WGS community members Mary Kruk and Jes L. Matsick have co-authored a new article in the Journal of Social Issues that examines how LGBTQ+ adults interpret the Pride flag in everyday life.
In “Pride or Profit: Assessing the Authenticity of the Pride Flag as an Identity Safety Cue for LGBTQ+ Americans,” Kruk, Matsick, Emerson Todd, and Jude T. Sullivan explore the Pride flag’s role as a symbol of LGBTQ+ visibility, belonging, and support. Their study draws on responses from 76 LGBTQ+ participants in the United States to better understand when the flag is read as a meaningful sign of safety and when its display may be viewed as performative, commercially motivated, or disconnected from concrete action.
Published during Pride Month, the article speaks to ongoing conversations about visibility, allyship, and institutional responsibility. The authors find that the Pride flag can continue to serve as a powerful identity safety cue, particularly when it appears in public spaces, LGBTQ+ community contexts, or alongside consistent support for LGBTQ+ people. At the same time, the study underscores that symbols alone are not enough: their meaning depends on the actions and commitments that surround them.
Read the full article in the Journal of Social Issues.
