Listen Up Girl

Listen Up Girl — Tuesday, August 18, 2026 Segment 1 — Kennedy Center pays out $252,480: A DC judge ruled there was no valid contract, ending Richard Grenell's retaliatory lawsuit against jazz musician Chuck Redd over a canceled New Year's Eve performance. Segment 2 — Jadon MacCormack's landslide loss: The Connecticut candidate who called for executing LGBTQ+ people and declared June "Straight Month" lost his primary with under 20% of the vote. He declared himself "the true winner" anyway. Segment 3 — Darren Bailey's predator ties: The Illinois GOP gubernatorial candidate shared a stage with a registered child sex offender turned "ex-gay" minister, and separately accepted campaign donations from — and attended church with — another convicted sex offender. Segment 4 — Shevrin Jones primary-day smear: A homophobic text blast falsely claimed the Florida state senator — who could become the state's first openly gay member of Congress — is HIV positive, falsely attributing the message to Equality Florida. The attack landed on primary day itself. Segment 5 — DeSantis administration hypocrisy: A Florida newspaper called out officials for letting religious schools discriminate against LGBTQ+ students while denying religious-freedom protections to schools requiring vaccines. Segment 6 — Fresno church rebuild: After vandals crushed a church's rainbow "God's doors are open to all" Pride display, neighbors rebuilt it before Sunday service had even ended. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Today on Listen Up Girl: JD Vance and HHS accuse hospitals of fraud for providing gender-affirming care, a trans activist confronts the Massachusetts AG live on the radio, Lauren Boebert's son heads to jail while she lectures on parenting, two directors reject Harry Potter money over JK Rowling's transphobia, Neil Patrick Harris reflects on his 2006 coming out, and a gay beach party refuses to be scared off by death threats. Six stories, eleven minutes, every day. 🎙️ Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts | listenupgirl.com | @TheRealZachRE Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Today's Listen Up Girl covers six stories from Sunday, August 16, 2026. A federal judge dismissed Minnesota's lawsuit challenging the federal government's stance on trans kids in school sports, ruling the state hadn't yet shown concrete legal harm — though a separate federal lawsuit against Minnesota over the same issue continues elsewhere. In Europe, Slovakia is defying a European Court of Justice ruling by refusing to register the marriage of Ivan Novotný and Metod Špaček, a Slovak gay couple married in Austria, prompting a rebuke from the European Commission. Matrix director Lilly Wachowski revealed that her new $10 million film, The Hunted, has stalled in Hollywood funding despite being fully scripted and ready to shoot, because its cast is entirely trans — part of a broader industry pullback that saw zero trans characters across 225 major studio films this year. A Republican candidate faced backlash after telling a female opponent she seemed "more masculine" than a man. Rudy Giuliani falsely claimed New York City's new universal childcare plan would teach babies to change gender — a claim entirely disconnected from the actual policy, which simply expands free childcare access starting with two-year-olds this fall. And the episode closes with Rosie O'Donnell's candid, funny, and moving account of learning to consistently use her nonbinary child's pronouns — including the "they" tattoo she got on her wrist to help her remember. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Today on Listen Up Girl: The Senate narrowly confirms Todd Blanche as Attorney General, raising fears about DOJ independence. Fox News host Tomi Lahren calls her own party an "utter embarrassment." A Connecticut candidate who called for executing LGBTQ+ people gets humiliated in his primary. Swiss Olympic-track volleyball star Leo Dillier comes out as gay. A bagel shop worker makes history in one of Tennessee's reddest counties. And Bolivia celebrates its first same-sex civil marriage. Listen Up Girl is your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast — keeping you informed and in the fight. 🎙️ Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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 — Thursday, August 13, 2026 Today's episode covers six LGBTQ+ stories spanning the U.S. and the globe: The Department of Justice quietly dropped its appeal in a case seeking the private medical records of transgender kids treated at a Pennsylvania hospital, ending a year-long legal campaign a federal judge had already called "unprecedented" and cruel. In Dodge City, Kansas, a protest group of transgender men wearing "Compliance Crew" shirts followed the state's new bathroom law to the letter — entering women's facilities as legally required — to demonstrate the law's absurdity in real time. An arcade is facing consequences after forcing two transgender women to have their IDs scanned before entering while a cisgender friend walked past unchecked. In the UK, newly appointed Defense Secretary Wes Streeting is speaking out about a wave of homophobic abuse he's faced since taking office — a jarring turn for a politician who spent two years extending bans on trans youth healthcare while in his previous role. In Senegal, 71 men were arrested and charged with "unnatural acts" as the country's crackdown on homosexuality continues to escalate following stiffened penalties passed in March. And Karamo Brown is hosting the 8th annual .ORG Impact Awards this October, honoring 35 individuals and organizations worldwide for grassroots community work, with winners receiving up to $50,000 for their causes. 🎙️ New episodes daily | listenupgirl.com Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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 https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today on Listen Up Girl: Australia's census includes a sexual orientation and gender identity question for the first time ever. Senegal's anti-LGBTQ+ crackdown hits 71 arrests. British tennis announces a full ban on trans women in competitive matches. Ofcom finally investigates GB News after a guest linked Pride to pedophilia. And a MAGA-linked bot campaign gets caught faking support for an anti-trans gun rule. 🎙️ New episodes daily | Subscribe so you never miss a story 📲 Instagram: @TheRealZachRE Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Monday, August 10th on Listen Up Girl: a trans New Hampshire state rep says a fellow Democrat pressured her out of a congressional race, a children's hospital caves to DOJ pressure and ends trans youth care, two New York lawmakers try to repeal a 40-year-old bathhouse ban, the internet has thoughts about a certain someone's suspiciously fuller hair, a new women's baseball league puts queer athletes front and center, and Jeopardy's Ken Jennings sets the record straight on where he stands. New episodes every day. Follow, subscribe, and leave a review — it helps more than you know. Find us everywhere @TheRealZachRE. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Broadway Bounces Actor After Transphobic Videos Resurface — Geno Segers was set to play Hades in Hadestown until old videos surfaced of him comparing trans people's fight for equal rights to people impersonating animals for discounted airfare, and mocking the idea of stating pronouns. Producers "mutually agreed" to part ways days after his casting was announced; his apology was criticized for not naming who was harmed. Canada Ends Decades of Discrimination Against Gay Sperm Donors — Health Canada eliminated sexual-behavior screening questions that specifically targeted gay and bisexual donors, following a years-long legal challenge from a donor named Aziz. Medical experts testified that modern HIV testing carries effectively zero residual risk. Advocates called it a precedent-setting win. Anti-Gay Congressman Loses His Seat — Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, known for saying "homosexuality has no place in America" and calling last year's Super Bowl halftime show "gay pornography," lost his Republican primary to a better-funded challenger who picked up a late endorsement from the state's own governor. He's the second Trump-endorsed House candidate to lose a primary this week. Chef Accuses Anti-LGBTQ+ Senator of Kissing a Male Escort — Chef and content creator Joe Gera posted a series of unverified allegations claiming Sen. Josh Hawley kissed a male escort and separately accused Sen. Bernie Moreno of being closeted. Neither senator has responded. Both allegations remain unproven. UK Parents of Trans Kids Say They Were Ignored — An advocacy group says it sent the UK government a detailed report on the harm of a new school policy targeting trans students and received no response, as families describe declining mental health under policies that out kids to classmates and leave teachers without guidance. Out Olympian Gus Kenworthy Is Engaged — Four-time Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy proposed to boyfriend Andrew Rigby on a clifftop off Mallorca, Spain, complete with a picnic and a surprise boat of friends. Kenworthy came out in 2015 and made history kissing his boyfriend on live TV during the 2018 Games. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Progressive Abdul El-Sayed pulls off a razor-thin, AIPAC-defying upset in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary. Missouri voters crush two GOP-backed constitutional amendments by lopsided margins. A federal appeals court upholds Florida's ban on minors attending "obscene" drag performances. Plus a Washington roundup, a rocket that crashed into the moon, and the internet's new favorite sinkhole serenade. In this episode: Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan's Democratic Senate primary in a stunning upset over Haley Stevens, setting up a November race against Mike Rogers Missouri voters reject two GOP-backed constitutional amendments by landslide margins A federal appeals court upholds Florida's ban on minors attending "obscene" drag performances in a divided 8-5 ruling Washington roundup: stalled Iran peace talks, a new federal benefits fraud crackdown, and a lawsuit over the Epstein files A SpaceX rocket stage crashes into the moon after 18 months adrift in space The internet's new favorite sinkhole serenade goes viral Follow the show: Subscribe wherever you listen, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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, Zach Randles-Friedman covers six stories shaping LGBTQ+ life this week. First, reporting on closed-door separation hearings for transgender service members who refuse to voluntarily leave the military, with attorneys describing the process as predetermined and dehumanizing — the latest fallout from a policy the Supreme Court has allowed to proceed even as legal challenges continue. Next, a new JAMA Pediatrics study undercuts a common argument against gender-affirming care, finding that puberty blockers cause only modest, largely reversible effects on bone density in trans minors. The episode then turns to a widely mocked comment from the administration about women's basketball and puberty blockers, followed by news that Brittney and Cherelle Griner have filed for divorce after eight years of marriage. On a more hopeful note, Xavier Becerra's California gubernatorial campaign is spotlighted for its explicit LGBTQ+ platform, including protections for trans youth and expanded PrEP access. The show closes with a "quote of the week" segment on Fox host Laura Ingraham's much-mocked comments about authoritarianism and scarcity. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Today on Listen Up Girl: Arkansas can now criminally charge librarians over "harmful materials," a GLAD Law attorney breaks down what the Supreme Court actually said about trans athletes and Title IX, a Michigan salon gets ordered into anti-discrimination training, James Dale — who lost his own discrimination case at the Supreme Court in 2000 — forces the Pentagon to reveal its Scouting America agreement, a congressional candidate gets caught saying the quiet part out loud twice in one interview, and WorldPride Amsterdam gives us the "Kissing Couple" float we didn't know we needed. Subscribe for daily LGBTQ+ news, no fluff, no repeats, just what you need to know. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Today's episode covers six major LGBTQ+ stories: A federal judge signed a permanent order blocking Michigan from enforcing its conversion therapy ban against counselors who say their treatment is talk-only, after Catholic Charities affiliates sued the state. The ruling follows the Supreme Court's March decision in Chiles v. Salazar and puts more than 20 other states with similar bans on notice. Massachusetts Senate candidate Seth Moulton has apologized for comments he made in November 2024 about not wanting his daughters to compete against a "male or formerly male athlete." LGBTQ+ advocates asked him for an apology back then and didn't get one — he's offering it now, with a Senate campaign underway. A neo-Nazi group, NSC-131, has formally admitted in court to violating New Hampshire's civil rights law after surrounding a cafe hosting a drag queen story hour in 2023 and shouting slurs at families. The group's leader must pay a $10,000 penalty, complete 250 hours of community service, and the group has ceased operating in the state. Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve wore a "Trans Kids Belong" t-shirt during a nationally televised game against Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham, who has publicly opposed trans athletes in women's sports. The Lynx won the game 108-100. Disgraced former congressman George Santos now owes $35,000 stemming from an online gambling scandal — his lawyer says it isn't an admission of wrongdoing. And trans singer and Stonewall veteran Christy Henderson Jenkins shares, for the first time, the full love story of her "chosen parents" — Stonewall icon Stormé DeLarverie and her longtime partner Diana, whose relationship began at a Harlem nightclub in 1943. 🎙️ Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts | listenupgirl.com Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Today on Listen Up Girl: a new political candidate's transphobic ad campaign is getting a surprisingly cold reception from her own party, a tangled scandal involving a closeted threat between two Republican lawmakers, a heartbreaking story about a school being held accountable after a bullied teen's death, a hidden piece of trans history from a secret Catskills refuge decades before Stonewall, a viral TikTok about lesbian hosting culture that has the internet delighted, and a genuinely joyful engagement to send you off with a smile. Content note: Today's episode discusses teen suicide and bullying. If you or someone you love is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by call or text. The Trevor Project also offers LGBTQ youth-specific support at 1-866-488-7386. New episodes every day. Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people find the show. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

On today's episode of Listen Up Girl, we're breaking down six stories shaping LGBTQ+ life and politics right now — starting with the fallout from Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton's disastrous meeting with LGBTQ+ advocates after she called transgender girls "boys." We cover Scouting America eliminating its inclusion spaces for gay youth, women, and scouts of color under pressure from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and a new report from the Center for American Progress that's reshaping how Democrats talk about trans athletics. We're also covering a West Virginia food bank whose freezers sit empty after its pastor refused donations tied to LGBTQ+-supportive organizations, new UK guidance restricting trans people from single-sex spaces that takes effect this week, and we close with something to celebrate: "Noah's Arc: The Movie" just earned the franchise's first-ever Emmy nomination. Listen Up Girl is your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast — keeping you informed, engaged, and connected to the stories that matter most to our community. 🎙️ Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. 📩 Follow us on social media for daily updates. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

with a restroom encounter, South Dakota moves to become the 11th state blocking trans ID updates, a UCLA study confirms trans Californians are searched and arrested at far higher rates, UK right-wingers manufacture outrage over an LGBTQ+ parent breastfeeding support group, Russian LGBTQ+ journalists describe being forced into exile with 24 hours' notice, and an anti-LGBTQ+ Ohio congressman faces disturbing new abuse allegations. 🔔 Subscribe for daily LGBTQ+ news 📱 Follow @TheRealZachRE 🌐 listenupgirl.com 📝 Show Notes [0:00] Intro [0:45] Trump endorses Michigan candidate Amir Hassan, whose campaign began over a bathroom encounter [2:15] South Dakota set to become 11th state banning gender marker updates on licenses [4:00] New Williams Institute study: trans Californians searched/arrested at far higher rates by police [5:30] UK right-wing media manufactures outrage over LGBTQ+ parent breastfeeding support group [6:45] Russian LGBTQ+ journalists at Parni+ describe forced exile after "extremist" designation [8:30] Anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) faces abuse allegations involving ex-wife and toddler daughter [10:15] Outro Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Today on Listen Up Girl: An anti-trans activist in Australia loses her appeal and owes $95,000 in damages after lying about a trans athlete injuring cis women. Conservatives melt down over a University of Minnesota paper doll designed to teach kids about gender. We fact-check the "Six-Gender Jimmy" attacks on Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. Reporter Kaitlan Collins claps back at the orange convicted felon in five words. A former PepsiCo employee sues, alleging two years of anti-gay harassment the company failed to stop. The right melts down over a "trans" Care Bear. And we close with The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, back with more queer joy. Follow Listen Up Girl daily for LGBTQ+ news that matters. Subscribe, rate, review, and share. 🌐 listenupgirl.com 📱 @TheRealZachRE SHOW NOTES Segment 1: Anti-trans activist Kirralie Smith loses her appeal in Australia and owes $95,000 in damages plus a public apology after falsely claiming trans athlete Riley Dennis injured two cisgender women Segment 2: Conservatives, including a Minnesota Senate candidate, spread misinformation about "MyGender Dolls," a University of Minnesota-developed teaching tool about gender diversity Segment 3: A fact-check on the "Six-Gender Jimmy" nickname used against Texas Senate candidate James Talarico rates the claim half-true — he referenced intersex sexes, not genders Segment 4: Reporter Kaitlan Collins responds to being told to "smile more" by the orange convicted felon with five unbothered words Segment 5: A former PepsiCo employee sues the company, alleging two years of anti-gay harassment and retaliatory firing after she returned from FMLA leave Segment 6: Right-wing accounts erupt over a museum exhibit referencing a Care Bear as trans Segment 7: The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder returns with a new season, featuring Billy Porter and Zachary Quinto as an adoptive gay couple Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Today on Listen Up Girl: House Democrats — joined by four Republicans — defeat Lauren Boebert's attempt to write the trans military ban into law. Pete Buttigieg and his family are put through a 24-hour nightmare over a child abuse claim that didn't hold up. Nancy Mace brings drag queen photos to a House hearing as political theater. A hate crime shooter gets seven years. The federal government threatens a school district for supporting a trans-inclusive family. Pennsylvania ends a discriminatory HIV criminalization law. And we close with something fun: Six Flags Magic Mountain's Pride night. Follow Listen Up Girl daily for LGBTQ+ news that matters. Subscribe, rate, review, and share. 🌐 listenupgirl.com 📱 @TheRealZachRE Show Notes: Segment 1: House Democrats, plus four Republicans, defeat Lauren Boebert's amendment to write the trans military ban into law (212-217) Segment 2: Pete Buttigieg separated from his twins for 24 hours over an unsubstantiated child abuse claim; officials criticized for mishandling it Segment 3: Nancy Mace brings drag queen photos to a House hearing, claims drag content harms kids; one queen responds asking "Can I sue?" Segment 4: Man sentenced to seven years for shooting and paralyzing his queer neighbor after weeks of homophobic harassment Segment 5: Federal government threatens a school district after parents discover their child's name/pronouns were shared without their knowledge, then sue over trans-inclusive policy Segment 6: Pennsylvania ends enhanced criminal penalties for people living with HIV Segment 7: Six Flags Magic Mountain gears up for its annual "Out On The Mountain" LGBTQ+ night Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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 — Tuesday, July 28, 2026 A dinosaur book gets called "sexual grooming." A federal judge asks the Pentagon a question it really doesn't want to answer on the record. New research from overseas guts one of the right's favorite talking points. And a trans icon turns an insult from the White House into one of the most powerful things she's ever said. In this episode: 🦕 A Missouri library gets threatened over a rainbow dinosaur book A "Rainbow Story Time" at Columbia's Daniel Boone Regional Library — featuring a picture book about a child in a drag costume and another about a mythical Rainbowsaurus — drew a "sexual grooming" accusation from a state senator and a formal funding-threat letter from the state attorney general's office. Library staff say the event is proceeding as scheduled. ⚖️ A judge questions Pete Hegseth's testosterone double standard A federal judge is demanding the Department of Defense explain why cisgender men can access testosterone treatment and stay in uniform, while trans men on the same treatment for the same medical reason are being flagged for discharge under the same policy. 🔬 New Dutch medical review says gender-affirming care for trans youth is "morally urgent" A major review of the medical literature out of the Netherlands undercuts a common claim from American conservatives that Europe has turned against gender-affirming care — finding the treatment fits within health law, achieves its intended physical effects, shows signs of improved mental health outcomes, and carries low rates of regret. 💍 A failed gubernatorial candidate launches a tour against your marriage Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who lost her 2025 gubernatorial bid by 13 points, is touring the state to campaign against a fall ballot amendment that would protect marriage equality in Virginia's constitution — despite having been constitutionally required to sign marriage equality into state law herself last year. 🎙️ A bodycam recorded five hours the police never meant to share In Norwich, England, activist Gemma Barnes released nearly five hours of audio her own confiscated bodycam accidentally captured of officers making racist and anti-trans comments in 2023. She's now suing Norfolk Constabulary. 📚 An Ohio teacher built the resource nobody else would Middle school teacher Erica Putro launched Honesty for Mahoning Valley Education with the nonprofit Mahoning Valley Queer Action, training fellow teachers on how anti-LGBTQ+ laws affect their students and pushing for real school board policy. 💬 Dylan Mulvaney's response to the White House After being mocked at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Dylan Mulvaney posted a four-minute video turning the insult into a rallying cry for trans and nonbinary people everywhere. 🔗 Follow the show: @TheRealZachRE 🌐 listenupgirl.com New episodes daily. Subscribe, rate, and share if this show keeps you informed. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Today's episode: a vehicle attack tore through Berlin's Pride celebration, killing one person and injuring dozens, with German authorities calling it a suspected terror attack. Plus — a Seattle congressional candidate gets caught hiding her LGBTQ+ support on the record, Americans overwhelmingly reject the FCC's push for LGBTQ+ TV warning labels, France confirms a former anti-marriage-equality politician as its new rights watchdog, a Phoenix leather bar beats back a billionaire neighbor's objections, D.C. finally holds its postponed LGBTQ+ Legacy Awards, and Cynthia Nixon signs on to officiate the world's biggest lesbian wedding ceremony. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:20 Berlin Pride vehicle attack 2:15 Seattle candidate's LGBTQ+ backlash 4:00 FCC warning labels rejected 5:45 France's new Defender of Rights 7:15 Phoenix bar beats billionaire objection 8:30 DC Legacy Awards tonight 9:15 Cynthia Nixon to officiate Bride Pride 10:30 Outro New episodes daily. Subscribe, rate, and share to keep the show going. Follow: @TheRealZachRE Website: listenupgirl.com Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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 — Saturday, July 25, 2026 A federal program for LGBTQ+ veterans dismantled by email. A member of Congress hauling poster boards of drag queens into a hearing room. An arrest in West Virginia that should make every "protect the children" politician in the country sit down. And a story from 1890s Manhattan that reframes all of it. In this episode: 🎖️ The VA quietly erases its LGBTQ+ veteran care network For ten years, the Department of Veterans Affairs ran the LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator Program — designated staff in every region helping LGBTQ+ veterans find competent care. On Wednesday, July 22, an internal email told coordinators the letters were coming out of their titles, national communications and procedures were discontinued, and the internal resource site was going away. Staff were told to save anything they wanted to keep. In June, leadership had assured coordinators nothing was changing. One provider called it moral injury on top of moral injury. Another called it a cruel erasure. Other population-specific VA programs remain untouched. 🖼️ Nancy Mace brings drag queens to Congress on a poster board The outgoing South Carolina congresswoman spent Wednesday grilling the director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History over a display in the Entertainment Nation section featuring RuPaul and two Drag Race queens — complete with printed poster boards in the hearing room. She accused the museum of sexualizing children and of representing "queer pedophiles." The director stayed composed and noted not a single visitor had complained. Kandy Muse responded with two words: "Can I sue?" Joey Jay said she's already talking to a lawyer. ⚖️ A "protect the children" lawmaker arrested for allegedly preying on a child David Elliott Pritt, 36, a Republican member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, assistant majority leader, and a school teacher, was arrested Wednesday on a federal charge of enticement of a minor. He has not entered a plea and is presumed innocent. The arrest happened in a state whose legislature has spent years passing bills about bathrooms, sports, and school policy — all of it wrapped in the language of protecting young girls. 🇺🇦 Pig heads at a salon door in Kyiv At 6:17 AM on Tuesday, July 21 — the day of Kyiv's Equality March — someone left severed pig heads and entrails at the entrance of GX Bar, a beauty salon in Kyiv, and poured blood across the doorstep. The salon says it caps a month of coordinated attacks: threats, property damage, leaked home addresses, threats against staff families. Forty locations across twelve countries, and this is the cost of standing up for human values. 💔 "Sex work or starve" When the administration gutted USAID, tens of thousands of people lost their livelihoods overnight. New reporting shows some former aid workers — people who ran HIV prevention programs and clinics — have turned to sex work to survive. Not an unintended consequence. Just a consequence. ✅ And a win: the Ninth Circuit says no An Oregon education specialist who displayed anti-transgender books in the office where he met one-on-one with middle schoolers — then kept doing it after being told to stop — lost his appeal this week. A three-judge panel upheld the lower court 2–1, leaning on a robust body of precedent: educators speak as government employees when they convey messages to students inside a school. 🕯️ The room above the brothel In 1890s Manhattan, a group met in a rented room and called themselves the Cercle Hermaphroditos — the earliest known transgender advocacy group in this country. Not a social club. An advocacy group. They organized around an almost unthinkable idea: that they were not sick, not criminal, not alone, and had the right to defend themselves. More than 130 years later, we're watching a federal agency delete letters from job titles. Somebody's always got to go first. 🎧 Listen Up Girl is your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast. New episode every day. If this one gave you something worth carrying, follow or subscribe wherever you listen, leave a rating and review — it genuinely helps more people find us — and share it with someone who needs to hear it. 🌐 listenupgirl.com 📱 Instagram: @TheRealZachRE ▶️ YouTube: @TheRealZachRE Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman 4. SUGGESTED CHAPTERS (Estimated placement — adjust to your final audio.)   00:00 — Today's headlines 00:30 — The VA deletes its LGBTQ+ veteran care network 03:45 — Nancy Mace brings drag queens to Congress on a poster board 07:15 — A "protect the children" lawmaker arrested 10:30 — Pig heads at a salon door in Kyiv 13:15 — "Sex work or starve": the USAID fallout 15:20 — A win: the Ninth Circuit upholds a firing 17:45 — The room above the brothel: Cercle Hermaphroditos, 1890s Manhattan 20:00 — Outro Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Welcome to Listen Up Girl — your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast. Friday, July 24, 2026. Today's episode goes to some dark places before it finds the light — and I'm warning you up front. We cover a Pentagon pastor who says gay people should be executed, a trans woman who was sexually assaulted after being placed in a men's homeless shelter, and a Dutch government review that called gender-affirming care for trans youth "morally urgent." We also cover a gay Republican found liable for sexually harassing two men, House Democrats blocking Lauren Boebert's trans military ban, and a trans mom who went viral doing a dead-on Tucker Carlson impression to fund her own surgery. It's a lot. But we end somewhere good. In today's episode: Pete Hegseth's personal pastor publicly called for the execution of gay people — and the Department of Defense said nothing A trans woman was denied gender-affirming shelter placement in New York City, was sexually assaulted in a men's facility, and is now suing the city The Netherlands concluded that withholding gender-affirming care from trans youth causes documented harm — and called providing it a moral obligation A gay Republican elected official was found legally liable for sexually harassing two men and is facing calls to resign House Democrats united to block Lauren Boebert's bill to codify a full ban on transgender military service A trans mom went viral — and raised serious fundraiser money — by doing a pitch-perfect Tucker Carlson impression about her own life Follow Listen Up Girl wherever you get your podcasts. Rate, review, and share — it helps more people find the show. 📱 Instagram & YouTube: @TheRealZachRE 🌐 listenupgirl.com #ListenUpGirl #LGBTQNews #TransRights #GayNews #QueerNews #LGBTQ2026 Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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 — your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast, hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman. Today on Listen Up Girl: A Republican senator threatens to block Kari Lake's ambassadorial nomination unless the administration proves it's releasing frozen PEPFAR funds — as a new study reveals the funding cuts have shut down 1,700 HIV treatment sites worldwide. In Indonesia, at least ten transgender women have been attacked by vigilante mobs in Bogor, with footage showing men beating and dousing a trans woman with urine — attacks linked to a presidential regulation classifying LGBTQ culture as a national threat. Congress is advancing two federal bills that would ban any educational material mentioning trans identity from every public school in the country, and the American Library Association says the Senate companion bill is dangerously broad. Two Iowa teachers disciplined for organizing a student drag show win a $150,000 discrimination settlement. A King County judge rules that Seattle's historic queer nude beach at Denny Blaine Park will stay open, despite a wealthy neighbor's lawsuit to shut it down. And in Spokane, a community rises up and protests outside a coffee stand that posted a deeply offensive anti-trans sign — and wins. 📅 New episodes every day 📲 Instagram & YouTube: @TheRealZachRE 🌐 listenupgirl.com Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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 — your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast, hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman. Today on Listen Up Girl: The UK has a new Prime Minister — Andy Burnham, a decades-long LGBTQ+ ally who marched against Section 28 at 18, now faces a critical moment for trans rights as EHRC guidance looms in August. Two women in Uganda arrested for kissing under the brutal Anti-Homosexuality Act have finally had all charges dropped after months of imprisonment and international outcry. The Women's Tennis Association has implemented a new genetic sex-testing policy requiring a one-time SRY gene cheek swab for all players — effective yesterday — and queer tennis fans are furious while Martina Navratilova celebrates. The administration's World Cup Task Force is pressuring FIFA to ban transgender women from the 2031 Women's World Cup, and FIFA's own anti-discrimination partner is pushing back. Soccer legend Megan Rapinoe reveals she was dropped from a major World Cup brand campaign after AI software flagged her trans allyship as a "risk." And Botswana, which just repealed its colonial anti-sodomy law in April, is now fighting fierce religious opposition in its push for equal marriage. Six stories. All new. All yours. 🎙️ New episodes every day 📍 Available wherever you listen to podcasts 📲 Instagram & YouTube: @TheRealZachRE 🌐 listenupgirl.com Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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 — your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast, hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman. Today on Listen Up Girl: A Sydney drag venue called Divine Playhouse is fighting to survive after Catholic groups protested its opening week in a former deconsecrated church and the landlord issued a notice of breach threatening eviction. The orange convicted felon's out gay Treasury Secretary used an international counterterrorism summit to invoke his own assassination attempt — and blame the left. England's government has officially mandated that trans students cannot use bathrooms matching their gender identity starting September 1st, 2026, with no exceptions. A well-funded coalition of 47 anti-LGBTQ+ organizations called "Greater Than" is actively working to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges using a 14-year-old discredited study. LGBTQ+ children's book authors in the UK are being shut out of schools at an alarming rate due to homophobic parent complaints. And a bronze statue of Charlie Kirk is headed for Times Square — and the sculptor is making it bulletproof. Six stories. All new. All things you need to know. 🎙️ New episodes every day 📍 Available wherever you listen to podcasts 📲 Instagram: @TheRealZachRE 🌐 listenupgirl.com Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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 — your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast, hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman. Today on Listen Up Girl: Trans actor Elliot Page is receiving some of the strongest reviews of his career for his role in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey — and months of right-wing backlash have been thoroughly embarrassed by the film's reception. New Hampshire Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte has vetoed a trans bathroom bill for the fourth time, telling lawmakers that sending the same bill repeatedly won't change her answer. A gunman opened fire outside gay bar Shakey's in Asheville, North Carolina — staff locked down the venue and kept every single person inside safe. Out lesbian Congresswoman Becca Balint called out the administration for what she described as "weird, intense, homoerotic feelings towards men while also being incredibly homophobic." A trans person was killed and another injured in a shooting in Pakistan. And an educator has been awarded $265,000 after his school district fired him for being gay. Six stories. All new. All yours. 🎙️ New episodes every day 📍 Find us wherever you listen to podcasts 📲 Instagram: @TheRealZachRE 🌐 listenupgirl.com Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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 — your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast, hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman. Today on Listen Up Girl: The administration has quietly shelved a rule that would have stripped Medicare and Medicaid funding from any hospital providing gender-affirming care to trans youth. A trans janitor at the University of Kansas has been formally threatened with fines and potential arrest after being reported for using the women's restroom under Kansas's aggressive new bathroom law. Indonesia's president has classified LGBTQ+ culture as a national security threat, and attacks on queer university students are escalating. A Phoenix gay leather bar beat a U-Haul heir in an eight-hour liquor board battle and won its license. Germany's gay parliamentary leader Jens Spahn resigned after fathering a child through a surrogate despite years of publicly opposing the practice. J.K. Rowling posted an upskirt photo of a trans woman who declined to debate her. And Madonna headlined the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final halftime show at MetLife Stadium. Seven stories. All new. All things you need to know. 🎙️ New episodes every day 📍 Find us wherever you listen to podcasts 📲 Instagram: @TheRealZachRE 🌐 listenupgirl.com Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

It's July 17, 2026, and Listen Up Girl has six stories you need to hear. The orange convicted felon officially erased the Biden-era rule protecting LGBTQ+ youth in foster care — with no replacement plan. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is now offering hormone replacement therapy to male soldiers while trans service members remain banned from the military. The Heritage Foundation, fresh off the Supreme Court's anti-trans sports ruling, is now going after Title IX and women's sports protections entirely. The Rubi Girls — a Texas drag activist group that raised over $3 million for charity — fought the administration's attempt to block their historical marker and won. Mexico's first openly gay mayor, Benjamín Medrano Quezada, was assassinated outside a Guadalajara ice cream shop. And gay progressive Jordan Wood is back in the Maine Senate race after the Graham Platner campaign collapsed. Listen Up Girl is a daily LGBTQ+ news podcast hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman. New episodes every weekday. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and follow @TheRealZachRE on Instagram. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Today's episode covers six stories you need to know: the orange convicted felon backs off a national ban on transgender healthcare — a real win for advocates and medical associations; Megan Rapinoe sounds the alarm on trans sports bans, saying the damage to all girls is a feature, not a flaw, of these laws — and reveals she lost a brand deal after an AI flagged her allyship; a library board moves over 100 books with zero formal review after guidance from an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group; JK Rowling pushes anti-trans groups to sue Amnesty International even after they retracted the report she's upset about; two brothers are finally facing murder charges forty years after killing a gay man — thanks to their younger brother who turned them in; and we close with the story of a gay couple who spent their lives giving 180,000 backpacks to houseless people — and died within days of each other. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman | zachre, LLC Follow on Instagram: @TheRealZachRE Subscribe, rate, and share to help grow the show. Episode Notes: Trump administration withdraws national transgender healthcare ban Megan Rapinoe on trans sports bans and being dropped by a brand for her advocacy Library board restricts 100+ LGBTQ+ books after consulting with anti-LGBTQ+ hate group JK Rowling urges anti-trans organizations to pursue legal action against Amnesty International Brothers charged in 1980s anti-gay murder after younger sibling comes forward Gay couple remembered for donating 180,000 backpacks to houseless individuals dies days apart Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

YouTube Show Notes / Description: Listen Up Girl | July 15, 2026 Today on Listen Up Girl: Mexico's first openly gay mayor, Benjamín Medrano Quezada, is shot and killed outside a Guadalajara ice cream shop. New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte signs a law forcing teachers to out trans students to their parents — overriding a state Supreme Court privacy ruling. A gay Virginia teacher and LGBTQ-ally parent win over $1 million in defamation suits after a conservative PAC falsely called them a "child abduction ring." Trans people are flooding Seattle at 20 times the pre-election rate, stretching nonprofits past their limits. Outdoor brand Patagonia takes climate-activist drag queen Pattie Gonia to federal court in a trademark fight that's turning into a PR crisis. And Virginia launches a campaign to enshrine marriage equality in its state constitution before the Supreme Court can touch it. Episode Notes: Benjamín Medrano Quezada, 59, Mexico's first openly gay mayor, was shot multiple times on July 7 in Guadalajara. No suspects or motive confirmed. NH Senate Bill 430 requires teachers to disclose students' gender identity to parents on request, even if the student fears for their safety at home. Fairfax County juries awarded teacher Robert Rigby Jr. $350K and parent Vanessa Hall $750K against the Virginia Project PAC over defamatory "groomer" posts. Since the 2024 election, nonprofit Traction has resettled 1,500 trans people in Seattle — 20x pre-election numbers. Seattle LGBTQ Commission has requested a civil state of emergency. Patagonia is suing drag activist Pattie Gonia (Wyn Wiley) for trademark infringement over a 2022 agreement dispute. Pattie Gonia is fighting back and has requested a jury trial. Virginia advocates launched a campaign to add marriage equality to the state constitution. With two legislative approvals needed, a 2027 voter referendum is possible. Follow Zach on Instagram: @TheRealZachRE | Subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

On today's episode of Listen Up Girl: U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has died at 71 — and the LGBTQ+ community is taking a clear-eyed look at his decades-long record of opposing our rights. Plus, today is International Non-Binary People's Day and Non-Binary Awareness Week — we celebrate our non-binary family and dig into the fight for legal recognition. Then, a new gay dating app called Goose is under fire after a Wired investigation found it used AI-generated fake men on Instagram to recruit users. And a sobering check-in on the state of anti-trans legislation in 2026 — 804 bills across 43 states. Social Copy (Instagram/Facebook): Today on #ListenUpGirl: Senator Lindsey Graham is dead — and we're not pretending his record was anything other than damaging to our community. Plus, it's International Non-Binary People's Day 🖤🤍💜💛 and a new gay app called Goose is in hot water after using AI-generated fake men to recruit users. All of that + the latest on 804 anti-trans bills moving through state legislatures. New episode now wherever you listen. 🎙️ #LGBTQNews #NonBinaryPeoplesDay #NonBinaryAwarenessWeek #LindseyGraham #GooseApp #QueerNews Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

On today's Listen Up Girl — Monday, July 14th, 2026 — six stories you need to know: 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-Friedmanhttps://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.

What are all the anti-lgbtq things Lindsey Graham did     Searched the web   Searched the web   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 pasted give me an seo pacakge for this:   Let me search for any details I need first. Searched the web   Searched the web   Good — now I have everything I need. Here's your full SEO package: 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-Friedmanhttps://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.

Today on Listen Up Girl: Pete Buttigieg reveals that an anonymous caller filed a false report with Michigan Child Protective Services, claiming he abused his four-year-old twins — separating him from his kids for 24 hours. He called it the darkest experience of his life and is pursuing legal options. GLAAD releases its annual "Where We Are in Film" report showing LGBTQ+ representation in major studio films has declined for the third consecutive year — and for the first time in the study's 14-year history, not a single transgender character appeared in any of the 225 films reviewed. Idaho's trans bathroom ban — the most extreme in the country — went into effect July 1st, but the nonprofit Trans Affirm has already launched a crowdsourced safety map to help trans people find inclusive restrooms across the state. Colorado Republicans nominated Victor Marx, a conversion therapy promoter who claims God "restored" him from same-sex attraction, as their candidate for governor. Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve became the winningest coach in WNBA history with her 380th regular season win — a milestone made sweeter just weeks after her induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. And Madonna's Confessions II debuts at number one on the Billboard 200, her tenth number one album, with lead single "Bring Your Love" featuring Sabrina Carpenter also hitting number one on the Dance Digital Song Sales chart. 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-Friedmanhttps://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.

On today's episode of Listen Up Girl: A major new 15-year study from SUNY's Human Sexualities Research Lab finds that nearly half of young women now report attraction that isn't exclusively to men — a dramatic shift from 2011 — while young men show virtually no change. California Governor Gavin Newsom signs a state budget including a historic $26 million gender-affirming care fund and a first-of-its-kind $10 million LGBTQ+ Community Center Fund, designed to protect access to care from federal cuts. Anti-trans activist Riley Gaines targets Elliot Page at the London premiere of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and the internet fires back. Queer Eye's Karamo Brown confirms he's in a new relationship with actor Jussie Smollett, calling him "my forever person." Ghana's parliament has passed a law that would criminalize identifying as LGBTQ+ with up to three years in prison — the bill now awaits the signature of President John Mahama. And Provincetown Bear Week kicks off today, July 11th, running through the 18th. 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-Friedmanhttps://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.

On today's episode of Listen Up Girl: An Atlantis Events LGBTQ+ cruise carrying nearly 2,000 passengers has been denied entry by both Turkey and Egypt — the CEO calls it "strange and sad." New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte signs a law forcing teachers to out transgender students to their parents, reversing a 2024 state Supreme Court ruling. Faculty groups sue Texas Tech University System for banning courses on LGBTQ+ identity and Black history — including blocking Plato and Ta-Nehisi Coates from classrooms. A major new peer-reviewed study finds trans men may miscarry at significantly higher rates than the general population, with researchers issuing an urgent call for more research. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cancels $1.73 billion in Biden-era infrastructure grants, calling them "DEI bike lanes" and mocking predecessor Pete Buttigieg. And a gay man, Jordan Wood, has entered the Maine U.S. Senate race after the Democratic nominee dropped out over a sexual assault allegation. 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-Friedmanhttps://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: On today's Listen Up Girl, six stories covering the full scope of what our community is navigating right now: New Jersey passes a landmark trans and reproductive healthcare shield law — making it a crime to interfere with patients or providers; the Supreme Court hands the orange convicted felon more control over the EEOC, threatening LGBTQ+ workplace protections; nearly half of Americans who left religion say mistreatment of LGBTQ+ people was a reason why; the Patriot Front targets Pride; and in Canada, Alberta's separatist movement raises serious questions for queer people living there. Plus — Heartstopper wraps its decade-long run with a final volume and a film coming July 17th. 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-Friedmanhttps://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.

On today's Listen Up Girl (Wednesday, July 8, 2026), Zach breaks down six new stories from across the LGBTQ+ world. 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-Friedmanhttps://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.

Today on Listen Up Girl — your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast — the Supreme Court allows 27 states to keep trans athlete bans in place, a new SCOTUS case threatens healthcare access for runaway trans teens, Russia hands down prison sentences under its LGBTQ+ terrorism designation, Istanbul Pride ends in arrests, Budapest marches in hope, and Republicans come for a trans girl in Irish dance. Plus — I'm taking a few days off for July 4th and will be back on July 8th with fresh news. 🎙️ New episodes every weekday 📍 Find us wherever you listen to podcasts 🌐 https://www.listenupgirl.com 📲 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheRealZachRE Subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who needs to stay informed. 🏳️‍🌈 Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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.

Episode 300 of Listen Up Girl — your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast. 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-Friedmanhttps://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.

Today's episode of Listen Up Girl leads with breaking news: the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 today that Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause do not prevent states from banning transgender girls and women from school sports teams. Justice Brett Kavanaugh authored the majority opinion in the combined West Virginia and Idaho cases, concluding that Title IX permits states to separate teams by biological sex. The ruling directly upholds bans in those two states but is expected to extend to roughly 25 others with similar laws, while liberal justices dissented sharply on the constitutional question. 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-Friedmanhttps://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 this episode: 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 FlowersBang 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-Friedmanhttps://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.

It's the second-to-last episode of our full Pride Month run on Listen Up Girl, and we are going in. On today's show: the NYC Pride March drew over one million people under the theme "For All of Us" with Grand Marshals including Dominique Jackson, Peppermint, and Bowen Yang. Then we break down the sobering reality of 529 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in 2026 alone, the Supreme Court's conversion therapy ruling in Chiles v. Salazar that put protections for queer youth at risk in more than 20 states, and the patchwork of wildly unequal state-by-state rights that define what it means to be LGBTQ+ in America right now. We close with a look at where public support stands — and why that fight is far from over. Tomorrow is June 30th — the last day of Pride Month. Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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 MonthSunday, 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 QuestsAdventure 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. Connect & Subscribe 🎙️ Listen Up Girl | listenupgirl.com Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio 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-Friedmanhttps://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.

LGBTQ news June 27 2026, trans kids medical records DOJ blocked, Judge Failla NYU Langone trans records, federal judge trans youth privacy, Paris Pride 2026 canceled heatwave, San Francisco Pride 2026, SF Pride resistance in action, NYC Dyke March 2026, NYC Pride March preview, Twin Cities Pride Minneapolis 2026, Graham Platner Senate trans kids, Front Runners NYC Pride Run, Pride Saturday 2026, Listen Up Girl podcast, LGBTQ news podcast Pride Month, trans rights news this week, Pride Month Day 27 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: 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 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 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 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 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 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 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-Friedmanhttps://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 — Day 26 of Pride Month | Friday, June 26, 2026Your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast 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 🎙️ Listen Up Girl is your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast. Follow, subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. Find us at listenupgirl.com Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://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 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-Friedmanhttps://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 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-Friedmanhttps://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 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-Friedmanhttps://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.

Seven stories for Day 22 of Pride Month. An intersex teacher in Florida was fired by his school district and the ACLU is fighting back. HUD is moving to strip LGBTQ+ housing protections from nearly 50 federal programs — and the public comment window closes June 29. GLAAD releases its first-ever AI safety report documenting real and growing harms to queer users. Michael Feinstein and Liza Minnelli drop a Pride anthem. Wendy Makkena comes out. Sarah McBride's landmark documentary is in theaters nationwide. And a second reminder to act before the HUD deadline closes. 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 TheatersState 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-Friedmanhttps://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.