PHOTOS: Baltimore Pride Festival
The 2026 Baltimore Pride Festival, "Pride in the Park," was held at Druid Hill Park on Sunday, June 14. (Washington Blade photos by Linus Berggren) The post PHOTOS: Baltimore Pride Festival appeared f
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Japan to institute nationwide LGBTQ+ education program
Japan is on the verge of instituting a nationwide LGBTQ+ education program, designed to address a lack of public knowledge on gender and sexual diversity in the country, ABC Japan reports. The plan was approved by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) earlier this month and is expected to get a
Remember when cruel Kristi Noem didn't care if a gay man she sent to a torture camp died?
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) confronted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about the administration sending a gay man to a prison camp in El Salvador and not even knowing if he's still alive. Noem said that it wasn't her problem. Noem, who has bragged in the past about shooting her dog to death, a
Calling James Talarico trans shows just how bad things are for Republicans
The Republicans have been running a campaign to claim that Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D) is secretly a trans woman. While there wouldn’t be anything wrong with Talarico being trans, the Republicans clearly think there is. The attacks are based on transphobia and homophobia, but beyond that, th
‘Feeling Afraid’ explores life of a neurotic stand-up comic
‘Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen’Through July 12Studio Theatre1501 14th St., N.W.$55-$102Studiotheatre.org Wordily yet rightly titled, solo show “Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen” dives deeply into the world of a neurotic stand-up comic as he navi
PHOTOS: Baltimore Pride Festival
The 2026 Baltimore Pride Festival, "Pride in the Park," was held at Druid Hill Park on Sunday, June 14. (Washington Blade photos by Linus Berggren) The post PHOTOS: Baltimore Pride Festival appeared first on Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News.
Remember when Trump passed out in Oval Office, reawakened, then passed out again?
Donald Trump is facing scrutiny online after a clip went viral showing him falling asleep in the Oval Office during a press event, waking up, and falling asleep again. The clip is from an event where Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr announced a new deal with the pharma company R
This gay dad's honest take on raising a straight son made him go viral
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. There's a great assortment of inspiring and heartwarming stories in this week's Good News Roundup, including a great piece on
‘Stop! That! Train!’ is made for fans, but fun for all
Before I can begin a review of “Stop! That! Train!” (the movie that’s been algorithmically dominating your queer social media feed in the form of ads for weeks now), I feel it’s necessary to provide a disclaimer: I am not a superfan of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” That doesn’t mean I’m NOT a fan, mind you.
Facial recognition tech is coming to a queer bar near you — if it's not already there
A digital rights advocacy group is reupping its call to ban biometric facial recognition technology in bars and other venues serving the LGBTQ+ community after new reporting revealed widespread use of the technology in San Francisco's Castro District. This week, Gazetteer SF put a spotlight on the f
Transphobe mad that pro-LGBTQ+ stores support trans masc top surgery
Ahead of Pride demonstrations this month, two U.K. stores put up window art that supported trans people who had scars from top surgery, one at a LUSH store, and another at an Amnesty bookstore. This particularly angered anti-trans freelance journalist and campaigner Janet Murray, who has raged again
Remember when at least 20 ICE & CBP officials were charged with sex crimes against children?
A list of 30 agents working for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) shows that 29 of them have been charged with sexual offenses, and two-thirds committed sexual crimes against children, according to a list published by the Ohio Immigrant Alliance and the Pa
The celebration of Black joy during Pride Month reminds us of our beauty & power
June is Pride Month for LGBTQ+ communities nationwide — and parades abound! But as we all rev up each June for Pride, many of us also grow more aware of the fault lines of race, gender identities, class, and more that still remain; especially today on Juneteenth. This Pride Month also serves as a re
Delaware guv signs bill to protect children born using assisted reproduction
Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer on June 9 signed SB 250, a bill that helps fill the gaps in the state’s parentage law. SB 250 amends the 2017 Uniform Parentage Act to broaden the state’s legal framework for surrogacy. Prior to SB 250, some children, particularly those born through assisted reproduction or
Calendar: June 19-25
Friday, June 19 Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website. Saturday, June 20 Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s
Suspects arrested for burning school's Pride flag as hate crimes skyrocket
Two Ontario teens have been charged with mischief after allegedly tearing down a secondary school flag and setting it on fire. The act, which is being investigated as a hate crime, took place in the city of Markham around 11 pm on June 8. York Regional Police have identified Sepehr Abadar and Mahan
My trans daughter thrived in Chicago public schools
I am a Chicagoan whose daughter is transgender. But that is not the most important fact about her. My daughter loves fashion, sings in choir, is active at church, and is, by every measure, your classic American teenager. Yet it is her gender identity that politicians in Washington have once again de
Minor league team in York, Pa., forfeits Pride Night game after some players refuse to wear special jersey
An independent minor league baseball team says it is forfeiting a game because some of its players refused to wear a special Pride Night jersey. The Atlantic League Pro Baseball’s York Revolution were planning to hold their 11th annual Pride Night event Thursday for a game against the Southern Maryl
Remember when an enraged Marjorie Taylor Greene told off a Dem governor?: “Don’t you dare smile!”
During a hearing on blue-state sanctuary policies for immigrants, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) berated New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) for allegedly smiling while the Congresswoman spoke about Laken Riley, a young woman who was murdered by an undocumented immigrant and whose death the Republica
Congratulations to Lewis George and all winners in D.C.’s primary
The primary is just about over and we are about to have a new mayor in D.C. For the first time D.C. has ranked choice voting. Because of this, we don’t have a final winner for every race on election night. It will take a few days to declare some winners. I opposed ranked choice, and would rather see
‘Mani Fiesta tu Orgullo’: memoria, resistencia y celebración marcan inicio del Mes del Orgullo en El Salvador
Entre los sonidos vibrantes de la batucada, las luces de colores, la música y los mensajes de reivindicación, el 5 de junio se llevó a cabo una nueva edición de “Mani Fiesta tu Orgullo”, un evento que durante los últimos cuatro años se ha convertido en una de las actividades más emblemáticas para da
The sapphic subtext of ‘Sister Act’: One nun was "attracted" to Whoopi Goldberg's character
If you caught a frisson of sapphic chemistry in Sister Act, there’s a good reason, according to Wendy Makkena. This week, the You Might Know Her From podcast reposted an archive clip from their 2021 interview with Makkena, in which she explained that she imagined her character in the 1992 film was a
Primary Day is not the end of election season in D.C.
Fellow citizens and voters in the District of Columbia!Primary Day has passed. By now there should be some idea whom our new Congressional representative, mayor and members of the City Council may be. Hopefully Mr. Trump's chest beating threats to take over the District resulted in more voters than
N.Y. governor’s race presents stark contrast on LGBTQ rights
As states across the country grapple with a rapidly changing federal landscape under President Donald Trump, governors have increasingly become the first line of defense — or enforcement — on issues ranging from healthcare and education to LGBTQ rights. Nowhere is that more apparent than in New York
Rehoboth’s ‘Poodle Beach’ to be honored with historical marker
The Delaware Public Archives is set to unveil a new State of Delaware Historical Marker recognizing Rehoboth’s Poodle Beach Saturday, June 27, at 9 a.m. The unveiling will take place at the corner of Prospect Street and the South Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Del. The unveiling ceremony is free and o
Hunting Wives Co-Stars Malin Akerman and Brittany Snow Make Out at Las Culturistas Awards
They danced, they vogued, they acted out and made out on stage to the cheers of the crowd at Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers' awards show in Los Angeles.
McDuffie concedes to Lewis George in D.C.’s mayoral primary
D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) emerged as the presumed winner in the city’s June 16 Democratic primary for D.C. mayor as her lead opponent, former Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (D-At-Large) conceded the race Thursday, June 18. Both Lewis George and McDuffie have strong records of
Young Republicans Mock Cisgender Candidate for Congress Over Likeness to Dylan Mulvaney
'That's it? That's the joke?'
Trump's DOJ encourages Christian MLB players to sue over Pride ballcap controversy
Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who heads up the Civil Rights Division of President Donald Trump's Justice Department, waded into the ongoing Major League Baseball (MLB) cap controversy, stoking outrage over the league's reaction to a San Francisco Giants player displaying a Bible v
Angry constituents school transphobic Democrat who misgendered colleague in front of everyone
An Erie City, Pennsylvania city councilmember who intentionally misgendered a colleague from the dais last week is suffering the backlash, with dozens of outraged constituents showing up to a Wednesday night council meeting to share their displeasure. The councilman, Ed Brzezinski, a former school b
Obama Center opens with tributes to marriage equality, LGBTQ progress
The Barack Obama Presidential Center held media previews on Thursday ahead of its official Juneteenth opening, marking the debut of the first presidential center dedicated to the 44th and only Black U.S. president. The 19.3-acre campus, located on Chicago's South Side within historic Jackson Park, f
Remember when a church stood by its call to execute gay people? “I will not apologize …”
A church leader in Indianapolis is doubling down on a sermon delivered at the Sure Foundation Baptist Church in the state's capital city last week that called on gay people to "blow yourself in the back of the head," among other incendiary statements. Church leader Justin Zhong endorsed the remarks
"Heated Rivalry" stars score cheeky ads in a tough environment for LGBTQ+ visibility
The rising stars of the steamy, runaway HBO hit Heated Rivalry, which is about hockey players who repeatedly scored with each other, are now scoring with major advertisers too, even as Pride events struggle to hold on to sponsors. Their sculpted bottoms play important supporting roles. Related Accep
2 moms & a bernedoodle: Finding my purpose in puppies
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Fox host makes bizarre comment about Hillary Clinton being "a female"
Inflammatory Fox host Jesse Watters spoke on The Five about how the only reason Hillary Clinton will be remembered in history is because she's "a female." "These are the times to be alive. Historians will look back in 100 years. They're not gonna look at the fake news stuff… They're gonna see the bi
Acceptance of gay people improved a lot in the 2010s, but it's stagnating in the 2020s. Why?
Gallup Poll released global survey data on the state of gay and lesbian rights, and it's pretty clear that we're now in the midst of not just a national stagnation, but a global one that is affecting the lives of tens of millions of LGBTQ+ people. Gallup has been asking people around the world, "Is
Intersex teacher alleges Fla. school fired him over perceived trans identity
An intersex teacher in Florida who was fired is alleging in a new Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filing that he was terminated based on assumptions that he was transgender. Shepard Scalf in the filing says he was assigned female at birth but identifies as male. According to Monday's filing
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What If We Kissed in Fresno During Traditional Nuclear Family Month?
A California county has officially declared June “Traditional Nuclear Family Month,” insisting it’s not an anti-LGBTQ+ gesture.
Washington Blade publishes ‘Queering America 250’
The Washington Blade this week published a new glossy magazine, titled “Queering America 250,” a look back at the many contributions that LGBTQ people have made to the founding of the country through the present day. From Colonial times to modern pop culture, the magazine aims to remind readers of s
"A travesty": Cop reinstated after being fired for using anti-gay slur on the job
A New Jersey cop who was fired for using an anti-gay slur on the job returned to work earlier this month, following a two-year legal battle. Roselle, New Jersey, police chief Stacey Williams was fired in July 2024 and had his law enforcement license suspended after an investigation by the Union Coun
As we celebrate 250 years of America, let’s remember our elders
Editor’s note: This is part of the “Queering America 250” LGBTQ history magazine published by the Washington Blade. The glossy magazine is free and available across the D.C. region during Pride. You can find it here: Annie’s, As You Are, Bunker, Crush, DIK Bar, District Eagle, Green Lantern, Her Din