Kesten emphasized the importance of understanding Pride's history and culture to combat feelings of erasure. "The attacks on Pride are an example of that. It’s important for people to understand that only you can erase yourself. No one else can erase you," he said. "And that’s because if you know your history, if you know your culture, if you know why Pride exists, then it can’t be taken away."
The survey also explored participation in Pride events. Nearly four in ten LGBTQ+ respondents (39 percent) planned to attend a Pride event in June, compared to just nine percent of non-LGBTQ+ respondents. Fifty-four percent of non-LGBTQ+ individuals stated they would not attend and had no interest in attending, contrasting with seven percent of LGBTQ+ respondents.
Kesten encouraged broader participation, stating, "Human beings need human relationships to be healthy," and suggesting that attending Pride events, regardless of identity, offers an opportunity for connection and celebration. "Go for the music. Go for the food. Go for the dancing. Go to have joy with people that you love."
The Talker Research survey was conducted online between June 11–17, 2026, among 2,000 general population Americans with internet access.