In Idaho, transgender college community members are taking the state to court over a bathroom bill limiting access on university campuses, according to The Advocate. A trans male student at Boise State University, and “Sophie Smith” (a pseudonym for a trans woman affiliated with the University of Idaho) filed a federal lawsuit over Idaho’s House Bill 264, which bans trans people from single-sex spaces that do not align with their sex at birth. The plaintiffs contend that the statute violates their rights under the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.
In Texas, Austin authorities are searching for a man accused of assaulting at least two people near the Barton Creek spillway—and it’s being investigated as a hate crime, per KUT News. A Reddit post stated that three men harassed and assaulted a trans woman and her friends near the spillway on the other side of the Barton Springs Pool; according to accounts, a bystander stepped in and was seriously injured. The bystander’s parents started a GoFundMe page for his medical expenses. According to Chron, Austin drag performer Brigitte Bandit posted an account of the attack on Instagram and asked for help identifying the attackers, writing that the attackers had been identified and forwarded to local police.
Iconic queer former tennis player Billie Jean King—the subject of a production at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater (through Aug. 10)—never graduated from college, but is planning to rectify that, The Advocate noted. King left what was then California State College, Los Angeles, 60 years ago to become the top player in women’s pro tennis. “I was a history major, and now I’m back as a history major,” said King, now 81, on X. She went back to school in the spring, and she will finish her degree next year. She will take classes on U.S. and Latin American history in the fall; she’s also studying Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972—a federal law against sex discrimination in education for which she advocated.
A new report stated that Google has eliminated more than 50 organizations related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) from a list of organizations that the tech company provides funding to, CNBC noted. The tech giant has removed 214 groups from its funding list while adding 101, according to a new report from watchdog organization The Tech Transparency Project. The dropped groups had mission statements that included the words “diversity,” “equity,” “inclusion” or “race,” “activism” and “women” —all terms that Trump administration officials have reportedly told federal agencies to limit or avoid. In response to the report, Google spokesperson José Castañeda told CNBC that the list reflects contributions made last year and that it does not reflect all contributions made by other teams within the company. Despite DEI becoming a divisive term, many companies are continuing the work but using different language or relocating the efforts under less “controversial” terminology.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is taking its equality message on the road with a multi-city tour focused on changing more hearts and minds—particularly in red states, NBC News reported. The “American Dreams Tour” started recently in Columbus, Ohio, and will travel to cities in predominantly Republican-led states through November. HRC President Kelley Robinson said, “We’re traveling to the places where harm is happening—and where hope is rising. We’re showing up for communities who’ve been told they don’t belong and reminding them, and the country, that they are the American dream.” The tour will “anchor” in six cities—Columbus, Las Vegas, D.C., Dallas, Atlanta and Nashville—with other stops forthcoming.
Joe Lovett—who broke ground covering gay and AIDS stories on network television in the ’70s and ’80s and went on to make documentaries on issues such as global warming—died July 14 at age 80, per Gay City News. Among his many achievements, Lovett may be most remembered for producing the first network TV news magazine story on AIDS in 1983 on ABC’s 20/20 two years after the syndrome was first identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); correspondent Geraldo Rivera revealed the inaction of the Reagan administration and the New York Times, and interviewed activist Larry Kramer and Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institutes of Health. Lovett is survived by his husband Dr. Jim Cottrell, his partner of almost 50 years.
Several Jewish organizations recently withdrew from San Diego Pride and hosted their own alternative celebration called JPride, according to CBS8, The alternative festival featured a Shabbat service, outdoor festival and brunch. The withdrawal came as a coalition of Jewish organizations decided to skip San Diego Pride altogether over safety concerns related to performer Kehlani’s public statements about Gaza. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and other elected officials also did not plan to participate in this year’s main festival. On JPride’s website, it’s stated, “At a time when hate and hostility feel louder than ever, we are choosing something different. We are choosing to lead with PRIDE, with compassion, and with unity.”
The American Political Science Association awarded Nicholas D’Amico—a Ph.D. candidate at Syracuse University—the 2025 Kenneth Sherrill Prize, which recognizes the best doctoral dissertation proposal for an empirical study of LGBTQ+ topics in political science, according to Political Science Now. Drawing from the literature on social identity and intersectionality, D’Amico theorizes that group consciousness is relevant in shaping the political identities and behaviors of LGBTQ+ people and that the development of this consciousness is, in turn, shaped by the intersectionally divergent experiences of LGBTQ+ people.
Although the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) recently voted overwhelmingly to pursue the reversal of a U.S. Supreme Court decision establishing the right for same-sex couples to marry, Andy Blalock—leader of the Huntsville, Alabama chapter of the LGBTQ+ group Log Cabin Republicans—said he is not concerned about the party listening to the SBC, the Alabama Political Reporter noted. “It’s really a moot point,” Blalock said. “Under the First Amendment, there can be no law respecting the establishment of religion. The GOP is not going to favor the SBC anymore than they favor any other group.” Blalock has claimed that the GOP has become more welcoming to gay members than ever, despite President Trump’s anti-DEI rollbacks.
U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel dismissed former Republican California U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes’ defamation lawsuit against queer MSNBC host Rachel Maddow and NBCUniversal, per The Advocate. Castel ruled that the network did not act with “actual malice” in reporting that Nunes refused to turn over a package from a sanctioned Russian agent to the FBI. Nunes—a longtime ally of President Donald Trump and CEO of his social media company, Truth Social—filed the lawsuit in 2021 after an episode of The Rachel Maddow Show aired a segment about a package addressed to Nunes from Ukrainian legislator Andrii Derkach.
The U.S. Justice Department published a list of states, cities and counties that are sanctuary jurisdictions—although they have called areas that have “policies, laws, or regulations that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws.” Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “The Department of Justice will continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country.” The areas include states such as California, Illinois, Minnesota and Washington, among others; Baltimore, Cook, San Diego and San Francisco counties; and cities such as Boston, Seattle, New Orleans, Portland, Chicago, Albuquerque and Los Angeles. However, according to Politico, U.S. House members and senators have signed onto a joint letter, a rare show of solidarity, aimed at the Trump administration; addressed to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Bondi and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, the message is clear: Back off of sanctuary areas.
One Institute announced the headlining exhibition “The Sky Is Always Falling: HIV/AIDS Activists Unleashing Power in Los Angeles Then and Now” will open the Circa: Queer Histories Festival 2025, a press release noted. The exhibition will be presented at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Advocate and Gochis Galleries starting Sept. 28 and run through all of October, LGBTQ+ History Month. “The Sky Is Always Falling”—curated by LA-based writer and UCLA arts professor, Anuradha Vikram—highlights five key ACT UP/LA political actions during 1988-93 that brought visibility to the HIV/AIDS crisis through a series of demonstrations, protests, sit-ins and rallies. Tickets for the exhibition and panel as well as the full lineup for this year’s Circa: Queer Histories Festival will be available in September.
Queer singer Jess Glynne criticized the Trump administration for using one of her songs in an ICE deportation video, LGBTQ Nation noted. The 2015 single “Hold My Hand” went viral last summer after it was used to score an ad for British budget airline Jet2, spawning numerous memes. On July 29, the White House posted a video on X showing ICE agents leading men, chained at the wrists and ankles, onto a Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) flight; Glynne’s song plays over the clip, which includes actress Zoë Lister’s cheerful voiceover from the Jet2 ad. On Instagram Stories, Glynne posted, “This post honestly makes me sick. My music is about love, unity, and spreading positivity—never about division or hate.”
Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg responded to criticism of his recent remarks about transgender athletes, Out noted. During a July 28 NPR Morning Edition interview, Buttigieg framed the inclusion of trans girls in sports as a matter of “fairness” while rejecting sweeping federal bans.Talking with content creator Aaron Parnas more recently, Buttigieg repeated his position that decisions about participation should be handled by local communities and sports leagues, not legislators in D.C. Last year, NCAA President Charlie Baker testified that fewer than 10 trans athletes were competing among more than 500,000 college athletes.
In 2022, the San Diego LGBT Community Center received an astonishing and unexpected gift of almost $19 million from couple Maurice Thimot and M. Rust Rawnsley—but recently, it warned its 100-plus employees that they could be laid off within weeks, The San Diego Union-Tribune noted. The organization filed a notice with state officials alerting them to the potential mass layoff early last month. Center officials insisted the layoff notices were strictly precautionary; however, longtime volunteers and clients have raised questions about how the donation is being used. The Center has no chief financial officer currently managing its $32 million in assets, according to its website; two CFOs reportedly left within the past year.
The University of Pennsylvania’s (Penn’s) famed Wharton School of Business has ended its membership with the Forté Foundation, according to Poets&Quants. The Forté Foundation is a non-profit network of businesses and business schools that works to increase women’s representation in business education and leadership—and Wharton is the second top business school to sever ties with Forté this summer, following the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, which also ended its partnership with the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management.
And Brown University brokered a deal with the Trump administration to restore research grant funding to the school in exchange for commitments on women’s sports, antisemitism and admissions practices—and a promise to donate $50 million to workforce development programs, CBS News noted. In exchange for the end to the grant freeze, the Rhode Island school also promised to provide female student-athletes with locker rooms “strictly separated on the basis of sex,” define male and female for athletic purposes in a way that’s consistent with President Trump’s executive orders and not offer gender-affirming medical care to minors. ACLU of RI, GLAD Law and Rhode Island Center for Justice issued a joint press release condemning Brown’s actions, calling them “profoundly disturbing.”
Recently, Lei Pua ‘Ala Queer Histories of Hawaii and Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation held the unveiling and dedication of a new plaque celebrating the history of Queen’s Surf Beach in Honolulu’s Kapiolani Park, Spectrum Local News noted. There were remarks by Mayor Rick Blangiardi, community elders and special guests; Kumu Patrick Makuakāne conducted a blessing followed by an ‘awa ceremony and picnic on the lawn. Queen’s Surf Beach was a popular gathering spot for Hawaii’s diverse queer Māhū communities in the 1970s; by 1974, it became the site of the first gay pride celebration in commemoration of the 1968 Stonewall Revolt in New York.
NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists announced that Queer Kentucky Executive Director Missy Spears is the recipient of the 2025 Jeanne Córdova Award, per a press release. The award is named for Córdova, who was a journalist and the editor and publisher of Lesbian Tide, which chronicled the 1970s lesbian feminist movement. “Missy Spears is an undeniable leader in our community, demonstrating the power journalists have to improve public life every single day,” said NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists Executive Director Adam Pawlus. “Her extensive work has helped cover all things Kentucky, from the legislature to addiction prevention. It is an honor to recognize her and her lifesaving work with the Jeanne Córdova Award.”
Also, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists revealed the recipients of its 2025 Leroy F. Aarons and Kay Longcope Scholarships, which support the next generation of LGBTQ+ media professionals, again via a press release. Grant Johnson—a multimedia journalist pursuing a master’s in investigative journalism at Arizona State University’s Cronkite School—is the 2025 recipient of the Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship, which provides up to $5,000 in tuition funding to an LGBTQ+ student pursuing a career in journalism. Jonathan Calixto—a multimedia journalist and graduate student at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY—is the 2025 recipient of the Kay Longcope Scholarship, which provides up to $3,000 in tuition assistance to an LGBTQ+ student of color committed to NLGJA’s mission.
In Florida, the Caribbean-flavored PrideFête will return to Richardson Historic Park in Wilton Manors on Aug. 9, OutSFL noted. The fourth iteration will feature a costume contest, a parade through the park, food and music. Host Octavia Yearwood said, “PrideFête and spaces for Caribbean people are very important because we need to know we are here for each other and we need to celebrate that.” While attendees have always dressed colorfully for the party, this year marks the start of an official costume contest with a $1,000 cash prize.
Shortly after artist Amy Sherald withdrew her solo show “American Sublime,” regarding a trans Statue of Liberty, from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG) over censorship concerns, the exhibition’s contested artwork was on the cover of The New Yorker magazine’s August edition, Hyperallergic noted. Sherald told the New York Times that she learned the NPG had been considering removing “Trans Forming Liberty” (2024)—a portrait of trans model Arewà Basit posed as the iconic statue—from the show to avoid attention from the Trump administration. The artist said Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III proposed replacing the artwork with a video capturing people’s reactions to the painting and discussing transgender issues—a suggestion she opposed as it “would have opened up for debate the value of trans visibility,” Sherald added.
In Portland, LGBTQ+ club CC Slaughters announced that it would permanently close on Aug. 3—but that’s no longer the case, per KOIN. Management revealed that the closure plans were due to its owner’s upcoming retirement but, on July 30, an unnamed bidder expressed interest in taking over the establishment. Several local LGBTQ+-friendly businesses have closed their doors in the past several months, including Sissy Bar, Crush Bar and Misfits Bar + Lounge.
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene formally urged President Donald Trump to commute the prison sentence of gay former Republican congressman George Santos, The Advocate noted. Addressing the Office of the Pardon Attorney in a letter, Greene wrote that Santos’ sentence for wire fraud and identity theft “extends far beyond what is warranted” and framed his conduct as campaign-related, despite all the findings from federal prosecutors. Santos—who has reported to federal prison in New Jersey—pled guilty last year to 23 felony counts, including fraudulent Federal Elections Commission filings, identity theft, and unemployment insurance fraud.
President Donald Trump’s attempt to revive the long-defunct Presidential Fitness Test courted political scandal after he launched the children’s health initiative alongside a convicted sex offender—former NFL player Lawrence Taylor—boasting that there’s “nobody like him,” per The Advocate. Taylor was charged with statutory rape in 2011, pleading guilty to sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute after paying for sex with a trafficked 16-year-old girl, ESPN reported; In 2024, he was arrested again in Florida for failing to update his address on the state registry, which is considered a repeat violation.