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GLAAD announced Pride 2024: Protect Our Pride, with resources, programs, and initiatives designated to enhance dialogue around Pride Month, a press release noted. GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said, “America is at a critical juncture when it comes to LGBTQ safety and support. At GLAAD, we know that fair and accurate representation in media and journalism have a powerful and measurable effect on the lives of LGBTQ people. While support for LGBTQ equality has reached an all-time high, allyship must now turn into action. This June, media, content creators, and corporate leaders must lead and respond to hate with undeterred support for the LGBTQ community, including LGBTQ employees, shareholders and consumers and protect all that the LGBTQ movement has accomplished.” The organization has also launched a community resource hub, a limited-edition Protect Our Pride popup shop and a digital tool kit at GLAAD.org/PRIDE.
Marking the first week of Pride Month, the U.S. Department of Justice convened its quarterly interagency meeting with LGBTQI+ community stakeholders, per a press release. Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer spoke with attendees and emphasized the Department’s commitment to supporting LGBTQI+ communities through enforcement and grantmaking activities. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke—of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the division’s LGBTQI+ Working Group—outlined several civil and criminal enforcement efforts. Representatives from the Civil Rights Division, FBI, Community Relations Service Office of Justice Programs and Office on Violence Against Women heard from attending organizations on topics such as student safety and well-being, health-data privacy, anti-LGBTQI+ violence and hate, HIV discrimination, funding concerns and the need to increase intersex awareness.
In California, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn planned to hold a Pride flag-raising ceremony on June 3 at the LA County Office of Education in Downey—weeks after the Downey City Council narrowly voted to stop flying the Pride flag on city property, Cerritos Community News reported. “The Downey City Council made its choice, but LA County chooses inclusion,” said Hahn. “There will be pride in Downey this Pride Month.” According to The Beverly Press, The move comes on the heels of several Pride “bans” across conservative cities in Southern California, including Huntington Beach, where in March 58% of voters chose to ban the display of Pride, religious and even breast-cancer awareness flags at City Hall.
Christian lifeguard Jeffery Little is suing the city of Los Angeles for “severe emotional distress” after he was stationed near a Pride flag last year, according to The Advocate. Little, who has worked for the city for 22 years, filed a lawsuit claiming he is being discriminated against for his evangelical faith by being made to stand in the same vicinity as the Progress Pride flag. Last year, the L.A. County board of supervisors voted to require the rainbow banner be flown during June at government buildings, which include lifeguard stands.
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At the Philadelphia Pride Parade, hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters crashed the celebration and brought proceedings to a halt, according to The Toronto Sun. The parade was blocked at the intersection of 11th Street and Locust Street as marchers headed toward the city’s Gayborhood section, a neighborhood known for its LGBTQ+ culture and residential life, per The National Review. Queers4Palestine—a gay progressive activist group that routinely claims Israel commits “genocide” in Gaza—led the protest, chanting,“Palestine will live forever! From the sea to the river!” Police eventually corralled the protesters to one side of the junction.
The U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire denied a motion to dismiss Bernier v. Turbocam, in which GLAD represents employee Lillian Bernie, according to an organizational press release. Bernie is suing her employer, Turbocam, Inc., for denying her necessary healthcare coverage related to her gender transition. The lawsuit alleges that the exclusion of insurance coverage for Bernier’s healthcare violates federal law banning discrimination based on sex and disability and New Hampshire state law prohibiting discrimination based on sex, gender identity and disability.
The state of Washington has launched its first ever state-wide LGBTQ+ survey, per KHQ. The Washington LGBTQ+ Commission said a team of Washington State University (WSU) LGBTQ+ researchers will conduct the survey. Survey responses will be anonymous and include information about identities, perspectives and experiences in the community. WSU researchers conducting the survey will be at several Pride events throughout June, including Seattle, Spokane and Tri-Cities Pride.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed nominated Mike Chen to a seat on the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board of Directors, The Bay Area Reporter noted. Chen would return LGBTQ+ representation to the powerful oversight body following the 2023 resignation of gay entrepreneur Manny Yekutiel from his seat on the SFMTA board. “Transportation is deeply linked to public health, quality of life, economic opportunity, and the future of our planet,” stated Chen. “I am grateful for the chance to contribute my energy and talents to the challenges and opportunities facing the SFMTA.”
In Texas, the city of Princeton’s Pride event—originally scheduled for June 29—has been canceled for now because the venue has canceled the contract, per The Los Angeles Blade. Pride was scheduled to return to Princeton ISD’s high school; however, the school district canceled use of the venue for two reasons—the organization failed to include a disclaimer and it has been distributing banned books. The ACLU has filed a complaint on behalf of the group.
Michigan resident Nathan Weeden was sentenced to 26 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring with other members of a white supremacist group, The Base, to victimize Black and Jewish people and for defacing Temple Jacob, a Jewish synagogue in Hancock, Michigan, per a Department of Justice release. Weeden’s co-conspirators—Richard Tobin, of New Jersey, and Yousef Barasneh, of Wisconsin—both previously pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges related to the incident. “[The] sentencing sends a strong message that hate will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten, of the Western District of Michigan.
Bailey Anne Kennedy made history by becoming the first Asian-American and transgender woman to be crowned Miss Maryland USA, PinkNews noted. The Cambodian-American’s win means she is also the first military spouse to win the title. Kennedy, who said her platform represents “beauty without an expiration date”, added that she felt a sense of “sisterhood” from the other women who competed for the title.
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Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia changed his party affiliation to independent, speaking speculation that he will run for reelection this fall without party affiliation, according to LGBTQ Nation. However, he has not said if he is leaving the Democratic Caucus; if he did, he could cost the Democrats their majority in the U.S. Senate after this year’s elections. Manchin between 30 and 60 out of 100 on the past several Congressional Scorecards from the Human Rights Campaign. He was the only Senate Democrat to vote for an amendment to the Respect for Marriage Act that would have allowed government contractors to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people.
The Southern Indiana Pride Festival returned to Jeffersonville’s Big Four Station Park, WLKY reported. Despite the rainy weather, people attended and listened to live music, enjoyed food and drinks, and browsed nearly 60 vendors representing everything from crafts to churches. “I think it’s pretty cool we’re here with three other churches,” said Central Christian Church pastor Paul Snyder. “We do a lot of partnerships with the ones that are here, and us specifically. We’re even doing glitter blessings today.”
According to TMZ, a video shows veteran actor Richard Dreyfuss trying on various dresses before embarking on a recent anti-trans rant. TMZ obtained surveillance footage from the end of May showing the Jaws actor being helped by a number of staffers at Worthy Girl Consignment in Beverly, Massachusetts, where he later got on stage at the Cabot Theater and made controversial remarks, including anti-trans ones. Reportedly, the staffers at Worthy Girl Consignment—the pro-LGBTQ+ business where the actor tried on dresses, ultimately picking a floral blue item—are angry with him.
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