First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and daughter Ashley Biden addressed attendees at the White House Pride celebration, LGBTQ Nation noted. Ashley celebrated the assembled activists—which included several individuals from Chicago—and cited the “countless LGBTQ people who are able to find community, and refuge, because of all of you. Thank you so much for your tireless effort, it changed lives.” Her mother added, ““Even as we celebrate, we know that this community is under attack. Many of you know that all too well—and have come here from states that are passing laws targeting LGBTQ Americans.”
Approximately 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators protesting the War in Gaza gathered in the middle of Denver as the Denver PrideFest parade started its journey to Civic Center Park in downtown Denver, Colorado Public Radio noted. The protesters eventually joined the parade, with the front of the group holding a banner that read, “The Palestinian Struggle Is Our Struggle. No Pride in Genocide.” Local trans activist and organizer Z Williams said the protest goes back to the origins of the pride movement, saying, “We are here to honor the traditions of our ancestors in the queer and trans movement and also make sure that all of these corporations are held accountable for their role in murdering over 40,000 people in Gaza.”
In Philade. lphia, the life of Black LGBTQ+ leader Michael Hinson was honored at a June 19 street-naming ceremony, per Philadelphia Gay News (PGN). On Juneteenth, the 1200 block of Chestnut Street was officially declared Michael S. Hinson, Jr. Way. Hinson’s and other queer-specific street signs in the city help to demarcate the Gayborhood, honoring LGBTQ+ historical figures who have made a difference for Philadelphia. The ceremony started with the traditional Yoruba practice of pouring libations to pay homage to ancestors, followed by sacred drumming and singing.
Also in Philadelphia, after a five-year hiatus, Philadelphia FIGHT was slated to honor AIDS Education Month with a free day-long summit at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on June 27, per PGN. The gathering aimed to explore the latest innovations and strategies in HIV treatment and prevention and present on the latest developments in efforts to find a cure. This year’s theme was “Keep Going, Keep Moving, A Cure is in Sight”—highlighting the excitement around efforts to end the HIV epidemic and the need for those living with HIV to continue the fight to live.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero is allowing a legal challenge from a group of LGBTQ+ veterans to move forward, The Hill reported. The veterans were dismissed under a former military policy that prevented them from serving openly (aka “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” or DADT), and the judge denied the Pentagon’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Spero said the plaintiffs will likely prove the department violated their right to equal protection under the Fifth and 14th amendments by failing to systematically correct the paperwork of all veterans discharged under DADT and similar policies. A resolution filed by Senate Democrats would formally apologize for past actions that discriminated against LGBTQ+ service members and federal employees—including DADT, which was repealed in 2011.
Estimated new HIV infection rates have declined 23% from 2012 to 2022—but a KFF Health News-Associated Press analysis found the rate has not fallen for Latinos as much as it has for other racial and ethnic groups, according to the AP. While Blacks continue to have the highest HIV rates in the United States overall, Latinos made up the largest share of new HIV diagnoses and infections among gay and bisexual men in 2022. Latinos, who compose about 19% of the U.S. population, accounted for about 33% of new HIV infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Utah, several college campuses across the state are closing or restructuring their LGBTQ+ resource centers as HB 261 (aka “Equal Opportunity Initiatives”) takes effect, per KJZZ. The measure replaces diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in Utah schools with “student success and support” programs—meaning that centers focused on historically marginalized students are now replaced by or transitioning to spaces for all students. The University of Utah said that under HB 261, student services must be available to all students and not provided to individual students based on “personal identity characteristics.”
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) joined his colleagues in introducing a bill to support LGBTQ+ older adults and older adults with HIV in Oregon and nationwide, per the Sierra Sun Times. The Elder Pride Act would establish an Office of LGBTQ+ Inclusion within the Department of Health and Human Services to gather info on LGBTQ+ older adults; in addition, the bill would advocate, coordinate activities and recommend policies for LGBTQ+ older adults. Compared to their cis and heterosexual peers, LGBTQ+ elders have fewer sources of support, face higher poverty rates, struggle to access health services, and experience poorer health care outcomes. Other co-sponsors of the bill that U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Massachusetts) originally introduced include U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania.), Alex Padilla (D-California) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin).
Also regarding Oregon, progressive advocacy groups plan to begin gathering signatures for a November 2026 ballot initiative that would enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution, Willamette Week noted. The initiative would amend the state constitution to explicitly ban discrimination on account of pregnancy-related decisions, gender identity, sexual orientation and gender. Basic Rights Oregon, the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon announced the initiative on the two-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson that overturned Roe v. Wade.
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York_ has reintroduced The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act, Gay City News noted. The measure would bar federally funded welfare agencies from discriminating against youth and families on the basis of religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.It would would also require the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to create a national resource center for LGBTQ+ youth to promote the safety, stability, well-being, and family placement of LGBTQ+ youth through training, technical assistance, actions and guidance.
The U.S. Supreme Court, on June 27, sidestepped a ruling on whether Idaho’s strict abortion law conflicts with a federal measure that requires stabilizing care for emergency-room patients, including pregnant women suffering complications who may require abortions, NBC News reported. The court dismissed an appeal from Idaho officials, meaning a lower-court ruling that allows doctors in the state to perform abortions in emergency situations remains in effect—for now.
The trial of Samuel Woodward, the man who killed 19-year-old gay University of Pennsylvania student Blaze Bernstein, has started—and his defense has changed from the time he was arrested six years ago, per LGBTQ Nation, citing Mercury News. Woodward now claims that Bernstein groped him while Woodward was intoxicated on cannabis, taking pictures of his genitals and saying, “I got you,” repeatedly while also using the word “outed.” Previously, Woodward said the two had gone to meet in the park, after which Bernstein walked off to meet someone else, coming back to try and kiss Woodward before he murdered him, stabbing him more than 20 times.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors officially threw its support behind proposed legislation that would establish a California LGBTQ+ Commission, the Los Angeles Daily News reported. Assembly Bill 3031 would create a commission “that represents California’s diverse LGBTQ+ community and shines a light on the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ people face,” according to a motion from supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Hilda Solis. The proposed commission would advise the state Legislature and governor on policy matters, collect data, review and assess programs, and provide recommendations that respond to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, according to the motion.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit on behalf of an Alabama hotel employee who was fired after his bosses learned he was gay and saw him dressed in a style that they felt was “feminine,” according to Metro Weekly. The employee, a gay and nonbinary individual referred to as “D.A.” in the suit, was working as a night auditor at the Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel in Dothan, Alabama. The lawsuit alleges that one of the co-owners of the hotel, Hitesh Patel, saw D.A. dressed in ways that defied traditional gender stereotypes and demanded that the assistant general manager tell D.A. to make changes; however, the assistant manager refused, warning Patel that taking those actions could be viewed as discriminatory. Eventually, co-owner Nisha Patel texted D.A., informing them that they were fired.
In New York, the GOP-led Nassau County Legislature voted 12 to five to ban trans athletes from playing at county-owned facilities unless they compete on teams matching the gender they were assigned at birth or on coed teams, per Gay City News. The move followed Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s Feb. 22 executive order attempting to enact a similar ban. At the meeting, when Republican Legislator John. R. Ferretti Jr. said the bill was not a transgender ban since trans women would still be able to compete—just in men’s or coed leagues—audience members chanted, “Lies!”
In Arizona, the Sun City LGBT Club outgrew its previous space at Oakmont and has relocated to the Bell Recreation Center, per the Sun City Independent. The club celebrated with a housewarming on June 14 that drew more than 150 people. Club members Sandy Vandeweghe and Jane Hart provided a new LED sign for the organization while Program Manager Renee Sanderson, of My Home Group, provided food, gift cards and decor for the celebration.
In New Jersey, Gary Santos Mendoza—director of the Intercultural Resource Center at Rutgers University-Newark, the social justice department in the Division of Student Affairs-Newark that serves students of different backgrounds, including the LGBTQA+ community—was recently honored for his work as a 2024 American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Diamond Honoree, the school reported. “This award feels like validation—that it was okay to say and do all the things that I did and not follow the status quo or what was given because I refused to constrict myself into the traditional definition of a higher education leader,” said Santos Mendoza, who identifies as queer. Santos Mendoza is also a Ph.D. candidate in higher education leadership at Florida Atlantic University.
Netflix’s new documentary Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution looks at the life of activist/comedian Robin Tyler, Queerty noted. With a lineup including icons like Lily Tomlin and Rosie O’Donnell as well as newer voices like Patti Harrison, the interwoven commentaries and historic footage provide a framework for the previously produced Netflix comedy special Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration, filmed live in 2022 at Long Angeles’ Greek Theater and featuring dozens of queer comedians. Tyler was the first queer comedian to come out on national television, doing so in a 1978 comedy special hosted by Phyllis Diller. However, Tyler told Queerty, “I never came out because I was never in the closet—not for a second.”
Newsmax host Rob Schmitt had an on-air meltdown after discovering the existence of a gay flag-football league, PinkNews noted. “When you thought you could escape all the Pride Month propaganda by watching football—apparently not,” he said. After explaining the story of the Buffalo Bills sponsoring the National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL), which started in 2002, Schmitt appeared confused, saying, “I, I, I, I literally just asked the producers. I was like: ‘Are we sure that this isn’t some kind of fake story?’” “We are thrilled to bring inclusive flag football to Buffalo with the support of the Buffalo Bills,” NGFFL Commissioner Joel Horton has said. “This exciting addition joins 27 other cities, and [more than] 4,000 players, including straight allies, in the National Gay Flag Football League.”
Anti-LGBTQ+ Congresswoman Lauren Boebert settled a defamation lawsuit with David Wheeler, president of the Democrat super political action committee (Super PAC) American Muckraker, per LGBTQ Nation. Wheeler had accused Boebert of making several malicious false statements about the organization back in 2022, after a controversy erupted following American Muckracker’s creation of a website that allegedly made erroneous claims about her. Wheeler admitted to CNN that the website made erroneous statements about Boebert, although he defended the website’s main allegations against her.
The post NATIONAL White House event, demonstrators, activist honored, HIV summit appeared first on Windy City Times.