Warning: This column mentions a violent attack.
NATIONAL
Trans journalist/activist Erin Reed updated her Anti-Trans National Legal Risk Assessment Map, adding Idaho to the list of “Do Not Travel” states for trans people because of the state’s harsh new restroom law, LGBTQ Nation noted. Idaho now joins Florida, Texas and Kansas on the list; Reed also recategorized South Carolina as a high-risk state because its bathroom ban was expanded to colleges and universities. People who repeatedly violate Idaho’s law could get life in prison.
On a related note, a Methodist conference that was scheduled to take place in Boise, Idaho, next year will have to find a new venue because its members voted to leave the state out of concern for its transgender and nonbinary participants, LGBTQ Nation noted. The United Methodist Church was going to hold its annual Oregon-Idaho Conference at the Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise again next year; however, due to the state’s new anti-trans restroom law, a majority of the council (52-48) voted to change venues for next year.
Baltimore’s oldest gay bar, Leon’s, has closed temporarily following the death of its owner—but a plan to reopen is in the works, per The Baltimore Fishbowl. Ron Singer, the bar’s owner for more than 20 years, passed away July 7 at age 66; the new owner is Singer’s son-in-law, Samuel Smith, who has worked at the bar for nearly a decade.
A Georgia family claimed an urgent care clinic didn’t notify their teenage daughter after an HIV screening came back positive—resulting in the teen finding out the result on her own through an online patient portal, The Independent reported. The family later learned the test result was a false positive; however, the experience reportedly nearly ended in tragedy after the teenager attempted to take her own life.
During a July 15 speech at the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania, President Donald Trump falsely claimed that a technology law that then-President Joe Biden signed requires chip manufacturers to hire transgender executives, The Advocate noted. However, the Trump administration has itself awarded $5 billion through the program.
Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro appointed Seth Grove—a former Republican lawmaker with a long record of opposing transgender rights and attempting to curtail civil-rights enforcement—to the state’s anti-discrimination commission, The Advocate reported. Shapiro spokesperson Rosie Lapowsky told the outlet, “While candidates are nominated by the governor, they must receive a majority vote in the Senate to be confirmed, and thus any appointments to the [commission] are a collaborative effort between the governor’s office and the Senate. Governor Shapiro remains committed to protecting the rights and freedoms of every LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanian.” However, she didn’t say why Shapiro chose Grove.
On an episode of the hit podcast I’ve Had It with Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan, Hunter Biden said that the biggest issue in the country isn’t “oligarchy,” but “closetocracy”—the rule of angry, closeted gay men, per Them. Biden added, “The only reason that is relevant is because I believe that internal conflict creates so much vitriol inside a person that they take it out on the rest of the world, and they do.”
Florida-based OutLGBTQ.com announced a new software licensing program that will allow cities, organizations and entrepreneurs to adopt its technology and customize it for their own community markets, a media release noted. Licensees will gain full access to the platform’s database architecture, including its well‑known “Gay Yellow Pages,” now reimagined as a customizable community business directory.
Florida Democratic legislators want Republican state Rep. Fabian Basabe to resign after a July 15 jury verdict found him liable for sexually harassing two male staffers—legislative aide Nicolas Frevola and intern Jacob Cutbirth—and ordered him to pay $450,000 in damages to them, per LGBTQ Nation, citing The Advocate.
In Spokane, Washington, 2nd Base Espresso took down a transphobic and ableist sign after community backlash, according to Them, citing local newspaper The Spokesman-Review. Earlier this month, the cafe adjusted the board outside its business to read, “Trans women are r*tarded men.” Despite complaints from residents, the mayor’s office initially said that the sign was protected as free speech.
Lesbian sports legend Martina Navratilova defended the Women’s Tennis Association‘s (WTA’s) new genetic sex-testing policy, Attitude noted. Navratilova, who has criticized transgender inclusion in the women’s category, posted, “WTA supports all women. As in females. There is no such thing as an invasive transphobic test— just a once in a lifetime cheek swab—takes all of three seconds. Got it? Males are free to play in the men’s tournaments, however they might identify. Simple.”
WORLD
Poland President Karol Nawrocki vetoed a bill to legalize civil partnerships, according to euronews. Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist government proposed the bill ahead of last year’s parliamentary elections in Poland. The bill aimed to establish a “status of the closest person” for unmarried partners, including same-sex couples. A three-fifths majority vote in the lower house of parliament could override the veto, but that’s a rarity in Poland.
Donations from readers of Erasing 76 Crimes freed three young women imprisoned on charges of same-sex relations in Yaoundé, Cameroon, the news outlet noted. Their freedom is considered a key achievement for Project Not Alone 2026.
Andy Burnham, the UK’s newest prime minister, has a long history of supporting LGBTQ+ rights—but there’s some controversy, according to Attitude. From campaigning against Section 28 (as a teen in the 1980s) to defending trans inclusion at the height of Britain’s culture wars, Burnham has supported the queer community for decades. However, his response to the Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of sex and his support for implementing subsequent guidance have garnered criticism from trans people and allies, who argue he has shifted his position.
Jens Spahn—a gay senior conservative politician in Germany—resigned after facing blowback because he and his husband added to their family with the help of a U.S. surrogate mother, LGBTQ Nation noted. The familial addition was at odds with a German law that Spahn’s CDU party supports. Germany’s 1990 Embryo Protection Act says that surrogacy can be punished by up to three years in prison, and the CDU party voted to uphold the law this past February.
British Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling appears to be taking a break from X—after posting another series of transphobic rants against British podcaster Freda Wallace, who is an out transgender woman, per Out. Also, Rowling shared an upskirt picture of Wallace to prove her target was “a paraphiliac exhibitionist who was having the time of his life.”
In the UK, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that prominent socially conservative politician Ann Widdecombe, 78, was fatally struck 21 times with a hammer before her wallet was taken, according to Attitude. Joshua Kerry, a 28-year-old from Rotherham, was remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at the Old Bailey; he did not enter a plea.
World of Wonder has debuted the official trailer for the first season of Drag Race México: Latina Royale, a press release noted. Latina Royale brings together 11 fan-favorite Latin queens from different editions around the world—including Mexico, the United States, Brazil, Spain, Germany and Holland—who return to this competition to win the crown of “Latin Drag Superstar of the World.” The show will premiere July 30.
SHOWBIZ
The outlet Wired published an expose on Madison Square Garden’s (MSG’s) management titled Madison Square Garden Kept a List of Gay Celebrities—and, now, the venue is suing Wired, LGBTQ Nation noted. Detailing nearly 40,000 people, MSG’s database reportedly includes names, personal info and other details for everyone from prominent rap artists to minor politicians; the list also included nearly 100 people marked as LGBTQ+, including Ricky Martin, Phoebe Bridgers and Emily Green.
NYC’s Film Forum will present the U.S. theatrical premiere of Brydie O’Connor’s Barbara Forever—about groundbreaking lesbian filmmaker Barbara Hammer (1939–2019)—on Friday, Sept. 4, per a press release. The movie had its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award, before going on to screen at the Berlinale (Teddy Award for Best Documentary) and numerous other events. There will also be programs of Hammer’s short films.
LGBTQ+ actress Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City) will be the “Reverend-for-the-Day” at Bride Pride, which is called the “World’s Largest All-Girl Wedding & Renewal Ceremony,” per The Advocate. The event will take place Feb. 21, 2027, in St. Petersburg, Florida.
GLAAD released an analysis of comments that were filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to a recent FCC public notice to consider a new rating system that would require a “warning label” before family television shows that include LGBTQ+ characters, stories or themes—even in programs currently rated as appropriate for all ages, a press release noted. There were 27,285 comments rejecting the proposed warning labels, and only 5,870 comments in favor of them; of those 5,870 comments, 57.4% were form letters, copied verbatim from a template.
Armando Rubio—known for appearing in the 90 Day Fiancé franchise with now-husband Kenny Niedermeier—posted that he had reunited with 13-year-old daughter Hannah, who was receiving treatment in a Phoenix intensive care unit after doctors found bleeding in her brain earlier in the month, USA Today noted. Arizona legislators helped Rubio enter the United States from Mexico and reunite with his daughter; Hannah was flown from Mexico, where the family lives, to Phoenix after she fell ill with symptoms similar to a stroke.
Abingdon Theatre Company announced two-time Emmy nominee Michael Urie (Apple TV+’s Shrinking; Oh, Mary!; Ugly Betty) as one of its 34th-anniversary gala honorees, a media release noted. Celebrating Urie’s impact in the arts community, Abingdon’s gala will kick off its 34th season, Ever Forward, Ever Evolving, on Monday, Nov. 2, at New York City’s Edison Ballroom.
Bram Stoker’s classic horror story Dracula is getting all-new adaptations from Audible, in several languages—and with out gay actor Jonathan Bailey starring in the English-language version, Variety noted. Co-stars include Aimee Lou Wood as Lucy and Maggie Gyllenhaal as Professor Van Helsing.
In the Grey—a Guy Ritchie action-thriller that pairs actors Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal as two very dangerous gay men—has found success online despite critical backlash when it was in theaters earlier this year, per The Advocate, citing Collider. The film (which was actually made in 2023) reportedly cost $70 million and only earned $13 million.
Queer country artist Orville Peck announced Mule, an album set to drop Sept. 18 via Warner Records, a press release noted. And he’s released two songs from the set: the previously teased “Prologue (Eulogy of A Man Turned Mule),” which features Emmylou Harris, Noah Cyrus and Allison Russell; and the lead single “Too Little, Too Late.” Also, Peck announced the Man Turned Mule Tour; one dollar will be donated to The Trevor Project, supporting its mission to provide crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ young people; find tickets here.
The remaining band members of the Village People decided to forgo traditional funeral attire and wore their respective costumes while attending lead singer Victor Willis’ funeral, People noted. The Village People confirmed Willis’s death on Facebook on July 1, posting that Willis died the day before following a “short but aggressive illness.”
Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) apologized after non-binary media personality Courtney Stodden (she/they) called him out over a lewd 2012 comedy sketch the two made when Stodden was 17, per NBC News. Stodden has become an advocate speaking out against child marriage and exploitation within the media industry; in 2011, Stodden married 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison whey they were 16—but the couple divorced several years later.
Universal Pictures Content Group and Bleecker Street’s event cinema division, Crosswalk, announced that they have acquired International and North American rights, respectively, to the concert film George Michael: The Faith Tour, per a media release. The film is slated for a late 2026 worldwide release in theaters in premium formats.
The sequel to Jennifer’s Body—the horror film starring Mean Girls alum Amanda Seyfried and bisexual actress Megan Fox—is slated to film in Vancouver this fall, per Dread Central. Also, Diablo Cody is attached to write the screenplay while Karyn Kusama is reportedly set to return as director.
Big Brother houseguest and RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Jason De Puy—aka drag personality Salina EsTitties—apologized to well-known producer Ryan Murphy during Brother’s live eviction episode, per EW. As De Puy exited the Diary Room, he said, “Thank you, Julie! Ryan Murphy, cast me! I’m sorry I wasn’t available for those dates!”
Following a sold-out New York City debut at Sony Hall and a Miami Music Week edition, multi-platinum dance music icon Crystal Waters is bringing I AM HOUSE Orchestrated back to New York for a special one-year anniversary celebration, per a press release. It will take place Thursday, Nov. 19, at Palladium Times Square.
