LGBT News

The Centre Daily Times reports: A Centre County man was arrested Saturday after he was accused of burning a gay pride flag hanging from a downtown church, yelling homophobic slurs at bystanders and damaging Pride decorations outside two businesses. Markos S. Bejiga, 28, of Patton Township, was accused of burning the gay pride flag hanging from the front of Faith …

NBC News reports: The Department of Health and Human Services’ proposed budget for 2026 eliminates specialized suicide hotline services for LGBTQ youth and young adults. The budget proposal, which the department published Friday, designates $520 million for 988, the suicide prevention line, and behavioral health crisis services, which is the same amount the Biden administration provided for 988. However, the …

Reuters reports: Tens of thousands of Romanians joined an LGBTQ Pride march in Bucharest on Saturday, demanding civil union partnership legislation and equal rights after a highly-contested presidential election last month buoyed the far right. The European Union state has so far ignored a 2023 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, which found Romania had failed to enforce …

San Francisco’s ABC affiliate reports: Two 13-year-old boys are suspected of assault and a hate crime after they allegedly threw fireworks and shouted homophobic remarks at a crowd gathered Wednesday night for a Pride event in downtown Redwood City. Police said one of two victims of the assault suffered minor injuries, and that part of the attack was captured on …

The New York Times reports: Even before Washington was formally chosen as this year’s host city for one of the largest L.G.B.T.Q. pride events in the world, “the election was the biggest question,” said Ryan Bos, the executive director of Capital Pride Alliance. At the time, the 2024 election was still two years away, but international Pride groups were nervously …

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports: A 54-year-old Petaluma man has been arrested after police say he threatened to have a Petaluma City Schools district official “executed” if pride flags posted at schools in the district were not removed. “The threat was considered specific, time sensitive, and caused safety concerns for school officials,” Petaluma police said in a news alert issued …

The Washington Post reports: Mayor Muriel Bowser addressed the closure for the first time in a public radio appearance Friday afternoon. She called the closing an “unfortunate error” and said she would “continue to try to lean on” the National Park Service “for a different decision.” At the same time she appeared to defend the decision, saying police had “a …

Fort Myers’ CBS affiliate reports: The Naples Police Department has issued additional rules aimed at protestors ahead of Pride Fest. Police reported that those who chose to attend the event at Cambier Park on June 7 are allowed to protest on private property without blocking traffic or disrupting order. Protestors must also have the private property owner’s permission to protest …

Washington DC’s CBS affiliate reports: Dupont Circle is officially closed for WorldPride weekend. Police were in the area early Friday morning roping it off. The latest move comes after the original closure sparked backlash from neighbors, prompting a reversal from D.C.’s police chief. Now it appears the temporary closure is back on. A spokesperson for the National Park Service told …

The Jewish Insider reports: A new coalition of pro-Israel LGBTQ activists is backing former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo as its first choice in a ranked slate of candidate endorsements for New York City mayor, according to a statement shared exclusively with Jewish Insider on Thursday. “Amidst the unprecedented rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment and activity within our city, …

San Francisco’s NBC affiliate reports: The rainbow flag is recognized around the world as a symbol of LGBTQ+ social movements. The colorful banner is the creation of a San Francisco man.  The iconic flag is a symbol of hope and a reminder of the ongoing battle for acceptance and equality. The flag would debut at the San Francisco Gay Freedom …

Seattle’s Fox affiliate reports: As dozens gathered to raise an LGBTQ+ pride flag at the state capitol Wednesday afternoon, leaders and community members said celebrations need to be matched with action in light of continued challenges. Members of the Washington State LGBTQ Commission were joined by Gov. Bob Ferguson, state supreme court justices and other community members in the annual …

Ynet reports: Thousands gathered Thursday afternoon in Jerusalem for the annual pride parade, held this year to mark a decade since the murder of 16-year-old Shira Banki. Roughly 2,000 police officers were deployed along the march route and surrounding areas to ensure security and manage road closures. Opposition leader Yair Lapid joined the march and addressed the crowd, saying, “This …

The Associated Press reports: The advocate general for the European Union’s highest court on Thursday urged the court to rule that Hungary violated the bloc’s laws and fundamental values when it passed legislation barring the availability of LGBTQ+ content to minors under 18. The non-binding opinion from the European Court of Justice’s Advocate General, Tamara Capeta, states that the legislative …

The Hollywood Reporter reports: Dustin Lance Black and Sean Penn, who won Academy Awards for writing and starring in the 2008 Harvey Milk biopic Milk, are speaking out on orders from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to remove the name of the gay rights activist and late San Francisco Supervisor from a Navy ship. “This is yet another move to …

The Associated Press reports: Mariann Budde, Bishop of Washington, on Wednesday decried leaders “trying to turn back the clock” on LGBTQ+ rights and urged people to embrace hope and joy amid hardship as they come to the nation’s capital for World Pride during a time of mounting political anxiety for LGBTQ+ Americans. “We’re not in the 1960’s and 70’s anymore,” …

The Associated Press reports: Just days before she was set to give opening remarks at WorldPride’s human rights conference in Washington, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, the co-founder of UK Black Pride widely known as Lady Phyll, said she was denied entry to the U.S. after her visa was revoked due to her travels to Cuba earlier this year. Many LGBTQ+ travelers have …

NBC News reports: The Missoula City Council approved a resolution recognizing the pride flag as the only official flag of the city of Missoula at Monday’s meeting. Ryan Sudbury, the city attorney for the City of Missoula, verified that the pride flag is the only official flag of the city of Missoula after the adoption at Monday night’s evening. “Currently, …

The Ohio Capital Journal reports: Kent State University is closing its LGBTQ+ Center, Women’s Center and Student Multicultural Center because of a new state law banning diversity efforts that is set to take effect at the end of the month. Kent State’s LBGTQ+ Living-Learning Community will cease to exist because of Senate Bill 1 going into effect, according to a …

The Washington Post reports: A plan to bar people from celebrating Pride in the park at Dupont Circle this weekend has been canceled following pushback from local elected officials, according to two D.C. council members. The change comes less than 24 hours after the closing was announced by the National Park Service Monday evening. The park is at the center …