Ep. 296: NYC Pride March Stonewall Anniversary & LGBTQ News | Pride Month Day 28

Ep. 296: NYC Pride March Stonewall Anniversary & LGBTQ News | Pride Month Day 28

SHOW NOTES Listen Up Girl | Day 28 of Pride Month Sunday, June 28, 2026 Episode Summary It's the last day of Pride Month — and the biggest one. On Day 28, we cover the 57th NYC Pride March stepping off today on the exact anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, Hayley Kiyoko's bold Pride Month declaration, Florida cities creatively defying Ron DeSantis' rainbow crosswalk ban, a new photo exhibit honoring queer veterans, the premiere of Adventure Time: Side Quests on Hulu, and sobering new Gallup data showing LGBTQ support sliding among Republicans — and why that makes today's march more important than ever. Episode Notes SEGMENT 1: The 57th NYC Pride March The NYC Pride March steps off today at noon from 26th Street and Fifth Avenue, passing through Greenwich Village and ending near the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street — the site of the 1969 uprising that launched the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. This year's theme is "For All of Us," drawn from a quote by Stonewall veteran and activist Marsha P. Johnson. Grand Marshals include Dominique Jackson, Peppermint, Bernie Wagenblast, Bowen Yang, and Gays Against Guns. The march is free and open to the public. WABC-7 broadcasts live starting at noon. More at nycpride.org. SEGMENT 2: Hayley Kiyoko Singer and LGBTQ+ icon Hayley Kiyoko gave a Pride Month interview this weekend celebrating her identity and her fanbase. She described her community as a space of "hopeful queer sapphic love" and said she is proud to be a lesbian "openly, boldly, and unapologetically." More at LGBTQ Nation. SEGMENT 3: Florida Cities Defy DeSantis After Governor Ron DeSantis moved to eliminate rainbow crosswalks and Pride-themed street art across Florida, cities pushed back creatively. St. Petersburg painted its City Hall steps as a giant Progress Pride flag and projected a 60-mile rainbow laser across the night sky. Fort Lauderdale installed a "Circle of Love" rainbow display near the beach at Sebastian Street Plaza. Miami Beach also joined the resistance. Source: Instinct Magazine / LGBTQ Nation. SEGMENT 4: Queer Veterans Photo Exhibit A new photo exhibit celebrating the lives and service of LGBTQ+ veterans opened this week, with subjects describing the experience as healing and validating. One veteran said it was the first time he had spoken publicly about both his military service and his identity as a gay man. More at LGBTQ Nation. SEGMENT 5: Adventure Time: Side Quests Adventure Time: Side Quests premieres today on Hulu. The series expands the world of the beloved animated franchise, which has long been celebrated for its queer representation, including the canon relationship between Marceline the Vampire Queen and Princess Bubblegum. Premieres June 28, 2026. Available on Hulu. SEGMENT 6: Gallup LGBTQ Support Data A Gallup survey conducted May 1–17, 2026 finds that 65% of U.S. adults support legal same-sex marriage, down from a peak of 71% in 2022–2023. Support among Republicans has dropped from 55% to 37% in four years. Moral acceptance of transgender identity among Republicans has fallen from 22% to 5% over five years. Full data available at news.gallup.com. 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-Friedman https://www.listenupgirl.com/ Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/ Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ep. 295: Judge BLOCKS DOJ From Seizing Trans Kids' Medical Records | Pride Saturday 2026 | Listen Up Girl

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

Ep. 294: Pride March Showdown: Hospitals vs. Grand Marshals | LGBTQ+ News June 26

Listen Up Girl — Day 26 of Pride Month | Friday, June 26, 2026 Your 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-Friedman https://www.listenupgirl.com/ Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/ Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ep. 293: Congress Fights FCC Trans TV Labels + SF Pride Begins | June 25, 2026

📋 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-Friedman https://www.listenupgirl.com/ Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/ Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ep. 292: LGBTQ+ Americans Fleeing the US, GWAR vs Secret Service | June 24, 2026

📋 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-Friedman https://www.listenupgirl.com/ Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/ Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.