Pride is Ours: A Safety Guide for Trans, Nonbinary, & Gender-Nonconforming People

In 2025, Pride isn’t just a celebration: it’s a risk, a statement, and for many, a line in the sand. With over 600 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the U.S. in the past two years (many of them targeting trans people directly), it’s become increasingly necessary for trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming (TNBGNC) people to approach public visibility with both joy and strategy.

This guide offers clarity, preparation, and affirmation as we head into Pride season for this year. Whether you’re attending a protest, a parade, or a community gathering, your safety matters. And so does your right to exist fully and proudly in public spaces.

Understanding the Terrain: What Pride Looks Like Now

Even in traditionally “safe” cities, increased police presence, surveillance technology, and vague anti-drag or public decency laws have created uncertainties for TNBGNC attendees.

States like Tennessee and Florida have passed drag bans using language that could criminalize gender expression entirely. Several states have introduced or enacted laws restricting access to public bathrooms, banning gender-affirming care, or limiting legal recognition of nonbinary and trans identities.

Before attending Pride, it’s important to know how your state and city classify gender expression. 

• Check the Movement Advancement Project’s Equality Maps for up-to-date information on public accommodations and legal protections
• Review the ACLU’s Anti-LGBTQ Bill Tracker to understand pending legislation that might affect your rights
• Research local ordinances about public gathering and expression

Prepping for Pride: What to Bring, What to Know

If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready. Attending Pride safely starts with preparation. Depending on the size and type of event, it’s helpful to bring a “Power Kit” with essential supplies that prioritize your comfort and security.

Recommended items include:

• Government or chosen ID
  
• A fully charged phone and backup battery
  
• Water, snacks, and daily medications
  
• Cash (in case of card outages or bail support needs)
  
• Sunscreen, earplugs, and stim items for sensory regulation
  
• A printed or laminated emergency contact list
  

If you are undocumented or unhoused, carrying ID can pose a risk. In that case, reach out to local orgs beforehand like Trans Lifeline, which offers peer support and microgrants, or a legal aid collective in your area.

Remember, every Pride is different. Some are protest-led and police-free, others are corporate-sponsored and include heavy surveillance. Look into who’s organizing the event, what kind of policing is expected, and whether trans people, especially BIPOC and disabled trans folks, are involved in leadership. Transparency about these details often signals how safe or responsive an event will be.

Being There: Navigating Gendered Spaces and Crowd Dynamics

At any public event, visibly gender nonconforming people may face misgendering, harassment, or physical threats. Having a plan for how to respond (or not respond) can ease anxiety in the moment. You’re not obligated to correct someone, educate them, or engage if it doesn’t feel safe.

If you feel overwhelmed or overstimulated, move toward quiet corners (restroom areas, first aid stations, food vendors) or use grounding techniques like 5-4-3-2-1 sensory scans. It’s okay to leave a parade or go back home too. There’s no pressure to stay at an event if you feel uncomfortable.

Go with people you trust. Establish check-in times and have a “leave together” plan. If separated, share locations via your phone or create a code word to signal that something’s off.

Different Needs, Different Risks: Intersections Matter

There’s no one-size-fits-all safety plan for Pride. Each of us navigates risk through different lenses like race, class, disability, immigration status, and age, which shape how we move through public spaces.

If you’re a TNBGNC person of color, you may already anticipate racial profiling or over-policing. Consider reading the ACLU’s Know Your Rights guide before going to Pride events. Knowing your rights, especially in high-surveillance cities or conservative areas, can make the difference between feeling safe and protected. 

Disabled and neurodivergent folks may find that even “inclusive” Pride events lack basic accessibility like ramps, quiet spaces, or ASL interpreters. Carry what you need to regulate your senses or communicate clearly. Sins Invalid and Autistic Self Advocacy Network both offer great pre-event planning tools.

For undocumented people, Pride can be emotionally complex. Know that you are not legally obligated to disclose your immigration status, and that organizations like Immigration Equality and United We Dream offer emergency legal help and documentation guides. Avoid spaces with known ICE collaboration or increased law enforcement presence, and connect to community-led immigrant support groups if possible.

Young people and unhoused trans folks often face the most precarious conditions. Local LGBTQ+ centers like the SF LGBT Center, Trans Housing Atlanta Program (THAP), and Point of Pride can help with emergency shelter, hygiene resources, or medical care.

When Police Show Up: Know Your Rights

For many of us, police presence at Pride creates anxiety rather than reassurance. If approached by an officer:

• Ask clearly, “Am I being detained, or am I free to go?”
  
• You are not required to unlock your phone or provide passwords
  
• You have the right to remain silent and to request legal representation

Write important phone numbers in permanent marker on your arm or clothing in case your phone is unavailable. The National Bail Fund Directory lists local bail support resources.

If you see someone being detained, you can act as a legal witness. Film (where legal), take notes, and stay calm. But never jeopardize your safety to intervene unless you have a plan and backup.

After Pride: Rest Is Revolutionary

It’s normal to feel emotional after Pride. Give yourself time to decompress. That might mean logging off from social media, taking a nap, rehydrating, or doing something creative to process your experience.

If you were harmed during the event, seek support. Trans Lifeline, QTPoC Mental Health, and The Icarus Project all offer mental health tools rooted in community care.

Don’t feel pressured to post photos or share your story right away. And if you do, ask for consent before tagging others. Privacy is a safety issue, especially in times like these.

Pride Is Ours

This year, it’s more obvious than ever that Pride isn’t just a parade — it’s a battleground. But it’s also a site of rebirth, imagination, and collective resistance. Whether you attend or stay home, dress up or dress down, you are still part of the movement.

Pride was built by the generations that came before us with the most to fight for. This year, it belongs to the undocumented teen attending their first march. To the Black trans elder who hasn’t missed a protest in decades. To you.

Wherever you are, however you show up: stay safe, stay grounded, and own your power.