Civil Discourse: Challenging Conversations Around Pride and Progress
As Pride Month comes to a close, we at Good Rebellion are reflecting on one powerful evening that brought the month’s message into sharp focus. On June 18, we co-sponsored the 5th Annual Pride Panel at the SUNY Global Center in New York City. This year’s theme was Progress Under Pressure: Can We Still Deliver on the American Dream?
Hosted in partnership with SUNY, East Midtown Partnership, and NGLCC New York, the event brought together voices from across sectors to explore how the LGBTQ+ community can continue pushing forward in an era where hard-won progress feels increasingly at risk. Our CEO, David Belsky, served as the event’s moderator, guiding a dynamic and deeply personal conversation on visibility, advocacy, and collective power. Panelists included:
The message of the night? Progress is not promised; but higher education, business, and government can and must work together to ensure no American slips through the cracks.
"How do we move forward from this clearly pivotal moment where it feels like not only our rights are in question, but our progress is being rolled back?" - David Belsky
We’re Not Just a Minority. We’re a Movement.
One of our panelists said it best: We’re not “just” a minority. We’re family members, business owners, educators, and public servants, and we’re not going anywhere.
That’s why Pride matters—not just as a celebration but as a call to action. Delivering on the American Dream means ensuring it’s accessible to everyone, no matter who they love or how they identify.
“As LGBTQ people, we have always been here. We always will be. We have been here across every culture. Across every time period. And we have always fought for our equality and freedom.” - Priya Nair
Visibility Is Resistance
The panel closed with a powerful reminder from LGBTQ+ icon Harvey Milk:
“Come out, come out wherever you are. The most political thing you can do is come out of the closet.”
Decades later, it’s still the most urgent kind of activism. Visibility is, at its core, storytelling. Telling our own stories is how we remind the world (and sometimes ourselves) that no human is a footnote in history. We’re central to it. Every person and every organization focused on making a difference can be lifted up as the main character.
So, What Comes After Pride Month?
We left the event feeling inspired, not just by the words, but by the people in the room: activists, allies, entrepreneurs, and young leaders committed to doing the work all year long.
At Good Rebellion, we believe progress is possible even under pressure. But it takes visibility, allyship, and consistent, collective action. These are difficult, challenging conversations. But if we’re going to make progress—if we’re going to move forward as a society—we need to have them.
Good Rebellion prides itself on guiding these tough conversations with our clients every day. Let us know if we can help you facilitate your own path toward creating a bigger, more welcoming tent for your stakeholders.
Pride Month may be over. The work never stops..
