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Hudson Williams Reportedly “Unaware” Swastika Was Drawn on His Face in Teen Pic
Sources close to the Heated Rivalry star told TMZ the Nazi symbol has “never reflected Hudson’s beliefs, values, or character.”
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"Emotionally unstable" Trump storms out of interview after journalist calls him out for lying
Donald Trump stormed out of an NBC interview on Sunday when challenged about his claim that the 2020 election was stolen. Trump was talking about the January 6 rioters, who he pardoned en masse last year, when journalist Kristen Welker said, "Just to be very clear, there's no evi...
health
Remember when a psychologist said Trump’s doctors are monitoring “his dementia and/or strokes”?
A psychologist is speaking out about what it means that the president keeps taking cognitive tests, explaining that Donald Trump's doctors are likely past the point of trying to figure out whether he is suffering from dementia and are now just monitoring his decline. Former Johns...
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D.C.’s housing reality: Cautious optimism meets landlord strain
Washington has long prided itself on stability. Anchored by the federal government and buoyed by a highly educated workforce, the District has historically weathered economic uncertainty better than most cities. But beneath that stability, cracks have been showing since January 2...
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‘Mighty Real’ explores history of LGBTQ music
‘Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music, 1969-2000’By Barry Waltersc.2026, Viking$35/496 pages Step, step, tap, back step. Shimmy in a circle, left hand waving over your head, shake your tail feathers, repeat to the beat. Once there was a time when you could do any dance in your s...
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A study examined support for gay candidates based on gender presentation. The results may surprise you.
A new study out of Northwestern University in Chicago asserts that gay candidates are receiving more support than ever from voters, shedding the "electoral penalty" of being gay in ever greater numbers. At the same time, voters are imposing another penalty on candidates for gende...
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Vivian Wilson walks off red carpet after reporter says her father Elon Musk is "the best"
Billionaire Elon Musk's estranged trans daughter, Vivian Wilson, made headlines this week for her abrupt exit from an interview after the reporter told her that Musk is "the best." Wilson, a model, was at an event in Spain to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first Desigual s...
community
PHOTOS: 'Soul Divas'
The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington performed the annual Pride show at Lincoln Theatre. The "Soul Divas" show featured songs popularized by Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Whitney Houston and more. For information on tickets and showtimes, visit gmcw.org. ...
rights
Trump is targeting queers. Faeries & witches are magically helping the most vulnerable.
Republicans' increasing attacks on transgender people caused compelled many trans people and their families to move to Portland, Oregon, a trans-friendly city in a state with lots of trans legal protections. To help these newcomers to the city, 65-year-old Stela Marris — who iden...
health
Queer author pens touching ode to chosen family: "They see who I am"
Acclaimed queer author Kristen Arnett recently shared the moving story of her queer Florida wedding, during which she was surrounded by chosen family after a decade of estrangement from her biological one. In an excerpt from the anthology Living, Together published in Oprah Daily...
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Remember when 2 men were hit with a cane 80 times each for hugging & kissing in private?
Islamic authorities in Indonesia's Aceh province will hit a 20-year-old man and a 21-year-old man 80 times with a cane for kissing and hugging each other in a public toilet. Witnesses in the Taman Sari city park informed police after seeing the men enter the same restroom in Apri...
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GOP goes all in on gay jokes, court rejects trans military ban & Pride Month is off to a rocky start
GOP's first attack on James Talarico in Texas Senate campaign is to call him "too low-T" for Texas Is he really a man? That's the question the GOP has been focusing on in this race, with GOP state Attorney General Ken Paxton mocking Talarico for supporting LGBTQ+ rights, being ve...
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Timothy Nelson on the premiere of his opera ‘Song of Sakuntala’
‘The Song of Sakuntala’IN SeriesIn Washington and BaltimoreAtlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St., N.E.(Selected dates June 6-14)Baltimore Theatre Project, 45 W. Preston St., Baltimore(June 19-21)$25-35Inseries.org As the artistic director of IN Series, Timothy Nelson rarely bl...
culture
Controversial ‘Blue Film’ pushes past taboos for gripping drama
When movies are labeled as “controversial,” the effect is often akin to Oscar Wilde’s quip that “there’s only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” Indeed, a whiff of controversy can be the best publicity of all, turning a movie tha...
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For gay Palestinians fleeing persecution at home, Israel is no safe haven
Israel, which bills itself as the only democracy in the Middle East, has long claimed that status makes it a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ people fleeing persecution elsewhere in the region. In his speech before Congress in 2024, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mocked protesters...
safety
Cara Delevingne says she's a "proud lesbian" after rejecting labels in the past
Model and actress Cara Delevingne said she is "very happy" to call herself a lesbian despite long struggling with the concept of labels. "People love to comment on stuff like that, [and say things like] 'she's not gay, she's pan,' or 'she's had boyfriends," Delevingne told Variet...
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People still ask me why we need Pride. The answer could not be simpler.
People of all ages have consistently asked me two questions over the years: 1. “Why do you have to have those Pride marches every June?" 2. “Why do you think you deserve these special rights that straight people don’t have?” Related GOP candidate shows no remorse after disturbing...
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This 81-year-old nun is helping Catholic parents affirm their trans kids
An 81-year-old St. Louis nun has devoted the past two years to helping Catholic parents affirm their trans children. Sister Nancy Corcoran of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet hosts weekly dinners where about two dozen parents commiserate over the challenges of raising tran...
rights
Remember when Idaho Republicans voted no on overturning same-sex marriage?
The Idaho House of Representatives passed a measure this week asking the Supreme Court to overturn its landmark 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage across the U.S. But the legislation lost three Republican votes compared to a similar measure that passed in the state House ...
rights
Fans are loving Spice Girl Mel C's reaction to being perceived as gay
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. Happy Pride Month, everyone! This week's Good News Roundup is filled with rainbows, some big firsts, and m...
community
Ballroom Culture Shines at New York City Hall Pride Celebration
The legislative chamber became a runway as performers and advocates received their flowers at the Council's first Pride Ball.
rights
He shouted anti-trans slurs at a woman during karaoke. Now he's facing the music.
A 54-year-old man named Mark McMinn pleaded guilty to threatening and abusive behavior on Wednesday and was fined £200 ($267) for harassing a transgender woman at a May 6 karaoke event at the Cloch Caravan Park of Gourock, Scotland (a town 28 miles west of Glasgow). The woman he ...
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ICE is going to stop reporting when detainees die soon after being released
At least 18 ICE detainees have died shortly after being released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities this year. This week, ICE announced that it would no longer release information related to such deaths. Advocates worry that this will obscure ICE's practice...
health
New York State's Budget Allocated $0 to New Gender-Affirming Care Resources. Advocates Want to Know Why
Resources for homeless youth and the Lorena Borjas Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund did not receive increased funding.
community
Jennifer Lopez: “Everything I Do” Is for the LGBTQ+ Community
The talented singer says her headlining performance at Pride started a 'new chapter' in her life and career.
health
This NYC LGBTQ+ Health Clinic Is Giving Away the Ultimate Pride Month Survival Kit
Callen-Lorde is offering LGBTQ+ New Yorkers free kits packed with HIV prevention medication, sexual health supplies, and overdose reversal drugs throughout June....
rights
3 men assaulted a trans bartender. Now she's facing felonies for defending herself.
A transgender bartender in Laramie, Wyoming, who pointed her gun at a man she says hurled gay slurs at her and threw her to the ground, is headed to trial on felony assault and gun charges. If convicted, she could face up to 15 years in prison. Ríhanna Kelver says she was acting ...
rights
Haters want to kick trans people out of city swimming holes. Locals are saying no.
The committee that oversees the gendered swimming ponds on Hampstead Heath in London have decided to maintain the trans-inclusive policies they formalized several years ago. The decision follows the UK Supreme Court’s decision on the legal definition of a woman and a campaign fro...
rights
Governor’s races have never been more important for trans rights than this year
It can be easy to forget about gubernatorial races as we head towards the midterms. They are, ultimately, state-level elections at a time when we’re focused on national problems. The balance of power in the Senate and the House of Representatives is the focal point for many of us...
safety
Lesbian couple wanted for murder in Silver Spring, Md.
The Montgomery County, Md., Department of Police announced on June 4 that it is seeking the public's help in locating two women, who they identify as a couple, who are charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing the mother of one of them. In a statement police identifi...
safety
'Girlfriends' wanted for murder in Silver Spring, Md.
The Montgomery County, Md., Department of Police announced on June 4 that it is seeking the public's help in locating two women, who they identify as a couple, who are charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing the mother of one of them. In a statement police identifi...
safety
"Christian fascist" influencer says Pride flag is anti-white. Here's why he's wrong.
Self-described “white nationalist” and “Christian fascist” broadcaster John Doyle published a video on Tuesday claiming that the progress Pride flag mocks Christianity and is deliberately meant to represent "every identity incapable of producing white children." Neither claim is ...
rights
George Santos allegedly threatened an NPR reporter with "a gun in your face"
A day after a bombshell report dropped revealing disgraced ex-congressman George Santos is the target of a federal probe over insider trading on the prediction market Kalshi, the convicted felon was making more news, and another possible case for prosecutors. Bobby Allyn, the vet...
community
Queer Magic dance party planned
Celebrate the start of Pride month at the Queer Magic Dance Party at the Black Cat on Saturday, June 6. Doors open at 9 p.m. There will be pole performances and demonstrations, a free photo booth with glitter bar, a queer vendor market, tarot readings by Skye Marinda Tarot, a dra...
rights
Trump isn't gay & calling him gay as a schoolyard insult is homophobic
Just yesterday, The Advocate published a column calling Trump gay as an insult, proving why we still need Pride Month. The publication's reasoning centered around the upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) cage fight scheduled to take place at the White House on June 14, b...
community
NLGJA-DC Pride happy hour at Trade
Local queer journalists will celebrate Pride this weekend at the annual NLGJA-DC Pride Happy Hour event at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.) on Saturday, June 6, 3-5 p.m. Admission is free. The post NLGJA-DC Pride happy hour at Trade appeared first on Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Poli...
community
DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K set for Saturday
The 14th annual DC Front Runners' Pride 5K run/walk is set for Saturday, June 6 at historic Congressional Cemetery. The race starts and ends at the cemetery (1801 E St., S.E.) and passes through scenic D.C., along the Anacostia River trail and the fields at RFK campus. Registrati...
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Trump says he "probably won all 50 states" before passing out in Oval Office
Donald Trump has been making increasingly wild claims about how much he won the 2024 election by. He didn't even win a majority of the popular vote in that election, but has been saying he won in a "landslide" for over a year. He apparently found a way to claim that he won the el...
rights
Calendar: June 5-11
Friday, June 5 “Center Aging: Pride Monthly Luncheon with Chair Yoga & Drag Bingo” will be at 12:00 p.m. at the DC LGBQ+ Community Center. Lunch will be provided. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website. “Comedy Show for LGBTQ+ Prosperity” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC LGBT...
culture
PHOTOS: Project GLOW
D.C.'s electronic music festival Project GLOW was held on the RFK Stadium grounds on May 30-31. The festival included an LGBTQ-focused Secret Garden stage. (Photos by Andy Nason) The post PHOTOS: Project GLOW appeared first on Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights,...
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MAGA has given us a bad fever, but MLK Jr. taught us how to turn down the heat
During April 1963, Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference joined together with the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights in a massive nonviolent action to protest Birmingham’s system of segregation during the Easter holiday season, ...
rights
Trans Woman Faces Assault Charges For Self-Defense, Despite Wyoming’s 'Stand Your Ground' Law
Rihanna Kelver was standing outside the Crowbar & Grill in Laramie, Wyoming, when a man began to shout homophobic and transphobic slurs at her.
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"C’mon, gays. Happy Pride!" Madonna kicked off Pride Month with free Times Square concert
Madonna kicked off Pride Month in New York City on Thursday evening with a free pop-up concert in Times Square. Part of her ongoing collaboration with gay hook-up app Grindr, the 15-minute show saw the 67-year-old pop music icon taking over The Square, a new performance venue ove...
rights
The attacks on James Talarico's masculinity hurt everyone, including the people who lob them
I published an edited book titled Homophobia: How We All Pay the Price in 1992, not long after I read a book by Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), a man who escaped the bitter tyranny of slavery to become a preeminent leader for civil rights in the United States during the 19th cent...
rights
Patagonia vs. Pattie Gonia: Trademark Lawyers Break Down the Dispute
Three legal experts share their opinions on the outdoor apparel brand's lawsuit against the drag performer.
rights
Madonna turns Times Square into massive dance floor
Pop icon Madonna celebrated Pride month with a pop-up performance in New York City’s Times Square on Thursday to the delight of 50,000 fans. She performed for about 15 minutes high above street level, including several songs from her new album “Confessions II” due on July 3, alon...
community
Ariana Madix Also Wants to See More Queer Bombshells on 'Love Island'
Calling all queer bombshells to the villa.
community
She came out at age 11.5 in her military family. Her supportive parents took her to Pride.
LGBTQ Nation will be sharing your pictures of Pride throughout May and June. Submit your own if you want to be included! It's been said by James Baldwin, Kurt Vonnegut, and the Whispers — in their chart-topping 1981 song — that "Love is where you find it." For teenager Fiona Morr...
community
Blade welcomes summer intern
The Washington Blade this week welcomed Emma LaPointe as its summer intern. Emma is studying journalism, political science, and German studies at the University of Arizona. She is from Tucson, Ariz., and is interning with the Blade as part of a continued partnership with the Wash...
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These 10 LGBTQ+ books about religion and spirituality are must-reads for all queer believers
Sacred and historical texts form the backbone of mainstream religions worldwide, but even modern-day writings about religion often exclude queer perspectives, which is why we've compiled this essential list of LGBTQ+ books about religion and spirituality that will expand the mind...
rights
Remember when Republicans passed a law that singles out married same-sex couples for discrimination?
Republicans in the Tennessee House of Representatives yesterday passed a bill that says that people and private organizations don't have to recognize same-sex marriages. It also shields people from facing professional discipline if they refuse to officiate or "celebrate" a same-s...
community
PHOTOS: Shepherdstown Pride Parade
The second annual Shepherdstown Gay Pride Parade was held in Shepherdstown, W.Va. on Monday, June 1. (Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford) The post PHOTOS: Shepherdstown Pride Parade appeared first on Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News....
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Charges against Budapest mayor for organizing Pride march dropped
Hungarian authorities on Thursday dropped charges against Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony over his role in organizing the city’s 2025 Pride march. Karácsony spoke at the event, even though then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government banned it. More than 100,000 people defied t...
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Former GOP head implies Trump is obese. Most adults think he'd lose in a physical fight.
Former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele implied on Thursday that President Donald Trump is obese and lying about his weight. Steele also noted a recent YouGov poll in which 66% of Americans said that an "average American" could beat Trump in a fight. In an MS NO...
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Most Americans support brands that back Pride & politicians who oppose anti-LGBTQ+ attacks
A new poll conducted by GLAAD ahead of Pride Month shows that large majorities of Americans support companies that support Pride as well as politicians who oppose anti-LGBTQ+ attacks. The poll found that 68% of registered voters agreed that companies and brands should be able to ...
culture
‘She’s the He’ Review: ‘Booksmart’ for Foul-Mouthed Trans People
Forget representation. This is the irreverent gender-swap comedy we need.
rights
Gallup finds LGBTQ support among Americans is dropping
Gallup, one of the leading organizations in public opinion polling, has found that LGBTQ support among Americans is dropping. The poll, whose data was collected using Gallup’s annual Values and Beliefs survey, was conducted in May and was published on Wednesday. The data was coll...
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Ogles faces bipartisan backlash over anti-gay social media post
U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), who represents Tennessee's 5th Congressional District, is facing backlash from LGBTQ advocates and fellow Republicans after a social media post declared that "homosexuality has no place in America." "Homosexuality has no place in America. Happy Nuc...
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Enraged Trump snaps "Be quiet!" at woman who he said has "hatred in her eyes" & should smile more
Donald Trump lashed out at a reporter in the Oval Office yesterday who asked him a question about his $1.8 billion fund that he had the Department of Justice approve to disburse money to people he believes were unfairly targeted by the criminal justice system under President Joe ...
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LGBTQ+ candidates sweep CA primaries: "The voters sent a clear message"
California's primary on Tuesday was a "clean sweep" for LGBTQ+ candidates for Congress, as two Democratic incumbents dominated their races and two new contenders advanced to the general election in November. In San Francisco, out California state Sen. Scott Wiener (D) captured mo...