PHOTOS: Westminster Pride
The eighth annual Westminster Pride Festival was held at Westminster City Park in Westminster, Md. on Saturday, July 11. (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key) The post PHOTOS: Westminster Pride app
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Catholics & drag performers clash over "hateful blasphemy" performed in old church
A converted arts space in an unconsecrated church in Sydney is at the center of a row over free speech between Catholic organizations and LGBTQ+ artists in Australia's first city. The diminutive 150-year-old building, in the heart of Sydney’s central business district, hasn't been a church since the
PHOTOS: Vitamin C at JR.'s
JR.'s Bar held a "RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars" watch party followed by a live drag show on Friday, July 17. The Vitamin C weekly drag show was hosted by Citrine with performers Brooke N Hyman and Rosie Beret. (Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford) The post PHOTOS: Vitamin C at JR.'s appea
University staff member in "complete shock" after being warned by HR for violating bathroom ban
A trans staff member at the University of Kansas is speaking out after someone reported her for using the women's restroom in violation of the state's anti-trans bathroom ban. Siobhán Kirchstein works as a janitor at the school's Kansas Geological Survey. She told the Lawrence Times she has used the
Remember when a journalist cut Trump down with one simple question about a “pedophile” accusation?
Donald Trump flipped out at a journalist who brought up an accusation that an unnamed person was a "pedophile," and she had one "clinical-grade" question in response. CBS News's Norah O'Donnell asked Trump in an interview on Sunday about Cole Allen, the man who allegedly opened fire on the White Hou
PHOTOS: Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival
The 2026 Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival was held at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center on Saturday, July 18. (Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt) The post PHOTOS: Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival appeared first on Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News.
Liza’s book a tale that’s better than most celebrity memoirs
‘Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! My Memoir’By Liza Minnelli, as told to Michael Feinsteinc.2026, Grand Central$36/ 421 pages Twenty feet In front of you, and you can’t see a thing. Even the closest faces are in shadow – lit, but not quite enough for you to see for sure what the people there are think
We must resist Donald Trump’s attempts to transform us into hateful monsters
“One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that in his bed he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug.” – Franz Kafka, The Metamorphosis. On a usual day in Germany in 1940, Jewish people discovered upon waking that they had been changed in the public’s min
Hot hatchbacks: Honda Civic, Subaru Impreza
The latest Honda Civic hatchback and Subaru Impreza are two of the segment’s stars. Both offer sensible pricing, excellent utility and enough personality to avoid feeling like appliances. The Civic is more polished. The Impreza, more rugged. Luckily, neither is trying to be obnoxiously flashy. HONDA
When buying a home, it’s decisions, decisions, decisions
When looking to buy a home, there are lots of details to consider. Many of my clients would come to me and say, “Joe I want to buy a place, but I haven’t decided which neighborhood to buy in.” And the struggle was real. A few clients had everything decided from the color of the hallway walls to the
The UK's new plan for trans students: bathroom bans, forced outing, & no social transitions
The United Kingdom’s Department of Education has published its updated guidance for “Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026” (KCSIE) and it will take effect on September 1. However, the guidance is likely to put trans and gender-non-conforming children at greater risk. “We criticise numerous aspect
Remember when JD Vance posted an anti-trans message on Bluesky & users immediately paid him back?
Vice President JD Vance joined Bluesky this week and hatefully trolled trans people — he immediately became the most-blocked account on the site. Bluesky has been a refuge for trans and other marginalized groups escaping the right-wing echo chamber X has become since Elon Musk bought the former Twit
Trump backs off trans care attack while House GOP freaks out over pregnant trans men
Trump administration backs off its attempt to use Medicare & Medicaid funding to force hospitals to stop providing trans care Why they backed off: The administration was trying to create a new rule that would deny Medicare and Medicaid funding to hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to trans
Womontown: How a group of 80s lesbians built their own community to escape the patriarchy
In the late 1980s, two women set about creating a lesbian community in Kansas City, Missouri. The result was Womontown, an urban community of over 70 women that spanned a 12-block radius and contained 28 homes and 14 apartment buildings. “We just started imagining, what if we could just walk hand in
Phoenix leather bar wins liquor license after months of objection from billionaire neighbor
Nightlife promoter Matthew Moody has big plans for Phoenix's up-and-coming gayborhood in the Melrose district: a leather bar called the Barracks. Along with "Eagle" and "Anvil," the "Barracks" name has a long history and is a shout-out to the leather community everywhere. Moody used to DJ at the bar
Remember when smiling students proudly spelled out a “hateful” slur during a school assembly?
Ten students at Redwood High School in California's Central Valley are facing blowback from fellow students and the wider community after they spelled out the word "FA***TS" (without the asterisks) on t-shirts during a school assembly on Friday. On Monday, Visalia Unified School District officials a
Our republic has survived numerous seemingly insurmountable threats. Can it survive Donald Trump?
Donald Trump can hug and kiss and praise the flag all he likes, but he and his supporters do not alone own it. Donald Trump can hug and kiss and praise Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un all he likes, but this does not make these dictators our nation’s allies. Related Sarah McBride forsees a blue wave t
Trans journalist declares Idaho a "Do Not Travel" state for trans people due to harsh bathroom ban
Trans journalist and activist Erin Reed updated her Anti-Trans National Legal Risk Assessment Map, adding Idaho to the list of "Do Not Travel" states for trans people. Idaho is the fourth state to join this list, which also includes Florida, Texas, and Kansas. Reed also recategorized South Carolina
Remember when a GOP lawmaker was left speechless when asked if he’s trans during a hearing?
A Republican state rep from Michigan testifying about his anti-trans sports bill on Monday was left speechless after an out Democratic colleague began his questioning by asking, "Representative, can you tell me: are you trans?" A long beat staring down out gay Democratic state Rep. Mike McFall follo
Straight couple's amazing Pride display snags a governor's love & praise
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 feeling of optimism in the air, and our weekly Good News Roundup is here to remind you of all the goodness, strength
Authorities investigate officer-involved shooting outside Asheville gay bar
An officer-involved shooting outside of a gay dive bar, Shakey’s, in downtown Asheville, N.C., left one man dead Wednesday. The bar released a statement the following morning regarding the incident, stating that bar staff had asked a patron to leave earlier in the night citing concerning behavior. T
Popular Mount Vernon gay bar Leon's to temporarily close after owner's death
By WESLEY CASE | Leon’s Backroom, Baltimore’s oldest gay bar, temporarily shut down after service on Wednesday night, according to a post on the business’s Instagram page. The announcement comes a little more than a week after the death of the Mount Vernon bar’s owner, Ron Singer, who died at 66 on
What Queer People Should Know About the “Diarrhea Parasite” Ruining Our Summer Salads
This story originally appeared on The Advocate. Big gay salads are the spice of life when it comes to summer living, but queer people can’t have anything under this administration — not even fresh produce and a sense of unadulterated whimsy at the farmers market. It’s no secret that the Trump admini
Gay politician blasted for having a child through surrogacy after supporting a ban on the practice
A conservative gay German politician is facing calls to resign after he and his husband became parents to a child born through surrogacy in the U.S.The practice is banned in Germany. Related Italy's "disgusting" new law makes it virtually impossible for LGBTQ+ couples to have kids Jens Spahn, a memb
Scott Bessent quivers emotionally while blaming "addled" left for assassination attempt
Out Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the token gay in the current Cabinet, really wants you to know that he's a victim of politically motivated violence, too, almost At a "summit" on the subject yesterday, organized by the State Department and hosted by Secretary Marco Rubio, Bessent was a featured
Remember when Donald Trump Jr. bizarrely bragged about the size of his father’s genitals?
The president's 47-year-old son, Donald Trump Jr., re-posted a social media message bragging about his 79-year-old father's testicles. Trump Jr. used his Instagram account to share an X post from 61-year-old conservative podcaster Adam Carolla, which referenced the $300 million White House ballroom
All 4 of the Steamiest 'Heartstopper Forever' Sex Scenes, Ranked
This story originally appeared on Out. After three seasons, Nick and Charlie’s love story has finally come to an end with the finale movie Heartstopper Forever.The series has followed the boys as they have navigated their high school careers, struggled with mental health issues, and fallen in love,
JK Rowling posts upskirt image of trans woman while begging to debate her
Author JK Rowling is facing criticism for posting an upskirt image of a transgender woman last weekend while demanding that the trans woman debate her. Rowling wrote post after post on X on July 11, demanding that trans writer Freda Wallace debate her after Wallace called Rowling an "idiot." Rowling
JD Vance mocked for obsessing over how "suggestively" Biden eats ice cream
Vice President J.D. Vance is raising eyebrows with his claims that former President Joe Biden eats ice cream "suggestively." Vance made the claim in his interview with transphobic podcaster Joe Rogan, which was released on July 15. “The thing I couldn’t get over Biden is… the way that he ate ice cre
Erika Kirk tells young conservatives to fight "evil" Muslims & transgender people
Erika Kirk, the widow of slain MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk, urged members of her young conservatives organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) to fight against transgender people, Muslims, and people who swear. While speaking to members at her organization's Chapter Leadership Summit in D.C. last week
Newly Out Layla Taylor and Her Tattooed Mystery GF Are Already Ready for the L-Word: LEGOLAND
Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Layla Taylor is having a transformative summer. It’s been less than three weeks since the reality television show darling came out as bisexual, and she’s already soft-launched her new girlfriend and been photographed by TMZ with the mystery woman. The pair were spot
Right-wingers freak out over Margaret Cho's video celebrating Lindsey Graham's death
Right-wingers are freaking out over a relatively tame video from bisexual comedienne Margaret Cho mocking the death of anti-LGBTQ+ Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who was rumored to be a closeted gay man. "Bye Lindsey, bye Lindsey Graham," Cho's video begins. "From the closet to the coffin, real seamles
Leo Season Brings the Drama, And Did We Expect Anything Less?
Drama alert! Leo season (July 22–August 22) is coming in hot with a surge of creative energy — and some cosmic curveballs. As the Sun’s home sign, Leo knows how to command a room. Doechii, Charli XCX, and Madonna are all Leos, to put this fixed fire sign’s star power into perspective. No matter your
Fox host gleefully jokes about US military raping women in Asia: "You better watch out!"
Fox News anchor Jesse Watters cheerily joked on Thursday that a new Department of Defense policy could lead to more sexual assaults of women. Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new plan to test the testosterone levels of all men in the military over the age of 30, no matte
30 years on, ‘The Birdcage’ remains a landmark
In 1996, after the AIDS epidemic had cast its shadow over the gay community for a decade and a half, the breakthrough finally came: the success of antiretroviral medication turned a fatal disease into a manageable and survivable condition — and suddenly, “queer joy” began to feel like a possibility
Madison Square Garden Sues Wired Over Report Claiming Venue Kept LGBTQ+ Celeb Database
After Wired published a story earlier this month alleging that Madison Square Garden kept an ongoing database that categorized nearly 100 celebrities as “LGBTQIA,” the venue is now suing the tech outlet as well as the writer, Noah Shachtman, who led the reporting. Madison Square Garden Entertainment
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
Man enraged after getting kicked out of gay bar starts shooting at the place. Police killed him.
Police officers in Asheville, North Carolina, shot and killed a man who was reportedly firing a gun outside a local gay dive bar early Wednesday morning. In a July 15 press release, the Asheville Police Department said officers responded to a report of a person discharging a firearm in the parking l
Madison Square Garden sues Wired for saying they kept a list of LGBTQ+ celebrities
Last week, the outlet Wired published an extensive expose on Madison Square Garden’s management titled Madison Square Garden Kept a List of Gay Celebrities. Now, MSG Entertainment is suing Wired, claiming that the website was being misleading. "Wired combed the dark web, obtained data stolen from MS
JD Vance Can’t Stop Thinking About Joe Biden’s “Suggestive” Ice Cream Tongue Technique
Being a man in today’s world is a dangerous and sad proposition. There’s a loneliness epidemic to contend with, looksmaxxers are telling you that your jaw is off-kilter by a few degrees from being an isosceles triangle, and now, apparently, eating certain foods in public is a problem? At least, that
Whitman-Walker to host legal services workshop
Whitman Walker Health Center will host a legal services workshop on Tuesday, July 21 at 3 p.m. virtually and in-person at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. Attorneys from WWH will give an overview of the free legal services they offer and discuss recent challenges. WWH meets clients where they are to