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LGBTQ seniors honored at D.C. Silver Pride event

About 250 people turned out on Friday, June 12, for D.C.’s annual Silver Pride celebration, which honors and recognizes LGBTQ seniors and their role in advancing LGBTQ rights. The event was held in a large conference hall in the building of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s...

Washington BladeJun 16, 2026

rights

South Korea marriage equality movement gaining momentum

On Oct. 30, 2025, a same-sex couple in South Korea filed a petition with the country's human rights commission after a public institution denied marriage leave to one of the men and later reduced his pay and performance bonus for taking time off for their wedding ceremony. The co...

Washington BladeJun 16, 2026

rights

Niger recriminalizes homosexuality

Niger is the latest African country to recriminalize consensual same-sex sexual relations. The Associated Press on June 12 reported the country’s military junta announced a new penal code under which anyone who “commits or attempts to commit an immodest or unnatural act or practi...

Washington BladeJun 15, 2026

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Julia Roberts delivers beautiful tribute to queer mom killed by ICE agent

LGBTQ+ ally, actress Julia Roberts, delivered a beautiful tribute to Renee Nicole Good — the 37-year-old queer mother of three in Minneapolis, Minnesota, whose killing by a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer last January began a national outcry against the ...

LGBTQ NationJun 15, 2026

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Gay San Diego mayor elected US Conference of Mayors president

Todd Gloria has had a whirlwind two decades as a public servant. Beginning with his successful 2008 San Diego City Council election, followed up by his second successful campaign in 2012 — this time as president of the San Diego City Council — Gloria has been strapped to a rocket...

Washington BladeJun 15, 2026

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50,000 celebrate Seoul Pride fest as 15,000 anti-LGBTQ+ activists counterprotested

Seoul saw dueling LGBTQ+-focused events over the weekend, with tens of thousands showing up for the South Korean capital city’s annual Pride festival while anti-LGBTQ+ demonstrators gathered for a counterprotest less than a mile away. The Seoul Queer Culture Festival Organizing C...

LGBTQ NationJun 15, 2026

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Health programs for LGBTQ+ veterans targeted by new administration directive

The administration’s war on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has now come for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and it could mean the end of specialized LGBTQ+ programs at the VA. A new internal memo reportedly instructs the VA to remove LGBTQ+ labels from staff and servi...

LGBTQ NationJun 15, 2026

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Calif. governor’s race spotlights Becerra’s LGBTQ advocacy

California voters selected its two front runners for the state's open governor seat following the second election of Gavin Newsom. Last week former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra became the Democratic nominee for governor, setting up a general election...

Washington BladeJun 15, 2026

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Psychologist says Trump is the sickest person he has ever seen

Dr. John Gartner, a medical professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and psychology expert, says that Donald Trump is in the worst health he has seen in his decades-long career. "In 40 years of clinical practice and almost 30 years of teaching psychiatric resident...

LGBTQ NationJun 15, 2026

rights

Nancy Mace & Sarah McBride show that the biggest fights are still to come

Noted anti-trans Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) lost the Republican primary for South Carolina governor in a truly decisive defeat, coming in fifth place. But the pain and policy that she has brought with her rhetoric still remains and can’t be expected to go out the door with her when s...

LGBTQ NationJun 15, 2026

rights

UFC fighter says ‘Michelle Obama is a man’ at White House event

UFC fighter Josh Hokit, in a crude post-match stunt, told podcaster Joe Rogan that, “Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right America?” The incident occurred as part of President Trump’s UFC Freedom 250 event held on the White House lawn on Sunday night. Hokit won his fight then gave ...

Washington BladeJun 15, 2026

rights

Military junta in Niger bans homosexuality with 5 to 10 years in prison

The military junta that took over the Sahara nation of Niger in 2023 announced the country's new penal code last Friday. The new penal code criminalizes homosexuality and imposes a prison sentence of five to ten years. The AP notes that homosexuality wasn't formally illegal in Ni...

LGBTQ NationJun 15, 2026

rights

Trump is already planning how to sow chaos if Republicans lose in November

The primaries in California took place almost two weeks ago, but the election is far from over. For Republicans who see a landslide for Democrats heading their way in November, the Los Angeles mayoral race has become the template for undermining the results. California primaries ...

LGBTQ NationJun 15, 2026

rights

There is no Pride in detention

“There Is No Pride in Detention” is the name of a campaign led by Rainbow Migration, the British organization to which I contribute as part of an advisory panel. The campaign, launched during Pride Month, highlights the fact that an unknown number of LGBTQ people are held in immi...

Washington BladeJun 15, 2026

rights

UFC fighter says, "Michelle Obama is a man!" at White House Freedom 250 event

After Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) competitor Josh Hokit won his heavyweight fight against Derrick Lewis during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House lawn on Sunday night, he concluded his victory interview with popular transphobic broadcaster Joe Rogan by declarin...

LGBTQ NationJun 15, 2026

community

PHOTOS: Pride on the Pier

The Washington Blade held the seventh annual Pride on the Pier at The Wharf DC on Saturday, June 13. (Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford) The post PHOTOS: Pride on the Pier appeared first on Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News....

Washington BladeJun 15, 2026

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PHOTOS: Lost River Pride

The 2026 Lost River Pride Festival was held on the scenic grounds of the Lost River Farmers Market in Lost City, W.Va. on Saturday, June 13. Headliner Tom Goss performed at the festival and gave a second performance at the nearby Guesthouse Lost River. (Washington Blade photos by...

Washington BladeJun 14, 2026

rights

Stonewall veteran busts myths: It wasn't about Judy Garland, it was "a revolution"

Mark Segal was a witness to history and a participant on "just another night out" at the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969. The soon-to-be activist was just 18 when he arrived in New York City a few weeks before from his hometown in Philadelphia. He discovered Greenwich Village not ...

LGBTQ NationJun 14, 2026

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David Archuleta on Mormon faith, ‘Idol,’ more in new book

‘Devout: Losing My Faith to Find Myself’By David Archuletac.2026, Gallery Books$29/290 pages So just make up your mind already. The decision is very much in your control – or, at least that’s how it’s supposed to be. It’ll be your future, your path, and seizing it may not just be...

Washington BladeJun 14, 2026

community

The advantages of owning your home

While one would hope it’s easy to calculate a break-even point for a home purchase – such as you could calculate for “how many widgets a month do I need to sell to break even?” It’s not always easy when looking at the return on investment for a home purchase. Condo buildings can ...

Washington BladeJun 14, 2026

rights

‘Suffs’ an entertaining chronicle of battle to pass 19th Amendment

‘Suffs’June 16 – 28National Theatre1321 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.$115 and upBroadwayatthenational.com Poised to kick off a two-week run at D.C.’s National Theatre (June 16-28), “Suffs,” the Tony Award-winning musical written by Shaina Taub, promises an entertaining chronicle of wha...

Washington BladeJun 14, 2026

rights

It's Flag Day… so why don't we celebrate our flags?

June 14 is Flag Day. That's right, smack in the middle of Pride Month – which celebrates a community that absolutely adores flags – there is a day celebrating a flag. I'm not the first person to notice this. A sketch in season 13 of RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired in 2021, notice...

LGBTQ NationJun 14, 2026

rights

Hate killer convicted, Nancy Mace loses everything & trans designer makes history

O'Shae Sibley's killer found guilty on hate crime charges What he was convicted of: Dmitriy Popov, who stabbed gay dancer O’Shae Sibley to death in 2023, was found guilty of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime, and aggravated harassment because of race...

LGBTQ NationJun 14, 2026

rights

Gay dad goes viral for honest reflection on raising a straight son

A gay dad's thoughts on the trials and tribulations of raising a straight son went viral last week as parents across the internet connected to his feelings. The Brazil-based father posted in Portuguese under the handle @cleccio. According to X's translation, he opened by saying t...

LGBTQ NationJun 13, 2026

community

PHOTOS: The Audacity Brunch

The Capital Pride Alliance presented the 2026 Capital Pride Honors at "The Audacity Brunch: In Full Fuchsia" at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 7. (Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford) The post PHOTOS: The Audacity Brunch appeared first on Washin...

Washington BladeJun 12, 2026

rights

D.C. Council approves expanded grant funding for Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs

The D.C. Council on June 9 gave its first round of approval to an amendment to the city’s fiscal year 2027 budget that calls for increasing the number and size of funding grants that the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs provides for local organizations providing services for the L...

Washington BladeJun 12, 2026

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Judge upholds decision to keep anti-trans referendum off Maine's ballot this year

A state judge in Maine agreed on Thursday that "Protect Girls' Sports," an anti-transgender activist group, tried to get a referendum on sports participation on the ballot this fall but failed to collect enough valid signatures. Earlier this year, Protect Girls' Sports, a campaig...

LGBTQ NationJun 12, 2026