NOTE: This week’s column contains graphic details of a crime.
Ohio GOP lawmakers introduced another “adult cabaret performances” measure that LGBTQ+-rights advocates say will outlaw drag queen shows in public, WCMH reported. House Bill 249 seeks to ban “adult cabaret performances”—defined as shows “harmful to juveniles” that feature “entertainers who exhibit a gender identity that is different from the performers’ or entertainers’ biological sex.”
Equality Ohio Executive Director Dwayne Steward derided the bill as “censorship” that would restrict any gender nonconforming performance in public, adding that it’s “a blatant attempt by politicians to suppress cultural expression under the guise of protecting children.” State Reps. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania) and Angela King (R-Celina) proposed the legislation with the support of 42 out of 65 Ohio House Republican colleagues.
The plaintiffs in Talbott v. USA (formerly Talbott v. Trump) filed a letter brief with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals responding to the May 6 Supreme Court order in the related Shilling case (in which the U.S. Supreme Court allowed President Trump to implement his transgender military ban) and alerting the court to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s open disparagement of transgender troops, per a GLAD LAW press release. The brief noted that the Supreme Court order in the Shilling case is not binding on the DC Circuit’s pending resolution of the government’s request for a stay in Talbott, which features 32 transgender servicemembers and recruits as its plaintiffs. Talbott v. USA attorney GLAD Law Senior Director of Transgender and Queer Rights Jennifer Levi stated, “The American people are sick of cowardly doublespeak coming out of this administration. Secretary Hegseth’s comments about transgender troops are a disgrace to the military and all those who serve.”
In the wake of Republican South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson sending a letter to the City of Columbia demanding that it repeal an ordinance banning conversion therapy, ACLU of South Carolina released a data sheet detailing five things to know about that therapy in Columbia. Among the key points are that the ordinance only applies to licensed professionals; the rights of religious communities are not at stake; “conversion therapy” is harmful pseudo-therapy; South Carolina is a hot spot for anti-gay “therapy”; and politicians are using queer people as pawns. Regarding the latter, the sheet stated, “It’s worth noting that the politicians yelling the loudest about lifting Columbia’s prohibition on ‘conversion therapy’ have also hinted that they are running for governor in 2026”—and that would include Wilson and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell.
One Institute announced “It’s Where I Belong: 40 Years (and More) of Drag in West Hollywood”—an exhibition spotlighting the city of West Hollywood’s decades-long legacy as a cultural hub for drag performers and the LGBTQ+ community, a press release noted. Presented by One Institute as part of West Hollywood’s 40th anniversary celebration, the exhibition will be at One Gallery in West Hollywood during May 22-June 29. The opening reception for the exhibition will be held May 22 in conjunction with the city’s annual José Sarria Drag Pageant; visitors will be invited to view the exhibition, enjoy light refreshments, and meet curator/scholar/drag queen Lil Miss Hot Mess.
Investors at some of the country’s largest companies—including Costco, Apple, Levi’s, John Deere, Goldman Sachs and others—have overwhelmingly voted against proposals targeting DEI programs, according to CNN. Said proposals include requiring companies to remove their DEI policies entirely or abolish diversity goals from executive pay packages and audit the legal risks of pursuing DEI. On the flip side, companies from Target to MolsonCoors to Meta have modified or ditched their diversity programs in recent months under pressure from the Trump administration, right-wing activists such Robby Starbuck and conservative legal groups.
The United Methodist Church’s top court ruled that a congregation’s trustees cannot declare church facilities off limits if the pastor chooses to officiate a same-sex wedding, UM News noted. The Judicial Council said in Decision 1516 that “a pastor has discretion in deciding whether to perform or not to perform any marriage ceremony.” The decision, responding to a request from the Arkansas Annual Conference, clarifies an earlier narrow ruling.
It turns out that Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican candidate for governor, hand-wrote a note opposing same-sex marriage on anti-marriage-discrimination legislation that passed the General Assembly and was signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin last year, per NBC Washington. Henson wrote the bill on which Earle-Sears wrote her note; House Bill 174 bars any person authorized by the state to issue marriage licenses from denying someone such a license based on their sex, gender or race. ”She knows I’m an openly gay Black state representative, so the fact that she wrote something personal on my bill, knowing that she knows me and my family, that was somewhat disheartening,” Del. Rozia Henson, D-Prince William County said.
A group of Minnesotans stepped up to plan a giant wedding for 12 LGBTQ+ couples, per The Minnesota Star Tribune. Volunteers are donating wedding bands and honeymoons; the venue, decor, cake, musicians and officiants will all be free of charge. Beyond being a big party, which will be celebrated on May 31 right before Pride Month, the celebration is a way for community members to let their neighbors know they support them. This summer marks the 10th anniversary of the Obergefell decision that made marriage equality the law of the land.
The National Association of Black and White Men Together (NABWMT) will hold its 2025 national convention on July 2-5 in Kansas City, Missouri, per the organization’s website. There will be talks, panel discussions and events such as visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. NABWMT calls itself “a gay multicultural, anti-racism organization committed to fostering supportive environments wherein racial and cultural barriers can be overcome and the goal of human equality realized.”
Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson and wife Becky George welcomed their second child, The Advocate noted. “We are overjoyed and deeply grateful to share the arrival of the newest addition to our family—welcome to the world: Baby Nina!” the couple said in a statement the outlet received. ““In a time when LGBTQ+ families like ours are being targeted and attacked, we choose to celebrate love, resilience, and joy. Baby Nina has already filled our hearts more than we ever thought possible. We will keep fighting to ensure that her future—and the future of all LGBTQ+ families and kids—is full of freedom, safety and love.” The couple previously told The Grio that their pregnancy was a personal act of resistance and hope in a hostile national climate.
On Interesting Times, a podcast hosted by conservative New York Times opinion columnist Ross Douthat, pro-LGBTQ+ Jesuit leader Father James Martin defended the late Pope Francis’ approach regarding the queer community, New Ways Ministry noted. Martin said that the pope saw support for the LGBTQ+ community as a way to create unity within the church—even as critics said the opposite could occur. Among other things, Douthat questioned if the pontiff made any real, actual changes. Martin responded, “I think there’s been significant changes in church practice for L.G.B.T.Q. people, like the allowance of blessing of same-sex couples under certain circumstances. And then also something that I think is overlooked is his call for the decriminalization of homosexuality. That’s a big deal over in sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe and Latin America.”
President Donald Trump continued his anti-LGBTQ+ agenda when he spoke against trans women during his commencement speech at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, per The Advocate. Referring to a trans woman weightlifter, he said, “then a guy comes along—or a gal or whatever—a transitions [sic] person comes along,” adding the person “breaks the record by like 119 pounds. That’s not right”; Trump may have been referring to Anne Andres—a trans woman who won the Canadian Powerlifting Union’s Western Canadian Championship in 2023, beating cisgender women and breaking a record. There are actually very few trans women in women’s sports, and they do not dominate women’s athletics.
Ahead of serving his 87-month sentence for wire fraud and identity theft starting July 25, former U.S. Rep. George Santos warned the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), per Yahoo! News. Santos—who reportedly plans to seek a pardon from President Donald Trump—expressed serious concern for his safety, saying BOP would have a serious problem on its hands if he were harmed in any way. The openly gay former politician also said he has requested protective custody through his legal team. In addition to the jail sentence, Santos was ordered to pay more than $370,000 in restitution and give up additional assets, pushing the total financial cost to $580,000.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., of the Southern District of Texas, rejected the Trump administration’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelans it claims are members of the criminal organization Tren de Aragua, per NBC News. The Donald Trump-appointed judge said that “the historical record renders clear that the President’s invocation of the AEA through the Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and is contrary to the plain, ordinary meaning of the statute’s terms.” However, Rodriguez also wrote that he does not question the executive branch’s authority to direct the detention and removal of aliens who engage in criminal activity.
Organizers and the Kennedy Center canceled a week’s worth of events celebrating LGBTQ+ rights for this summer’s World Pride festival in D.C., amid a shift in priorities and leadership, CBS News noted. Artists and producers involved in the center’s Tapestry of Pride schedule, which had been planned for June 5-8, told The AP that their events had been canceled or moved to other venues—and in the wake of the cancellations, Washington’s Capital Pride Alliance has disassociated itself from the Kennedy Center. (However, Capital Pride Alliance Executive Director Ryan Bos told The Advocate that organizers proactively pulled events from the “inhospitable” environment once it became clear the space would not be safe or inclusive.) President Trump fired both the president and chairman in early February; Trump replaced most of the Kennedy Center board with loyalists, who then elected him the new chair.
The Bay Area Reporter noted that a recount in the contest for a San Jose City Council seat confirmed that gay San Jose Planning Commission Chair Anthony Tordillos took second place—by six votes (2,006 to Matthew Quevedo’s 2,000). He will now face off against first-place finisher Gabriela “Gabby” Chavez-Lopez in a summer runoff race. “It feels good. We were on pins and needles the past few weeks as we watched the results come in,” said Tordillos, who came in third place on election night. “I am feeling very excited to be moving on to the runoff and excited to get back on the campaign trail.”
After defending the actions of a security guard who tossed a lesbian couple out of a women’s restroom and accused one of them of being a man, Boston five-star spot Liberty Hotel has suspended the guard and admitted he acted in error, LGBTQ Nation, noted WBZ News. At one point, the guard demanded to see the women’s IDs to prove their gender. “The Liberty Hotel is and always will be an ally of the LGBTQ+ community and a place where everyone is welcome and celebrated,” the hotel said in a statement.
The newly opened LGBTQ+ Health Center of Excellence at Harvard University has already been dealt a blow with the cutting of federal research funds, according to Axios. The National Institutes of Health removed the remaining $5.9 million of nearly $16 million in research funding, founder Brittany Charlton stated. The cuts have eliminated research on over-the-counter PreP; health outcomes for pregnant lesbian, gay and bisexual women; and mental health involving youth.
Police raided Pittsburgh queer bar P Town in the middle of a scheduled drag show featuring Amanda Lepore, according to The Advocate. Approximately 20 Pennsylvania state police officers and undercover agents entered the bar, forcing patrons and staff to wait outside in the rain while they searched the building. (Drag artist Indica entertained the crowd even as they waited outside, leading an a capella version of Chappell Roan’s ”Pink Pony Club.”) P Town’s management said in a statement on Instagram that the raid was performed by officers from the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, Fire Department and Health Department as “part of an effort to ensure establishments remain in compliance with [Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board] regulations.” Attendees still felt the establishment was unfairly targeted over others in the area who potentially have the same violations.
The LGBTQ+ media collective News Is Out (which includes Windy City Times) welcomed six new affiliate members, per Press Pass Q. They are The Buckeye Flame, based in suburban Cleveland, Ohio; Between the Lines/Pride Source, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Lookout, based in Phoenix; OutSFL, based in Wilton Manors, Florida; QNotes Carolinas, based in Charlotte, North Carolina.; and Watermark Out News, based in Orlando. “This expansion strengthens our mission to amplify LGBTQ+ voices and ensure equitable, community-centered journalism across the country,” said News Is Out Managing Director Dana Piccoli.
Frameline—the arts nonprofit that will host the 49th San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival (Frameline49)—announced the upcoming California premiere of Heightened Scrutiny, by Sam Feder (Disclosure), as well as a historic Pay-It-Forward initiative that ensures trans and non-binary filmgoers have complimentary access to the documentary, a press release stated. Additionally, Frameline announced a partnership with California Film Institute (CAFILM), which will bring Frameline49 films to the North Bay. This Pride Month, Frameline49 will showcase a slate of yet-to-be-announced films in venues throughout San Francisco and Oakland during June 18–28. Heightened Scrutiny, which chronicles ACLU civil-rights lawyer Chase Strangio’s courtroom battles against anti-trans laws, will be honored as the festival’s First Friday film (June 20).
MSNBC is set to make history with the introduction of two out gay Black anchors on The Weekend, per PinkNews. Jonathan Capehart, who has hosted on Saturdays and Sundays for MSNBC over the past few years, will be joined by senior Washington correspondent Eugene Daniels; the network’s newest Washington correspondent, Jackie Alemany, rounds out the three-person panel show. Daniels is the president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, where he will continue to serve. The trio will succeed a previous version of the show that featured Symone Sanders-Townsend, Michael Steele and Alicia Menendez.
In the tech world, queer dating app Grindr has updated its AI strategy, now partnering with Amazon Web Services and Anthropic for its “Wingman” product, according to Tech in Asia. The new “A-List” feature will use Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 3.7 model and Amazon’s Bedrock tool to help users reconnect with past connections and identify new matches through curated lists and chat summaries. CEO George Arison said the move to Amazon resulted from privacy concerns and the versatility of Bedrock in supporting multiple AI models. Grindr’s latest development shows the evolution of dating platforms, having launched in 2009 as the first app to leverage the iPhone 3G’s GPS capabilities for location-based connections.
CNN will debut three new CNN Originals projects this summer, including non-fiction series about John F. Kennedy Jr., the 1985 Live Aid concert and the notorious Billionaire Boys Club, per Deadline. The three-part series American Prince: JFK Jr. will tell the story of the life of Kennedy—the son of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy—who was always in the spotlight as he was pressured to carry on his family’s legacy. Live Aid: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took on the World will look back at the 1985 concert Live Aid—one of the largest global music events in history that raised money for famine relief in Africa; the project features interviews with Bob Geldof, Bono, Sting, Patti LaBelle, Phil Collins and Lionel Richie along with former U.S. President George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice, former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
In NYC, authorities apprehended a Manhattan subway rapist accused of sexually assaulting a man on board, amNY reported. Brooklyn resident Mohammed Azeem, 36, was taken into custody on May 1 in relation to the April 26 attack. When amNY asked him if he had anything to say to the victim, Azeem shouted, “I’m not gay. We don’t do that stuff.” Police learned that the perpetrator approached the victim, a 27-year-old man, and demanded money; then, the suspect grabbed the victim’s head and forced the man to perform oral sex on him. Azeem—who had 18 prior arrests—now faces charges of first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse and forcible touching.