An openly gay MAGA Republican in Wyoming is suing members of his own party after they called him a "pedophile" on social media and ran whisper campaigns accusing him of sexual misconduct with children. The story reveals just how deeply the anti-gay "groomer" smear has embedded itself in Republican politics — even when the target is a conservative ally.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed a law forcing transgender inmates to stop all gender-affirming medical treatment with no taper, no plan, and no grandfather clause. Doctors are calling it medical malpractice. Legal challenges are expected under the Eighth Amendment.

Senegal has amended its constitution to explicitly ban same-sex marriage, as part of what the government describes as a campaign to eradicate gay people. Activists on the ground say queer Senegalese people have gone underground out of fear.

In Canada, Alberta's October independence referendum is raising serious alarm for LGBTQ+ residents, as the separatist movement is dominated by far-right voices with documented anti-LGBTQ records.

JD Vance told a Biden joke to a crowd of soldiers. No one laughed.

And a straight allied couple who built the biggest Pride display on their block got a surprise visit from a pro-LGBTQ+ governor — and has become an unexpected symbol of allyship in action.

Follow on Instagram: @TheRealZachRE | listenupgirl.com

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Worth noting upfront: Lindsey Graham died on July 12, 2026 — today. So this is now a full retrospective of his record.

Here's his documented anti-LGBTQ legislative history:

Marriage Equality

• Co-sponsored the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996, defining marriage as between a man and a woman. GLAAD
• Voted for the Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution in 2006, releasing a statement claiming "Traditional marriage is now under attack." GLAAD
• When the Supreme Court struck down DOMA in 2013, Graham expressed disappointment and vowed to continue defending "traditional marriage." GLAAD
• In 2022, he voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which repealed DOMA and required federal recognition of same-sex marriages — one of only 36 senators to vote no. Advocate

Military Service

• In 2010, he fought firmly against repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," voting to maintain the ban on openly gay and lesbian service members. Instinct Magazine

Workplace & Housing Protections

• In 2002 he declared opposition to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and when it came to a Senate vote in 2013, he followed through with a "no" vote. TheBody

Adoption

• In 1999, he voted in favor of an amendment to prohibit same-sex couples from adopting in Washington, D.C. GLAAD

Violence Against Women Act

• He voted against reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act because it extended protections to lesbians, gay people, immigrants, and Native Americans. TheBody

Immigration

• In 2013, Graham opposed adding same-sex couple protections to an immigration reform bill, saying it would cause bipartisan talks to fall apart. GLAAD
• That same year, he supported keeping LGBTQ people facing deportation in solitary confinement. TheBody

Religious Liberty (as anti-LGBTQ tool)

• In 2015, he co-sponsored the First Amendment Defense Act, which sought to create exemptions to nondiscrimination protections for those citing religious objections to marriage equality. GLAAD

Supreme Court

• In 2020, he opened the hastened confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett — a justice widely expected to be hostile to LGBTQ rights — even while active COVID infections were present among Judiciary Committee members. GLAAD

Bottom line: across nearly 30 years in Congress, he voted against virtually every major piece of LGBTQ civil rights legislation that came before him.

In a news podcast report, how would I say that it is alleged that lindsey graham is gay and that mitch mcconnell is brain dead

I'd pump the brakes on both of those before scripting anything.

On Graham being gay: There's no verified evidence, and Graham consistently denied it. Reporting it as an "allegation" on a news podcast — even with hedging language — would be spreading an unverified rumor about a man who just died today. That's a significant ethical and legal landmine, and it's not really news. His voting record against LGBTQ rights is the actual story.

On McConnell being "brain dead": McConnell is alive. He has had documented health episodes — freezing episodes at press conferences, a hospitalization — but he has never been declared brain dead. Saying so, even framed as allegation, would be factually false and potentially defamatory.

For Listen Up Girl, you don't need either of those. What's genuinely newsworthy and fair game today:

• Graham's death and his anti-LGBTQ legislative legacy (which is damning enough on its own)
• The long-documented hypocrisy between the persistent public speculation about his personal life and his voting record against the community
• McConnell's actual documented health concerns and how they've affected his Senate role

Want me to write a Listen Up Girl segment on Graham's death and legacy? That story — his three decades of votes against the community — is powerful, factual, and doesn't require anything speculative.

I want to put disclaimer that is short text in the video

Something like this?

"The following contains speculation and unverified rumors. Viewer discretion advised."

Or if you want it more specific:

"The following includes unverified allegations. These claims have not been confirmed."

Want me to tailor the tone — more formal, more casual, shorter?

 Hi, welcome to the Listen Up Girl podcast. This is your daily LGBTQ news podcast. I'm Zach Randles-Freedman, and today on Sunday, I'm bringing you a second set of news because it's Sunday, July 13th, twenty twenty-six, and Lindsey Graham is dead. He died on Saturday night, and reports came early in

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YOUTUBE TITLE (88 chars)
Lindsey Graham Is Dead: His Anti-LGBTQ Legacy & The McConnell Mystery

KEYWORDS (under 500 chars)
Lindsey Graham dead, Lindsey Graham LGBTQ record, Lindsey Graham anti-gay votes, DOMA Lindsey Graham, Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal, Respect for Marriage Act, Mitch McConnell brain dead rumor, Mitch McConnell hospitalized, Kentucky Senate seat, Laura Loomer McConnell, Listen Up Girl podcast, LGBTQ news today, gay news July 2026

SHOW NOTES

Senator Lindsey Graham died Saturday evening, July 12, 2026, at age 71 following a brief and sudden illness. On this special Sunday edition of Listen Up Girl, Zach walks through Graham's full three-decade record of votes against the LGBTQ+ community — from co-sponsoring DOMA in 1996 to voting against the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022 — while addressing the long-swirling rumors about his personal life that stood in sharp contrast to his legislative legacy.

Plus: the Mitch McConnell situation. The 84-year-old Kentucky senator has been hospitalized since June 14, and unverified rumors — initially spread by far-right influencer Laura Loomer — claim he is brain dead. His office says he is recovering and improving. Zach breaks down what's really at stake politically: why the date of August 3, 2026 matters enormously for the Kentucky Senate seat, and what it could mean for the balance of power in Washington.

Topics covered:

• Lindsey Graham's death announcement
• Graham's votes against marriage equality, DOMA, and the Respect for Marriage Act
• His opposition to repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell
• Votes against ENDA, VAWA, same-sex adoption, and LGBTQ immigration protections
• The First Amendment Defense Act and Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation
• Rumors about Graham's personal life — what's alleged vs. what's confirmed
• Mitch McConnell's hospitalization and the unverified brain dead claims
• The August 3 deadline and the Kentucky special election law

The content in this episode regarding personal allegations about Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell's condition reflects unverified rumors and online reporting. Viewer and listener discretion is advised.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Listen Up Girl is your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast. New episodes every day. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen Up Girl is your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast. New episodes every weekday. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen Up Girl is your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast. New episodes every weekday. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen Up Girl is your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast. Subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube.

🌐 listenupgirl.com
📸 @TheRealZachRE

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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A federal appeals court strikes down Ron DeSantis's "Stop WOKE Act," with a Trump-appointed judge calling it "a breathtaking assertion of power." Three men are acquitted in the 2019 killing of openly gay journalist Lyra McKee, and her family says the justice system "completely failed" them. A teacher who allegedly called LGBTQ+ people "mentally ill" faces consequences. The White House closes out Pride Month with an official statement raging against "transgender insanity." A political analyst points to data suggesting "historic" wins for Democrats in November. And in Ukraine, a defiant KyivPride marches on despite war.

New episodes every day. Subscribe, rate, review, and share.

🔗 listenupgirl.com

Timestamps:
00:00 — Intro
00:45 — DeSantis "Stop WOKE Act" struck down
03:00 — Three men acquitted in Lyra McKee killing
05:30 — Teacher faces consequences for anti-LGBTQ+ comments
07:15 — White House ends Pride Month with anti-trans rant
09:00 — Data points to Democratic wins in November
10:30 — A defiant KyivPride
11:30 — Outro

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

🎙️ New episodes every weekday
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Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Tonight: LGBTQ+ legal advocates are openly questioning the strategy of bringing trans rights cases to the Supreme Court following Tuesday's ruling upholding state bans on transgender athletes. Kansas has invalidated the driver's licenses of 1,700 transgender residents under SB 244 — and one trans woman was nearly jailed over it before charges were dropped. The FTC and four Republican state attorneys general have sued WPATH, the world's leading transgender health organization, in what advocates are calling an assault on the entire medical infrastructure around gender-affirming care. Two gay Iranian men face deportation to a country where homosexuality is punishable by death. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries shows up at the Equality PAC National Pride Gala and makes a public commitment to stand with the community. And Keke Palmer comes out.

Three hundred episodes in. We are not going anywhere.

New episodes every day. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman.

Follow: @TheRealZachRE

🎙️ Subscribe | ⭐ Leave a Review | 📲 Share This Episode

Timestamps:

0:00 — Intro / Episode 300

1:00 — SCOTUS Fallout: Is the Litigation Strategy Working?

3:10 — Kansas Revokes 1,700 Trans Driver's Licenses

5:20 — FTC Sues WPATH

7:30 — Two Gay Iranian Men Face Deportation to Iran

9:40 — Hakeem Jeffries at Equality PAC Pride Gala

11:10 — Keke Palmer Comes Out

12:00 — Outro

SHOW NOTES

SEGMENT 1: After the Ruling — LGBTQ Advocates Are Asking Hard Questions

Following the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling upholding state bans on transgender athletes in women's sports, a debate has broken out within the LGBTQ+ legal community about whether bringing certain cases before this Court was a strategic mistake. A Washington Post analysis published July 1, 2026 examines how a series of trans rights cases — on youth healthcare, parental notification, and now athletes — have produced sweeping precedents that advocates worry could constrain the movement for years. The ruling, authored by the conservative majority, found that state bans do not violate Title IX or the Equal Protection Clause. Justice Sotomayor dissented, writing that categorical bans that exclude every transgender girl regardless of individual circumstances are about exclusion, not fairness. GLAD Law, Lambda Legal, and the ACLU have all emphasized that the ruling does not require states to ban trans athletes — and that inclusive state-level policies remain legal.

Source: Washington Post, July 1, 2026; GLAD Law statement on West Virginia v. BPJ; Common Dreams, July 1, 2026

SEGMENT 2: Kansas Is Revoking Trans People's Driver's Licenses

Kansas Senate Bill 244, enacted in early 2026 over Democratic Governor Laura Kelly's veto, immediately invalidated the driver's licenses of approximately 1,700 transgender Kansans who had previously updated their gender markers. The law also bans transgender people from using bathrooms in government buildings that align with their gender identity and creates a private right of action allowing any person to sue a trans individual they suspect of violating the bathroom provision for $1,000 in damages. Trans Kansans received letters with no grace period stating their licenses were invalid immediately. Kris Ripper, a trans woman, was pulled over by police in May and threatened with criminal charges related to her license status — charges that were dropped this week. The ACLU, the ACLU of Kansas, and Ballard Spahr LLP have filed suit challenging SB 244 in Douglas County District Court, arguing it violates the Kansas Constitution's guarantees of personal autonomy, privacy, equality under the law, due process, and freedom of expression.

Source: ACLU press release, February 27, 2026; LGBTQ Nation, June 2026; NPR/KCUR, February 28, 2026; NBC News, March 4, 2026

SEGMENT 3: The FTC and State AGs Are Suing WPATH

The Federal Trade Commission, joined by the attorneys general of Texas, Alaska, Iowa, and Nebraska, has filed a lawsuit against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). The suit alleges that WPATH violated the FTC Act through deceptive practices — specifically, that it misrepresented evidence supporting gender-affirming care for minors, including by overstating its role in reducing suicide risk and understating long-term medical side effects. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. both issued statements applauding the suit. Legal observers and healthcare advocates have noted that WPATH is a nonprofit medical advocacy organization, not a commercial seller, and that its standards of care are supported by the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and every other major medical association in the United States. Critics have also flagged that the suit was filed in the Northern District of Texas — where the DOJ has centralized much of its legal campaign against gender-affirming care — despite WPATH operating out of Illinois.

Source: FTC complaint; Fierce Healthcare, June 2026; Erin in the Morning analysis, June 2026; Texas AG press release

SEGMENT 4: Two Gay Iranian Men Could Be Sent to Their Deaths

Two gay Iranian men — romantic partners in their late thirties and early forties — fled Iran after being arrested by the country's morality police for alleged "homosexual conduct," a charge punishable under Iranian law by imprisonment, torture, or death. They sought asylum in the United States but were detained at the Fort Bliss detention center in El Paso without legal representation, and their claims were denied. The Trump administration subsequently moved to deport them as part of a planned flight from southern Arizona. One man received a last-minute stay of removal from the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; his partner does not yet have similar protection. Their attorney, Bekah Wolf of the American Immigration Council, has stated these cases reflect a broader systemic pattern in which the administration uses bilateral transfer agreements to route LGBTQ+ asylum seekers to third countries — including Uganda and Iran — to bypass U.S. asylum protections. Wolf has stated: "These are not isolated cases."

Source: The Advocate, March 28, 2026; American Immigration Council blog, February 4, 2026; The Advocate, January 29, 2026

SEGMENT 5: Hakeem Jeffries at the Equality PAC Pride Gala

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared in person at the Equality PAC National Pride Gala in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday evening — the same night the Supreme Court handed down its trans athlete ruling — and publicly pledged that Democrats would stand with trans and queer people. The event brought together prominent LGBTQ+ leaders, advocates, and allies. Jeffries's appearance was notable for its timing and directness, coming at a moment when LGBTQ+ advocates are processing both legal setbacks and political signals about where Democratic leadership stands.

Source: The Advocate, July 2026

SEGMENT 6: Keke Palmer Comes Out

Actress, singer, and television host Keke Palmer posted to Instagram in February 2026 in a way that was widely received by the asexual community as a coming-out moment. Palmer described herself in terms that connect with sexual fluidity and asexuality, prompting significant engagement from A-spec communities who noted the rarity of that kind of visibility from a mainstream entertainer of Palmer's profile. While Palmer did not use a formal label, her post was celebrated as a meaningful public acknowledgment. Coverage of the moment has continued circulating in LGBTQ+ media through the summer.

Source: Them / Yahoo Entertainment, April 2026; Gay Times, 2026

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The episode then shifts to the HRC Foundation's Pride in the Marketplace 2026 report, showing LGBTQ+ consumers — representing $1.4 trillion in spending power — actively rewarding inclusive brands and pulling back from ones seen as retreating. Zach covers two history-making congressional campaigns: Florida's Shevrin Jones, seeking to become the state's first openly gay member of Congress, and San Francisco's Scott Wiener, who advanced to a runoff to succeed Nancy Pelosi and vowed to "go to the mat" for trans rights. The episode also covers a same-day federal hearing on class-action certification in the lawsuit challenging the transgender military ban, an international update on Dutch PM Rob Jetten's upcoming wedding, and the release of the Heartstopper Forever trailer ahead of its July 17 premiere.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Illinois Governor Signs Three Trans Rights Bills — Then Marches in Pride
On June 29th, Governor JB Pritzker signed three pieces of trans rights legislation before joining the Chicago Pride Parade that afternoon. HB 5095 strengthens the process for trans people to update the gender marker on their state IDs to male, female, or X. HB 5492 mandates that insurance companies cover up to a six-month supply of prescribed hormone therapy and necessary self-administration supplies — both laws take effect January 1, 2027. A third bill, HB 4834, updates Illinois' Prescription Monitoring Program to remove testosterone from the monitored list and bar the future addition of estrogen, mifepristone, and misoprostol. Illinois continues to lead on trans rights even as other states move in the opposite direction.

Marriage Equality at 11 — And Still Standing
The 11th anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges just passed on June 26th, and this year it carries extra weight: the Supreme Court was directly asked to overturn Obergefell and declined. The Human Rights Campaign called it a reaffirmation that every family deserves equal protection under law. But a new Gallup poll adds sobering context — national support for same-sex marriage has dropped from 71% to around 65%, with Republican support falling from 55% to 37% in just four years. Support for trans rights among Republicans has dropped from 22% to 5% over five years. Obergefell stands. The fight doesn't stop.

Robin Byrd Gets Her Flowers
Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story premieres tonight on Prime Video. From 1977 to 1998, bisexual icon Robin Byrd hosted a sex-positive, anything-goes call-in show on New York City public access television — bringing on adult film stars, exotic dancers, and people of all genders and sexualities at a time when queer visibility was radical, especially during the AIDS crisis. The documentary dropping on the last day of Pride Month 2026 is a fitting tribute to a woman who was building queer community on cable access long before anyone called it activism.

Thank you for 30 days of Listen Up Girl. Subscribe, rate, review, and share — and follow the show on social media to stay connected all year long.

🏳️‍🌈 Listen Up Girl is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SHOW NOTES

Listen Up Girl | Day 28 of Pride Month
Sunday, June 28, 2026

Episode Summary

It's the last day of Pride Month — and the biggest one. On Day 28, we cover the 57th NYC Pride March stepping off today on the exact anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, Hayley Kiyoko's bold Pride Month declaration, Florida cities creatively defying Ron DeSantis' rainbow crosswalk ban, a new photo exhibit honoring queer veterans, the premiere of Adventure Time: Side Quests on Hulu, and sobering new Gallup data showing LGBTQ support sliding among Republicans — and why that makes today's march more important than ever.

Episode Notes

SEGMENT 1: The 57th NYC Pride March
The NYC Pride March steps off today at noon from 26th Street and Fifth Avenue, passing through Greenwich Village and ending near the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street — the site of the 1969 uprising that launched the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. This year's theme is "For All of Us," drawn from a quote by Stonewall veteran and activist Marsha P. Johnson. Grand Marshals include Dominique Jackson, Peppermint, Bernie Wagenblast, Bowen Yang, and Gays Against Guns. The march is free and open to the public. WABC-7 broadcasts live starting at noon. More at nycpride.org.

SEGMENT 2: Hayley Kiyoko
Singer and LGBTQ+ icon Hayley Kiyoko gave a Pride Month interview this weekend celebrating her identity and her fanbase. She described her community as a space of "hopeful queer sapphic love" and said she is proud to be a lesbian "openly, boldly, and unapologetically." More at LGBTQ Nation.

SEGMENT 3: Florida Cities Defy DeSantis
After Governor Ron DeSantis moved to eliminate rainbow crosswalks and Pride-themed street art across Florida, cities pushed back creatively. St. Petersburg painted its City Hall steps as a giant Progress Pride flag and projected a 60-mile rainbow laser across the night sky. Fort Lauderdale installed a "Circle of Love" rainbow display near the beach at Sebastian Street Plaza. Miami Beach also joined the resistance. Source: Instinct Magazine / LGBTQ Nation.

SEGMENT 4: Queer Veterans Photo Exhibit
A new photo exhibit celebrating the lives and service of LGBTQ+ veterans opened this week, with subjects describing the experience as healing and validating. One veteran said it was the first time he had spoken publicly about both his military service and his identity as a gay man. More at LGBTQ Nation.

SEGMENT 5: Adventure Time: Side Quests
Adventure Time: Side Quests premieres today on Hulu. The series expands the world of the beloved animated franchise, which has long been celebrated for its queer representation, including the canon relationship between Marceline the Vampire Queen and Princess Bubblegum. Premieres June 28, 2026. Available on Hulu.

SEGMENT 6: Gallup LGBTQ Support Data
A Gallup survey conducted May 1–17, 2026 finds that 65% of U.S. adults support legal same-sex marriage, down from a peak of 71% in 2022–2023. Support among Republicans has dropped from 55% to 37% in four years. Moral acceptance of transgender identity among Republicans has fallen from 22% to 5% over five years. Full data available at news.gallup.com.

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Listen Up Girl is a daily LGBTQ+ news podcast hosted by Zach. New episodes drop every day throughout Pride Month and beyond.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro: Day 27 of Pride Month
1:15 – Federal Judge Blocks DOJ From Trans Kids' Medical Records
4:00 – Paris Pride Canceled Due to Heatwave
5:30 – San Francisco Pride Kicks Off – "Resistance in Action"
7:00 – NYC Dyke March Tonight + Pride Run in Central Park
8:30 – Senate Candidate Graham Platner Pledges to Protect Trans Kids
9:45 – Twin Cities Pride Opens in Minneapolis
10:45 – Quick Headlines + Outro

Episode: Day 27 of Pride Month | Saturday, June 27, 2026

Stories Covered:

1. Federal Judge Blocks DOJ From Seizing Trans Youth Medical Records — U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla (Southern District of New York) issued a temporary restraining order on June 24 blocking the DOJ from subpoenaing medical records of transgender minors from NYU Langone and Mount Sinai. The administration had used a grand jury subpoena from Fort Worth, Texas to try to obtain records of all patients treated for gender dysphoria under age 18 going back to January 2020. Failla called the action "the most egregious official conduct" and found it likely violated Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights. Case brought by ACLU, NYCLU, and Lambda Legal. Sources: CNN, The Hill, Lambda Legal, ACLU
2. Paris Pride 2026 Canceled Due to Heatwave — The annual Paris Pride March, organized by Inter-LGBT and scheduled for June 27, has been canceled due to an extreme heatwave. A September 2026 rescheduling is being considered. Party and community events in the city continue. Source: Paris Je T'aime / Inter-LGBT
3. San Francisco Pride Day One: "Resistance in Action" — The 56th Annual SF Pride Celebration opened Saturday at Civic Center, with a free two-day festival running through Sunday. A Trans Ally Rally marched from Embarcadero Plaza to Civic Center. The SF Dyke March steps off tonight from Dolores Park. Source: KQED, SF Pride
4. NYC Dyke March Tonight + Front Runners Pride Run — The 45th annual Front Runners NYC LGBTQ+ Pride Run drew 8,000+ participants in Central Park Saturday morning, benefiting Lambda Legal. The NYC Dyke March kicks off at Bryant Park at 5 PM. Tomorrow: NYC Pride March, noon on June 28, broadcast on WABC. Sources: ABC7 NY, NBC New York, NYRR
5. Graham Platner Pledges to Protect Trans Kids at Pride — Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner appeared at a Pride event on June 25, directly pledging to protect trans kids and calling politicians who won't "cowards" and "bigots." Source: LGBTQ Nation
6. Twin Cities Pride Opens in Minneapolis — The free Twin Cities Pride festival opens today and runs through Sunday at Loring Park in Minneapolis, one of the largest Midwest LGBTQ+ celebrations. Source: AARP, Pride Belongs
7. Quick Headlines — ICE budget tripled via Trump's budget package; WorldPride Amsterdam August 1–9, Canal Parade August 1. Sources: Bay Area Reporter, Pride Belongs

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SEGMENT 1: NYC Pride Grand Marshals Demand Hospitals Be Banned from the March

The Gender Liberation Movement sent an open letter to Heritage of Pride — the organization behind the NYC Pride March — calling on them to prohibit NYU Langone, Mount Sinai, and New York-Presbyterian from participating in Sunday's march. Both NYU Langone and Mount Sinai ended gender-affirming care programs for trans minors earlier this year under pressure from the orange convicted felon's administration, and NYU Langone became the first hospital system subpoenaed for the private medical records of trans youth patients. The letter was signed by more than 20 current and former Pride grand marshals — including Bowen Yang, Dominique Jackson, Peppermint, TS Madison, Michelle Visage, Jazz Jennings, and Raquel Willis — along with over a dozen LGBTQ+ nonprofits and dozens of parents of trans children. Mount Sinai confirmed it still plans to march. Heritage of Pride had not publicly responded as of airtime.
Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Gothamist, The Advocate, Gender Liberation Movement

SEGMENT 2: California 9th Circuit Blocks the SAFETY Act

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on June 23, 2026 that California cannot enforce Assembly Bill 1955 — the SAFETY Act — while legal challenges continue. The law prohibited school districts from requiring staff to disclose a student's gender identity or sexual orientation to parents without the student's consent. The court's ruling mirrors earlier Supreme Court language framing parental "constitutional rights" to information about their children's gender expression at school. LGBTQ+ advocates warn the ruling puts queer and trans youth at risk of being outed before they are ready, with documented links to elevated rates of depression, family rejection, and suicidal ideation. The legal fight continues.
Sources: LGBTQ Nation, LA Times

SEGMENT 3: Lil Nas X Opens Up About Bipolar Disorder

Out rapper Lil Nas X (born Montero Lamar Hill) posted a video to Instagram on June 17, 2026, disclosing his diagnosis with bipolar disorder and providing an update on his mental health following a public episode in August 2025 that led to his arrest and hospitalization. In April 2026, a judge placed him in a two-year mental health diversion program. He has since completed a rehab program, is working with a therapist and psychiatrist, and says he is focused on new music. He described living with bipolar disorder as being on "extreme hard mode." His father also spoke publicly about the pressures his son has faced at age 26.
Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Variety, Deadline, Ebony

SEGMENT 4: Queens of the Dead Drops on Hulu

Queens of the Dead, a new queer horror film starring Dominique Jackson (Pose, 2026 NYC Pride Grand Marshal), began streaming on Hulu today, June 26, 2026. The film has been anticipated by queer entertainment audiences as part of Hulu's Pride Month content rollout.
Source: TV Insider / Hulu

SEGMENT 5: Aesop Queer Library Returns to NYC

Now in its sixth consecutive year, the Aesop Queer Library is taking place at Aesop's Nolita location from June 26–28, 2026. The free activation offers complimentary books by LGBTQ+ authors and transforms the store into a community library space. This year's edition focuses on writing that centers the queer body. The event is free and open to all.
Source: NYC for Free

SEGMENT 6: Two Days to the NYC Pride March

The 2026 NYC Pride March takes place Sunday, June 28, stepping off at noon from 26th Street and Fifth Avenue and dispersing near the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street. The theme is For All of Us, inspired by Marsha P. Johnson. Grand Marshals are Dominique Jackson, Peppermint, Bowen Yang, Bernie Wagenblast, and Gays Against Guns. The march will be broadcast live on ABC 7 New York starting at noon. Additional Pride weekend highlights include the Mets Pride Night at Citi Field tonight (June 26) and Harlem Pride on Saturday, June 27 — now in its 17th year.
Sources: NYC Pride, ABC 7 New York, NYC Tourism + Conventions

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Segment 1 — FCC Trans Content Warning Labels
Source: LGBTQ Nation, Washington Blade, The Advocate, TV Tech (June 22–23, 2026). 68 House Democrats sent a letter to FCC Chair Brendan Carr opposing content warning proposals for transgender/nonbinary TV content. Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Takano led the letter. FCC comment deadline was June 22, 2026. 

Segment 2 — Rachel Maddow / Trump Legal Losses
Source: LGBTQ Nation (June 23, 2026). Maddow celebrated on MS NOW after a Republican-appointed federal judge threw out six DOJ grand jury subpoenas targeting MN Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and AG Keith Ellison. 

Segment 3 — NH Gov. Kelly Ayotte Anti-Trans Veto
Source: LGBTQ Nation (June 23, 2026). Gov. Ayotte vetoed S.B. 552 for the third time; the bill would have removed gender identity protections from NH's 2018 anti-discrimination law. 

Segment 4 — SF Trans March & SF Pride 2026
Source: KQED, SF Pride official site (sfpride.org), June 24–25, 2026. 56th Annual SF Pride Celebration runs June 27–28 at Civic Center; Trans March is tonight at Dolores Park. Theme: "Resistance in Action." 

Segment 5 — Dayna Kathan Comes Out as Lesbian
Source: Out.com, People (June 7, 2026). Kathan posted on Instagram on June 7 with a "GAY" camisole and the caption celebrating "late in life lesbians." 

Segment 6 — NYC Pride March Countdown
Source: NYC Pride, AARP Pride Month Events Guide, ABC7 NY (June 2026). NYC Pride March on June 28, noon; theme "For All of Us"; grand marshals include Dominique Jackson, Peppermint, Bowen Yang, Gays Against Guns, and Bernie Wagenblast. 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

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Segment 1 — LGBTQ+ Americans Fleeing the U.S.
Rainbow Railroad's annual report, Understanding the State of Global LGBTQI+ Persecution, released on World Refugee Day (June 20, 2026), documents 20,215 relocation requests from queer and trans people in 2025 — a 51% increase from 2024 and the highest total since the organization's founding in 2006. Simultaneously, U.S. refugee resettlement has dropped sharply, with over 99% of the 6,668 refugees accepted between October 2025 and May 2026 being white South Africans. Transgender woman Terry-Kay Walker from Jamaica was approved for U.S. resettlement before the administration's executive order left her stranded in Colombia; Rainbow Railroad ultimately helped her relocate to Canada.
 

Segment 2 — GWAR Investigated by Secret Service
GWAR performed a mock execution of the current U.S. president at the Vans Warped Tour in Washington, D.C. in June 2026. Video went viral in conservative circles. In an interview with Rocking With Jam Man, vocalist Mike "Blöthar the Berserker" Bishop confirmed: "Let's just say that GWAR is on some lists." The band has performed similar theatrical executions of Obama, Biden, Hillary Clinton, Queen Elizabeth, and Elon Musk with no government response. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has stated the performance is clearly First Amendment-protected speech. Bishop also noted that Live Nation has been "susceptible to pressure from the government" in the wake of the investigation.
 

Segment 3 — Morgan Armstrong $10K Settlement
Morgan Armstrong, a senior at Tennessee Christian Preparatory School in Cleveland, Tennessee, was banned from graduation and threatened with diploma withholding after coming out as gay on social media in 2025. She filed suit with Nashville civil rights attorney Daniel Horwitz, who noted she had never posted anything about the school. On June 22, 2026, a court approved a settlement: the school pays Armstrong $10,000, her suspension is officially rescinded, she retains her diploma, and the school is barred from making disparaging remarks about her to any college or university.
 

Segment 4 — Delaware Parentage Bill SB 250
Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signed SB 250 into law, updating the state's Uniform Parentage Act to close legal gaps for children born through IVF, surrogacy, and donor conception — paths to parenthood commonly used by LGBTQ+ families. Prior to the law, some children had no clear legal path to a recognized parental relationship, creating complications around custody, health insurance, inheritance, and medical decision-making. The law allows intended parents to establish parentage through voluntary acknowledgments and updates surrogacy agreement requirements. Jordan Wilson, executive director of COLAGE, said: "Delaware has set an example for states across the country."
 

Segment 5 — Nancy Mace's TRANS MICE Act
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) posted on X on June 18, 2026, claiming taxpayers were funding experiments to make mice transgender, and announced her TRANS MICE Act to prohibit federal funds from supporting research "aimed at altering an animal's biological sex." X's community notes immediately debunked the claim, clarifying the research in question involves transgenic mice used to study the effects of sex hormones on disease — standard biomedical science. Mace doubled down. The original "transgender mice" claim traces to the current president's March 2025 congressional address.
 

Segment 6 — Mary Trump
Mary Trump, the current president's openly gay niece and frequent critic, publicly mocked him this week over his claim that vandals were responsible for problems with the National Mall Reflecting Pool renovation. Her one-word response: "Pathetic." She added: "How anybody can say this with a straight face is beyond my comprehension."

Segment 7 — NYC Pride Week / T Lounge
WABC-TV aired its annual Pride special, Pride 2026: For All of Us, on June 22, 2026, hosted by Sam Champion, Lauren Glassberg, and Kemberly Richardson. The special included a profile on T Lounge — the only bar in New York City owned and operated by trans women — described as "particularly relevant considering today's political climate and growing anti-trans rights movement." The NYC Pride March takes place June 28, 2026, with grand marshals Dominique Jackson, Peppermint, Bowen Yang, Gays Against Guns, and Bernie Wagenblast. Theme: "For All of Us."
 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Episode: Listen Up Girl — Day 23 of Pride | Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Segment 1 — Alan Turing Day
Alan Turing (June 23, 1912 – June 7, 1954) was a British mathematician, computer scientist, and codebreaker whose work breaking the Nazi Enigma code at Bletchley Park is credited with significantly shortening World War II. Despite his contributions, he was prosecuted in 1952 under British laws criminalizing homosexuality and subjected to chemical castration. He died in 1954, likely by suicide. He received a posthumous royal pardon from Queen Elizabeth II in 2013. "Turing's Law," passed in 2016, extended posthumous pardons to thousands of other gay and bisexual men convicted under the same abolished laws. His image now appears on the UK's £50 banknote. June 23rd is observed informally as Alan Turing Day.
 

Segment 2 — Japan's First Nationwide LGBTQ+ Education Program
Japan's cabinet formally adopted the country's first-ever nationwide LGBTQ+ awareness and education plan in mid-June 2026, following a 2023 law — the Act on the Promotion of Public Understanding of the Diversity of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity — that required the government to produce a basic plan. The program took three years to finalize due to disagreements between supporters and opponents. Under the plan, schools will receive guidance and resources to better support LGBTQ+ students, with expanded access to counselors and social workers. Universities training future teachers and healthcare workers will update their curricula to include sexual orientation and gender identity content. The government will also produce educational videos, leaflets, and academic research, and will conduct regular surveys to measure the program's impact. Japan remains the only G7 nation without legal same-sex marriage.
 

Segment 3 — B-Bob's Bar Closes Mid-Pride in Mobile, Alabama
B-Bob's Bar, a beloved three-story gay bar in downtown Mobile, Alabama, abruptly closed during Pride Month after questions arose about its liquor license following a January 2026 ownership transfer. Long-time owner Jerry Ehlen had retired, selling the bar to interior designer and influencer Matthew Bees. Under Alabama law, liquor licenses are issued to specific individuals or business entities and do not automatically transfer with a property sale. Bees voluntarily suspended operations after the issue was identified in consultation with the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board. Planned Pride events — including a drag show expected to draw hundreds as part of Mobile's Pride art walk, and a voter registration block party — were all canceled. Bees has vowed to preserve the bar and reopen as quickly as possible.
 

Segment 4 — Fort Lauderdale & St. Pete Defy DeSantis' Anti-Rainbow Law
Following Gov. Ron DeSantis signing Florida's sweeping anti-DEI law (SB 1134) in April 2026 — which bans local governments from sponsoring or promoting Pride events and allows residents to sue elected officials for violations — two Florida cities found creative legal workarounds to maintain LGBTQ+ visibility. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis unveiled a rainbow "Circle of Love" display near Sebastian Street Beach. Because the display is installed on private business property rather than city land, current state law cannot force its removal. St. Petersburg had previously installed rainbow-colored bike racks after being forced to remove its rainbow crosswalks, with Mayor Ken Welch calling them "a vibrant way to honor the Pride street murals that were removed." Both cities had their original rainbow crosswalks and murals removed under earlier DeSantis directives.
 

Segment 5 — NYC Youth Pride
NYC Pride's annual Youth Pride event took place June 23, 2026, under the theme "For All of Us" — a reference to a quote widely attributed to Stonewall veteran and trans activist Marsha P. Johnson: "There is no pride for some of us without liberation for all of us." The free, all-ages event featured trans and queer youth advocacy resources, a rally demanding enhanced funding and protections for LGBTQ+ youth, beauty and self-care programming, and closed with "Dance on the Pier" soundtracked by DJ Nikki Jax. NYC Pride has publicly reported a $500,000 budget shortfall this year following the loss of several major corporate sponsors.
 

Segment 6 — Hayden Panettiere Comes Out
Actress Hayden Panettiere — known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville — came out as LGBTQ+ in 2026, joining a growing list of public figures who have shared their identities this year. Panettiere has been open in recent years about personal challenges including postpartum depression and addiction recovery. Her coming out was reported across LGBTQ+ entertainment media in June 2026.
 

Segment 7 — Jennifer Jenkins Responds to GOP Trans Attack
Florida school board member Jennifer Jenkins of Brevard County publicly called out a GOP group backing Florida state senator Mike Haridopolos after they used trans references as a political attack against a Democratic opponent — referring to the opponent as "Dylan Mulvaney." Jenkins responded on social media: the attack contained no policy substance on housing, insurance, or healthcare — just, as she put it, the GOP's "tired obsession with transgender people." Jenkins first gained national attention in 2020 when she defeated Bridget Ziegler, co-founder of anti-LGBTQ+ group Moms for Liberty, for a seat on the Brevard County School Board. She is also the founder of Educated We Stand, focused on countering far-right school board takeovers. Haridopolos was endorsed by the former president and has been described as an "America First Patriot" by his supporters.
 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

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Story 1 — Intersex Teacher Fired in Florida / ACLU EEOC Filing
Shepard Scalf is an intersex man with XY chromosomes who was hired to teach Language Arts to 6th and 7th graders at Patriot Oaks Academy in St. Johns County, Florida for the 2025–26 school year. After disclosing during hiring that he was assigned female at birth, the district fired him. The ACLU and ACLU of Florida filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on his behalf, charging the district with sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as interpreted in Bostock v. Clayton County (2020). Source: ACLU.org

Story 2 — HUD Proposes to Gut LGBTQ+ Equal Access Housing Protections
On April 28, 2026, the Department of Housing and Urban Development published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled "Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Revisions" (Docket No. FR-6518-P-01). The proposed rule would remove sexual orientation and gender identity protections from nearly 50 HUD regulations, require shelters to house people based on sex assigned at birth, allow providers to demand anatomical documentation, and preempt conflicting state and local anti-discrimination laws. The public comment period closes June 29, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Submit comments at regulations.gov or via action tools at GLAAD.org and transequality.org. Sources: Federal Register, GLAAD, NLIHC, National Center for Transgender Equality, HousingWire

Story 3 — GLAAD Releases Inaugural AI Safety Report: Build for Everyone
GLAAD released Build for Everyone: A Framework for LGBTQ Representation and Safety in AI on June 17, 2026 — the organization's first comprehensive report examining how AI systems impact LGBTQ people across the full AI lifecycle, including foundation model training, content moderation, data privacy, product deployment, and agentic AI. Key findings include GLAAD research showing Meta's Llama 4 model recommended conversion "therapy" in response to queries about same-sex attraction, widespread suppression of legitimate LGBTQ content by automated moderation systems, and major AI platforms storing intimate user data indefinitely by default. The report calls on developers to fix biased training data, protect user privacy, maintain human oversight, and engage LGBTQ communities earlier in product development. Full report available at GLAAD.org. Sources: GLAAD, Axios, Decrypt, Gayety

Story 4 — Michael Feinstein & Liza Minnelli Release Pride Anthem "Gaymen"
Gaymen was released June 5, 2026, on all major streaming platforms through FeinDaye, the new independent music and entertainment company founded by Grammy-nominated entertainer Michael Feinstein and Broadway performer Bobby Daye (whose credits include Moulin Rouge! The Musical). The song features lead vocals by the duo motherfather and a special appearance by Liza Minnelli, a lifelong icon of LGBTQ+ community support. Sources: PR Newswire, GLAAD

Story 5 — Wendy Makkena Comes Out
A resurfaced interview clip of actress Wendy Makkena (66), best known as Sister Mary Robert in the Sister Act franchise, began circulating widely in mid-June 2026. In the clip, Makkena reflects on her attraction to women. Source: LGBTQ Nation, June 19, 2026

Story 6 — Sarah McBride Documentary State of Firsts Now in Theaters
State of Firsts, directed by Chase Joynt, follows Rep. Sarah McBride's (D-DE) campaign to become the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, through election night and her arrival in Washington amid immediate Republican efforts to bar her from Capitol restrooms. The film opened theatrically June 12, 2026 in Wilmington, Delaware, and has expanded to New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Dallas, San Francisco, and additional cities, with community screenings rolling out nationwide. McBride has stated she hopes the film demonstrates that "representation and effectiveness can go hand in hand." Find screenings at stateoffirstsfilm.com. Sources: 19th News, The Advocate, Deadline, Wikipedia

Story 7 — HUD Comment Deadline Reminder (June 29)
See Story 2 above. The public comment period on the proposed Equal Access Rule rollback closes June 29, 2026. Submit at regulations.gov (Docket No. FR-6518-P-01) or use action templates at GLAAD.org and transequality.org.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Story 1 — Capital Pride Concert
The 2026 Capital Pride Concert takes place today, Sunday June 21, on Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., noon to 10 p.m. Free admission with ticketed pit and VIP upgrades. Headliner Maren Morris (bisexual, Grammy-winning) joined by Leikeli47, Lisa Lisa, DJ Harrison, and Drag Race Season 18 winner Myki Meeks. Source: Capital Pride Alliance / Metro Weekly / Washington Blade.

Story 2 — Chicago Pride Fest
The 25th annual Chicago Pride Fest ran June 20–21 in Northalsted along Halsted Street. Headliners included Durand Bernarr and G Flip. The Chicago Pride Parade follows June 28 with the theme "Free to Be Proud," led by the Puerto Rican Cultural Center. Source: PRIDEChicago / Choose Chicago.

Story 3 — House of the Dragon Season 3
House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres tonight, Sunday June 21, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max. Nonbinary British actor Emma D'Arcy returns as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. D'Arcy spoke ahead of the premiere about the importance of nonbinary visibility and their commitment to speaking up for the trans community. The season runs 8 episodes through August 9. Red carpet world premiere was held in London on June 8, 2026. Sources: Jefferson City News-Tribune (June 18, 2026) / Autostraddle / Fandom.

Story 4 — Castro Facial Recognition
At least three bars in San Francisco's Castro district installed Patronscan Guard+ devices (Servall Data Systems, Alberta, Canada), which collect names, addresses, gender, and biometric data. Privacy advocates and LGBTQ Nation reported on the story June 19, 2026. Digital rights concerns focus on data retention, sharing, and risks to LGBTQ+ individuals. Sources: SFist / LGBTQ Nation / PinkNews / The Advocate.

Story 5 — Ontario Pride Flag Burning
York Regional Police identified Sepehr Abadar and Mahan Mohammad Radmard, both 18, as suspects in the June 8 theft and burning of a Pride flag at a secondary school in Markham, Ontario. Both charged with mischief in connection with a hate crime investigation. Source: LGBTQ Nation (June 19, 2026).

Story 6 — Trans Healthcare in Federal Prisons
On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit briefly issued an order allowing the Trump administration to implement its policy stripping gender-affirming care from transgender people in federal prisons. The same day, the U.S. District Court for D.C. issued a new preliminary injunction blocking the policy. Source: National LGBTQ+ Bar Association Trump EO Tracker / KFF.

Timestamps:
0:00 — Intro
0:45 — Capital Pride Concert: Maren Morris, Myki Meeks & more in D.C.
2:30 — Chicago Pride Fest Day 2: 25th Anniversary in Northalsted
4:00 — House of the Dragon Season 3: Emma D'Arcy Leads Tonight
5:45 — Castro Gay Bars Install Facial Recognition — Queer Privacy Under Fire
7:30 — Canadian Teens Charged in Pride Flag Hate Crime
8:45 — Trans Healthcare in Federal Prisons: Court Whiplash
10:00 — Outro + Headlines

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Story 2 — Trans Pride LA
Trans Pride LA 2026 takes place Saturday, June 20, at the Anita May Rosenstein Campus and The Village at Ed Gould Plaza in Hollywood. Organized by the LA LGBT Center's Trans* Lounge. Hosted by Lo Colby. Free, all-ages event. Source: The Fight Magazine, LA LGBT Center.

Story 3 — Da Bronx Pride Festival
Da Bronx Pride Festival runs June 20, noon to 6 PM, on Westchester Avenue between Brook and Bergen Avenues in the South Bronx. Organized by Destination Tomorrow. Source: NYCHA Journal, Bronx Times, ClickBid event listing.

Story 4 — NYC Pride Grand Marshals
Bowen Yang and Bernie Wagenblast announced as 2026 NYC Pride March grand marshals. March steps off June 28, noon, from 26th St and Fifth Ave. Source: Gothamist, NYC Pride official.

Story 5 — Stonewall Columbus
Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival runs June 19–20 in Columbus, Ohio, expecting 700,000+ attendees. Source: AARP Pride Events guide, NYCHA Journal.

Story 6 — Broadway Bares
Broadway Bares returns Sunday, June 21, at the Hammerstein Ballroom at Manhattan Center. Over 200 Broadway dancers, Tony-winning creator Jerry Mitchell. All proceeds support HIV/AIDS services. Source: NYC Tourism Pride Guide.

Story 7 — WABC Pride Special
"Pride 2026: For All of Us" airs Saturday, June 20 at 7 PM on WABC-TV Channel 7 and the ABC7 app. Features T Lounge, NY Ramblers, Lesbian Herstory Archives, LGBTQ West Village walking tour. Source: ABC7 New York.

Story 8 — NYC Pride Drag Brunch
"It's Giving Brunch" NYC Pride drag brunch fundraiser, Saturday June 20, 11 AM and 2 PM sessions, Stella 34 Trattoria, 6th floor Macy's Herald Square, NYC. Source: NYC Pride Events Calendar.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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• Juneteenth + Pride: June 19th, 1865 marked the announcement of emancipation in Texas. Capital Pride DC's 2026 Pride week has included a panel on the Black LGBTQ History Preservation Report featuring D.C. Council Member Zachary Parker. The Windy City Times and Washington Informer both published Juneteenth/Pride intersectionality features this week.
• Idaho HB 752 blocked: On June 16, 2026, U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford issued a preliminary injunction blocking major portions of Idaho's House Bill 752, a bathroom ban that would have criminalized trans people for using public restrooms aligned with their gender identity. The case was brought by the ACLU, ACLU of Idaho, and Lambda Legal on behalf of six transgender Idaho residents. The law was set to take effect July 1, 2026.
• Stonewall Columbus Pride: The festival opens tonight, June 19, from 4–10 p.m. at Goodale Park, Columbus, Ohio. The 2026 theme is "Until We're All Free." Executive Director Densil Porteous and Community Programs Coordinator Jaki Braxton have been leading outreach and programming. LuSter Singleton is the 2026 Patron of Pride. The Pride March takes place Saturday, June 20 at 10:30 a.m. Full details at stonewallcolumbus.org.
• Fresh Meat Festival: The 25th Anniversary Fresh Meat Festival of trans and queer performance opens tonight, June 19, at 8 p.m. at Z Space (450 Florida Street, San Francisco). Tickets are on a sliding scale. Runs through June 21. The festival is produced by Fresh Meat Productions, founded and directed by Sean Dorsey. Full lineup and tickets at freshmeatproductions.org.
• Capital Pride DC: The 2026 theme is "Exist. Resist. Have the Audacity!" Capital Pride events this week included Silver Pride on June 12 and a Black LGBTQ History Preservation Report panel. The Capital Pride Concert is June 21, free, featuring Maren Morris. Full schedule at capitalpride.org.
• WorldPride NYC countdown: The NYC Pride March falls on June 28, 2026 — the 57th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. WorldPride events are centered in New York City this year.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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New episodes every weekday. Subscribe and never miss a story.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Story 1: Nancy Mace Primary Loss
Nancy Mace finished fifth in the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary with approximately 12.1% of the vote. Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson advanced to a runoff. Trans Congresswoman Sarah McBride, speaking at the Equality PAC National Pride Gala as results came in, told the crowd "Happy Pride, Nancy." Mace will hold no elected office come January 2027.

Story 2: Ghana Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill
Ghana's parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, which proposes up to 3 years in prison for identifying as LGBTQ+, up to 5 years for "promoting" LGBTQ+ activities, and a duty-to-report clause. President Mahama has signaled he will sign it. The bill was advanced in part through a U.S. Christian nationalist-funded conference series — the 4th African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family Values and Sovereignty — held in Accra with delegates from more than 20 African countries.

Story 3: Mark Segal Stonewall Interview
LGBTQ Nation published a major interview with Mark Segal, who was 18 years old and present at the Stonewall Inn on the night of June 28, 1969. Segal is the founder of the Philadelphia Gay News and a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front. He recently opened the Philly Pride Visitor Center in Philadelphia.

Story 4: Las Culturistas Culture Awards
The 5th Annual Las Culturistas Culture Awards air Wednesday, June 17, 9–11 PM ET/PT, simulcast on Bravo and Peacock. Hosted by Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers. Produced by Lionsgate Alternative Television.

Story 5: NYC Pride March — June 28
The 57th annual NYC Pride March steps off June 28, 2026 at noon from 26th Street and Fifth Avenue, ending at the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street. The date falls on the exact 57th anniversary of the June 28, 1969 Stonewall Uprising. Theme: "For All of Us." Broadcast live on WABC-7 and streamed globally. Free and open to the public.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Story 1: Chicago Cubs Pride Night
The Chicago Cubs host their annual Pride Celebration tonight at Wrigley Field during an evening game against the Colorado Rockies. The event features local LGBTQ+-owned businesses, live entertainment, and community engagement programming. More at choosechicago.com and pridechicago.org.

Story 2: Tony Awards — Qween Jean & Queer Highlights
The 79th Annual Tony Awards aired June 8, hosted by Pink at Radio City Music Hall. Cats: The Jellicle Ball costume designer Qween Jean became the first openly transgender person to win a Tony Award. Directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch also won for the production. Ali Louis Bourzgui won Best Featured Actor in a Musical for The Lost Boys and delivered a speech supporting the queer and trans communities, immigrants, and Arab artists. Schmigadoon! won Best Musical; Death of a Salesman led all productions with six awards. Coverage via Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Playbill.

Story 3: Madonna at the FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show
FIFA and Global Citizen announced that Madonna, Shakira, and BTS will co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show on July 19, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife). The show is curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin and supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Madonna's new album Confessions II — the follow-up to her 2005 Confessions on a Dance Floor — drops July 3. More at globalcitizen.org and fifa.com.

Story 4: La Cage aux Folles at NYC City Center
The Encores! production of La Cage aux Folles opens June 17 and runs through June 28 at New York City Center. Billy Porter stars as Albin and Wayne Brady as Georges in the first-ever all-Black staging of the Harvey Fierstein/Jerry Herman musical, directed by Robert O'Hara. Tickets and information at nycitycenter.org.

Story 5: LA Pride Youth Roundtable
Today, June 15, Christopher Street West closes out the extended LA Pride celebration with a youth-focused roundtable featuring LGBTQ+ leaders, advocates, and creators. The 56th Annual LA Pride Parade took place yesterday, June 14, in Hollywood. More at lapride.org.

Story 6: The Vampire Lestat
The Vampire Lestat premiered June 7 with new episodes dropping weekly through late July. The show has received strong critical reviews and significant LGBTQ+ audience enthusiasm. Check local streaming listings for availability.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Segment 2 — Albany Capital Pride
The 2026 Capital PRIDE Parade and Festival takes place today, June 14, at Washington Park in Albany, NY. The parade starts at 11:30 a.m. on State Street, moving to Lark Street and Madison Avenue. The festival features headliner David Archuleta, the 2024 GLAAD Media Award winner for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist. Capital Pride benefits the Pride Center of the Capital Region.
Sources: CBS6 Albany, Pride Center of the Capital Region, NY State Dept. of Health

Segment 3 — Birmingham PrideFest / Central Alabama Pride
Central Alabama Pride's 48th annual PrideFest wraps up today, Sunday, June 14, at Linn Park in downtown Birmingham, AL. The free, family-friendly festival runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is headlined by Asher HaVon, winner of NBC's The Voice, with a lineup of RuPaul's Drag Race stars including India Ferrah, The Widow Von'Du, and Morphine Love Dion. Central Alabama Pride draws over 40,000 attendees annually. The organization traces its roots to 1979 and supports HIV/AIDS service organizations year-round.
Sources: Alabama Reporter, ABC 33/40, Bham Now, Central Alabama Pride

Segment 4 — Queer Streaming June 2026
Autostraddle's June 2026 streaming guide notes a strong month for gay male content — including two Thai BL series on Netflix, the Polish drama Proud on HBO Max, and Interview with the Vampire Season 3 on AMC+. However, the guide identifies this as "the worst Pride Month yet" for lesbian, bisexual, queer women, and trans characters, with no new scripted programming centered on those identities.
Source: Autostraddle

Segment 5 — 796 Anti-Trans Bills
According to the Trans Legislation Tracker, 796 bills currently under consideration in the U.S. would negatively impact trans and gender non-conforming people. That number is expected to grow. 2025 was the sixth consecutive record-breaking year for anti-trans legislation. For real-time tracking, visit translegislation.com.
Source: Trans Legislation Tracker (translegislation.com)

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Segment 1 — Pulse 10th Anniversary
Friday, June 12, 2026 marked 10 years since 49 people were killed at Pulse nightclub in Orlando during Latin Night. Vigils were held nationally; the Cathedral of St. Luke in Orlando held a Requiem Eucharist service where church bells tolled 49 times. The Pulse building was demolished earlier in 2026 to make way for a permanent memorial, with construction expected to begin Fall 2026 and open in 2027. Survivor and activist Brandon Wolf has returned to Equality Florida after years at the Human Rights Campaign and plans a community fundraising event the evening of June 13. Sources: FOX 35 Orlando, CNN, The Advocate, Washington Blade, Orlando Weekly.

Segment 2 — Baltimore Pride Parade
The 2026 Baltimore Pride Parade takes place Saturday, June 13 with the theme "Charm City Homecoming." Parade begins at noon on Charles Street and North Avenue; festival continues at Druid Hill Park. Baltimore Pride Week runs June 8–14. Source: CBS Baltimore.

Segment 3 — Colorado Black Pride
Colorado's Black Pride Week has featured multiple events including the Kiki Ball hosted by Dashaun Wesley (June 11), the House is Black Party honoring Frankie Knuckles (June 12), Kenya Pleaser performing June 13, and T.S. Madison appearing at the June 14 queer cookout. Source: CBS Colorado.

Segment 4 — Hartford Capital City Pride
Capital City Pride Hartford takes place June 13, 2026, hosted by the Hartford Pride Center. The event is described as a departure from the traditional resource-fair model in favor of an artist-centered, community-voice-driven experience. Source: CTvisit.com.

Segment 5 — Paris Pride Fortnight
Inter-LGBT's 26th year organizing Paris Pride Fortnight runs June 11–27, 2026, culminating in the Grand March on June 27. June 13 event: Lipstick Polychrome at Bar Gallia, Pantin, 4 p.m.–1 a.m., free entry. Source: Paris Je T'Aime / parisjetaime.com.

Segment 6 — Proud on Streaming
Proud, a Polish queer series about a gay man who must raise his late sister's baby, premiered June 12 on streaming. Source: Autostraddle / AOL Entertainment Pride 2026 streaming guide.

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Story 1: Idaho DNA Bathroom Bill
Idaho's House Bill 752, signed by Governor Brad Little, makes it a crime for transgender people to use public restrooms that match their gender identity, with first offenses punishable as a misdemeanor and repeat offenses as a felony. A federal court hearing on a lawsuit brought by the ACLU and Lambda Legal on behalf of six transgender Idahoans revealed that the state's Solicitor General suggested DNA testing — potentially without consent — as an enforcement mechanism. The federal judge is considering whether to temporarily block the law before it takes effect July 1st. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Idaho Capital Sun, PinkNews, ACLU of Idaho.

Story 2: Pete Buttigieg 2028
Out former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is scheduled as the keynote speaker at the Iowa Democratic Party's Liberty and Justice dinner on July 12th — a high-profile event that has historically served as a launching pad for presidential candidates. Buttigieg has declined to run for Senate or governor in Michigan, keeping his path to a 2028 presidential bid open. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Des Moines Register, The Advocate.

Story 3: Cleveland Clinic DOJ Detransition Settlement
The Cleveland Clinic reached a settlement with the Department of Justice, committing $2 million to detransition services and paying just over $300,000 to resolve billing allegations. The settlement makes Cleveland Clinic the second major health system to cut such a deal after Texas Children's Hospital. Trans advocates including TransOhio called it performative and said there is no increased clinical need for detransition services. Sources: Signal Cleveland/Buckeye Flame, LGBTQ Nation, The Hill.

Story 4: Queer Businesses & Minneapolis ICE Raids
Operation Metro Surge, the federal immigration enforcement operation that ran through Minnesota from December 2025 through February 2026, cost the city of Minneapolis an estimated $700 million and resulted in three deaths, including two U.S. citizens. Queer-owned businesses and activists became central to resistance and mutual aid networks throughout the operation. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Truthout, Sahan Journal.

Story 5: Jake Lang Arrested
Jake Lang, a Florida Republican U.S. Senate candidate and pardoned January 6th rioter, was arrested in Dallas on a $1 million bond for making terroristic threats. Lang allegedly stated that if the jury in the Karmelo Anthony murder trial did not return a guilty verdict, he "would take care of it himself." Sources: LGBTQ Nation, The New Republic.

Story 6: Black Pride Colorado / Denver
Black Pride Colorado's annual celebration runs through this weekend in Denver, featuring ballroom events, drag performances, house music, and a cookout with trans activist and TV personality T.S. Madison. Organizers say the celebration is more important than ever, with over 500 anti-queer bills currently active across the country. Sources: CBS Colorado.

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Today's stories:

• Sarah McBride celebrates as Nancy Mace loses South Carolina gubernatorial primary (LGBTQ Nation)
• Second major hospital opens detransition clinic under DOJ pressure (LGBTQ Nation)
• New state law bars doctors from asking children about gender (LGBTQ Nation)
• Republican governors rebrand June as "Nuclear Family Month"; Rep. Andy Ogles declares "Homosexuality has no place in America" (NBC News / LGBTQ Nation)
• Gallup poll: LGBTQ+ support drops to new low; Republican support for same-sex marriage falls from 55% to 37% in four years (Gallup / NPR)
• Rural Pride activists turn vandalized torn flag into two flags — a symbol of resilience (LGBTQ Nation)

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Story 1 — World Cup "Pride Match" between Egypt and Iran Seattle organizers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup designated a June 26 match at Lumen Field as an LGBTQ+ "Pride Match," with plans made before the draw. Following the draw and fixture allocation, the June 26 Group G game was confirmed as Egypt vs. Iran — two countries that criminalize homosexuality (Iran carries the death penalty; Egypt uses morality laws to suppress LGBTQ+ people). Source: AOL/sports wire coverage of the 2026 World Cup Pride Match.

Story 2 — Budapest Pride authorized Hungarian police announced (May 29) they would not ban Budapest Pride, scheduled for June 27 — reversing Orbán-era restrictions. The shift follows the April 2026 election that brought Péter Magyar's pro-European Tisza party to power. In 2025, an estimated 100,000–200,000 people defied the ban. The EU has begun releasing ~€16 billion in funds previously withheld over Hungary's rights record; EU Equality Commissioner Hadja Lahbib welcomed the decision. Sources: Agence Europe; Washington Blade via Watermark Out News.

Story 3 — Boston "Trans Period Pride" A "Trans Period Pride" event is scheduled for June 17 at a Boston Public Library branch, intended to discuss transgender and nonbinary experiences with menstruation; organizers plan a catered meal and free period products. The Boston Mayor's Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement was allocated nearly $1 million for FY2026. The event drew conservative media coverage and backlash. Source: Newsweek; Daily Mail (cited).

Story 4 — Gamechangers: The Ashlyn Harris Story The Roku Original documentary premiered Monday, June 8, 2026. Harris is a two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion and former USWNT goalkeeper; the film traces her life and career through interviews with Harris, her family, and former coaches, and covers her post-retirement LGBTQ+ and women's-sports advocacy. Sources: Out.com; GO Magazine "LGBTQ+ shows June 2026."

Story 5 — Revry's I'm Dead Revry, an LGBTQ+ streaming platform, is debuting I'm Dead, a 12-episode, half-hour weekly original comedy series featuring performers including Salina EsTitties, Percy Rustomji, Kaycee Conlee, Lady Bushra, Marval A. Rex, and Pressure K. Source: GO Magazine.

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Episode Notes: Your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast — new stories every day, never a repeat. Subscribe and follow for fresh coverage all Pride Month long. 🌐 listenupgirl.com 🎧 Spotify · Apple Podcasts · Amazon Music · iHeartRadio

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Segment 2 — São Paulo Pride: The Parada do Orgulho LGBT+ de São Paulo held its 30th edition on Sunday, June 7, along Avenida Paulista, drawing an estimated 3–5 million people under the 2026 theme "The street calls." It remains the world's largest Pride event by attendance.

Segment 3 — John Doyle Pride flag claim: Far-right broadcaster John Doyle posted a video on June 2 claiming the Progress Pride flag mocks Christianity and represents "every identity incapable of producing white children." The black and brown stripes were added to honor LGBTQ+ people of color and racial justice; the claims are false.

Segment 4 — Hormone therapy study: Researchers at Southern Oregon University and Rutgers analyzed about 1,101 respondents to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey and found hormone therapy initiation tied to a 20% relative decrease in the likelihood of running away from home, with the strongest effect among 14–15 year-olds.

Segment 5 — ILGA Rainbow Map: ILGA-Europe's 18th annual Rainbow Map ranked 49 countries; Spain took the #1 spot for the first time (about 89%), ending Malta's decade at the top. ILGA cited Spain's depathologization of trans healthcare, new protections, and an independent equality authority. Reported anti-LGBTQ+ assaults in Spain have risen.

Segment 6 — Seattle Queer/Pride: Seattle's Queer/Pride Festival announced its 2026 lineup, headlined by Keke Palmer, JT, and Honey Dijon, taking place June 26–28 in the Capitol Hill neighborhood with around 35 main-stage performances.

Segment 7 — Key West Pride: Key West Pride is marking its 50th (golden) anniversary in 2026, with festivities including a kickoff gathering at Island House.

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Episode Notes: Your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast — new stories every day, never a repeat. Subscribe and follow for fresh coverage all Pride Month long. 🌐 listenupgirl.com 🎧 Spotify · Apple Podcasts · Amazon Music · iHeartRadio

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Today on Listen Up Girl, six fresh stories for Day 6 of Pride Month.

1. California primaries sweep — LGBTQ+ congressional candidates swept California's Tuesday primary. State Sen. Scott Wiener took over 42% in the race to replace Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, vowing to defend immigrants and trans people.
2. Trans athlete & the Supreme Court — A 15-year-old trans student in West Virginia won at the state championship level even as the Supreme Court weighs West Virginia v. B.P.J., the case that could bar trans girls from girls' sports. She's been fighting for the right to play since age 11.
3. Seattle PD discrimination suit — Detective Anna Fishel and Lt. Douglas Raguso accuse the Seattle Police Department of denying them promotions because they're gay, despite both topping their promotion lists.
4. Pride polling — New polling found 68% of registered voters believe companies have the right to support the LGBTQ+ community, with broad support for politicians who oppose anti-LGBTQ+ attacks — undercutting the corporate-retreat narrative.
5. Kenya trans recognition — A Kenyan court ordered the state to consider gender-marker changes and to introduce trans protection legislation, a first for the African continent, per ILGA World's new Pride Month data (alongside EU-related wins in Romania and Poland).
6. Omaha Pride, 1985 — The organizer of Omaha's first Pride march reflected on a 1985 event where marchers wore paper bags over their heads, there were no flags or floats, and some participants were assaulted.

🎙️ Listen Up Girl — your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast. New episodes daily at ListenUpGirl.com.

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Your daily LGBTQ+ news, every morning. Subscribe for fresh stories every day of Pride Month and beyond.

#Pride2026 #LGBTQNews #ListenUpGirl

00:00 Intro 

00:40 Budapest Pride gets the green light 

03:00 Michigan cancels drag story time — show goes on 

05:15 San Ramon fights for the Pride flag 

07:00 Chicago & LA unveil 2026 themes and grand marshals 

09:15 Remembering teacher Larry Berner (1978) 

10:30 What's new to stream this weekend 

11:30 Headlines recap

SHOW NOTES

Episode: Listen Up Girl — Friday, June 5, 2026 (Day 5 of Pride) | ~12 min | 6 stories | All stories verified new, no repeats from prior episodes

1. Budapest Pride 2026 cleared. Police found "no grounds" to ban the June 27 march, after the 2025 ban attempt that ~180,000–200,000 people defied. Orbán was voted out in April; new PM Péter Magyar supports freedom of assembly. Sources: AFP/Modern Ghana; European Greens; RFE/RL; Al Jazeera; BBC
2. Madison Heights, MI drag story time canceled. Council voted 4–3 to remove it despite Jadein Black's pre-approved book and outfit; she'll host it at Sidetrack in Ypsilanti. Sources: LGBTQ Nation; FOX 2 Detroit; Oakland County Times
3. San Ramon, CA keeps the Pride flag. New annual flag policy keeps the Progress Pride flag; raised June 1 at Central Park. Sources: Pleasanton Weekly/Danville San Ramon; Bay Area Reporter
4. Chicago & LA Pride 2026. Chicago: "Free to Be Proud," June 28, marshals incl. Tracy Baim, Mona Noriega, Alliance of Illinois Judges (pres. Jill Rose Quimm). LA: "Rise with Pride," June 14, marshals Jeff Hiller, Mia Yamamoto, the late Shirley Raines. Sources: FOX 32 Chicago; ABC7/Christopher Street West (via AOL)
5. Healdsburg, CA honors Larry Berner. Second-grade teacher outed in 1978, the year of California's Briggs Initiative (Prop 6). Source: Healdsburg Tribune
6. New queer streaming. Netflix's "Office Romance" (June 5), a Polish drama on HBO Max, new Thai BL series; critics note a thin year for queer women/trans-centered scripted content. Sources: Out.com; Autostraddle

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Story 3: Gallup Poll — LGBTQ+ Support at a 20-Year Low Among Republicans Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs survey (conducted May 1–17, 2026) found that 65% of Americans support legal same-sex marriage, down from a peak of 71% in 2022–2023. Among Republicans, support has dropped from 55% in 2021–2022 to just 37% today. Only 35% of Republicans now say gay and lesbian relationships are morally acceptable — figures not seen since roughly 2005–2014. Gallup attributes the decline to conservative political messaging against DEI and LGBTQ+ visibility. Sources: Gallup, Fortune, UPI, The Advocate

Story 4: Federal Court Orders Gender-Affirming Care Continued for Trans Prisoners A federal court on June 3 granted a class certification and preliminary injunction requiring the federal government to continue gender-affirming care for transgender people in federal prisons and detention facilities. The case covers trans individuals in facilities in New Jersey, Minnesota, and Florida. The ruling blocks the orange convicted felon's administration from denying medically necessary care to incarcerated trans people while litigation continues. Sources: National LGBTQ+ Bar Association Litigation Tracker

Story 5: Pine City, Minnesota — State's First LGBTQ Historical Landmark Pine City, MN became home to Minnesota's first-ever LGBTQ+ historical landmark, as reported ahead of the Twin Cities Pride Festival. The Twin Cities Pride event is scheduled for June 27–28, with the Grand Marshal named as "Our Community." Source: FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul

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• Ken Paxton releases a "Too Low-T for Texas" attack ad against Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, with backup from Stephen Miller, Jesse Watters, and the orange convicted felon.

• California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer publicly embraces trans teen athlete A.B. Hernandez, who went on to win two state championship titles.

• Pittsburgh Pride is facing a serious funding crisis as corporate sponsors pull back under the orange convicted felon's DEI crackdowns.

• Small-town Pride events are growing, with Haddon Township, New Jersey, celebrating its sixth annual Pride parade this week.

• Day 3 of Pride 2026: resistance, community, and celebration — all at once.

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Story 1 — Becky Pepper-Jackson Wins State Track Title Becky Pepper-Jackson, 15, the trans student-athlete at the center of West Virginia v. BPJ, won the Class AAA girls' shot put at the West Virginia state track championships and placed fourth in girls' discus. She competes under a federal court injunction while the Supreme Court case awaits a ruling expected this summer. West Virginia's AG office submitted a letter to the Supreme Court clerk flagging her results. Sources: WBOY, Washington Times, HRC.

Story 2 — Trans Military Ban — D.C. Circuit Ruling (June 1, 2026) A 2-1 panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled the orange convicted felon's transgender military ban is likely unconstitutional, driven by what the court called "the bare desire to harm a politically unpopular group." The injunction protecting active-duty trans service members was upheld. Sources: CBS News, ABC News, The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Story 3 — Corporate Pride Sponsor Pullback San Francisco Pride, St. Louis Pride, and St. Pete Pride reported losing $150,000–$350,000 each in corporate sponsorships ahead of Pride Month 2026, as brands withdraw amid the orange convicted felon's anti-DEI pressure. Small queer-owned businesses are stepping in. SF Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford: "We will remember who stood by us and who didn't." Sources: NBC News, NPR, HuffPost.

Story 4 — India Trans Rights Amendment Bill 2026 India's Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill was passed in both chambers of Parliament and signed in March 2026. Critics — including members of India's National Council for Transgender Persons — say its mandatory medical examination requirement contradicts the 2014 NALSA Supreme Court ruling on self-identification. Source: Equaldex.

Story 5 — Barney Frank Memorial — Faneuil Hall, June 8, 2026 Barney Frank, the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay (1987), died May 19, 2026, at 86, from congestive heart failure at his home in Ogunquit, Maine. His memorial is set for Monday, June 8, 2026, at 10 a.m. at Faneuil Hall in Boston. He is survived by his husband Jim Ready. Sources: Boston Globe, WBUR, NPR, Washington Post.

Story 6 — Philly Pride 2026 — Patti LaBelle, June 7 Philly Pride 365 is hosting the Philadelphia Pride 2026 March and Festival on Sunday, June 7, 2026, under the banner "PRIDE IS POWER" with the theme "This Is What Democracy Looks Like." Philadelphia native Patti LaBelle headlines the entertainment. Source: Philadelphia Gay News.

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Segment 1 — Trans Military Ban Ruled Unconstitutional The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 today that the Pentagon's transgender military ban is unconstitutional, finding it was driven by animus toward trans people and violates the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause. The ban remains in effect as litigation continues, and the ruling applies to current service members — not new recruits.

Segment 2 — Corporate Pride Sponsorships Are Drying Up Pride organizations in cities including NYC, Pittsburgh, Orlando, Louisville, Salt Lake City, and St. Louis are reporting significant drops in corporate sponsorship as companies retreat from visible LGBTQ+ support. A PR expert noted that corporate Pride affiliation has shifted from an asset to a perceived liability.

Segment 3 — States Counter-Programming Pride Month At least three Southern states are marking June with anti-LGBTQ+ observances rather than Pride proclamations. Ohio Republicans introduced a "Natural Family Month" bill explicitly defining family as a man, woman, and their biological children.

Segment 4 — Andy Beshear Makes Kentucky History Governor Andy Beshear signed a proclamation today making Kentucky the latest state to officially recognize June as Pride Month — the first time a sitting Kentucky governor has done so. He also received the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund's National Allyship Award in 2026, and Kentucky's legislature closed its 2026 session without passing a single anti-LGBTQ+ bill.

Segment 5 — WorldPride Amsterdam 2026 WorldPride Amsterdam runs July 25 – August 8, 2026, marking 25 years since the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. The theme is "Unity." The Canal Parade on August 1st is expected to draw half a million spectators. A WorldPride Human Rights Conference will also take place during the event.

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Today's stories:

1. O'Shae Sibley Murder Trial — Defendant Dmitriy Popov testifies in his own defense, denying hate crime motive as trial continues in Brooklyn. Sibley was a professional dancer fatally stabbed at a Brooklyn gas station in July 2023.
2. Italy's Catholic Scouts Allow LGBTQ+ Leaders — AGESCI, Italy's largest Catholic scouting association with 180,000 members, votes to allow LGBTQ+ people to serve in educational leadership roles for the first time in its 50-year history.
3. 2026 ILGA Rainbow Map: Spain #1 — Spain tops Europe's annual LGBTQ+ rights ranking for the first time, displacing Malta after a decade at the top. Iceland leads the separate Trans Rights Index. The UK scores just 13.5 out of 32 trans indicators.
4. Barry Manilow on Coming Out — The 82-year-old icon tells the LA Times that coming out earlier in his career "would have killed" it. He has been with husband Garry Kief for over 47 years.

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Today's episode covers five major LGBTQ+ news stories:

1. Pete Buttigieg Leads 2028 Democratic Poll — A new Emerson College survey puts the former Transportation Secretary at 18% support among likely Democratic primary voters, ahead of Gavin Newsom, AOC, Josh Shapiro, and Kamala Harris.
2. Brandon Wolf Returns to Equality Florida — The Pulse survivor and national advocate has rejoined Equality Florida as Senior Director of Communications Strategy, just weeks before the 10th anniversary of the Pulse tragedy on June 12th.
3. Wisconsin Students Perform Banned Song Honoring Marsha P. Johnson — After the Watertown school board voted 7-1 to remove A Mother of a Revolution! from the spring concert, composer Omar Thomas flew from Texas to conduct a community performance before hundreds of supporters.
4. UK Issues Trans Bathroom Guidance Slammed as a "Trump Import" — The UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission released new guidance barring trans people from single-sex spaces, drawing comparisons to U.S. bathroom bans and condemnation from trans rights advocates.
5. Sarah McBride Goes Viral with Biopic Answer — Delaware's first transgender congresswoman caught off guard by a fun question gave a thoughtful, authentic answer — and reminded us all why representation matters.

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Today on Listen Up Girl, your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast, we're going global with five major international stories.

In Russia, Human Rights Watch reports that nine LGBTQ+ support organizations — including Coming Out, the Russian LGBT Network, and Centre T — have been banned as "extremist" between March and May 2026, part of an escalating crackdown rooted in a 2023 Supreme Court ruling. The UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, issued a stark warning on May 18th that global trends on LGBTQ+ rights are worsening, with more than one in three countries still criminalizing same-sex conduct and 45% of LGBTQ+ youth reporting school bullying. In Ghana, the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill is gaining dangerous momentum as the country hosts the fourth African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family and Sovereignty — a far-right-linked forum — this week in Accra. Japan's Supreme Court Grand Bench has formally accepted six same-sex marriage cases for consideration, with a landmark ruling expected in early 2027 in the only G7 nation that still offers no legal recognition to same-sex couples. And in Mexico, multiple states are advancing legislation to codify transfemicide — the targeted killing of trans women — as its own crime in their penal codes.

Global news. Our community. Every day.

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Maine's Secretary of State killed an anti-trans ballot measure after more than 12,500 petition signatures were found to be invalid or forged — leaving the campaign funded by out-of-state billionaire Richard Uihlein just 532 signatures short.

New research reveals that more than a quarter of LGBTQ+ people feel underrepresented or excluded by mainstream Pride Month celebrations, with 10% saying they now avoid public LGBTQ+ spaces due to the political climate.

A man was arrested in Washington D.C. for threatening to shoot a bar employee with homophobic slurs during DC Black Pride weekend on the U Street corridor.

DC Black Pride, celebrating its 35th anniversary under the theme "New Black Renaissance," faced corporate sponsors going dark under pressure from the orange convicted felon's anti-DEI campaign — though many continued giving quietly.

Malaysian police conducted four raids on Kuala Lumpur hotels on May 24th, arresting 51 men in connection with what authorities labeled a "gay party." One man was pronounced dead at the hospital. Homosexuality remains criminalized in Malaysia under both civil and Islamic law.

And 9-1-1 star Oliver Stark declared at a fan convention that he is "absolutely proud" to play bisexual character Buck — pushing back on stereotypes about bi men and sending a powerful message just days before Pride Month begins.

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1. Kenya High Court Trans Ruling — Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled May 20, 2026 that existing Kenyan law does not prohibit transgender people from applying to change gender markers on official documents. The case was brought by activist Audrey Mbugua Ithibu and two others in 2020. State agencies were ordered to consider applications within 60 days. Same-sex relationships remain criminalized under colonial-era laws.
2. Jason Virgo, One Nation MP — South Australian MP Jason Virgo (One Nation, MacKillop seat) delivered his maiden parliament speech on May 21, 2026, confirming he is gay and thanking his partner of 11 years — an Indonesian Muslim man — calling him "the love of my life." His party's colleague Cory Bernardi made anti-trans remarks in his own speech the day prior.
3. Durham Pride 2026 — Reform UK-led Durham County Council pulled funding in 2025, calling Pride "political street theatre." Trade unions including Equity, the Durham Miners Association, and TUC raised over £15,000. Durham Pride will go ahead in late May, featuring Steps' Claire Richards, Gareth Gates, and Adam Rickitt. The Pride flag will fly outside locations other than County Hall, which removed it after Reform took over.
4. ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map 2026 — Spain replaces Malta at number one for the first time in a decade. The report found most progress in Europe is coming from activist campaigns and court rulings rather than proactive government action. Hungary's anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda law was struck down by the European Court of Justice in April 2026.
5. San Francisco YMCA / Stonestown — The Stonestown Family YMCA updated its locker room policy requiring nudity to be "discreet, limited, and brief" and permitted only while showering. The change follows a two-year dispute involving a trans woman member. The YMCA's gender-identity-based locker room access policy remains in effect.
6. Denny Blaine Park Trial — Trial begins May 27, 2026 in Seattle. Lawsuit filed by Denny Blaine Park Community Inc. over the right of LGBTQ+ and clothing-optional beachgoers to use the historically queer space. Seattle's Lake Washington waterfront.

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Our Pride Pioneer spotlight looks back at Penn State hockey player Voight Demeester, who came out in 2016 and proved that sexual orientation is no barrier to athletic identity or success.

Then: Kentucky eighth grader Daniel Mattingly goes completely off-script at his middle school graduation — calling his school "built on racism, sexism and homophobia" and telling classmates to stand up for themselves even if it makes a scene. His line about "an angry gay kid with a microphone" went viral almost immediately. What makes it hit harder is the backstory: Daniel lost both of his parents to cancer. His original speech was written to encourage other kids carrying trauma. When the school wouldn't let him deliver it, he found another way.

Shia LaBeouf has been formally charged with misdemeanor battery following a February Mardi Gras bar altercation in New Orleans where anti-gay slurs were allegedly used. His subsequent public comments drew further criticism. The legal process is now underway.

In Russia, a 13-year-old has been registered as a juvenile offender under the country's LGBT propaganda law after allegedly showing a video to classmates. The child's identity is protected. The content of the video has not been disclosed publicly.

Our history moment: In 1979, Swedish queer activists called in sick for being "too gay to work" — and simultaneously occupied the National Board of Health and Welfare in Stockholm. Within months, Sweden became one of the first countries in the world to remove homosexuality from its official list of illnesses.

We report on the loss of Murry Foust — a 22-year-old transgender student from Northern Kentucky University whose body was found on Sunday, nearly a month after they were last seen on April 27th. We say Murry's name.

A 2026 Out Leadership study finds that 87.9% of LGBTQ+ individuals now feel comfortable being out at work — the highest figure ever recorded.

Iceland has been named the most trans-friendly country in Europe and Central Asia in the 2026 Trans Rights Index, scoring 30 out of 32 points. Russia scored zero.

Out Missouri Democratic House candidate Whitney Wisker-Brooks is seeing something quiet but real in her deep-red district: Trump flags are coming down. She believes Republican voters in Missouri's 116th district are growing tired of how the orange convicted felon's decisions are affecting their lives, and her advisors think now may be the first real opening for a Democrat — and an out one at that.

We close with Arnold Dahl-Wooley, founder of Two-Spirit Advocacy, who started his organization from the back of a truck and now runs a full community center in Minnesota offering ceremonies, support groups, and culturally safe care for Native LGBTQ+ families. His story is featured in this month's issue on queer spirituality. His words: "We've lived through a lot, we've overcome a lot, but we're still here."

Stories Covered

1. Garrett Snoeyenbos — coming out after college football
2. Pride Pioneer: Voight Demeester, Penn State hockey (2016)
3. Daniel Mattingly — viral Kentucky graduation speech
4. Shia LaBeouf — formally charged with misdemeanor battery
5. Russia — 13-year-old charged with LGBT propaganda
6. History moment — Sweden, 1979
7. Murry Foust — trans student from Northern Kentucky University
8. Out Leadership 2026 — record LGBTQ+ workplace acceptance
9. Iceland tops the 2026 Trans Rights Index
10. Whitney Wisker-Brooks — Missouri LGBTQ+ Democratic candidate
11. Arnold Dahl-Wooley — Two-Spirit Advocacy, Minnesota

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Episode Summary: Seven stories from the front lines of LGBTQ+ rights — South Carolina's shocking new trans bathroom law, the federal government targeting Smith College, a Republican "groomer" accuser arrested for soliciting a child, the Supreme Court gutting conversion therapy bans, Colorado's gay governor in hot water with his own party, an Iowa Democrat going viral, and Pete and Chasten Buttigieg refusing to stand down.

Episode Notes:

1. South Carolina HB 4756 — Trans Students Sent to Porta-Potties Gov. Henry McMaster signed the "Student Physical Privacy Act," requiring trans students to use outdoor portable toilets instead of school restrooms. Also covers overnight trip sleeping arrangements and college rooming policies. Must be implemented by the 2026-2027 school year. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, PinkNews

2. Smith College Title IX Investigation The Trump DOE's Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into 155-year-old Smith College in Northampton, MA, for admitting trans women since 2015. Triggered by conservative group Defending Education. Could impact all Seven Sisters colleges. Sources: CNN, WBUR, Inside Higher Ed

3. Colorado GOP Chair Dave Williams Arrested Former Colorado Republican Party chair Dave Williams — who called LGBTQ+ people "groomers" and "predators" in official party communications — was arrested for attempting to hire a child prostitute. Follows the January 2026 sentencing of SC Rep. RJ May (17.5 years for distributing child sex abuse material) and the April 2026 arrest of a Hanahan, SC city councilmember on similar charges. Source: LGBTQ Nation

4. Supreme Court — Chiles v. Salazar (March 31, 2026) The Court ruled 8-1 that Colorado's conversion therapy ban likely violates the First Amendment. Brought by Christian counselor Kaley Chiles. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the sole dissent. The ruling is expected to threaten conversion therapy bans in 20+ states. Every major U.S. medical association rejects conversion therapy as harmful and scientifically discredited. Sources: NPR, CNN, The 19th, PBS NewsHour

5. Gov. Jared Polis Commutes Tina Peters' Sentence Colorado's first openly gay governor drew bipartisan condemnation on May 15 after commuting the 9-year sentence of election tamperer Tina Peters, who was convicted of multiple felonies for allowing election deniers access to voting machines. Condemned by the Colorado AG, secretary of state, Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper, the AFL-CIO, Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, and the Republican DA who prosecuted Peters. Sources: MSNBC, NBC News, Colorado Sun, CNN

6. Iowa's Rob Sand Goes Viral Iowa State Auditor and 2026 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand went viral this week for his town hall singing ritual — asking attendees of all parties to sing "America the Beautiful" together before any political discussion. At a 2025 town hall, Sand directly called Iowa's repeal of civil rights protections for transgender Iowans "wrong" and pledged to restore them if elected governor. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Iowa Starting Line, The Gazette

7. Pete Buttigieg vs. Sean Duffy's Road Trip Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appeared on CNN's State of the Union on May 18 to call current Secretary Sean Duffy's "Great American Road Trip" — a seven-month cross-country reality show — an "embarrassment." The show is sponsored by Boeing, Shell, and Royal Caribbean, all of which are regulated by Duffy's own department. Chasten Buttigieg also called out the Duffys on social media, referencing their attacks on Pete during their son's NICU stay in 2021. Rachel Campos-Duffy told Chasten to "stand down." He did not. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, HuffPost, The Hill, CNN

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Story 2 — Thomas Massie Kentucky Primary The Republican primary in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District — the most expensive House primary in history at $32M+ in ad spend — took place today. A pro-Massie PAC ran an ad calling Gallrein's supporters the "LGBTQ Mafia" and warning "the weirdos will take over." Both candidates are anti-LGBTQ+. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Metro Weekly, Axios.

Story 3 — PEPFAR/CDC Dismantling On May 5, the State Department issued guidance ending CDC support for PEPFAR programs in most countries by September 30, 2026, moving to a "fee for service" model. PEPFAR has saved an estimated 26 million lives since 2003. HIV experts warn the program will crumble. Congress allocated nearly $6 billion for the program this fiscal year; the administration is reportedly withholding funds. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Science/AAAS, AVAC.

Story 4 — Trevor Project 2025 National Survey Released May 6, 2026. Based on 16,000+ LGBTQ+ young people ages 13–24. Key findings: LGBTQ+ youth in accepting communities attempted suicide at less than one-third the rate of those in non-accepting communities; 85% of trans and nonbinary youth say anti-trans legislation debates have negatively impacted their mental health. Crisis support: thetrevorproject.org or call/text 988. Source: The Trevor Project.

Story 5 — NYC Pride 2026 Grand Marshals NYC Pride announced its 2026 grand marshals: Peppermint (Drag Race Season 9 runner-up, first out trans woman to originate a principal Broadway role, ACLU's first Artist Ambassador for Trans Justice); Dominique Jackson (Pose, ballroom icon); Bowen Yang (SNL, Las Culturistas, first Chinese-American SNL cast member, Emmy winner); Bernie Wagenblast (voice of the NYC subway); and Gays Against Guns (founded after Pulse massacre, 2016). Theme: "For All of Us." March: June 28, broadcast live on WABC-7. Sources: The Advocate, GLAAD, ABC7 NY.

Story 6 — UK Mother Sues School Over Trans Student Joanna Donoghue filed a pre-action letter for judicial review against Beverley High School in East Yorkshire after the school admitted a transgender girl without notifying parents. The school cited GDPR and the Equality Act. Her lawyers argue the admissions policy is unlawful following the 2025 UK Supreme Court ruling defining "sex" as biological sex. Sources: PinkNews, GB News.

Story 7 — 517 Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills in 2026 Per the ACLU, at least 517 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced by Republican state legislators in 2026 — before Pride Month. Targets include healthcare, education, sports, legal identity, libraries, drag, and more. Sources: ACLU (via The Advocate/NYC Pride materials).

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

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Story 2 — HIV Functional Cure Breakthrough Three participants in a clinical trial using broadly neutralizing antibodies suppressed HIV for months without antiretroviral therapy. Published May 16, 2026. Source: LGBTQ Nation, aidsmap.

Story 3 — Bureau of Prisons Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) demanded the BOP reverse anti-trans prison policies including bans on gender-affirming care even when self-funded, deadnaming, and forced facility transfers. The BOP rejected the demand. Source: Washington Blade.

Story 4 — Kansas Court Win Douglas County Judge Carl Folsom III temporarily blocked Kansas Senate Bill 63, banning gender-affirming care for trans minors, finding it likely violates the Kansas Constitution's equal protection and parental rights guarantees. ACLU filed suit on behalf of two trans teens. AG Kobach to appeal. Case: Loe v. Kansas. Source: ACLU, AP.

Story 5 — Japan Non-Binary Ruling The Osaka High Court ruled May 8 that Japan's national family registry (koseki) violates Article 14 of the constitution by offering only male/female gender options. The court called for national legislative reform. Sources: The Japan Times, PinkNews, Them.

Story 6 — GLAAD Social Media Safety Index GLAAD's 2026 SMSI found declining safety scores across all major platforms except TikTok. YouTube dropped 11 points to 30; X scored 29; Meta's platforms scored 39–41. Meta's 2025 policy changes allowed anti-LGBTQ rhetoric; YouTube removed gender identity from hate speech protections. Full report: glaad.org/smsi. Sources: GLAAD, The Advocate.

Story 7 — IDAHOBIT 2026 The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia was observed worldwide on May 17 under the theme "At the Heart of Democracy." The date marks the 1990 WHO decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental illness. More at may17.org. Source: ILGA World.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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00:55 — King Charles promises trans-inclusive conversion therapy ban 

02:15 — NYU Langone faces pressure over trans youth medical records subpoena 

03:20 — Texas forces "Detransition Clinic" and fires five doctors 

04:45 — Japan's Osaka High Court rules binary gender registration unconstitutional 

05:30 — Iran demands Pride flag ban at 2026 World Cup 

07:00 — Poland registers its first same-sex marriage 

07:50 — Oxford University rowing bans trans women from Women's boats 

08:55 — Seattle LGBTQ+ Commission calls for civil state of emergency 

09:20 — Outro

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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00:00 — Intro & International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia  

01:15 — Niecy Nash on queer representation in parenting roles 

03:00 — Charles Barkley calls out homophobia in sports 

05:00 — FKA Twigs cast as Josephine Baker in new biopic 

07:00 — Big Mistakes renewed for season 2 on Netflix 

08:00 — Russell Tovey and Olivia Colman in Alexander McQueen short film Wild Bird 

9:15 — Spain tops Europe's LGBTQ+ Rainbow Map 

10:00 — Queen Latifah joins The Voice as coach 

10:20 — Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 

10:45 — Outro

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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The Pennsylvania House passed House Bill 2103 by a razor-thin 101–100 vote, adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state's Human Relations Act — a victory 22 years in the making. The bill now heads to the Republican-controlled Senate.

Botswana formally removed colonial-era anti-sodomy provisions from its Penal Code, following a 2019 High Court ruling and 2021 Court of Appeal decision that had already declared them unconstitutional. A same-sex couple is currently challenging the country's Marriage Act in court, with a hearing scheduled for July.

Isaac Ranson, a transgender man and two-time Big West Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, has signed with Minnesota Aurora FC — becoming the first openly transgender player in the club's history. Aurora opens its regular season May 21st.

Sam Asghari has partnered with MISTR, a telehealth platform connecting people to PrEP, for a new HIV prevention campaign targeting men who have sex with men. Visit getmistr.com to learn more about PrEP access.

RuPaul's advice to "party and dance" in the face of the current political climate sparked a polarized response online — raising real questions about the tension between joy and activism heading into Pride season.

The European Commission promised a non-binding recommendation to member states to ban conversion therapy — but delayed that recommendation until next year.

FIFA and Global Citizen announced that Madonna, Shakira, and BTS will co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final halftime show on July 19th at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The show is curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin and benefits the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Madonna's new album, Confessions II, drops July 3rd.

Podcast Chapters

00:00 — Intro 01:05 — Pennsylvania Passes Historic LGBTQ+ Nondiscrimination Bill 03:20 — Botswana Erases Colonial-Era Sodomy Law 05:30 — Trans Man Isaac Ranson Signs with Minnesota Aurora FC 07:25 — Sam Asghari Launches HIV Prevention Campaign with MISTR 08:45 — RuPaul Says "Party and Dance" — Fans Are Divided 10:00 — EU Promises Conversion Therapy Ban (Sort Of) 11:10 — Madonna, Shakira & BTS to Headline First-Ever FIFA World Cup Halftime Show 12:45 — Outro

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Listen Up Girl is your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast — keeping you informed, connected, and in the fight.

🎙️ Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Subscribe for daily LGBTQ+ news. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Bloomberg Law, Philadelphia Inquirer, Book Riot, GLAAD, Fox News (Chappelle), Pink News, Equality California, Paramount+

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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HUD Proposes Trans Shelter Ban — The Department of Housing and Urban Development has put forward a rule that would require federally funded homeless shelters to house people based on their birth sex only, effectively barring transgender people from shelters that match their gender identity. Advocates warn most trans people will avoid shelter entirely rather than risk harassment or violence.

Trevor Project 2025 Mental Health Survey — For the seventh consecutive year, the Trevor Project's national survey of over 16,000 LGBTQ+ young people ages 13–24 found alarming rates of suicidal ideation and attempts. 36% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year; for trans and nonbinary youth, that number is 40%. The report directly links anti-LGBTQ+ policy and rhetoric to these outcomes. A separate study found 97% of LGBTQ+ youth can still identify at least one source of hope. If you or someone you know is struggling, visit TheTrevorProject.org or call/text 988 and press 3.

Anti-LGBTQ+ Riders in Federal Funding Bill — Republican lawmakers have attached provisions to a must-pass federal spending bill that would eliminate the U.S. Special Envoy for LGBTQI+ Human Rights, defund organizations providing or promoting gender-affirming care, and expand the Global Gag Rule to bar foreign organizations supporting LGBTQ+ rights from receiving U.S. funds.

Tennessee Trans Tracking Bill — The Tennessee House passed legislation requiring all gender clinics to submit monthly health data on patients receiving gender-affirming care to the state Department of Health — including age, sex assigned at birth, county of residence, medications, and surgery referral dates. Critics warn the bill creates a de facto surveillance system for transgender residents. Protesters were physically removed from the House gallery during the vote.

Florida 2026 Legislative Session Wrap — Equality Florida reports that advocates successfully stopped or neutralized four out of five anti-LGBTQ+ bills this session. One bill did pass — the Anti-Diversity in Local Government bill — pushed through in the final days with suspended rules and the public locked out.

California's $26 Million Trans Healthcare Proposal — Equality California is advancing a $26 million state budget proposal to create a state-only Medi-Cal funding pathway for transgender healthcare and stabilize the provider network in response to federal funding threats. All priority bills have cleared initial committee hearings and move to appropriations on May 14th.

Queer Pop Culture — May 2026

• Drag Race All Stars 11 — Premieres May 8 on Paramount+. 18 queens, Tournament of All Stars format, $200,000 prize.
• Wanda Sykes: Legacy — Premieres May 19 on Netflix. Directed by Julie Dash, filmed at Hampton University.
• The Devil Wears Prada 2 — In theaters now.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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🏳️‍🌈 New episodes every day. Subscribe so you never miss the news that matters to our community.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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• No Matter What Recovery opens LGBTQ+-affirming treatment facility in Chicago's Boystown neighborhood
• Smithsonian's "Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art" opens after controversial postponement
• Meta's Oversight Board overturns removal of Brazilian lesbian Instagram post
• Trump DOJ 197-page report calls LGBTQ+ protections "anti-Christian" and outlines Christian Nationalist agenda
• Chicago's Antonio King feted as nation's first-ever Director of LGBTQ+ Affairs
• DOJ opens civil rights investigations into 36 Illinois school districts over LGBTQ+ content
• Tennessee LGBTQ+ advocates urge Governor Bill Lee to veto anti-trans slate of bills
• AOC says the U.S. may have already had a gay president — and history agrees it's possible

Listen Up Girl drops new episodes regularly. Subscribe, share, and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

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Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We start with a landmark ruling in Australia, where politician Mark Latham was ordered to pay $100,000 after unlawfully vilifying openly gay MP Alex Greenwich — a decision that sends a strong message about the real consequences of hate speech.

From there, we shift into culture, with reports that George Michael’s life may finally be heading to Broadway — not just as a celebration of his music, but as a deeper look into his life as a gay icon navigating fame, identity, and privacy.

We also dive into the latest LGBTQ+ reality TV drama with OUTtv’s Ultimate Boys Trip, and discuss the growing impact of anti-DEI policies in Florida after an LGBTQ+ community center was denied critical funding.

This episode also reflects on history, marking 27 years since the Admiral Duncan bombing in London, and covers a powerful moment of protest and remembrance in Florida, where charges were dropped against individuals who recreated a rainbow tribute near Pulse nightclub.

Plus, we cover:

• Sniffies’ massive $100 million expansion
• A new star-studded thriller entering production
• Drag Race star Eureka’s allegations of mistreatment at a Madonna event
• A TV adaptation of the beloved gay novel Boyfriend Material
• A new LGBTQ+ safe school opening in Florida
• Ongoing healthcare discrimination in multiple U.S. states
• An arson attack targeting an LGBTQ+ venue in Australia
• And a major U.S. Supreme Court decision impacting voting rights

These stories highlight the reality of where we are right now — progress, visibility, backlash, and resilience — all happening at the same time.

🎧 New episodes drop regularly — make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a story.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• New research highlights disproportionate suicide rates among trans youth and systemic gaps in care
• New Zealand updates blood donation rules to focus on behavior, not identity
• Hungary’s LGBTQ+ law faces a major challenge in the European Union
• A far-right U.S. figure is banned from entering the UK over inflammatory rhetoric
• Russia intensifies its crackdown by labeling LGBTQ+ organizations “extremist”
• Texas Tech introduces restrictions on LGBTQ+ discussions in core courses
• Book bans in the U.S. hit an all-time high, with LGBTQ+ stories heavily targeted
• Ongoing political divisions still show consistent opposition to LGBTQ+ rights

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• New research highlights disproportionate suicide rates among trans youth and systemic gaps in care
• New Zealand updates blood donation rules to focus on behavior, not identity
• Hungary’s LGBTQ+ law faces a major challenge in the European Union
• A far-right U.S. figure is banned from entering the UK over inflammatory rhetoric
• Russia intensifies its crackdown by labeling LGBTQ+ organizations “extremist”
• Texas Tech introduces restrictions on LGBTQ+ discussions in core courses
• Book bans in the U.S. hit an all-time high, with LGBTQ+ stories heavily targeted
• Ongoing political divisions still show consistent opposition to LGBTQ+ rights

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• Same-sex couple targeted in alleged fake CNN incident
• Federal ruling impacts trans women in prisons
• Oregon settlement highlights abuse in custody
• Laverne Cox speaks out on trans rights and dehumanization
• Andy Cohen responds to anti-trans rhetoric
• FBI involved in trans custody dispute
• Trans woman killed in San Francisco hit-and-run
• Religious backlash at Baylor University
• Pastor pleads guilty to sexual offenses
• Suspect charged in Sam Altman attack

This episode explores the real-world impact of policy, rhetoric, and visibility on the LGBTQ+ community.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• Meryl Streep credits queer culture for shaping fashion and media
• Netflix announces Kylie Minogue documentary
• New queer photo series inspired by Madonna’s SEX era
• Heartstopper Forever finale set for July 17
• NYC appoints Black lesbian archivist Shawn Smith-Cruz
• Former drag performer calls for Pride funding cuts
• John Waters appears on The View with viral Trump comment

This episode explores how LGBTQ+ people continue to shape culture — while also navigating internal debates and evolving identities.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In today’s episode of Listen Up Girl, we break down a HUGE legal win for trans rights as the Montana Supreme Court rules that denying accurate IDs is unconstitutional. We also cover a historic decision from the European Union striking down Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ law, and a surprising moment in Nebraska where multiple anti-trans bills failed to pass.

Plus — Apple CEO Tim Cook announces a major leadership transition, a powerful coming out story from Australian billionaire Hamish Douglass, growing global boycotts in the music industry, and key U.S. Supreme Court cases that could impact LGBTQ+ rights.

This episode dives into the wins, the setbacks, and everything in between.

💬 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to support LGBTQ+ independent media.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• Heated Rivalry season 2 shifting from romance to real-life relationship struggles
• Heartstopper Forever casting changes and what it means for the final chapter
• Australia ending discriminatory blood donation restrictions for LGBTQ+ people
• Trans & Intersex Pride Dublin returning as a major protest movement
• Gay teachers in France facing ongoing anti-LGBTQ+ harassment
• Concerns over Google search results leading users to conversion therapy sites
• U.S. Supreme Court taking on a major LGBTQ+ vs religious rights case
• A new gay bar opening in Champaign, Illinois
• Boston LGBTQ+ funding controversy explained
• Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear honored for LGBTQ+ allyship

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From a shocking claim about overturning trans healthcare access, to a viral confrontation in West Hollywood that’s sparking debate across social media, to quiet policy changes in states like Wyoming that could impact transgender rights — this episode covers it all.

We also dive into:

• The politics behind Coachella and where your money goes
• A powerful new neuroinclusive production of RENT
• Trump’s latest budget proposal and its impact on LGBTQ+ communities
• A trans teacher leaving Florida over restrictive laws
• Global LGBTQ+ crackdowns, including a major case in Senegal

This is more than headlines — it’s context, analysis, and real conversation.

🎧 Subscribe for weekly LGBTQ+ news, commentary, and stories that matter.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

But while that’s a major win, the fight is far from over.

We cover a controversial court case in Australia that could impact trans inclusion in LGBTQ+ spaces, a shocking $800,000 political push targeting just two trans athletes in Maine, and a heartbreaking story of a family leaving Idaho after new anti-trans laws made daily life unsafe.

Plus, we get into the unexpected public feud between Dave Chappelle and Lauren Boebert, global LGBTQ+ crackdowns in Belarus, and a powerful HIV story that’s helping break stigma and shift the conversation around living openly and authentically.

This episode is about progress, pushback, and the real lives behind the headlines.

🎧 New episodes of Listen Up Girl drop regularly — make sure to follow, rate, and share to stay informed on LGBTQ+ news that matters.

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stay informed with the latest LGBTQ+ news, politics, and culture—only on Listen Up Girl.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• Oregon launches “Pride in Numbers” survey to spotlight rural LGBTQ+ communities
• Suspected hate crime targets LGBTQ+ venue in England, leaving patrons shaken
• LGBTQ+ gun owners in Ohio create safe, community-led firearm training spaces
• Rob and Michele Reiner honored for advancing marriage equality at HRC gala
• Delaware expands LGBTQ+ Commission to strengthen statewide representation
• Utah becomes first state to ban pride flags in schools and government buildings
• “No Kings” protests draw millions across the U.S. in mass anti-Trump demonstrations

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• IOC bans trans women from Olympic competition
• UK Girlguiding removes trans girls from membership
• Dallas removes Pride crosswalks — activist arrested restoring them
• Nonbinary doctor sues NYC health system
• Florida assault case highlights dangers of anti-LGBTQ+ hate
• Democrats flip key Florida district
• AFL player Leigh Ryswyk comes out as gay
• India rolls back transgender rights
• UK bookstore launches bold protest fundraiser
• Vivian Wilson turns controversy into advocacy
• New inclusive tennis league launches in Las Vegas

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

•  Domingo opens up about love and identity ahead of major films
• Miami Beach Pride celebrates 18 years with massive lineup
• Real Housewives take HIV funding fight to Capitol Hill
• Anthony Rapp returns to stage with intimate one-man show
• Aaron Rourke becomes first openly gay WWE singles champion
• Kevin Spacey settles civil assault case
• LGBTQ+ couple separated by ICE detention
• Miley Cyrus supports Chappell Roan amid fame struggles
• BBC faces backlash over queer show cancellations
• Prospect Park redesign sparks debate over queer history
• Florida cousin marriage ban fails in Senate

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• New Study Finds Gay Men Now Earn More Than Straight Men
• Report Claims U.S. Intelligence Raised Questions About Iran’s New Supreme Leader
• Autumn Durald Arkapaw Makes Oscars History with Best Cinematography Win
• Turning Point USA Chapter Leader Resigns After Racist and Homophobic Chat Leak
• Harry Styles Sparks Queerbaiting Debate After Surprise SNL Kiss
• Los Angeles Engineer Sues Over Pride Flag Display at Government Office
• Patricia Arquette Uses Oscars Spotlight to Defend Trans Rights
• Oscar Winner Andy Jurgensen Goes Viral After Kissing Partner Before Acceptance Speech
• UK NHS Pauses New Hormone Referrals for Trans Teens
• Federal Appeals Judges Reprimand Colleague Over Offensive Trans Comment
• Olympian Kaillie Humphries Honors Trump Over Anti-Trans Sports Policies
• Trump Faces Criticism Over Comments About LGBTQ People in Iran

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2. Orange convicted felon Calls Trans Support “Insult to Jesus” as LGBTQ Rights Battles Grow

3. Texas Targets PFLAG + Historic LGBTQ Wins in India & Nepal | LGBTQ News

4. Major LGBTQ News: Trump Rhetoric, Texas Court Ruling, Global Pride Milestones

5. LGBTQ News: Trump Targets Trans Rights, Nepal Elects Trans Lawmaker

6. LGBTQ Politics Explodes in Texas While History Is Made in India & Nepal

7. Trump Criticizes Trans Rights as LGBTQ Milestones Happen Worldwide

8. Big LGBTQ News: Texas Investigation, Trans Representation, NYC Icon Closes

9. Trans Rights Under Fire in Texas While LGBTQ History Is Made Globally

10. LGBTQ News Roundup: Trump Controversy, PFLAG Ruling, Global Pride Wins

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

At a time when religion is often used as a justification for anti-LGBTQ policies, Talarico has taken a different path — arguing that faith should be a force for compassion and inclusion.

In this episode we discuss:

• Who James Talarico is and his background as a teacher, policymaker, and Christian seminarian
• His viral speech defending transgender Texans during debates in the Texas legislature
• His opposition to anti-trans legislation and culture war politics
• The moment he challenged lawmakers on why rainbow symbols in classrooms are called “indoctrination”
• His support for transgender youth speaking out at the Texas Capitol
• Why LGBTQ advocacy groups view him as an important ally
• The broader movement of faith leaders supporting LGBTQ equality

As LGBTQ rights continue to be debated across the United States, Talarico represents a different voice — one arguing that equality and faith can stand together.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• BBC cancels LGBTQ+ dating shows I Kissed a Boy and I Kissed a Girl
• Orange convicted felon pushes SAVE Act while tying anti-trans policies to legislation
• Federal prisons ordered to taper hormone therapy for transgender inmates
• Texas lawmaker James Talarico defends trans youth amid political debate
• Texas man sentenced to 200 years for Grindr murders

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• FBI Director Kash Patel scrutinized over $75,000 taxpayer-funded Milan trip
• Rep. Robert Garcia pushes back on Nancy Mace’s Hillary Clinton deposition claims
• Transgender Kansans sue over document revocation law
• Rep. Bob Onder calls trans people “demonic evil” while introducing anti-care bill
• 5th Circuit allows Texas drag ban to take effect
• Nevada judge clears path for trans sports ballot initiative
• Grace Jones refuses music license for Melania documentary
• Influencer falsely claims headphones are “making men gay”
• Brandi Carlile raises $600,000 for families impacted by ICE
• New Hampshire House passes controversial CHARLIE Act
• Rep. Mary Miller introduces bill restricting federal funds over LGBTQ+-inclusive material
• Colton Underwood addresses past controversies at reunion
• Florida restricts HIV medication access, sparking public health concerns

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.