Celebrating Pride with Defiant Joy: Stonewall, Marriage Equality, and the Work Ahead

Jul 3

Celebrating Pride with Defiant Joy: Stonewall, Marriage Equality, and the Work Ahead

In this heartfelt group episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie brings together three powerful changemakers to reflect on the anniversaries of Marriage Equality and the Stonewall Uprising. Through stories that span decades of activism, personal transformation, and community celebration, these leaders explore the deep roots of LGBTQ+ resistance—and the power of joy, love, and play to push movements forward. Whether you're in philanthropy, advocacy, or simply seeking inspiration, this episode is a rallying cry for authentic belonging and courageous allyship.

Key Takeaways:

The LGBTQ+ movement has always blended resistance with celebration, using protest as a form of joyful defiance rather than just rage.
Pride is still fundamentally a march and a protest, not just a parade or party, and remains rooted in the ongoing fight for full liberation.
Many LGBTQ+ nonprofits are under threat from political pressure and reduced corporate support, increasing the urgency for direct community donations.
Belonging is a human right, not something to be earned, and systemic discrimination often aims to strip people of that sense of belonging.
Storytelling is a crucial way to preserve LGBTQ+ history, especially as political and cultural forces try to erase or distort it.
Joy, love, and play are not breaks from justice work but vital tools for sustainability and cultural change within activism.
Intersectional solidarity across marginalized communities strengthens all movements and counters efforts to divide and isolate struggles. The LGTBQ+ movement gives us an example of what that looks like and how powerful it can be.
The history of LGBTQ+ philanthropy and activism stretches far before Stonewall and includes key figures whose legacies risk being forgotten without intentional preservation.

"Belonging is a right that people have, and when we feel like we can belong in spaces, it tells us something is systemically changed." — Eric Ward

"I walk into those spaces because of who I am, so I’m not trying to dress that up or change that when I walk into that room." — Radhy Miranda

"Tell an LGBTQ person you love them, you see them, that you support them, that you’re an ally… now is the time to stand up for trans communities." — Lyle Matthew Kan

More about our Changemakers:

Eric Ward is a nationally recognized expert on authoritarianism, hate violence, and inclusive democracy, currently Executive Vice President at Race Forward and Senior Fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center, with over 30 years of leadership in civil rights organizing, philanthropy, and cultural strategy. [LinkedIn]
Radhy Miranda is an equity strategist and Principal at Mars Consulting Partners, where he leverages experience across philanthropy, government, and academia to design cross-sector initiatives that advance economic mobility and equitable community development. [LinkedIn]
Lyle Matthew Kan is a leader in social justice philanthropy and Interim President & CEO of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, known for advancing racial, LGBTQ+, and AAPI equity through research, field leadership, and collaborative grantmaking. He was recently named by Inside Philanthropy as one of "Philanthropy's Most Powerful People Under 40." [LinkedIn]

Connect with Kristine:

Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/