The post Roommate Ruins Completely Arbitrary Spice Drawer Layout appeared first on The Onion.

They blend right in! READ MORE...

I’m obsessed with this jewel-box gem — it has major vintage vibes! READ MORE...

Get the built-in look for under $100. READ MORE...

They come in two styles (light filtering and room darkening!). READ MORE...

Once a bland white box with popcorn ceilings and builder-grade finishes, this 750-square-foot rental is now a color-soaked Art Deco jewel box filled with bold wallpaper, velvet drapery, clever renter-friendly upgrades, and custom-looking design ideas. READ MORE...

Ryan Conwell, a 2022 Indiana All-Star from Pike High School, was selected 37th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2026 NBA Draft. He was then traded to the Miami Heat.The left-handed 3-point shooter averaged 22.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a senior for the Red Devils — earning Marion County Player of the Year honors — and 16.4 points as a junior.He attended four colleges, helping Indiana State to the 2024 NIT championship game and Louisville into the 2026 NCAA Tournament.Doyel in December: Conwell torments IU, loves on breast cancer survivors Ryan Conwell college stats2022-23 at South Florida: 5.1 points2023-24 at Indiana State: 16.6 points, 40.7% 3-pointers, 5.8 rebounds2024-25 at Xavier: 16.5 points, 41.3% 3-pointers2025-26 at Louisville: 18.8 points, 34.5% 3-pointers on 9.6 attempts per game, 4.1 reboundsRyan Conwell highlightsThis article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Ryan Conwell selected 37th in 2026 NBA Draft, traded to Miami Heat

Oklahoma City Thunder draft picks tracker 2026: Live results, grades, updates, list of selections and trades originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Oklahoma City Thunder couldn't quite pull off a repeat NBA championship, but that doesn't dampen the future much.OKC has incredible young talent and a boatload of draft picks, too. The future is bright.That future takes a step forward this week with the NBA Draft.The first round is Tuesday night, and the second round is Wednesday night, and the Thunder certainly seem likely to make a good pick or two along the way.We'll be keeping track of OKC's action below.MORE: Giannis legacy with the Bucks remains intactOklahoma City Thunder draft picks 2026Refresh for the latest.Who did the Thunder draft?The Thunder are making these picks:Round 1, Pick 12: Aday Mara (Michigan)Round 1, Pick 16: Bennett Stirtz (Iowa) Round 2, Pick 37: Ryan Conwell (Louisville) - tradedRound 2, Pick 41: Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Draft gradesRefresh for the latest.These are how Sporting News grades each of the Thunder's draft picks:Round 1, Pick 12: Aday Mara - B+The Thunder could've done anything here. Why not take the 7-foot-4 guy? A frontcourt with him and Chet Holmgren will be insane.Round 1, Pick 16: Bennett Stirtz - BGetting him in a trade from Memphis for two second-round picks is a solid deal for a pure point guard who can shoot.Round 2, Pick 37: Ryan Conwell - tradedRound 2, Pick 41:Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Draft updates, tradesRefresh for the latest.The Thunder picked up 16th pick Bennett Stirtz from the Thunder for two second-round picks and the 17th pick.When is the NBA Draft?The NBA Draft begins with the first round on Tuesday, June 23.The second round will be on Wednesday, June 24.More NBA news:This is what a Timberwolves trade for Derrick White would look likeWarriors want Kawhi Leonard, but there's a problemHow Heat can unite Giannis with his brothersKnicks had a superstar opportunity but didn't go for it

Scotland manager Steve Clarke abandoned his post-match interview with BBC presenter Eilidh Barbour after just 23 seconds following a 3-0 loss to Brazil which leaves his team’s World Cup campaign in the balance. Vinicius Junior scored twice and Matheus Cunha once as the Scots were swept aside in Miami primarily due to their own defensive mistakes. That leaves them in third place in Group C with a goal difference of -3 and means they must wait for other results to see if they have made it into the knockout rounds for the first time in their history. Clarke, who has masterminded Scotland’s path to the World Cup and had high hopes of making history with his squad, was visibly emotional when speaking to Barbour following the final whistle. He was asked for his thoughts on the game and provided an eight word response as he disappointment showed on his face. “We made it difficult for ourselves, that’s it,” Clarke replied. Two more questions followed with Barbour asking if it was frustrating that Brazil didn’t need to work hard to score and Clarke agreed saying: “We gave them the goals, we gave them the game they wanted. Disappointing.”When reminded that Scotland now face a waiting game now and asked for his thoughts on what is to come the Scotland boss responded: “I don’t even want to think about that. Sorry, I don’t even think about that.”He then walked away before the interview could be concluded properly. Clarke later spoke again with Barbour and explained that mistakes cost his team tonight and revealed his thoughts on Scotland’s future in the competition. “You see their quality in the final third of the pitch, let's be honest, the best team won,” he said. “Unbelievable, the shift the players put in, in that humidity, outstanding. We have to be better, if we want to compete at this level. “We started four or five minutes, moving the ball nicely, settled, then we made a mistake, you can't do that at this level. Only Scotland can get a winnable first game, then No. 5 and No. 6 in the world next two games, that's the level we're at. “For sure, I think we’re going home,” he concluded. Clarke and his Scotland team face a wait to see if they have made it into the knockout rounds (Reuters)Scotland midfielder John McGinn was more forthcoming in an interview of his own and explained how the players were ‘gutted’ by the result having fallen short on the night. "Gutted obviously. We lose poor goals at poor times against a team that can punish you with quality,” he told BBC One. “We had a few chances but we've got to wait now. The lads are gutted, we fell short on quality tonight but we gave it absolutely everything. The lads are empty now."It's unlikely [to qualify] but we'll wait and see. In moments they [Brazil] hurt you. They allowed us to have the ball and at this level if you make mistakes you get punished. We probably were fortunate to have the [second] goal disallowed."It's a bit raw at the minute but we appreciate the support of the fans, we know it's difficult to be there. Hopefully the journey is not over and if we have to go again, we will go again."

FIFA World CupMorocco 4 - 2 Haiti FTSoufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine scored late goals for Morocco to deny Haiti their first-ever World Cup point in Atlanta.Morocco pegged the Caribbean nation back twice - thanks to goals from Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari - before Rahimi scored with 12 minutes to go and Yassine secured the victory.The win was not enough for Morocco to top Group C as Brazil comfortably beat Scotland in Miami and the 2022 semi-finalists will now face either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden in the last 32.But they did deny Haiti a memorable night - despite the team ranked 83rd in the world taking the lead twice and doubling their total goals tally in the competition's history.Haiti were eliminated before their final game of the group stage after defeats by Scotland and Brazil but they managed to get their first World Cup goal in 52 years when Lenny Joseph's flicked finish came off Morocco keeper Yassine Bounou and found its way into the net.That 10th-minute opener went down as an own goal to deny Joseph the honour of becoming the first man to join Emmanuel Sanon - who scored twice in 1974 - as a Haiti scorer at the World Cup.But Paris St-Germain full-back Hakimi pulled Morocco level in the 39th minute, bundling the ball home when Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide failed to get a strong enough hand to Brahim Diaz's strike.Then Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor scored one of the goals of the tournament when he fired into the top corner from 25 yards to spark jubilant scenes among the Haiti fans two minutes before half-time.But Morocco levelled again in first-half stoppage time as Saibari got his third of the tournament when Hakimi pulled the ball back into his path in a slick move.Placide - who spent a season at Oldham Athletic in 2017-18 - pulled off a series of saves to deny Morocco but he could do nothing about substitute Rahimi's effort which deflected off Haiti defender Ricardo Ade.Yassine then turned home after Rahimi managed to just keep the ball in play - which was confirmed by the video assistant referee - with a minute to go.'Attacking quality decisive against spirited Haiti'In a historic first meeting between the two nations, a vibrant crowd packed into Atlanta's stadium to create a magnificent atmosphere - the royal blue and red of Haiti blended with Morocco's red and green to generate a phenomenal atmosphere and a crescendo of noise.Haiti's fans were fully aware this would be the final chapter of their World Cup campaign but refused to let the occasion pass quietly.From the moment they arrived, they willed their team forward with relentless energy, singing, dancing and celebrating every moment. Each save by their goalkeeper was greeted with roars of delight, as though it was a goal.Morocco's supporters were no less vocal, fully aware of the significance of the result in shaping their side's fate in the group.Their team responded with attacking quality and depth that ultimately proved decisive against a spirited Haiti side.It was a magnificent contest on the pitch, matched by an outstanding atmosphere in the stands and a fitting backdrop created by two passionate sets of supporters.What's next for these teams?Haiti are eliminated as they finish bottom of Group C while Morocco will play in the last 32 against either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden at Estadio Monterrey in Mexico on Tuesday 30 June (02:00 BST) after finishing second.World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

Scotland are sweating over the fitness of captain Andy Robertson as they await the conclusion of the group stage to determine if they have done enough to qualify for the knockout rounds of the World Cup 2026. A 3-0 defeat to Brazil in their final group game in Miami has hurt Scotland’s chances of progression but their tally of three points could yet be enough to send them into the last-32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams.Should they get there, they may need to play their first ever knockout match at a World Cup without their skipper as Robertson picked up an injury during the Brazil clash. Andy Robertson was left frustrated after picking up an injury against Brazil (PA)He played the entirety of the first half but was replaced during the break with manager Steve Clarke bringing on Kieran Tierney instead. Robertson was later pictured in Scotland’s dugout with an ice pack on his right ankle as he witnessed his team slump to a heavier defeat then they would have liked. The loss has dropped Scotland’s goal difference down to -3 for the group stage which currently puts them sixth in the table of third-place finishers with the top eight going through to the next round. Unfortunately for Scotland only two groups have completed their fixtures meaning there will be a long wait to discover if the Tartan Army have more partying to do in the United States, Mexico and Canada. After the game, Robertson gave a short update on his injury, and sounded slightly glum when saying: “Personally, time will tell. I need to take a day or two to see what has actually happened, and I'll do that."Before the tournament began the statistics showed that ending the group stage with three points and a goal difference of (-3) gave a team a 42 per cent chance of reaching the last-32. That’s a lower number than the Scots would have liked but they are still in with a chance of securing a knockout spot for the first time in their history.

The Trump administration’s zealous pursuit to remove transgender athletes from girls’ sports teams has snared an embarrassing catch in Colorado: boy mascots. Last June, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) launched an investigation of Colorado public schools, wielding the Trump administration’s trans-exclusionary interpretation of Title IX to purge trans student-athletes from school sports in the state under threat of losing federal funding. Related Girls will be forced to undergo vaginal inspections if voters approve anti-trans sports measure In March, the OCR announced its findings: a remarkable 61 boys were playing on girls teams in the Jeffco Public Schools district outside Denver. But these boys weren’t playing sports at all, Chalkbeat Colorado reports. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In a letter published last week, Jeffco Public Schools, Colorado’s second-largest school district, shared details of the investigation with the school community, as well as its absurd result. “Some teams had male managers, trainers, or mascots — not athletes,” the letter explained. “Because the OCR never asked us to clarify the role of any individual listed on those rosters, we did not learn of this confusion until the OCR issued a press release. Since that moment, we have repeatedly and respectfully asked the OCR to address this factual error. They have declined to do so,” the school district noted. According to the district’s letter, the OCR publicly stated that over 60 male students were competing on Jeffco girls’ athletic teams, despite evidence to the contrary. “That is simply not true,” the district said. “The girls’ sports rosters we provided to the OCR did not show that any athletes were male.” The false finding is either a clear embarrassment for the Trump administration and the mostly dismantled Department of Education — it’s also a convenient lie. The weaponized Office for Civil Rights is now at the center of the department’s mission to attack civil rights protections in schools across the country. Beyond calling out the OCR for advertising its false conclusion, despite the district’s best efforts to correct the record, Jeffco Public Schools explained the now-precarious position it finds itself in as President Donald Trump pursues his anti-trans crusade in school districts across the country. “The federal government’s current interpretation of Title IX differs significantly from that of prior administrations, and it directly contradicts the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA), which requires schools to accommodate students consistent with their gender identity,” the letter explained. “This places school districts in an impossible position. We must navigate conflicting requirements with clear state law on one side and non-binding federal guidance on the other,” the letter continued, noting that Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws require state government facilities, like schools, to treat people equally regardless of their gender identity. The OCR remains unmoved, however. Earlier this month, the office issued an “impasse” letter, stating further discussion with the district would not be “productive.” “That development was as surprising as it was disappointing,” the letter said. School officials remained steadfast in defending the students in their care, however, despite the Trump administration’s false accusations. “We at Jeffco Public Schools are guided by the belief that every Jeffco student deserves to learn in an environment free from discrimination. Our antidiscrimination policies reflect that core value and comply with established law. Because both our values and the law remain unchanged, so do our policies.” How Trump is using Title IX to attack trans-friendly schools This past February, Trump signed an executive order to block federal funding for schools that allow trans girls and women to participate in school sports as their authentic selves, and the order told the Department of Justice to prosecute schools that allow trans students to play sports. Title IX is the federal law that bans discrimination on the basis of sex in education. President Joe Biden’s administration interpreted that law as banning anti-trans discrimination since it’s impossible to discriminate on the basis of gender identity without taking sex into account. That is, banning trans girls from playing school sports but not cis girls, solely because of their sex assigned at birth, is the kind of discrimination that Title IX was intended to prevent, the previous administration believed. The current administration is arguing that allowing trans girls to play school sports takes away “critical visibility for college scholarships and recognition” from cis girls, who are also “denied awards” if trans girls win. The administration has also argued that the presence of trans people in sex-segregated school restrooms and locker rooms harms the privacy and dignity of girls and women. Trans journalist Erin Reed wrote that the current administration’s transphobic arguments are “a common and contrived talking point for the right, whose concern for students and women’s athletics seems to evaporate when it comes to issues like addressing the gender wage gap in sports or supporting student survivors of sexual assault.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

FBI director Kash Patel reportedly spent $75,000 in taxpayer money to fly to Milan, Italy, and drink beer with the U.S. men’s hockey team (under the guise of providing security at the Winter Olympics). When asked about it, his girlfriend Alexis Wilkins tried to change the subject to … transgender mice. “I think that we should be probably more concerned with the fact that, you know, the Democrats were trying to spend millions of dollars to see if mice can be transgender,” she said, clinging to misleading claims about scientific research. “And the fact that that has stopped, you know, I think that people run things in the media in order to cause an outrage. And I’ve never seen so many conservatives fall victim to the fake news.” Related Who is Kash Patel, and where does he stand on LGBTQ+ rights? Trump and other Republicans have repeated claims about the federal government spending “$8 million for making mice transgender.” The dollar figure was made by the White Coat Waste (WCW) Project, a group reportedly founded by a Republican operative. CNN reporter Deidre McPhillips called the claim false and noted that between 2021 and 2022, the National Institutes of Health awarded a total of $477,121 to three projects that administered feminizing hormone therapy to animals to research its effects on their immune systems.

Anti-trans crusader J.K. Rowling is calling for a boycott of iconic British retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) following an outcry over a transgender employee who was just doing her job. On Monday, August 4, U.K. outlet The Telegraph reported that M&S apologized to a woman whose teenage daughter was reportedly “distressed” after a transgender woman working in the store’s lingerie section offered her assistance. Related J.K. Rowling is personally funding attacks on trans women’s rights with her Harry Potter money In her complaint to the store, the mother described the employee as a “biological male” and repeatedly misgendered her. According to the Telegraph, the mother said that it was “completely inappropriate” for the trans shop assistant to offer to help her 14-year-old daughter. “My daughter recoiled, so I politely declined the offer and we left immediately. She was visibly upset and said she felt ‘freaked out,’” the woman reportedly wrote in her complaint. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The following day, an M&S customer service assistant responded to the complaint. In an email, the assistant said that the retailer was “truly sorry” for the incident and took the mother’s concerns “very seriously.” The retailer said it assured the mother that “a female colleague” would assist her daughter in the future, according to the Telegraph. In an interview with the outlet, the woman claimed that M&S had acknowledged that the employee “is not female,” but she was unsatisfied with the store’s response. The outlet noted that per the U.K. Supreme Court’s recent anti-trans ruling — which found that the legal definition of a woman under the country’s 2010 Equality Act is based on “biological sex” — trans people can be barred from entering sex-segregated spaces, like changing rooms, that do not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. However, the alleged incident took place in March, prior to the U.K. Supreme Court’s ruling. What’s more, the Telegraph later reported that the trans employee does not carry out bra fittings, and nowhere in the published excerpts of the mother’s complaint was it indicated that the trans shop assistant offered or intended to enter a changing room with the teenage girl. That didn’t stop Rowling from insinuating otherwise. “It’s time for women to vote with their wallets. If stores like M&S continue to flout the Supreme Court ruling on women-only spaces, prioritising the wishes of men who want to undress near, or help fit bras on teenage girls, a boycott seems appropriate,” the Harry Potter author wrote in an August 4 X post linking to the Telegraph story. It's time for women to vote with their wallets. If stores like M&S continue to flout the Supreme Court ruling on women-only spaces, prioritising the wishes of men who want to undress near, or help fit bras on teenage girls, a boycott seems appropriate.https://t.co/9RsUetLEVA— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 4, 2025 Rowling has seemingly made it her personal mission in recent years to undermine the rights of transgender women in the U.K. The author made headlines in February 2024 when she pledged a £70,000 (about $89,000) donation to For Women Scotland (FWS), the anti-trans organization behind the legal challenge that resulted in April’s Supreme Court ruling. In May, a spokesperson for Rowling confirmed that the author was personally financing a legal defense fund to bankroll cases aimed at diminishing rights and protections for transgender women in the U.K. and Ireland. In an August 4 statement, a spokesperson for Marks & Spencer responded to the Telegraph’s report. “We want our stores to be inclusive and welcoming places for our colleagues and customers,” the statement read. “We have written to this customer and explained that our colleagues typically work across all departments in our stores and customers can always ask to speak to the colleague they feel most comfortable with.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Out rapper Lil Nas X shared with fans that he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has been undergoing treatment since his very public arrest last year. In an emotional video on social media, Nas acknowledged that sharing the information felt “really awkward,” but said he wanted to do it anyway. Related Dems slam FCC for considering content warnings on shows with trans characters: “We reject the idea” “I’ve been in rehab for a few months, and since then I’ve been back at home… and trying to ground myself down to earth and get out of my head,” he said. “I have a therapist now and a psychiatrist, which has been really helpful.” He then revealed his bipolar diagnosis and explained he felt like he’d known for a while but “didn’t want to admit it” out of shame. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “I didn’t want to have to take medication, and I dont know, have people think different of me. I’m already Black and gay. Damn, God! Black, gay, bipolar. I’m living life on extreme hard mode,” he said. He emphasized, though, that he’s doing and feeling significantly better. “I’m creating freely, and there’s less fear in my heart, and I’m smelling the roses.” He also teased new music on the way. “I’m excited to do that, and I’m excited to go on this journey with you guys… We’ve been through so much together. Thank you guys for holding me down. I love you. All I want to do is continue to try to make you proud and make myself proud.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by MONTERO (@lilnasx) In August 2025, the rapper was arrested for allegedly punching a police officer in the face following a late-night stroll in downtown Los Angeles, wearing only boots and briefs. He spent three days in jail and pleaded not guilty to four felony charges related to the alleged incident with police. “I went to visit him in jail, and as soon as I walked through that door, I couldn’t do anything but cry,” his father, Robert Stafford, told The Times last September. “To see my baby boy on the other side of that glass. We shed tears with each other for a minute. I had to tell him that ‘What you’re going through is normal. We all have breakdowns every now and then, but the difference is, yours get played out in the public eye.’” “For a 26-year-old to have to deal with what he’s dealing with – to be a breadwinner for a lot of people, the inability to change his mother’s situation, and the pressure he puts on himself… That can weigh heavily on your heart,” his father added. (The rapper’s mother has dealt with homelessness, mental health challenges, and addiction issues.) In April 2026, the charges against Nas were dismissed due to his agreement to complete a two-year treatment program, Them reported. In 2020, the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards nominated Lil Nas X for Best New Artist, but he didn’t win. He also stole the spotlight at the 2021 BET Awards show by kissing his male dancers while performing his song, “Montero (Call Me by Your Name).” The kiss caused some viewers to complain to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Nas’ work has also been recognized by other awards shows. In 2022, the Grammys nominated the rapper’s aforementioned song for Song of the Year, its video for Video of the Year, and his album for Record of the Year. He has won two Grammy Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, two BET Hip Hop Awards, two iHeartRadio Music Awards, and two American Music Awards. His music has also previously won honors from the MTV Music Awards, Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, the GLAAD Media Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, and the BET Hip Hop Awards. On June 16, 2022, Nas received the Hal David Starlight Award at the 2022 Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony. The award recognizes ​​“gifted young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Transgender women incarcerated in Scottish prisons must be housed in men’s facilities, following a judge’s ruling last week. Judge Lady Ross’s June 19 opinion came in response to a challenge brought by anti-trans group For Women Scotland (FWS) to the Scottish Prison Service’s Policy for the Management of Transgender People in Custody Operational Guidance. FWS is the same group that brought the case leading to the U.K. Supreme Court’s ruling last year that the legal definition of a woman under the country’s 2010 Equality Act is based on “biological sex.” Related Masculine cis woman forced into men’s prison based on her “appearance” Prior to Ross’s ruling, the Scottish Prison Service’s guidance around housing transgender women was based on individual risk assessment, allowing some trans inmates to be housed in women’s facilities, the BBC notes. But in her opinion, Ross said the guidance was “in conflict with the requirement that prison accommodation be provided separately for men and women” and that it was unlawful in all circumstances. She also said she based her decision on the precedent set by the U.K. Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Following Ross’s judgement, Scottish First Minister John Swinney initially told BBC Scotland that his government would “consider all of these details because there are complex issues that are involved.” “We will assess the implications the judgement has on carrying out policy in relation to the handling of prisoners,” Swinney said. “The government will do that work and respond accordingly to the judgement that has been made.” But on Tuesday, the Scottish Government released a statement saying it would not appeal the decision. The Scottish Prison Service withdrew its policy on Monday, and work has already begun to transfer trans women to men’s facilities, the statement said. “This case has involved important consideration of Ministers’ legal obligations as well as the serious practical implications arising from the issues before the court, including the risk of suicide recognized in the judgement,” Scottish Justice Secretary Neil Gray said. “The safety, wellbeing and rights of all those living and working within Scotland’s prisons and the welfare of affected individuals will be the primary consideration and operational changes will be taken forward carefully, lawfully and in a managed way.” Scottish Government will not appeal Lady Ross's ruling on prisons. pic.twitter.com/FnzWEKmed4— For Women Scotland (@ForWomenScot) June 23, 2026 Prior to the government’s Tuesday release, anti-trans advocate J.K. Rowling responded to Swinney’s initial statement by suggesting in a comment on X that “female prisoners whose legal rights aren’t being upheld should be reminded of the existence” of her J.K. Rowling Women’s Fund. The Harry Potter author reportedly set up the private fund in late 2024 to use her vast wealth to personally fund legal cases aimed at diminishing rights and protections for transgender women in the U.K. and Ireland. Female prisoners whose legal rights aren’t being upheld should be reminded of the existence of https://t.co/iyohnrgVZN.— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 20, 2026 It would be very sweet and the fund stands ready to fund such an action.— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 20, 2026 In response to another X user’s comment that “it would be sweet” if current and former cisgender incarcerated women brought a class action lawsuit against the Scottish government, Rowling wrote that “It would be very sweet and the fund stands ready to fund such an action.” The author made headlines in February 2024 when she pledged a £70,000 (about $89,000) donation to For Women Scotland to help fund its efforts to enshrine an anti-trans definition of women into U.K. law. It’s unclear whether Rowling contributed funding to the group’s challenge to the Scottish Prison Service’s policy. However, in a May 2025 X post, she made it clear that she was eager to “give financial backing to any woman who wanted to sue because she suffered detriments through being incarcerated with a [transgender woman].” Editor’s note: This article mentions suicide. If you need to talk to someone now, call the Trans Lifeline at 1-877-565-8860. It’s staffed by trans people, for trans people. The Trevor Project provides a safe, judgement-free place to talk for LGBTQ youth at 1-866-488-7386. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01987-7The bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae has evolved resistance to most antibiotics used to treat it, but a machine-learning screen reveals potential therapies.

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10567-8On the robustness of topological gap detection via transport

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10767-2Addendum: Transmission of MPXV from fire-footed rope squirrels to sooty mangabeys

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10568-7Reply to: On the robustness of topological gap detection via transport

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01806-zA machine-learning model trained on thousands of electrocardiogram recordings identifies a previously unrecognized group of at-risk people.

A look at the backlash to same-sex marriage — its strength, seriousness and the reasons behind it.

Tuesday’s primary demonstrated the astonishing political power of Mamdani and of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Hours before visiting the Capitol, the president scrapped plans to sign a major housing bill, condemning “bad Republicans” for resisting his demands to ram through new voting restrictions.

Also, Western Europe is sweltering. Here’s the latest at the end of Wednesday.

The proposal was all but dead on arrival in the Senate, where it would need bipartisan support, and comes amid growing G.O.P. skepticism about the conflict.

It’s so easy! READ MORE...

It's transformed my chaotic linen closet! READ MORE...

Fresh paint, new brass hardware, and a geometric wall mural give this main-level bathroom a new lease on life — and all at an affordable price. READ MORE...

We tend to think wellbeing is achieved through nutritious meals, consistent workouts, and restful sleep. While all of those are certainly a part of the equation, much of our welfare is shaped somewhere far less considered: our workspace. According to insights from the Logitech Ergo Lab, the average professional will spend a staggering 82,000 hours at a desk over their lifetime. READ MORE...

The first data point for predicting the Green Bay Packers’ 53-man roster in 2026 has come and gone, with the team completing their offseason program, which included multiple practices at OTAs and minicamp that were open to the media.While training camp and the preseason will be the true decider, here is a look at how Green Bay’s roster could look for the upcoming season as things stand today:QB (2): Jordan Love, Tyrod TaylorIt is difficult to envisage one of Kyron Drones or Kyle McCord making a legitimate push for a roster spot. One of them should win a place on the practice squad, with Green Bay’s quarterback room anchored by Love and seasoned veteran Tyrod Taylor.RB (4): Chris Brooks, Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong Jr.There is no new information on Josh Jacobs’ legal situation, and although he has still not formally been charged, there is a good chance this rolls into the season, and the Packers may need to protect themselves by having extra depth at the running back position.Everyone is holding their breath to see if MarShawn Lloyd can stay healthy in 2026, but it should not be taken as a given by any means.If for some reason Strong and Damien Martinez both do not make it to the practice squad (i.e. they are signed by other teams), that could put Green Bay in a tough spot if Jacobs ends up being suspended.Strong made some plays during the offseason program and would seem to have the inside track to a roster spot as of right now, if there is one available.WR (6): Matthew Golden, Bo Melton, Skyy Moore, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Savion WilliamsMelton has switched back to the offensive side of the ball again. Regardless of whether he is technically a wide receiver or a cornerback, expect this coaching staff to give him every chance to make the team due to his versatility and general usefulness, including on special teams.Isaiah Neyor will look to make some noise this summer, and between him and J. Michael Sturdivant, Green Bay will hope to get at least one of their big, fast receivers back on the practice squad.TE (4): Tucker Kraft, Luke Lachey, Luke Musgrave, Josh WhyleThe Packers belatedly signed Lachey after he previously failed his physical, and he will be a welcome addition to the roster as a blocking-first tight end, especially as the league veers towards the use of multiple tight ends.With Tucker Kraft set to be ready for the start of the season, at least according to the man himself, the tight end room suddenly looks a bit more well-rounded.OL (9): Aaron Banks, Anthony Belton, Jager Burton, Travis Glover, Darian Kinnard, Jordan Morgan, Sean Rhyan, Zach Tom, John Williams5th round rookie Burton is already getting reps with the first-team offense, and although injuries play a part in there being more opportunities at OTAs and minicamp, it was notable that Williams, a seventh rounder from last year subbed in with the ones.Williams has been working at both center and guard, and will look to beat out the likes of Jacob Monk for a back-end roster spot as an interior swing guy.DL (6): Warren Brinson, Karl Brooks, Javon Hargrave, Chris McClellan, Nazir Stackhouse, Devonte WyattWith Wyatt still working his way back from injury and Javon Hargrave also spending some time with the rehab group during the offseason program, young players like McClellan, Brinson and Stackhouse all got reps with the first-team defense.There is a chance the Packers only keep five, expecting to get one of Stackhouse or Jonathan Ford on the practice squad as a backup run-stuffing nose tackle, but it would be safer to keep Stackhouse and have six D-linemen to cover the three starting spots in base defense.EDGE (5): Brenton Cox Jr., Dani Dennis-Sutton, Collin Oliver, Barryn Sorrell, Lukas Van NessMicah Parsons all but confirmed he will miss several games to start the 2026 season as he fights back from an ACL tear, so Green Bay goes with a committee approach to start the year here, hoping someone rises to the occasion and is a worthy starter opposite Van Ness.LB (4): Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin, Ty’Ron Hopper, Isaiah McDuffieOne of Nick Niemann or Kristian Welch should be back on the practice squad as a fifth body in case of emergencies, with only two starting linebacker spots available in Jonathan Gannon’s defense. Both Niemann and Welch could be called up to the active roster for special teams purposes.CB (6): Brandon Cisse, Kamal Hadden, Domani Jackson, Bo Melton, Keisean Nixon, Benjamin St-Juste, Carrington ValentineKamal Hadden is a bit of a wild card, as it seemed the coaches wanted to give him starting snaps late last season before an injury ended his campaign early. If he can get back on the field in training camp, he could make a case at a crowded but relatively unproven position.S (4): Javon Bullard, Xavier McKinney, Kitan Oladapo, Evan WilliamsThe only question here is whether Bullard’s presence as mostly a slot corner inspires the Packers to keep a fifth safety. The top four are locked in.ST (3): Matt Orzech, Trey Smack, Daniel WhelanSmack had some ups and downs during the practices open to the media, while Havrisik had a dominant kicking session, albeit indoors and therefore without the elements working against him. Is this going to be a real competition, or just for show?This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers 53-man roster prediction after OTAs and minicamp

Michael Scotto: Sources: The Boston Celtics will select Dillon Mitchell with the No. 40 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Boston Celtics will select Dillon Mitchell with the …

Michael Scotto: Sources: The Indiana Pacers are trading Kam Jones, futures pick swaps, and cash to the Chicago Bulls to select Braden Smith with the No. 38 pick.x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Indiana Pacers are trading Kam Jones, futures pick …

Braden Smith spent four seasons with Purdue basketball proving all the power conference programs who overlooked him missed out.Now the former Boilermaker point guard has a chance to do the same in the NBA.Smith, a Westfield native, is headed to the Pacers after Indiana traded for him when the Chicago Bulls selected him with the 38th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a source confirmed to IndyStar.Smith is Purdue's third draft pick in five years, joining lottery picks Jaden Ivey and Zach Edey among a group of now 11 NBA draft selections to play at Purdue under Matt Painter.Here's a look at Smith's Purdue career and what he brings to the Pacers.Braden Smith with Purdue basketballBefore capping a career that includes two Big Ten regular season and two Big Ten Tournament championships, along with helping Purdue end a 44-year Final Four drought, Smith broke former Duke guard Bobby Hurley's all-time NCAA assists record.Along the way, Smith took home the 2025 Bob Cousy Award as the nation's top point guard in a season where he also was the Big Ten Player of the Year. A two-time consensus first-team All-American, Smith finished his Purdue career eighth in career points (1,932), third in steals (249) and has the top three assist seasons in school history that helped add to his NCAA record total of 1,103.What Braden Smith brings to Indiana PacersSmith's knock is his 5-foot-10 1/2 height measurement, but that didn't deter him from being one of college basketball's top players.What Smith lacked in height, he made up for in basketball IQ. He's lethal with a midrange jump shot and showcased an unblockable fadeaway that allowed him to shoot over lengthier defenders. He mastered manipulating defenses while playing with marquee big men the last four seasons.Doyel: Why Braden Smith is 'family' to the Indiana PacersHis role in the NBA likely will be not require him to be the team's primary playmaker immediately. Smith's awareness of that fact pushed a more defensive-minded approach in preparation for the next level. At the NBA Draft Combine in May, Smith showed he's capable of defending elite guards.Smith is an elite competitor who never showed to shy away from the dirty work, which is something that can help him earn NBA minutes as a rookie while trying to find his footing in an unfamiliar backup role.Nathan Baird and Sam King have the best Purdue sports coverage, and sign up for IndyStar's Boilermakers newsletter.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Pacers trade for Braden Smith in 2026 NBA Draft

Braden Smith spent four seasons with Purdue basketball proving all the power conference programs who overlooked him missed out.Now the former Boilermaker point guard has a chance to do the same in the NBA.Smith, a Westfield native, is headed to the Pacers after Indiana traded for him when the Chicago Bulls selected him with the 38th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a source confirmed to IndyStar.Smith is Purdue's third draft pick in five years, joining lottery picks Jaden Ivey and Zach Edey among a group of now 11 NBA draft selections to play at Purdue under Matt Painter.Here's a look at Smith's Purdue career and what he brings to the Pacers.Braden Smith with Purdue basketballBefore capping a career that includes two Big Ten regular season and two Big Ten Tournament championships, along with helping Purdue end a 44-year Final Four drought, Smith broke former Duke guard Bobby Hurley's all-time NCAA assists record.Along the way, Smith took home the 2025 Bob Cousy Award as the nation's top point guard in a season where he also was the Big Ten Player of the Year. A two-time consensus first-team All-American, Smith finished his Purdue career eighth in career points (1,932), third in steals (249) and has the top three assist seasons in school history that helped add to his NCAA record total of 1,103.What Braden Smith brings to Indiana PacersSmith's knock is his 5-foot-10 1/2 height measurement, but that didn't deter him from being one of college basketball's top players.What Smith lacked in height, he made up for in basketball IQ. He's lethal with a midrange jump shot and showcased an unblockable fadeaway that allowed him to shoot over lengthier defenders. He mastered manipulating defenses while playing with marquee big men the last four seasons.Doyel: Why Braden Smith is 'family' to the Indiana PacersHis role in the NBA likely will be not require him to be the team's primary playmaker immediately. Smith's awareness of that fact pushed a more defensive-minded approach in preparation for the next level. At the NBA Draft Combine in May, Smith showed he's capable of defending elite guards.Smith is an elite competitor who never showed to shy away from the dirty work, which is something that can help him earn NBA minutes as a rookie while trying to find his footing in an unfamiliar backup role.Nathan Baird and Sam King have the best Purdue sports coverage, and sign up for IndyStar's Boilermakers newsletter.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Pacers trade for Braden Smith in 2026 NBA Draft

The Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists has withdrawn its previously agreed remedies against a counselor who allegedly violated their code of ethics by refusing to validate a client’s same-sex relationship. The appeal against the board’s decision was aided by the far-right group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and cited the Supreme Court’s decision in Chiles v. Salazar, which upheld Colorado’s conversion therapy ban earlier this year. In their victory lap statement, the ADF framed the win as a simple First Amendment matter of free speech: “The government can’t target counselors for their views and force people to say things that go against their core convictions” said Jonathan Scruggs, a senior counsel for ADF and their vice president of litigation strategy. “The Supreme Court recently took Colorado to task for censoring counselors and mandating orthodoxy in the counselor’s office, and Oregon should take notice.” Related Supreme Court rules against conversion therapy ban in 8-1 decision Frank Canepa, the Beaverton-based counselor, was represented by Matthew Wand, a lawyer with Lynch Murphy McLane and a former member of the Oregon House of Representatives, who lost an election shortly after his social media came under scrutiny. He is also represented by Philip Sechler of the ADF, the group that was instrumental in arguing against Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court, which filed an amicus brief in United States v. Skrmetti, and represented therapist Kaley Chiles in Chiles v. Salazar. The alleged infraction came when a client who had been seeing Canepa for over two years was seeking validation for her same-sex relationship. Canepa reportedly told the client that he was “was unable to provide that level of personal affirmation for same-sex relationships because of [his] Catholic faith.” His refusal to validate her relationship due to his own beliefs — where he might validate the relationship of a heterosexual — was seen as discriminatory. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In 2024, the board found Canepa to be in violation of the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics, which they use as part of their licensure program. Much as a doctor must agree to abide by certain expectations and regulations set by the licensing body before being licensed to provide healthcare, so too must therapists and counselors. In particular, the board found that Canepa had violated A.4.b. of the ACA Code of Ethics, which states: “Counselors are aware of — and avoid imposing — their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Counselors respect the diversity of clients, trainees, and research participants and seek training in areas in which they are at risk of imposing their values onto clients, especially when the counselor’s values are inconsistent with the client’s goals or are discriminatory in nature.” In October of 2024, the board issued a “Notice of Proposed Disciplinary Action” proposing remedial action. In August 2025, they ordered him to take six hours of continuing education focusing on boundaries and cultural competency, and to pay legal costs, which in December were assessed at $89,636.43. Scruggs implied in his statement that this sort of regulation for counselors through the nationwide code of ethics amounted to “states’ attempts to weaponize their licensure systems.” Following a judicial appeal at the Oregon Court of Appeals, the board withdrew their order in May to reconsider it “in light of the United States Supreme Court’s March 21, 2026, decision in Chiles v. Salazar.” This month, they announced that they were fulling withdrawing the Notice of Proposed Disciplinary Action. However, it’s worth noting that the order was withdrawn without prejudice. That means that the case could still be reviewed again in the future, and Canepa could still face consequences if the board ever saw fit to pursue the matter. Oregon has a long-standing ban on conversion therapy that has not been challenged since the Supreme Court’s decision earlier this year. It was the third state to introduce a ban, doing so back in 2015. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

As they were welcomed into their local soccer community with a colorful cascade of Pride flags – a visible rainbow in the supporters section of Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders – Dana Reinhart knew they had found a home. “It was a symbol to me as a queer person that people are willing to be loud and present in support of me,” Reinhart told LGBTQ Nation. “Having LGBTQ representation in the stadium is important. It tells people who may not be comfortable being out and proud that there are people ready and willing to support and welcome them.” Related The history of LGBTQ+ flags is much messier than you realize Reinhart now serves as the director of the Tifo Crew for Emerald City Supporters (ECS), the independent supporters group for the Sounders. “Tifo” refers to the large-scale, coordinated visual displays seen in soccer stadiums around the world. Now, Reinhart has a hand in ECS’s Pride-related stadium displays, including last year’s, a rainbow, mural-esque mega-banner featuring messages including “Pride is still a riot,” “Protect Trans Kids,” and “We Will Not Be Erased.” Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “It was designed by an artist who grew up in ECS,” they said. “It was a cool full-circle moment to see a kid who grew up and felt supported within ECS, to show the rest of the city and the world that pride.” Rainbows in the Rain City | Shutterstock Seattle has long been a hub for LGBTQ+ soccer fans, from ECS’s LGBTQ+ subgroup Pride of the Sound to the National Women’s Soccer League’s Seattle Reign, whose roster has included gay icons like Jess Fishlock and Megan Rapinoe. And now, on June 26th, the city will play host to the World Cup Pride match during Seattle Pride weekend. The match is hosted by the Seattle FIFA World Cup 26 committee and is independent of FIFA and the tournament itself. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sounder at Heart (@sounderatheart) The Seattle FWC 26 Pride+ Matchday Impact Council includes local LGBT business luminaries Louise Chernin of the Greater Seattle Business Association and Jen Barnes, Founder and CEO of women’s sports bar Rough and Tumble, and the work of local queer artists is featured on matchday monorail art exhibits and scarves. But one local group missing from the festivities is Rain City Soccer Club (RCSC), Seattle’s LGBTQ+ soccer club and community, which has been active for more than 25 years and boasts more than 1,600 active members. As a nonprofit, RCSC is not affiliated with the World Cup or the Seattle FWC26 committee and thus does not comment on professional matches as an organization. But RCSC Communications Manager Dax Lehman shared the group’s official statement. “FIFA does not recognize nor engage in contractual partnerships with any queer sports organizations here in the US – nonprofit or otherwise. This is largely based on the fact that FIFA refuses to recognize or protect queer athletes let alone trans athletes in the world of soccer/fútbol. It is incredibly important to note however, that at no point in the 3 years of planning and bidding did FIFA, city of Seattle, nor SeattleFWC26 reach out to include RCSC in discussions regarding FIFA World Cup, its events in Seattle, nor their announced ‘Pride Match’ celebration.” “FIFA does not recognize nor engage in contractual partnerships with any queer sports organizations here in the US – nonprofit or otherwise. This is largely based on the fact that FIFA refuses to recognize or protect queer athletes let alone trans athletes in the world of soccer/fútbol.”Rain City Soccer Club “As Seattle’s premiere and only queer soccer organization operating in the King County area for the last 26 years, we find those choices disheartening, and disappointing. RCSC is home to over 1,600 active members, and dozens of teams in leagues throughout the area. It’s hard to see such an omittance as anything other than intentional. Especially when our definition of our organization combined with the diversity of representation within our community would provide a crucial and unique lens from which to engage in some of these larger discussions.” The national teams of Egypt and Iran, two countries whose governments impose harsh punishments for LGBTQ+ activity, were selected by random draw to play the Pride match. Neither soccer federation was pleased, and both complained to FIFA, with Iran asking for a ban on all non-national flags in the stands, although this request was likely more targeted at the pre-Revolution Lion and Sun flag, used by some protesters opposed to the Iranian government. In their statement, RCSC expressed concern over the two participating national teams being compelled to participate in programming outside of the official World Cup scope, and denounced any anti-Arab and Islamophobic rhetoric being leveled in the Pride Match discourse and beyond. “I also wish to be abundantly clear: the ‘Pride event’ match that is being proposed to be hosted in Seattle is neither sanctioned by FIFA nor compliant with FIFA’s requirements, nor contains approval by the two countries contracted to engage in the match: Egypt and Iran,” the statement reads. “RCSC both publicly and privately have denounced FIFA’s insensitivities, the breaking of their own contracts, and the city’s insistence on forcing programming not agreed upon by the FIFA collective. You will find no anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, or anti-SWANA rhetoric here. A disagreement on perspectives and cultural significances (and of course the impact of colonialism) does not negate these countries their rights and FIFA their contractual obligations.” Hidden flags & second thoughts “Hidden Flag” activists at the 2018 World Cup in Russia | Screenshot This is far from the first time visible manifestations of Pride at the World Cup have caused controversy and defiant protest. In 2018, to both cleverly skirt and protest host nation Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ “propaganda” laws, six activists, each representing different countries, wore different-colored jerseys that, when all were standing together, made up a rainbow, a stealthy but powerful statement known as “The Hidden Flag.” For the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a country where same-sex relationships are illegal, rainbow flags and symbols became a flashpoint of protest, especially as FIFA urged LGBTQ+ fans to respect local customs by not engaging in public displays of affection while traveling for the matches. “As a supporter who watched the last few men’s World Cups, and has FIFA say to ‘respect local customs,’ well, you’re here in Seattle now, and our local custom is to celebrate Pride,” Reinhart said. “It has to go both ways.” Although the Qatari hosts and FIFA initially assured fans that rainbow flags would be allowed at matches, the reality on the ground was much different. The late American soccer writer Grant Wahl, a staunch ally of the LGBTQ+ community, wore a rainbow shirt to cover one of the U.S. Men’s National Team’s group stage matches. He was detained for half an hour. At that same match, Welsh supporters had their rainbow bucket hats confiscated. Police even harassed a Brazilian journalist when they mistook the flag of his home state of Pernambuco for a Pride flag. Fans protested in stealthy and flashy ways alike, from creating a Snap filter to sneaking rainbow flags into the terraces in phone pics, to a flag-bearing pitch invader. The fight over LGBTQ+-affirming displays in the stands has been waged at competitions in the U.S. as well. In 2022, Emerald City Supporters were told by CONCACAF, the soccer governing body for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, that they could not bring in a banner that said “Emerald City Supports Trans Kids.” A similar situation occurred earlier this year, when, prior to a CONCACAF Champions League match in Spokane, ECS were told they could not fly a number of banners, including those with pro-LGBTQ+ messages and ones that declared, “Black Lives Matter.” “We find ourselves here, yet again,” Emerald City Supporters wrote in their response. “CONCACAF has informed us that our values and support of Human Rights are unacceptable for display at matches in their competition.” ECS responded by launching a fundraiser with the Sounders to support three organizations that championed the Black, LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities in Seattle. “We’re prepared to wear rainbow head to toe and argue for our rights,” Reinhart said. Reinhart is one of many American soccer fans, LGBTQ+ or otherwise, who have conflicting feelings around the first men’s World Cup on American soil in more than 20 years. “We need allies and collaborators who are not members of an embattled, marginalized community; we need people who are willing to cede some of their comfort in order to protect and uplift those for whom these battles are deeply, existentially personal.”Dana Reinhart, Director of the Tifo Crew for Emerald City Supporters In addition to concerns about safety and freedom of expression for queer and trans supporters, which have led to LGBTQ+ fans denouncing FIFA’s inaction, the Trump administration’s draconian immigration policies are creating safety risks and logistical nightmares for World Cup travelers. In addition to the threat of increased ICE activity in World Cup host cities, a number of players, team staff, and team officials, primarily from participating African or West Asian countries whose communities have been targeted by the Trump administration, have experienced delays and denials of visas and have even been detained at U.S. airports and questioned for hours. Iran, one of the two national teams playing in the Pride Match, will have to commute internationally to matches in the U.S. from their training ground in Tijuana due to safety concerns. On June 9th, the Iranian football federation announced that its official ticket allocation was withdrawn less than 48 hours before the start of the tournament. “I’m heartbroken for the fans who are being denied the rare opportunity to support their national team in person on the world’s biggest stage,” Reinhart said. “I’m especially sad for those fans who were genuinely excited to experience the atmosphere of the Pride match in Seattle, since for some people that might have been their first or only opportunity to celebrate Pride.” Reinhart added that they had second thoughts about participating in this World Cup. “I love what the World Cup stands for, but it feels uncomfortable to give money to an organization that gave Donald Trump a peace prize and where ICE might be working security,” they said. “But with all that being said, with the World Cup and the Pride Match being in Seattle, which felt like a fairly safe bubble for queer people for a long time, to use that relative level of safety to celebrate and advocate for people is important.” And that advocacy, especially in this fraught moment, needs to come not just from marginalized people, but from allies, Reinhart said. “We need allies and collaborators who are not members of an embattled, marginalized community; we need people who are willing to cede some of their comfort in order to protect and uplift those for whom these battles are deeply, existentially personal,” they said. A new hub for LGBTQ+ soccer fans Jun 21, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; A general view of a Pride flag outside of CenturyLink Field prior to the game between the Seattle Sounders FC and Orlando City SC. | © Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images In the spring of 2024, a group of U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team fans attempted to launch a new supporters group called “States United,” declaring they wanted to “keep politics out of the sport” and “didn’t want to see Pride flags in the stands.” In response, Michael Schafer, then president of custom soccer apparel company Olive & York, launched Rainbow Bandits. According to Luke Taylor, Olive & York’s current owner, he reached out to interested supporters and launched with a scarf echoing the Philadelphia Pride and Trans Pride flags (with a portion of proceeds going to the Trevor Project) to a positive reception. “It initially started as a counterculture,” said Jared Kneuven, Vice President of Rainbow Bandits. “It is as clear a statement as we can possibly make that we will not be silenced and we will not be othered,” added David Peterson, the brand’s president. “It’s as much of a fist in the air as anything. It’s that opportunity to point to a lot of this divisive rhetoric and attempted drawback of that pride. It’s a chance for us as a group and us as a community to say you can’t take that from us, you can’t separate us out.” “We will not be silenced and we will not be othered.”David Peterson, Rainbow Bandits President As the 2026 tournament begins, States United is long dead and buried. But Rainbow Bandits lives on. Kneuven estimates the group has between 50 and 100 members scattered across the country, primarily on the Atlantic Coast, in the Midwest, and in the Deep South. He hopes the World Cup will bring more visibility to the group and encourage more people to get involved. “I would love to see this group evolve into this sort of primary option in terms of queer supporters groups,” Peterson said. “It’s important to factor in queer voices and allow those marginalized voices an opportunity to flourish.” Much of Rainbow Bandits’ growth has come from a shared culture and a desire to support the teams. Small pockets of members have traveled together to international friendlies, but most of the group’s community-building has been through their Discord server. Through the server, they plan to host virtual watch parties throughout the tournament, and members near Cincinnati plan to attend watch parties together IRL. Last year, as part of the Prideraiser philanthropic campaign throughout North American soccer, Rainbow Bandits raised hundreds of dollars for Trans Lifeline. “We aren’t a group that watches soccer that happens to be LGBTQIA,” said Kneuven. “We’re supporting our brothers and sisters and siblings.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rainbow Bandits (@rainbowbanditssg) For Peterson, sport is inherently political, especially such an international game like soccer, citing the tournament’s bringing together of 48 different countries. “It’s a matter of national importance,” he said. “You can clamor for a ‘politics-free’ experience, but that’s ultimately impossible. I don’t think the world we live in is one that you can set that aside, but were you to do so, I don’t think it’s a political statement to pull together groups of like-minded people and celebrate a shared interest and do so in a way that celebrates voices that might not be prioritized.” This year, to celebrate Pride, the World Cup, and their second anniversary, Rainbow Bandits will be launching a new hat with Olive & York featuring their raccoon mascot wearing a rainbow bandana. LGBTQ+ and allied soccer fans looking to get involved with the group can find them on Discord. As the Pride match, at the time of writing, will be going ahead as planned, demonstrations of LGBTQ+ visibility and allyship ahead of the tournament also show how much work needs to be done. In the USMNT’s final pre-tournament friendly against Germany, the team wore their seasonal Pride jerseys with rainbow letters and numbers. And, as expected, many of the comments about it on social media did not pass the vibe check. “The federation might not care,” Kneuven said. “That might just be a sell towards our community. But that inclusion says we’re not being put down. We want to be able to express ourselves to show anyone who might feel othered that they can express themselves.” Reinhart urges international soccer fans heading to Seattle for the Pride Match and other festivities to do so with an open heart and mind. “It’s joyful, it’s colorful, it’s a party,” they said. “We’d love to welcome you into our celebration.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Utah’s virulently anti-LGBTQ+ state Rep. Trevor Lee (R) conceded last night to his primary opponent Bob Stevenson. As of last night, Stevenson was leading with a little over 66% of the vote, ABC4 Utah ABC4 Utah reported. Lee posted a lengthy statement on social media saying “the results did not go as we hoped” and that he’s “deeply grateful” to those “who stood with our conservative vision for a stronger Utah.” Related GOP Gov. blasts party for “trying the same thing” after she vetoes anti-trans bill for 3rd time “Together, we have moved District 16 and our state meaningfully to the right,” he continued. “Over the past four years, I was proud to help pass more than twenty bills advancing election integrity, immigration enforcement, tax relief, parental rights in education, pro-life protections, and policies that prioritize Utah families over federal overreach and radical ideologies.” He also wished Stevenson “the very best” in serving the people of the district. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The so-called accomplishments Lee cited in his statement included introducing a bill that made Utah the first state to ban Pride flags from all government buildings, including schools. “We are starting to see increasingly more hostile-type interactions between different political factions that we have within our society, and that is no different than what we’re starting to see a lot within our education system,” Lee told the Utah House Education Committee last year while the bill was being debated. “Our schools should be a place for children to learn, to not feel like they are being pushed or seen as agendas in one way [or] another as it pertains to political beliefs,” he said. Last June, Lee also expressed disapproval for the state’s National Hockey League (NHL) team, the Utah Mammoths, for unveiling a rainbow-colored Pride Month variant of the team’s logo with the caption, “Happy Pride!” In response, he vowed to introduce legislation to restrict public funding from private organizations that create rainbow variants of their logos or sponsor Pride celebrations, arguing that accepting government funding should require “political neutrality” from private institutions. In 2022, investigative reporters from the Salt Lake Tribune discovered Lee was secretly running a social media account that promoted election conspiracy theories and attacked women and LGBTQ+ people. Stevenson has been quiet about his views on LGBTQ+ rights, but unlike Lee, he does not reference so-called culture war issues as a priority on his campaign site. Lee’s site touts his support of parental rights, which is a conservative dog whistle for eliminating LGBTQ+ curricula and rolling back protections for LGBTQ+ students. He also puts forth his “pro-life” stance as well as his support of “election integrity efforts,” playing into the president’s conspiracy theory that American elections are “rigged.” Stevenson, on the other hand, lists four main priorities: remove the state tax on Social Security; reform property taxes; attainable housing for our children and grandchildren; and smart water policy. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s annual gathering in Chicago earlier this month — the first since founder Jesse Jackson died earlier this year — and shared some “radical” ideas for reforming democracy. “That’s radical stuff you’re talking about,” his interviewer, Jackson’s son and the civil rights organization’s new CEO, Yusef Jackson, told Buttigieg. Related Pete Buttigieg to give keynote speech at Iowa Democratic event, fueling presidential speculation And it was, particularly for a once-and-possibly-future presidential candidate not known for upsetting the status quo beyond his identity as the rare LGBTQ+ politician to break the lavender ceiling in Washington. It’s time to take “big swings,” Buttigieg said. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Buttigieg outlined four “radical” reforms on a pro-democracy agenda that he said would awaken the “sleeping giant” of a powerful Democratic majority. End the Electoral College Buttigieg proposed eliminating the Electoral College and directly electing the president of the United States by majority vote. Calling it a “radical proposition on the executive branch,” Buttigieg asked, “What if everybody’s vote just counted the same for president?” Buttigieg used his own trip to Chicago as an example to illustrate his point. He traveled from a swing state, Michigan, through a red state, Indiana, to a blue state, Illinois. Of the three, only Michigan matters when presidents are elected by winning a majority of the states. Electing a president by direct, popular vote would change the game, Buttigieg said, with Democrats’ votes in Indiana, for example, counting toward the total when they didn’t before. “Imagine if a Republican who wanted to be president had to come here and turn out those 40% of people who were Republicans and actually listen to people in Chicago in order to be president. And by the way, imagine if a Democrat wanting to be president had to show up in Texas and campaign there and make sure that the conservative communities heard them. Think about how empowering that would be for so many people in so many states, and I think it would lead to a more responsive presidency.” Buttigieg: Let's talk one more thing, one more radical proposition on the executive branch. What if everybody's vote counted the same?— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) 2026-06-11T21:40:02.151Z Expand the Supreme Court Buttigieg proposed expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court to tilt the balance of power back toward the center and away from the current conservative majority’s 6-3 grip. “We have to deal with a Supreme Court that is now a rogue Supreme Court,” Buttigieg said to cheers. He used the court’s “evisceration” of the Voting Rights Act as an example, calling the legislation “some of the most important progress this country ever made.” The court has “wiped out part of what actually is great within the complex American story — the fact that this country was able to face down its demons, which is what the Voting Rights Act responded to, just like the 14th Amendment responded to this country facing down its darkest demons.” “Talking about that isn’t disparaging America, which is what this administration would want you to believe. Talking about that is honoring what was greatest about America, which was our capacity to overcome that. And now we’ve had this leap back from a rogue Supreme Court.” “Nowhere in the Constitution,” Buttigieg explained, “does it say that there have to be nine Supreme Court justices. That one doesn’t even take a constitutional amendment. It just takes a readiness to set up a Court that fits this country.” Buttigieg: Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that there have to be nine Supreme Court justices. That one doesn't even take a constitutional amendment. It just takes a readiness to set up a court that fits this country. — Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) 2026-06-11T21:32:52.643Z Expand the House of Representatives and grant D.C. statehood One of Secretary Pete’s most radical-sounding ideas was expanding the number of members in the House of Representatives. But it’s not so radical at all. “We sit in a country that’s got the wrong number of people on the Supreme Court, possibly the wrong number of representatives in the House of Representatives,” Buttigieg asserted.While he didn’t go into detail, the number of House reps currently stands at 435 voting members, but the size of the House has been increased seven times in U.S. history, before it was capped at the current number nearly a hundred years ago, in 1929. Increasing the number of reps would dilute the impact of power-grabbing strategies like the current gerrymandering wars and would better represent Democratic strongholds, like densely populated urban areas. “And by the way, when you consider the disenfranchisement of the people of D.C., we have the wrong number of states in the United States,” Buttigieg added. “We are talking about — maybe too often talking about — being caged in by the way things have been for our lifetimes, which is not the way things have always been, or the ways things must be,” Buttigieg said. “We should take those big swings.” Buttigieg: We sit in a in a country that's got the wrong number of people on the Supreme Court, possibly the wrong number of representatives in the House of Representatives. And by the way, when you consider the disenfranchisement of the people of DC, we have the wrong number of states in the US— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) 2026-06-11T21:34:50.951Z Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Anti-LGBTQ+ MAGA pastor Silas H. Shelton of Wilmington, Ohio — a man who said that LGBTQ+-themed books and Pride flags harm kids — was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Monday for unlawful sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl. The judge said he gave Shelton the maximum sentence because he showed “no remorse” for his crimes during his trial. Police originally arrested Shelton for 12 counts of rape, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition, and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. However, he ended up pleading guilty to three third-degree felony counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and will serve a combined 15 years in prison. Afterward, he’ll have to register as a Tier II sex offender every 6 months for the next 25 years, according to WKRC. Related “A travesty”: Cop reinstated after being fired for using anti-gay slur on the job Judge Andrew McCoy explained to the court that he punished Shelton with the maximum sentence because he had shown “absolutely no accountability for [his] actions” and “no remorse.” “You choose rather to blame the victim and claim that you, incredulously … were the victim of abuse at her home, a 14-year-old child,” McCoy said. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The abuse started in 2019 and involved a 14-year-old girl who belonged to Shelton’s congregation at Blanchester Community Church. The abuse reportedly did not stop until a few months before his arrest last October 16. During the summer of 2019, his victim lived in Wilmington with her parents, and Shelton later asked the victim to start working for his construction business. “He would pick her up most weekdays and return her home on days that typically no one was present,” Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Sievers said. Sievers engaged in sexual conduct with the minor while returning from a work site, as well as at Cowan Lake and the Holiday Inn at the Roberts Center, the indictment said. Clinton County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Shidaker told the court, “[Shelton] pulled off on a wooded back road with her and climbed on top of her. The factual basis stated that he took her virginity,” adding, “In this courtroom, he admitted those facts were true.” A probable cause statement from the detective involved in the case reportedly said that Shelton and his victim had a complex dynamic, suggesting that “the young woman felt groomed, trapped, and manipulated due to Shelton’s position as a religious authority,” WLWT5 reported. During his sentencing, the victim told Judge McCoy that no sentence could ever give her back what Shelton took from her. In 2023, Shelton spoke before the Little Miami Local School District board to decry the availability of LGBTQ+ books in schools. He was specifically angry that his 12-year-old daughter had seen the LGBTQ+ graphic novel series Heartstopper by Alice Oseman available at a book fair. “I don’t think kids should ever question their sexuality. I don’t think kids should ever explore their sexuality. I don’t think any of that stuff ever ought to be in our school,” Shelton said. “But [my daughter] come home asking me why certain books were in that book fair, which were pertaining to books of gay. One of them was Heartstopper, which is where a gay boy pressures a straight kid into kissing him.” “I don’t understand why we have this kind of stuff in our libraries, in our book fairs.” He spoke about the “health risk of being gay” and claimed the biggest risk is mental health. “We worry about drugs, we worry about alcohol… but we’re not allowed to talk about the health risks of kids being gay.” He also called Pride flags in classrooms “a disgusting display” and said they caused division. Shelton’s rant led the district to pause all book fairs and form a special committee to screen the books being sold. The district then stopped holding book fairs during the school day, only to reopen them during evening parent-teacher conferences so that kids were supervised by parents while browsing. “Shelton’s arrest shouldn’t surprise anyone,” wrote independent journalist and atheist activist Hemant Mehta on his blog, The Friendly Atheist. “For decades, men like him have stood at pulpits railing against love, hiding behind the Bible to mask their own bigotry. The louder they scream about protecting children from homosexuality, the more certain you can be that their own hands are unclean.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10593-6This Review reflects on the joint power of genetic technologies, including untapped CRISPR–Cas techniques to combat hidden hunger and improve crop resilience, and argues in favour of their combined use to overcome these societal challenges.

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01990-yFour antibiotic compounds produced in Streptomyces bacteria attack multiple parts of an essential metabolic pathway.

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10697-zChronic dietary cholesterol activates Ral GTPases, which promote LDLR internalization and lysosomal degradation through RalBP1–REPS1 and CTSA, thereby reducing cholesterol clearance, whereas CTSA inhibition restores LDLR function and may offer a therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular disease.

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01805-0Combining satellite imagery and machine learning has created the first comprehensive map of seagrass meadows, in a boost for the conservation of these crucial ecosystems.

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10704-3Global high-resolution mapping shows widespread seagrass loss and degradation since 2019, with most meadows outside protected areas, highlighting urgent conservation and climate-policy needs.

The ruling of a three-judge appeals panel in Michigan was the most significant rebuke yet to the Department of Justice’s effort to find ineligible voters in state voter rolls.

People have long gathered in solidarity by the Reflecting Pool, but amid the turmoil of President Trump’s attempted repairs there is little unity to be found.

An unlikely trio of justices issued a slashing critique of plea bargains that included several references to orangutans.

The Israeli military says thousands of troops have surrounded a large tunnel network in southern Lebanon. The standoff is at the center of intense clashes in the area recently.

Why the president’s latest renovation project is so irresistible and resonant.