LGBT News

Agence France-Presse reports: Saudi officials are seizing rainbow-colored toys and articles of clothing from shops in the capital as part of a crackdown on homosexuality, state media reported. Targeted items include rainbow-colored bows, skirts, hats and pencil cases, most of them apparently manufactured for young children, according to a report broadcast Tuesday evening by the state-run Al-Ekhbariya news channel. “We …

Ad Age reports: Last week, Burger King Austria caused a stir on social media with its “Pride Whopper” campaign that didn’t quite land as intended with the LGBTQ+ community. The agency behind it, Jung von Matt Donau, has apologized. “The intended message of the ‘Pride Whopper’ was to spread equal love and equal rights,” the Austrian outpost of Germany-based Jung …

ABC News reports: The United Arab Emirates has banned the upcoming Pixar animated film Lightyear from showing in cinemas amid reports that the film includes a kiss between two female characters. The Emirates, home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, announced through its Media Regulatory Office of the country’s Ministry of Youth and Culture that the film would not be opening …

The Hill reports: Vice President Harris criticized Republican-led states that have passed dozens of laws targeting LGBTQ youth during a speech at a Capital Pride Festival in D.C. on Sunday. “No one should fear going to a nightclub for fear that a terrorist might try to take them down,” Harris said on Sunday. “No one should fear loving who they …

The New Arab reports: Turkish police violently attacked students during a LGBT Pride march at Ankara’s Middle East Technical University (METU) on Friday, according to reports. Multiple videos have surfaced on Twitter showing dozens of police armed with shields and batons entering the university and detaining some of the students. Some tweets said that the police also used tear gas. …

From a June 3rd report by the New Republic: In the last month, two very different videos, both threatening to confront Pride celebrations with armed protest or “hunting” LGBTQ people and allies, have raised fears of how Republicans in state legislatures have enabled an environment for anti-LGBTQ violence and emboldened far-right extremists. At the end of April, GOP Idaho state …

Harrisburg’s ABC News affiliate reports: Two Pennsylvania lawmakers plan to introduce a bill “to address discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation in Pennsylvania schools.” State Senators Scott Martin [photo] and Ryan Aument, both Republicans representing Lancaster County, say the bill would pertain to age-inappropriate conversations in elementary schools. According to the senators, the proposal would prohibit classroom instruction on …

The Associated Press reports: Tens of thousands of people attended this year’s Pride Parade in Tel Aviv on Friday, celebrating the LGBTQ community and calling for equality in the largest annual gathering of its kind in the Middle East. The sprawling event in Israel’s seaside metropolis, which resembles a festive block party, returned last year after pandemic restrictions were mostly …

The Washington Blade reports: Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday hosted a Pride Month reception that took place in the Capitol Rotunda in Richmond. The governor’s office invited more than 100 people to the reception, but Virginia Pride and other LGBTQ rights groups boycotted it. The reception, which Youngkin’s public schedule noted, was closed to the press. “Equality Virginia …

Chicago’s ABC News affiliate reports: An appeal by organizers of the 2022 Aurora Pride Parade was denied following a special hearing, after their permit was revoked over police staffing issues . The judge found the event is short about 20 police officers and that organizers were offered the opportunity to “close the gap” using sworn officers from other jurisdictions but …

The Texas Tribune reports: A new lawsuit filed Wednesday is challenging Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive to investigate parents who provide gender-affirming care to their transgender children. The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal on behalf of three families, including the Briggle family, who have long been advocates for trans rights, including hosting Republican Attorney …

Chicago’s ABC News affiliate reports: The City of Aurora has revoked a special permit for the 2022 Aurora Pride Parade due to security staffing concerns. The city claims organizers failed to retain the number of law enforcement officers for the parade. Since it’s a private event, the city said officers have to volunteer their time to work security. Last month, …

West Palm Beach’s ABC News affiliate reports: A 17-year-old is in Canadian custody for threatening a mass shooting in West Palm Beach after an international investigation. The suspect made an online threat to shoot people at the “Pride on the Block” event downtown Sunday. “I can say through his statement that there’s no remorse,” Deputy Chief Rick Morris said during …

Mediaite reports: Greg Kelly said he “called Dallas police” after he saw a video of children attending a show featuring drag queens. He tweeted a recording of a message he said he left. The Newsmax host’s call was prompted by a drag show at a Dallas bar that promoted a “family-friendly” atmosphere on Saturday as part of a “drag the …

CBS Sports reports: At least five players on the Tampa Bay Rays roster opted not to wear a patch the team added to their uniforms intended to celebrate Pride month in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox (box score). During the team’s 16th annual Pride Night celebration Rays caps and uniforms had logos colored in the style of …

Miami’s NBC News affiliate reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration Thursday asked the state board regulating doctors to essentially ban transition-related care for transgender minors, according to a letter obtained by NBC News. The state Health Department made the request hours after another state agency issued a 46-page report to justify banning Medicaid coverage for transgender people of any age …

Ben Shapiro writes for his Daily Wire: June marks LGBTQI+ Pride Month — a month honoring those who are “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex.” This ever-expanding rubric revolves around a particular value system entirely embraced by the modern Left: the notion that a person’s core identity ought to lie not in the relationship between individual desires and societal …

Ben Winslow reports for Salt Lake City’s Fox affiliate: Governor Spencer Cox issued a proclamation Wednesday, marking June as Pride Month and calling on Utahns to be more welcoming and accepting of the LGBTQ community. “This should not be controversial,” the governor told FOX 13 News in an interview about the proclamation. “There should be nothing controversial about supporting a …

From the Democratic National Convention: Today marks the start of Pride month. This month, we celebrate love, self-expression, and the freedom to be one’s authentic self. The LGBTQ+ movement is full of remarkable, everyday people who had the courage to assert their freedom. From the first brick at Stonewall to marriage equality, the DNC honors the tremendous progress made to …

Gallup reports: Seventy-one percent of Americans say they support legal same-sex marriage, which exceeds the previous high of 70% recorded in 2021 by one percentage point. These data are from Gallup’s annual Values and Beliefs poll, conducted May 2-22. When Gallup first polled about same-sex marriage in 1996, barely a quarter of the public (27%) supported legalizing such unions. It …