However, as much of a "Return of the Jedi"-esque moment the 2015 Obergefell same-sex marriage ruling was for many a gay youth, myself included, it was an incredibly short, albeit blissful one.
I distinctly remember watching coverage of Pride events in 2016 and remembering the somber, vigil-like tone that was struck in comparison to just a year before, due to the Pulse nightclub tragedy.
Since then, things have only gotten worse. And while it is easy to pin the blame for the West's hard turn toward fascism for this on a growing sentiment of bigotry and disdain for those different than them within parts of the populace, the truth is much uglier.