This reminds me of the time my new boyfriend and I were in downtown Philadelphia, in the very early naughts, with friends, as we walked down the street holding hands. I initiated, partly because I was deep in love, and like lovers everywhere, I wanted to tell the world.

But another part of me was being intensely rebellious, and I knew my boyfriend felt the same way. Holding hands was our act of public defiance against established social order.

Public defiance has always been one of the primary drivers of Pride observances.

I believe you're right that such defiance is an act of forcing people to see whether they want to or not.

And I think that's really important.