Not One Size Fits All
Interview with the founder of the LGBTQIA+ gun violence prevention organization Bulletproof Pride
Scout Cardillo
Bulletproof Pride is a new but incredibly active organization on the gun violence prevention scene. Started in late 2023, it is a volunteer-based organization that aims to “highlight the LGBTQIA+ voices who are fighting the gun violence epidemic.” We caught up with the founder and Executive Director, Scout Cardillo, to discuss the group’s intelligent and inspiring multi-lens approach to activism.
By: Eric Davidson
What is the main mission of Bulletproof Pride? The name implies a focus on gun violence prevention, but it seems you cast a wider net.
Bulletproof Pride’s mission is to bring the voices of LGBTQIA+ youth and other marginalized communities to the table when addressing gun violence. We also understand that gun violence is intersectional and not one size fits all. We cannot work to end gun violence without addressing homelessness, criminal justice reform, restorative justice, racial justice, ending institutional discrimination, democracy, etc.
We at Bulletproof Pride take a multi-lens approach to gun violence prevention by addressing the systemic root causes that perpetuate violence in communities.
Can you explain your Five Networks idea — how and why you developed it?
The Five Networks came to be when I was having conversations with volunteers from across the country who were joining Bulletproof Pride from various organizing spaces like human rights, democracy advocacy, climate justice, etc. Each volunteer has a different “why” that brings them to this movement, and we wanted to create a structure that meets volunteers where they’re at.
Bulletproof Pride created five networks — Impact, Rapid Response, Creativity, Equity, and Administrative — that volunteers can join and bring their perspectives to the table with the campaigns, events, and initiatives we take on as an organization. We created the spaces for people to do art, legislative advocacy, monitor judicial cases, work with individuals impacted by gun violence, help fundraise, and other opportunities based on their individual interests.
Five Networks also seems to tie into the cross-movement style protest that Bulletproof Pride is helping coordinate for June 6th — We Keep Us Safe National March. Can you please tell us how the idea came about, how it’s coming along, and how people can get involved?
A core value of Bulletproof Pride is raising awareness of how different policy issues are all interconnected and not isolated. For example, attacks on democracy access through voter ID laws disproportionately impact transgender and first-time voters. When marginalized communities face increased barriers to voting, the candidates elected do not reflect the needs of those communities.
The WKUS National March came after the first two weeks of the Trump presidency. Right off the bat, we saw the president disproportionately target marginalized communities with his Executive Orders; and we noticed the same demographics being impacted are also the same ones disproportionately harmed by gun violence.
We saw this overlap and decided to take action on National Gun Violence Awareness Day, June 6th, as a way to show that we see these communities, we hear their needs, and we will do everything in our power to fight and advocate for them.
You mentioned in your recent press release that States who want to be involved in the WKUS National March are encouraged to focus on a few policies to rally around. What are you seeing as the policies that are getting the most attention for the national protest?
The amazing thing about this protest is that each state can advocate for the needs of their communities, so there isn’t just one policy that everyone is uniting around. We’ve seen communities advocate for immigrant rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, democracy reform, equitable housing, and so much more.
You also posted some monthly benchmarks in that release. Have you been able to hit them so far?
We have so far! We definitely have the support behind us, now it’s just a question of getting the strength in numbers to try and achieve demonstrations in all 50 states.
This campaign is open to all ages and identities, and you can check out our website to learn more about how to volunteer or partner with us (if an organization).
Do you feel support for gun violence prevention is increasing or receding? It can often feel like people are "getting used" to the daily tragedies of America's gun epidemic, and the focus only gets inflamed briefly after mass shooting events.
The threats of desensitization are definitely noticeable, but that does not mean the support for gun violence prevention is decreasing. Marginalized communities are in a state of survival right now under Trump. At Bulletproof Pride, we recognize that gun violence prevention involves universal background checks, safe storage, and other gun safety measures to prevent violence.
Gun violence prevention is equally about anti-poverty and housing advocacy, fighting for pro-democracy reforms and against political corruption, ending the school-to-prison pipeline, investing in mental health supports, and so much more.
When you take more of an intersectional, human rights-centered approach to gun violence prevention, you are able to build and grow an even larger coalition of support.
L-R: Scout Cardillo, Patricia Oliver (Change the Ref)
I think given the seemingly immoveable realities of gun legislation in this country, many in gun violence prevention have become resigned to the fact that waiting around for Federal gun laws is going to be frustrating for a while to come. And so there’s more of a focus on local activity, community violence intervention, and trying to get regional laws in place. It seems like Bulletproof Pride comes from that grassroots angle, right? But, given your Rapid Response Network, it seems you have not given up trying to influence national legislation.
With Bulletproof Pride, we address gun violence prevention legislation through multiple lenses. Gun control measures only address the “what” and not the “why.” We need to expand mental health resources, reduce the school-to-prison pipeline so students can focus on learning instead of if they’ll get wrongfully arrested in the hallway that day. We need to address the housing crisis in this country to help families get off the streets and out of harm's way.
There are so many different approaches we can take right now that are more achievable on both the national and local levels. We can’t throw in the towel if one avenue doesn’t work. As a movement, we need to reevaluate, shift our perspective, and get to work even harder.
I have come across some social media posts from trans activists who see the oppression and hate coming down on the community, and say things to the effect of, "Well, I don't support gun use, but if this is getting worse we have to defend ourselves..." How do you feel, as an advocate for stricter gun control, about that position?
I have also seen that shift recently, and in full honesty, I don’t blame those individuals. This is unprecedented with some of the most wide-scale fear mongering campaigns we’ve seen against the LGBTQIA+ community outside of the AIDS crisis. The thing to keep in mind is that we need to shift the mindset of “what” to “why.” Instead of focusing on what these advocates are doing, we need to come together to address why they feel the need to arm themselves in the first place. Personally, I wish no one felt the need to arm themselves, but blaming those individuals who are already being targeted is unproductive for everyone.
How/why did you personally become interested in gun violence prevention?
I personally became a gun violence advocate after the Parkland shooting in 2018. After that, my high school was swatted due to an active shooter threat right before the pandemic, and that was when it finally hit me that I needed to do more for my community and for the country as a whole. I started Bulletproof Pride after coming out in 2023 and wanted to give LGBTQIA+ youth a safe space within the gun violence prevention movement as a whole — and now here we are!
Tell us about Art for Action? Is this going to be mainly that page on the website, or will you be producing gallery exhibits?
The Art for Action is an element of our website that highlights the artwork and creative minds behind our movement. We may be able to do a gallery exhibit down the line, but as of right now, it’s remaining digital. We wanted to give our volunteers a space to express themselves in a moment in time when that freedom comes into question so frequently. Given the fact our entire organization is led by LGBTQIA+ youth, we wanted to help our peers learn how to channel their emotions in healthy ways.
WKUS sounds like a radio station — you should start a streaming radio show!
Who knows! Maybe we’ll start a podcast, but I’m not sure if people want to hear me talk more (lol)
Scout Cardillo is a sophomore at Georgetown University double majoring in Government and Justice & Peace Studies. They are the founder and Executive Director of Bulletproof Pride, a national LGBTQIA+ youth-led gun violence prevention organization.
Eric Davidson is Senior Editor at Armed With Reason. His first book, We Never Learn, has recently been reissued in an expanded edition.
Photos courtesy of Scout Cardillo.
Great interview. I hope this group grows and thrives. Recognition of the need to attack the underlying causes off gun violence is indeed key to reducing it. Sadly too many on the right believe that letting it happen then coming down heavier on the perpetrators is the only answer - which we all know is NOT productive.