Warning: This column mentions assault.
NATIONAL
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) is leading a group of Senate Democrats in accusing the Trump administration of quietly using a proposed housing rule to deny federal protections to LGBTQ+ people, The Advocate noted. Warren and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon led 22 of their Senate colleagues in calling on HUD to withdraw its proposed “Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Revisions” rule.
During The 2026 ESPYS, hosted by Marcello Hernández, ESPN will honor athletes and sports leaders for their courage, perseverance and service with special accolades—with one of them being Jason Collins, who will posthumously receive the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, per a press release. Collins will be honored during the July 15 ceremony (that will air on ABC and stream on the ESPN app) for his impact on LGBTQ+ visibility in professional athletics.
In Birmingham, Alabama, Black trans woman Kalena “Peaches” Croskey, 32, was found dead in the city’s jail—which advocates said was part of a pattern of neglect and deplorable conditions in the facility, LGBTQ Nation noted. Croskey had been held since April 21 on charges including disorderly conduct, public intoxication, criminal mischief and two counts of third-degree assault.
Two Florida cities—St. Petersburg and Ft. Lauderdale—are standing up to Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ removal of their rainbow crosswalks by painting rainbow colors on two other highly visible public places, according to LGBTQ Nation. At the start of June, St. Petersburg painted the steps of its city hall in the colors of the Progress Pride flag. Fort Lauderdale recently installed a rainbow-colored “circle of love” at the Selene condominiums near Sebastian Street Beach, a popular queer hangout.
In Texas, Travis County Judge Maya Guerra Gamble banned the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) from investigating, sanctioning or punishing McLennan County Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley for refusing to marry same-sex couples, according to Chron. Additionally, Gamble ordered the SCJC to pay Hensley $10,000 in damages as well as $630,000 in attorney’s fees and court costs.
Gay couple Eric Reed and Juan Olvera are recovering after what they believe was a hate-motivated assault in Caldwell, Idaho, per Metro Weekly. Police later arrested 55-year-old Caldwell resident Pedro Villarreal III and charged him with misdemeanor battery. Idaho’s hate-crime statute does not include sexual orientation.
The Trump administration is investigating three Michigan school districts for allowing transgender children to participate in sports based on their gender identity—following a similar action against a district in North Carolina, The Advocate noted. The Department of Education, under Education Secretary Linda McMahon, announced that its Office for Civil Rights had opened investigations into Ann Arbor Public Schools, Monroe Public Schools and Chippewa Valley School District. Chippewa Valley officials told the Detroit Free Press the district would comply with any investigation but had not received official notice before the department sent a press release to the media.
The Texas education board approved a required reading list for more than 5 million public school students that includes Bible passages, expanding conservative efforts to push Christian teachings in U.S. classrooms, the AP reported.
Legislation that would protect the right to same-sex marriage failed to pass the Delaware House—even though only three state lawmakers voted no, WHYY reported. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, D-Rehoboth Beach, needed 28 of the 41 members to vote yes; however, only 25 members voted in favor, with Snyder-Hall changing her vote to “no” so it could be considered again, while 14 members did not vote.
The Washington Blade announced that longtime publisher Lynne Brown—who has worked at the publication for nearly 40 years—is retiring from her day-to-day duties. Blade co-owner/advertising executive Brian Pitts is the new publisher. Brown is now publisher emerita and will remain a part owner of the Washington Blade and Los Angeles Blade, as well as contribute to the business via special projects.
Utah’s virulently anti-LGBTQ+ state Rep. Trevor Lee (R) lost to primary opponent and former Davis County Commissioner Bob Stevenson, per LGBTQ Nation. Among other things, Lee introduced a bill that made Utah the first state to ban Pride flags from all government buildings, including schools.
WORLD
In Frankfurt, Germany’s Grüneburg Park, there was apparently an assault on two gay men that had its roots in (perceived) sexual orientation, TheColu.mn noted. The suspect—believed to be 40 to 50 years old, with a “Southern European appearance”—fled the scene undetected.
Researchers in France and Spain diagnosed several men who have sex with men in at least three countries with dermatophilosis—a skin disease that usually infects livestock—according to Metro Weekly, citing STAT News. The disease, which is usually mild, presents as a rash consisting of pimples, pustules or crusty lesions that do not itch.
Conde Nast Traveler listed places to eat, stay and play during WorldPride 2026, which will take place July 25-Aug. 8 in Amsterdam. Bars include Soho, Taboo, Club NYX, Bar Buka, The Eagle and more; restaurants include Zaza’s, Indrapura and Sinck; and Pulitzer Amsterdam and The Albus are among the places to stay.
The Trump administration refused to support a United Nations resolution expressing concern about cutbacks in anti-HIV/AIDS programs and vowing to keep trying to end AIDS by 2030, Erasing 76 Crimes noted.Russia, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Niger, Israel, Burkina Faso and Burundi also voted “no” while 14 nations abstained and 149 voted in favor of the resolution.
The IGLTA Foundation and the TUI Care Foundation have launched the second cohort of the TUI Futureshapers Global: LGBTQIA+ Travel Innovators program, a press release noted. The program’s first edition supported 26 entrepreneurs from more than 20 countries (e.g., Curaçao, Kenya and Brazil) across five continents; the impact report is here.
Also regarding the IGLTA Foundation, its Pride Auction is open until June 30, featuring travel experiences and exclusive getaways from around the world. Every bid helps support leadership development, research, education and emerging destination initiatives that advance LGBTQ+ inclusion in tourism.
World of Wonder, through a press release, announced the lineup of special guests joining Brooke Lynn Hytes, Priyanka and Jimbo as judges on Canada’s Drag Race: All Stars’ inaugural season. The guests include Emmy-winning comedian Kathy Griffin; comedian/writer Robby Hoffman; singer/songwriter/DJ Rebecca Black; fashion writer and editor Christian Allaire; and Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs The World season-two winner Lemon.
And on a related note, World of Wonder also revealed the 11 queens who will be competing in the inaugural season of Drag Race Mexico: Latina Royale, premiering globally on July 30 exclusively on WOW Presents Plus, per a media release. Queens include Alexis Mateo, Barbie Q, Desirée Beck, Elektra Vandergeld, Eva Blunt, Horacio Potasio, Mariana Stars, Matraka, Miss Abby OMG, Regina Voce and Xunami Muse. The cast features fan-favorite queens from Mexico and Drag Race versions across the globe, and will be spoken entirely in Spanish.
SHOWBIZ
Rolling Stone ran an article on 35 essential LGBTQ+ Pride songs. Just a few of them include The Kinks’ “Lola,” Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love,” Sylvester’s “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real),” Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way,” Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out” and Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).”
On a related note, electro-disco house duo Crush Club released an anthem, “Girl, Hold Tight (Marsha P),” which is dedicated to the late LGBTQ+-rights trailblazer Marsha P. Johnson, a press release noted. The act’s music has since featured in The White Lotus (HBO), Your Friends & Neighbors (Apple TV), fashion campaigns, and collaborations with LP Giobbi, Purple Disco Machine, SOFI TUKKER, Sigrid and Ava Max.
In a press release, WOW Presents Plus announced a new creative collaboration with multi-hyphenate icon Raven Symoné and their wife, Miranda Maday. The streamer from Emmy-winning production company World of Wonder has greenlit an original series starring and developed with the couple. To kick off this partnership, Symoné and Maday will take the reins of WOW Presents Plus for an exclusive, week-long programming takeover starting June 29.
Clive Davis—the bisexual music executive who launched, shaped or revived the careers of Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Janis Joplin, Alicia Keys, Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin and others—died in his Manhattan home at age 94, per The Advocate. Born in Brooklyn in 1932, Davis graduated from New York University and Harvard Law School before joining Columbia Records as a lawyer; by 1967, he was president of the label.
After Juliette Lewis announced her final performance as Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show was June 16, it was revealed that trans actress Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (Pose) played her final performance as Columbia on June 21, Playbill noted. Rocky Horror—which is led by openly gay actor Luke Evans (Beauty and the Beast) as Frank-N-Furter and Rachel Dratch (SNL) as the Narrator—has been extended to Nov. 29.
The Chicago Hounds (co-owned by gay chef/TV personality Art Smith) defeated the California Legion 35-17 in Sunday’s 2026 MLR Championship at SeatGeek Stadium to capture the first undefeated season in league history and clinch the team’s first Major League Rugby title.
Fresh from the release of the single “Free To Love,” featuring legendary collaborator Nile Rodgers, the iconic band Duran Duran released a brand-new remix album that reimagines the song through legendary drag queen Trixie Mattel, Harrison, BastienkHz, Horse Meat Disco and others.
Olivia Rodrigo announced her inaugural Daisy Chain Fields Festival that will take place at Irvine, California’s Great Park on Aug. 29, with an all-woman line-up, Variety noted. The festival will feature performances from Rodrigo alongside Chappell Roan, Doechii, Katseye, Mitski, the Breeders, Die Spitz and Bikini Kill along with special guests Karen O, Stevie Nicks and Sarah McLachlan.
Netflix‘s music-competition series Building the Band—best known for filming with Liam Payne shortly before his untimely death—was canceled after just one season, per Deadline. Payne was a mentor alongside Pussycat Dolls’ Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland, who was part of Destiny’s Child; Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean hosted.