“Hot Dykes Melt ICE”: Photos From the 2026 NYC Dyke March
The event, held without sponsors or permits, maintains its vital political edge 33 years later.
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“Hot Dykes Melt ICE”: Photos From the 2026 NYC Dyke March
The event, held without sponsors or permits, maintains its vital political edge 33 years later.
New photo exhibit celebrating queer veterans brings healing & unity: "It's really been just a joy”
To photographer Mel Porter, one of the clearest examples of the Trump administration's antipathy for the LGBTQ+ community isn't what it's done, but what it has stopped doing. “I actually do work for the Veterans Hospital in Buffalo,” Porter said. “And one of the things that's been noticeable is, the
"He was unafraid": A gay man's quest to live as openly as his younger self
It was the summer of 1956, and Michael Lloyd Gregory was seated on the front porch of his home in Wichita, Kansas, posing for a photo taken by his father. He was two years old at the time. "My mom 'styled' me that day," he recalls. Related She wasn't looking for love when she swiped right for the ve
Don't fall for Donald Trump's toxic understanding of manhood. Queer people know a better way.
Donald J. Trump does not now or has ever understood the concept of “human strength” and what it is to be a “man.” Instead, Trump performs strength in ways that many progressive advocates construct as “toxic hypermasculinity.” Actually, one does not need to have been assigned “male” at birth to repro
"A massive safe space of hopeful queer sapphic love": Hayley Kiyoko talks life goals
Pop star, writer, and filmmaker Haley Kiyoko has long been cemented as a sapphic legend, referred to lovingly by her fans as the "Lesbian Jesus." The singer has been making music and music videos celebrating sapphic love since well before doing so became a bit more mainstream. And now, she has relea
Remember when Donald Trump was mocked for his outrageous claim about the economy?
Commentators on MSNBC could not contain their laughter after Donald Trump tried to claim that only the good parts of the economy are because of him. NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker asked during an interview, "When does it become the Trump economy?" Related 'Animatronic' Trump offic
Ron DeSantis tried to ban rainbow crosswalks. These 2 cities responded with color & pride.
Here are this week’s most popular positive stories, with some fun social media posts tossed in too. Like seeing uplifting content like this? Sign up for our Good News email. It's the last week of Pride month, which always makes us feel a bit sad), but we have some good news for ya — there was so muc
Pete Buttigieg shares “darkest hours” of his life after false allegations forced him apart from kids
Former Secretary of Transportation and likely 2028 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg was briefly separated from his children after an anonymous false report alleging he was a danger to his young twins. Buttigieg detailed the ordeal firsthand in a post on Substack, titled “A Terrible Thing Happen
Buttigieg says false report temporarily separated him from his children
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Friday recounted being separated from his children following an anonymous police report later determined to be false. The openly gay former mayor of South Bend, Ind., and current 2028 presidential contender was accused of posing a danger to his child
11 years after Obergefell, marriage equality remains under scrutiny
Friday marks 11 years since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Constitution protects same-sex marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges. Despite that major win for LGBTQ people nationwide, the case may be on shakier ground than originally thought. Obergefell v. Hodges, the case that determined the Constitution
Ringleader in Torture and Killing of Trans Man Sam Nordquist Pleads Guilty
Precious Arzuaga, 38, entered a guilty plea to all charges, including first-degree murder.
Federal officials launch Title IX probe into Md. schools over trans athletes
On June 23, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced it is launching a Title IX investigation into three Maryland school districts and the Maryland State Department of Education for failing to enforce sex-based protections guaranteed by federal law. The districts include
Pete Buttigieg Was Separated From His Children After False CPS Report Targeted His Family
Michigan State Police said it received an anonymous report and determined it was false. Buttigieg said the ordeal forced him to spend a night away from his and Chasten Buttigieg’s 4-year-old twins.
”Scary” new law lets employees deadname their trans colleagues
A state representative in Louisiana is speaking out over new legislation signed into law by Gov. Jeff Landry (R) granting employees in the state a right to deadname trans colleagues. The legislation describes the disrespect as “constitutionally protected speech.” Related The Texas GOP's official 202
The World Cup "Pride Match" will go on despite fury from FIFA & both participating teams
An unlikely pair of countries, Iran and Egypt, are competing Friday night in what's been billed as the 2026 World Cup "Pride Match" in Seattle. Neither nation's government recognizes LGBTQ+ rights. And FIFA, the World Cup's governing body, is denying there's a "Pride Match" at all. Related The Pride
Texas expected to approve mandatory Bible readings for public school students
The Texas State Board of Education is set to vote on a proposal that would establish a mandatory reading list for K-12 public school students. The list, an oddity in its own right, includes extensive selections from the Bible while snubbing all other religions. The Republican-majority board is expec
Emira D'Spain Had No Idea She Was Going to Be Bravo’s First Trans Cast Member
The reality star says she routinely gets DMs from parents of newly out trans youth.
Remember when Amy Coney Barrett gave “concrete” reasons why marriage equality will remain in place?
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett confirmed her belief that marriage equality has resulted in "very concrete reliance interests" that make it unlikely to be overturned. In a conversation with the New York Times’ Ross Douthat, Barrett defined reliance interests as "things that would be upset or
Katseye’s Lara and Megan Shut Down Fans Who Say Dating Men Negates Bisexuality
Lara Raj and Megan Skiendiel are saying no to bi erasure this Pride.
A hate group is celebrating the death of Pride. They're dead wrong.
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City Council approves legalizing bathhouses in move advocates say is critical to public health
Minneapolis has set the stage for legal bathhouses and adult sex venues to operate in the city for the first time since the 1980s. On Thursday, the Minneapolis City Council approved a pair of measures repealing a 1988 ordinance that banned such businesses at the height of the AIDS epidemic. Related
Comings & Goings
The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at comingsandgoings@washblade.com. Congra
‘Leviticus’ demonizes homophobia for gripping queer horror yarn
There’s something about horror films that makes them particularly apt as a vehicle for allegory. Vampires, zombies, ghosts, or seemingly death-proof serial killers can all easily be seen as metaphors for some lurking threat from the “dark side” of our own collective psyche, and stories about them ar
Nearly 40 Years Later, Minneapolis Repeals Bathhouse Ban
City council member Jason Chavez called it an important “first step” to the return of bathhouses.
Calendar: June 26-July 2
Friday, June 26 Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details,
Trans man flees US after unending discrimination & violence: "I have to get out or I'm going to die"
Since Elliot Hefty came out as a trans man in 2020, he has lost his job, been evicted, and received KKK flyers at his front door – all because of his gender identity. He was also a victim of sexual assault in a men's bathroom and thinks his gender identity is what caused the perpetrator to act. Afte
Orioles take on Nats for Pride Night
The Baltimore Orioles will take on the Washington Nationals on Friday, June 26 at 7 p.m. for Pride Night at Oriole Park. The first 15,000 fans will receive an exclusive Pride Night Orioles jersey. The Washington Blade is a media sponsor of this event. To purchase tickets, visit Orioles.com/Tickets.
My boyfriend is almost perfect
Dear Michael, I’ve been dating Mark for three years, living together for two, and I’m not sure he’s for me. We get along great but I’m questioning how attracted I am to him. I was never crazy about him physically but he was such a sweet and smart guy that I wanted to date him. Sex was never mind-blo
The FCC is considering trans content warnings for TV shows. Adding them would be pure propaganda.
On April 30, 1997, students at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams invited me to give a presentation I called "Homophobia: How We All Pay the Price," based on my 1992 book of the same title. They chose this specific day on this specific topic because that evening, the star of an
"It's not a turn on": Fox host calls bi women "super weird" in biphobic rant over "Supergirl" film
Anti-LGBTQ+ Fox News Host Jesse Watters hurled insults at bisexual women during a segment about the movie Supergirl, which opens in theaters today. Watters was reacting to an assertion from the film's star, Milly Alcock, that her character could be bisexual. And as the chyron declared the movie "des
She wasn't looking for love when she swiped right for the very first time. She found it anyway.
It started with a swipe. "In November of 2023, my friend took my phone out of my hands, downloaded the Her app, and created my online profile," says Jennelle Kariotis, a fortysomething assistant professor of Psychology at Northeastern University in Boston. The mother of two, twice-divorced, had neve
The boy they refused to forget
When the Washington Blade first reported the story of Jonathan David Muir Burgos, the news centered on a 16-year-old Cuban teenager who had been sent to prison after taking part in a public protest in Morón, Ciego de Ávila. At the time, the facts were straightforward. A minor had lost his freedom, a
Fox News Host Desperately Needs You to Know He Doesn’t Find Bisexual Women Sexy
Jesse Watters is having an extremely normal reaction to the release of Supergirl.
Reflect on Pride season with these engaging books
Books for Pride by various authorsc.2026, various publishers$18.95 – $29.00 How many times have you marched so far this month? Seems like there’s always a reason to gather and walk during Pride, but save some time for yourself, too. You’ll want to reflect, rest, and read these great books about livi
These 12 companies didn't back down from supporting Pride this year
While numerous brands have cautiously rolled back their Pride Month involvement in recent years, fearing right-wing blowback for any association with the LGBTQ+ community, a handful of big companies haven't backed away — in the case of Mastercard and Target, they have even increased their Pride inve
Zohran Mamdani Launches $15 Million Trans Care Investment: “New York City Is Stepping Up”
The funding comes amid a federal battle over gender-affirming care.
The Texas GOP's official 2026 platform calls to ban trans teachers & overturn Obergefell
The biennial convention of the Texas Republican Party convened last month, resulting in the release of a new official platform that includes a host of anti-LGBTQ+ provisions, including a ban on trans teachers and the characterization of homosexuality as "an abnormal lifestyle choice." Texas already
Remember when Pete Buttigieg nailed the real reason why Donald Trump’s ballroom is so troubling?
Pete Buttigieg zoomed out on Saturday on the controversy surrounding Donald Trump's teardown of the East Wing of the White House, saying he's not as concerned about historic preservation as he is about Americans suffering the effects of historic price hikes for health insurance, all while Trump buil
Trump is ending a life-saving HIV program over a fake anti-white "genocide"
After two decades, the U.S. will end a life-saving HIV-prevention and treatment program in South Africa, a country where over 8 million people live with the virus (about 12% of its population). The Trump administration said it is stopping the funding because South Africa hasn't done enough to meet t
Eswatini's government ordered to allow LGBTQ group to legally register
Eswatini's Supreme Court has ordered the government to allow an LGBTQ rights group to legally register. The Registrar of Companies in 2019 denied Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities' request to register. The advocacy group in 2020 petitioned the Supreme Court to hear the case. The Supreme Court in