By the time this month is over, this old man will have traveled through five countries and four states, giving 14 talks. There were even more invitations I had to turn down — or, more accurately, that my husband insisted I turn down. “That’s enough, Mark,” he said. “You’ve already taken on too much.” And as usual, he was right.

Some of those talks were for LGBTQ+ charities — to boost a fundraiser, open an exhibit, or give hope to communities overseas where being yourself can still be dangerous. Others were for allied audiences marking LGBTQ History Month. Many of those groups had never before thought about inviting an LGBTQ+ speaker — but when they began hearing about our history being erased, they wanted to understand why, and more importantly, how they could help.

That was a surprise for me: they didn’t just want to talk about the problem — they wanted to know how to fix it. Some were small community organizations; others were major corporations or national institutions. Thinking back to that first Pride march in 1970, when not one corporation or national organization stood with us, I couldn’t help but smile at how far we’ve come.

To each audience, I said the same thing: Keep us visible. Don’t be afraid to bring up LGBTQ+ issues, even when it’s uncomfortable. Call or write your members of Congress and ask where they stand. Donate time or funds — or both.

For many of these allies, seeing our stories erased was their first real understanding of just how deeply Donald Trump’s agenda threatens what America stands for.

As I write this, I still have two more stops — one in Palm Springs, California, and the other in Hyde Park, New York. And here’s what keeps coming to mind: 57 years ago, we had no national organizations or corporations willing to stand beside us. Today, even though some are being pressured to pull back, I know their commitment runs deep. They’ll find new ways to show up — because change is part of progress.

My mantra has always been simple: our greatest tool is visibility. We cannot allow ourselves to be pushed back into the closet.

So I’ll keep traveling, keep speaking up, and keep being visible. After all, it’s a lot better than the old days — when the only attention I got was from the police.

Then again, who knows? Maybe I’ll have to get arrested again.

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