"Don't Panic" was the theme of a decades-old, ironic queer media campaign (mostly guerilla media) that slightly preceded the Matthew Shepard murder.

It often featured Keith-Haring-esque stick drawings highlighting queer joy. I think some of the original figures were actually his, but he died before the campaign hit its full stride. But despite the joyful figures, the campaign was mostly dark commentary.

I haven't thought about it in a long time, but I wonder if the paradigm you're writing about that's popular among younger queer people today might have its roots in that 90s campaign.