In just two words, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg summed up Donald Trumps attempts to get people to stop asking about his decades-long friendship with child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.Buttigieg was asked about how Trump posted a fake AI-generated video to social media showing former President Barack Obama getting arrested last week during an appearance on the syndicated radio show The Breakfast Club earlier this week. Related Pete Buttigieg explains how the Epstein files might tear apart the MAGA base: Extraordinary Its his supporters saying, Wait a minute, youre insulting me. And thats a whole different thing. They tried to rig the election, and they got caught. And there should be very severe consequences for that, Trump told reporters on July 22, referring to the 2016 presidential election. A representative for Obama called the accusations bizarre and a weak attempt at distraction.Buttigieg noted that its telling that Trump made this accusation as he faces sharp criticism from his base for refusing to release documents from the investigation of Epstein. 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 So Trump says, Were gonna release the files, were gonna release the files, were gonna release the files,' Buttigieg said, referring to files from the Epstein investigation. Then he says, Were not gonna release the files.'And people are mad, including MAGA, saying, Wait a minute, you said you were going to release this information and youre not. And what does he do? Hes like, Uuhhhh, were gonna arrest Obama!' The hosts laughed, and then Buttigieg summed up what he believes Trump is trying to do with a quippy phrase. What? That has nothing to do with anything, but its the distraction machine.Whenever things get hard for Trump, he fires up the Distraction Machine, Buttigieg wrote in the caption for the post. Were not falling for it. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pete Buttigieg (@pete.buttigieg)Trump has been under fire all month after his administration announced that it would not release information learned from the investigation of Epstein, including the wealthy clients for whom Epstein is rumored to have provided underage victims to sexually abuse. Trump has spent the month making increasingly hostile statements about people who want the rumored Epstein client list to be made public.Last week, House Speaker Mike Johjnson announced that the House would adjourn early in what was seen as an effort to stall Democrats attempts to make the Justice Department release the Epstein files. The House is scheduled to reconvene in September.Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors. While the medical examiner determined that his death was a suicide, many people, especially on the right, do not believe that it was, instead asserting that he was killed to keep him silent about the clients for whom he found children to sexually abuse. Many officials associated with Trump had spent years repeating the same rumors, andTrump himself said repeatedly in 2024 that the Epstein list of clients needed to be released.In February, Attorney General Bondi said that she was reviewing a lot of names related to the Epstein investigation and said that the Epstein list is sitting on my desk right now to review.But earlier this month, the Department of Justice released a memo that said there was no secret client list and reaffirmed the 2019 finding that Epstein died by suicide. Many Trump supporters were outraged that the rumored client list wouldnt be released, while many on the left speculated that the reason Bondi wasnt releasing it is because Trump himself or at least high-ranking members of his administration is on it.Trump had a decades-long friendship with Epsteinand joked about how his friend was fun and terrific andliked women on the younger side. Trump has also beenfound liable for sexual abuse by a jury, hasadmitted to sexually assaulting womenin the past, and hasadmitted to walking in on underage girlsas they changed clothes. He has been accused of sexual assault or other forms of sexual improprietyby at least 27 women.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A Maryland social justice nonprofit is suing the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) over its refusal to address workplace discrimination complaints that have to do with gender identity. Democracy Forward and the National Womens Law Center (NWLC) filed the lawsuit on behalf of FreeState Justice, alleging the agency has violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution, and the Administrative Procedure Act. Related Education Department orders 5 school districts to immediately end trans-inclusive bathroom policies The department called trans inclusion anti-scientific illiberalism and falsely claimed cis womens safety is at stake. After the president signed an executive order mandating the federal government recognize there are only twoimmutablesexes male and female EEOC staff were told to relegate anti-trans discrimination cases as the lowest priority, which the Associated Press reported at the time more or less meant they were put on indefinite pause.The lawsuit names both the EEOC as well as its acting chair, Andrea Lucas, who lists as a priority in her official bio, defending the biological and binary reality of sex and related rights, including womens rights to single-sex spaces. 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 suit alleges that the EEOCs decision to ignore cases of anti-trans discrimination is rooted in Defendants animus against transgender people and part and parcel of this Administrations agenda to erase and unlawfully deny protections to transgender people in the provision of government services and across all aspects of civic life.It also cites the Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, which said that anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination violates the Civil Rights Acts ban on discrimination on the basis of sex since a persons sexual and gender identity is inextricably related to their sex. Bostock cemented protections for LGBTQ+ workers that the EEOC had already recognized for years, the complaint states. Earlier this month, the agency altered its exclusionary policy to allow some of the gender-identity-related cases to be considered if they fall squarely under the Bostock ruling, according to an email from EEOC field operations director Thomas Colclough. The complaint addresses this change, saying that the EEOC only sees hiring, firing, and promotion cases as falling under this purview. But the EEOC has not resumed processing charges alleging other kinds of gender-identity discrimination, including harassment or retaliation faced by transgender workers, it said, adding that it also believes the agency is also not processing hiring, firing, or promotion charges when they are brought alongside excluded charges, such as harassment or retaliation. The suit also said gender-identity discrimination charges of any kind are still subject to heightened review by Lucas office, which it points out is not required for other cases invoking Title VII.Transgender workers deserve to be protected against harassment, and the EEOC is obligated to do so under law, said Gaylynn Burroughs, Vice President for Education and Workplace Justice at NWLC, in a statement. Burroughs added that this administration seems hellbent on bullying transgender people in every possible way and ensuring that they are pushed out of all forms of public life, including their workplaces, so were taking the administration to court.Policies like the EEOCs undermine the law and endanger people, addedLauren Pruitt, Legal Director at FreeState Justice.They force LGBTQI+ people and other marginalized communities to choose between their job and being true to who they are We are fighting back because no one should have to live in fear of discrimination or retribution just to go to work.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Saint Lucias law banning homosexuality has been declared unconstitutional in a historic ruling by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.This decision is deeply personal. For many years, weve worked to see the rights, lives, and dignity of LGBTQ+ persons in Saint Lucia and the OECS protected, said Kenita Placide, executive director of Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE), an LGBTQ+ organization in the Caribbean. Related Angola becomes the first country to legalize homosexuality in 2019 The country also banned sexual orientation-based discrimination in the move. Todays ruling is not just a win in the courts, it also represents a step towards justice for the many lives lost to violence simply for being themselves. It signals that our Caribbean can and must be a place where all people are free and equal under the law.At issue were the Caribbean island nations gross indecency and buggery laws, sections 132 and 133 of the Criminal Code of Saint Lucia, which criminalize same-sex relations even in private. Under each of those laws, consensual male homosexuality could be punished with up to ten years imprisonment. Even attempting to commit buggery could be met with a sentence of five years. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today According to ECADE, the court ruled that the sections violated the rights to privacy, life, liberty, security of the person, freedom of expression, protection from discrimination on the basis of sex, and protection of the law. While the law wasnt frequently enforced, the Human Dignity Trust said that the mere existence of this provision is itself a violation of human rights and underpins further acts of discrimination. Often, laws criminalizing homosexuality are used to justify discrimination in other areas, since anti-LGBTQ+ advocates can point to the illegality of homosexuality to justify discrimination instead of just their personal animus. Saint Lucia has a population of just under 200,000 people, most of whom are Christian. The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court has jurisdiction over Saint Lucia and five other member states: Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda. In 2019, ECADE helped launch multiple legal challenges against homosexuality bans in several Caribbean nations, and in 2022, courts ruled against those laws in Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 2024, a court ruled against Dominicas homosexuality ban. Human rights in the Eastern Caribbean continue to advance as the colonial legacies of these unconstitutional provisions continue to fall, wrote Antigua and Barbuda Foreign Affairs Minister JMoul Francis on social media. However, more still needs to be done across the region to ensure that progress is real, practical, and effective for LGBTQ+ individuals.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Out former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has said the U.S. public has reached a volcanic boiling point of impatience with the president over his broken promises to lower prices, end foreign wars, and release the government files on deceased child trafficker Jeffrey Epstein all issues that the president promised to resolve in his second term.On NPRsMorning Edition,host Steve Inskeep asked Buttigieg what he makes of the fact that polls have shown that Americans have an interest in the Epstein files. Buttigieg noted that Republicans recently closed the U.S. House of Representatives rather than allow legislators to vote on releasing the files, suggesting that theres something in the files thats very sensitive for the president. Related Pete Buttigieg says politicians have no business making decisions about trans athletes He also emphasized the need for compassion for all parties involved in the debate. But also, I think it speaks more broadly to this pattern of events where the president has said he would do something when it suited him to say he would do it, and then, when its his interest to do the reverse, hell do that, Buttigieg added.He said he would lower prices on Day One [of his presidency] he did the reverse, Buttigieg continued. He said hed bring peace to the Middle East on Day One. Bring peace to Russia and Ukraine on Day One. And he said that he was going to release these files right away, and now its more in his interest to block them. 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 While Buttigieg said he thought release of the files held more interest for the presidents base of supporters, he added, You shouldnt have to be a Republican or Democrat to care about making sure theres transparency on something as horrific as the abuses have happened, and to want to understand why an administration that promised to shed light on this, decided not to. Theres never been any real explanation for that.I think there are moments where [the president] has revealed how little respect he has for his own supporters, Buttigieg said. One of the reasons why I think the Epstein saga is especially relevant is, by telling them that this was important, that he would do something, and then to turn around saying he wont do something and that theyre stupid if they care about this, hes putting his thumb in their eye even more than usual. Basically, hes saying that he thinks theyre gullible.Buttigieg said he thinks the larger issue is that people feel that their government isnt telling the truth, adding, Its easy to see why frustration about that has reached a boiling point in this country. Weve got a broader issue of a breakdown, collapse in societal trust. This has been going on for years. I wrote a book about this five years ago, and I think its even more important now. And unless there is a higher degree of fidelity between our institutions, our leaders, and the people they serve, then issue after issue will become volcanic, as this has, and its just not sustainable on that matter of trust. He criticized the president for trying to become an autocrat, saying, We have not had a president, left, right, or center, who has tried to destroy companies, universities, and broadcasters who criticize his government. We have had disagreements over court rulings, but never had an administration that has been so ready to just say no when a court says, You have to do this.'He also criticized the administrations choice of cabinet members, saying, He can get away with appointing incompetent people over very important things in our lives. So right now, we have the secretary of defense [Pete Hegseth] in charge of defending the American people, who was accidentally texting military information to journalists. We have the person in charge of American public health [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] who is a quack who doesnt believe in medicine, and now measles is on the rise in America So these things do affect you.Last, Buttigieg said that a politics of fear has taken hold of both Democrats and Republicans, stating, Its more real than at any point in my lifetime but we cant allow that. The thing about politics of fear is, the more you get into it, the worse it gets. The only antidote to politics of fear is politics of courage.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Over two decades have passed since One Tree Hill first debuted, yet for Chad Michael Murray, the role of Lucas Scott remains his most defining and, for fans, his most cherished. While the actor has since built a diverse career across film and television, its clear that the emotional drama set in the small town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, continues to strike a lasting chord.Speaking with PEOPLE at a recent screening of his new film Freakier Friday, Murray, now 43, reflected on the staying power of the show that catapulted him to teen heartthrob status in the early 2000s.I would say probably One Tree Hill yeah, thats probably the one thing that most people come up to me about, Murray said. But I mean, I was there for six years, so thats a large body of work. Thats a large chunk of time.The CW series, which ran from 2003 to 2012, followed a group of friends and rivals navigating love, family, basketball, and the complications of growing up. Murrays role as the brooding writer and athlete Lucas Scott quickly earned him legions of fans. The series helped define a generation of teen drama alongside shows like The O.C. and Gossip Girl, but One Tree Hill carved out a uniquely emotional niche that still resonates with viewers.When you do a movie, its a moment, Murray continued. Youre there for three, four months. That movies an hour and a half long versus someone sculpting 136 hours of good-quality television. I think that impact might be a little bit vaster, you know what I mean?A Nostalgic Wave of RecognitionThough One Tree Hill remains the most common reference point, Murray says fans often recognize him for other standout roles from his early 2000s heyday particularly his charming turn in A Cinderella Story opposite Hilary Duff and his comedic performance in Freaky Friday alongside Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis.The quotes are usually from A Cinderella Story, Murray said with a laugh. Or like the guy down there, he just sung Hit Me Baby One More Time and I said he crushed it. He crushed it.In Freaky Friday (2003), Murrays character famously performs a rendition of the Britney Spears classic, a scene that has since become a viral throwback clip, continuing to live on in GIFs, TikToks, and nostalgic Twitter threads.It Was TerrifyingDespite his confident on-screen presence, Murray admitted that stepping into the spotlight at such a young age wasnt always glamorous behind the scenes.It was terrifying, he said of his early career. I was like, Welcome to Hollywood, kid. Go do this. Literally.Murray landed his first major acting roles in the early 2000s after growing up in Buffalo, New York. From guest spots on Gilmore Girls and Dawsons Creek to leading man status by 21, his rise was fast and, at times, overwhelming.That sense of vulnerability and authenticity may be part of what made Lucas Scott feel so real to fans who were going through similar growing pains. Over the years, Murray has grown more comfortable revisiting that part of his life, recognizing the significant bond fans still share with the series.The Legacy of Lucas ScottOne Tree Hill wrapped its nine-season run in 2012, but the fandom has never faded. On social media, streaming platforms, and convention circuits, fans continue to celebrate the series, rewatching episodes and engaging in online discussions about the shows impact and deeper messages.In a 2024 interview, Murray expressed his gratitude for the fans whove kept the One Tree Hill legacy alive.This OTH family has grown with us and weve grown with them, he said. Its always been their show, it always was, and weve all done it together.Without the fans, there is no One Tree Hill, Murray added. No matter whether were there making it or not. The show wouldve gone away a long time ago, but theyve kept it alive, and it struck a chord with so many people, still today.That chord was often rooted in emotional vulnerability, the complexities of family and friendship, and the power of finding your voice themes that resonated deeply with LGBTQ+ viewers, many of whom connected with characters who struggled to fit in or be understood.The Possibility of a Reboot?Though rumors have swirled for years about a potential One Tree Hill reboot, Murray has remained cautious but open-minded. In past interviews, hes said he cant see a world without the show making a return in some form though whether thats a sequel, spin-off, or reboot remains unclear.What is clear, however, is that the shows emotional storytelling and its iconic cast left a mark that time hasnt erased. As Murray ventures into new roles including his latest in Freakier Friday fans remain eager to follow wherever his journey leads, while holding on tightly to the memories of Lucas Scott, the River Court, and the magic of Tree Hill.Source

Beyonc has once again proven why she reigns supreme in the music world. Her Cowboy Carter Tour has officially shattered records, becoming the highest-grossing country tour in history and doing it in record time.According to Billboard, the 35-time Grammy Award winner grossed a staggering $407.6 million across just 32 shows in nine cities, with more than 1.6 million tickets sold. This landmark accomplishment cements Cowboy Carter not only as a musical triumph but also as a cultural movement redefining country musics boundaries.The tour, which launched earlier this year in support of Beyoncs genre-blending 2024 country album Cowboy Carter, is now the shortest tour in history to gross over $400 million. In an industry where high tour revenues usually rely on long global runs, Beyonc has again broken the mold and the ceiling.A Tour Like No OtherThe Cowboy Carter Tour hit major cities across North America, including Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Houston, Washington, D.C., Dallas, and Atlanta, before heading to Europe for sold-out shows in London and Paris. Beyonc wrapped the tour with a powerful final performance in Las Vegas on July 26, which included a surprise Destinys Child reunion that sent fans into a frenzy.Her three-hour set featured over 40 songs and included appearances from some of the biggest names in music and pop culture. Special guests throughout the tour included her husband Jay-Z, Miley Cyrus, Nigerian-American country star Shaboozey, and international dance troupe The Mayyas. Her daughters, Blue Ivy and Rumi Carter, also made heartwarming cameos, bringing a family touch to the glittering spectacle.Stage design included dazzling visuals: a towering red horseshoe, a gleaming mechanical gold horse, and even a lowrider convertible that Beyonc used to command the stage with effortless Southern flair.More Than a Concert A StatementWhile the tour broke financial records, Beyoncs Cowboy Carter era has always been about more than numbers. The album, released in March 2024, was born out of an experience in which the singer felt rejected by the country music industry. Rather than stepping back, she leaned in diving deep into the genres roots and crafting a body of work that highlighted the Black influence on country music, historically and currently.It was very clear that I wasnt welcomed, Beyonc wrote on Instagram at the time of the albums release. But because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of country music and studied our rich musical archive.She continued, It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.Beyonc also credited the criticism she received as fuel for creative expansion: The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.A Grammy Milestone and a Nod to the PastThat bold creative risk paid off. At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Cowboy Carter took home three awards, including the coveted Album of the Year a long-overdue win for Beyonc, who had been nominated for the title four previous times.In her emotional acceptance speech, Beyonc thanked her team, collaborators, and fans, dedicating the win to Linda Martell, the first Black woman to chart in country music and a contributor to Cowboy Carter.Opening doors. God bless yall. Thank you so much, she said, looking visibly moved.Martell, a pioneer whose impact was largely forgotten by the mainstream industry, was reintroduced to a new generation through Beyoncs platform a testament to the singers ongoing commitment to honoring overlooked Black contributions in American music.Emmy Season Showdown: Bey vs. JayUp next for Beyonc is another major awards night. Shes nominated at the 2025 Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Variety Special (Live) category for her Netflix Christmas Day halftime show, where she debuted live performances from Cowboy Carter. Shell be going head-to-head with her husband Jay-Z, who is nominated for producing Kendrick Lamars Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show.The Emmy nod marks yet another recognition of Cowboy Carters impact, proving that the projects reach has transcended music to become a broader cultural and artistic moment.A New Era for Country Music?Beyoncs success with Cowboy Carter has sparked conversations across the music industry, particularly within the country genre. Long criticized for its exclusionary practices, country music has slowly begun to diversify but Beyoncs commanding entry into the space has forced a reckoning.Her chart-topping success, critical acclaim, and record-breaking tour stand as a challenge to the genres gatekeepers, reminding both fans and institutions that country musics future can and should be more inclusive.As her golden horse rode across stages from Texas to the UK, Beyonc wasnt just making history she was rewriting it.Source

Azealia Banks, the Harlem-born rapper once hailed as a rising star in hip-hop, is once again facing intense backlash this time for making inflammatory comments about the LGBTQ+ community. In a now widely criticized post on X (formerly Twitter), Banks claimed that being gay or transgender is not natural, prompting swift condemnation from fans and LGBTQ+ advocates.The comments were made in response to another users accusation that Banks was rationalizing abuse as a coping mechanism. In a repost, the 33-year-old rapper wrote:Banks post quickly drew criticism across social media, with many users labeling the comments as hateful, transphobic, and scientifically inaccurate. LGBTQ+ organizations and allies were quick to respond, emphasizing that both homosexuality and gender diversity are naturally occurring and supported by decades of scientific and medical research.To set the record straight: being LGBTQ+ is not a trauma response. Major health organizations including the American Psychological Association, the World Health Organization, and the American Medical Association have all affirmed that being gay, bisexual, or transgender is a normal variation of human sexuality and gender identity. There is no credible scientific evidence supporting Banks claims.You outdo your own dumbasseryThe internets response to Banks remarks was swift and severe. You outdo your own dumbassery every time you tweet, its actually impressive, one user wrote. Another added, Its like you are purposely trying as hard as possible to be the most unlikable person in music.Others took the moment to call for accountability. Some fans pointed out that Banks has historically performed at LGBTQ+ events, including Pride festivals most notably a now-infamous 2022 Miami Pride set, which ended prematurely when she stormed off stage after her mic was cut. Video footage from the event showed Banks throwing her microphone and exiting amid a chorus of boos.She has no business performing at any LGBTQ+ event ever again, one commenter stated. Stop giving her a platform in our spaces.A History of ControversyBanks latest statements are unfortunately not an isolated incident. Over the years, the artist has gained a reputation for incendiary behavior on and offline. While some moments have been dismissed as trolling or attention-seeking, others have crossed a line into openly offensive territory.In 2020, she was suspended from Twitter for a series of posts calling for the cancelation of luxury transgender healthcare, an attack that was broadly denounced by advocates and medical professionals alike. Despite multiple bans from social media platforms, Banks has consistently returned through new accounts, often reengaging in the same pattern of behavior.Banks has also feuded publicly with several high-profile figures in entertainment and tech, including Elon Musk, with whom she reportedly had a romantic connection in 2018. In between controversial takes and public fallouts, shes occasionally garnered praise for speaking out on industry issues but critics have long pointed out that moments of clarity are rare amid her increasingly polarizing rhetoric.Fans and Communities Distance ThemselvesIn light of her most recent comments, some LGBTQ+ fans say theyre finally done giving Banks another chance.Shes always been a broken clock, but this crosses a line, one user wrote, referencing the long-running sentiment that Banks is occasionally right but usually for the wrong reasons. Theres no reclaiming this. You dont get to profit off queer people and then turn around and call them mentally ill.Others expressed frustration with platforms that continue to give Banks visibility, urging Pride organizers, music festivals, and media outlets to stop booking her altogether.Its time to stop pretending shes controversial or complicated, said one LGBTQ+ content creator on TikTok. Shes just spreading hate now. Period.Source

Vice President JD Vance cant go anywhere!Vance has a history of being off-putting, making people uncomfortable, and getting booed basically everywhere he goes. But now, President Donald Trumps second in command cant even go to his home state of Ohio without having the population make their dislike of him very clear. And its not just states or the happiest place on earth that dont want him around; entire countries want nothing to do with him, either.He may only have a 47.4 unfavorable rating from Real Clear Polling, but if the crowds that gather every time Vance tries to exit a plane or car are any indication, people really dont like him. We cant imagine why.Here are 7 places that the populace has made it clear that he should steer clear. Ohio (@) Even in his home state of Ohio, Vance isnt guaranteed a warm welcome. On July 28, the vice president visited the Metallus steel mill in Canton, Ohio to brag about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but was met by a few dozen protestors with a giant sign accusing Vance of protecting pedophiles in reference to The Trump administration's refusal to release the files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Ohio Capital Journal reports. Nantucket (@) Last week, Vance traveled to Nantucket for a Republican National Convention Committee fundraiser and was met by boos from protesters who trolled the vice president with giant posters of the AI-generated bald Vance Meme and protest signs with messages like go hump a couch, in reference to the hilarious rumor that he once made sweet sweet love to a piece of furniture. Disneyland (@) After Trump started gleefully ripping families apart as part of his immigration policy, ICE protests sprang up all over Los Angeles, so when Vance decided to roll into town to take a family trip to Disneyland, the protestors set up camp outside the park. But thats not all, once he arrived, Vance and his family were met with people confronting, heckling, and recording them.Also, if you havent seen him running while at Disneyland, do yourself a favor and check it out now. You can thank us later.San Diego (@) Vance is so unpopular that he cant even have dinner without facing hate. Over Fourth of July weekend, Vance was heckled and booed while coming out of a sushi restaurant with his wife. "Hope your Michelin-starred sushi was worth it with 82 people dead in Texas! Thanks for cutting the National Weather Service, someone can be heard shouting in the video, while another person says, "Get the hell out of San Diego, a******!"The Kennedy Center (@) As Vance and his wife Usha took their seats at a National Symphony Orchestra concert at Washingtons Kennedy Center back in March, the concert hall filled with booing, jeering, and shouts of You ruined this place! from the crowd. This came after Trump sacked the chairman of the Kennedy Center board and appointed himself instead, and named Usha as one of the new board members, all while vowing to change the Kennedy Centers offerings because he deemed them to be too woke.Greenland (@) In March, Vance and Usha arrived in Greenland on a controversial trip as part of Trumps bizarre push to take Greenland from Denmark, but instead of being welcomed with open arms by the locals, Vance was ignored by the people of Greenland and told the trip was highly aggressive by the government. People protested the trip outside the airport where Vance landed, and organizers of a dog sled race, the second lady intended to attend, announced they never invited her. Ouch. Canada (@) Conservative Canadian MP Jamil Jivani, who befriended Vance while the two were at Yale, uninvited his old friend to the Great White North after Trumps comments about Canada becoming the 51st state and the administrations threats of tariffs. They need to probably reconsider some of their rhetoric and their policy before coming to Canada, Jivani told Politico. Our country should deserve more respect before being able to welcome them.Vermont (@) Vermonts normally very welcoming people gathered by the thousands to protest Vance when he and his family descended on the state for a ski trip. People lined the streets leading to the ski resort with protest signs expressing concerns about the state of democracy, climate change, the war in Ukraine, and LGBTQ+ rights, and aimed their ire at the vice president, the Maine Morning Star reported.And finally...furniture stores (@) Listen, the whole story about Vance d*cking down a sectional might have been just a rumor that got out of control, but furniture stores arent taking any chances!

Well, is the bus still running?Lana Ja'Rae didn't snatch the crown on season 17 of RuPaul's Drag Race, but she certainly snatched the hearts of fans around the world. This lovable queen served up sickening lip syncs, iconic one-liners, and tons of personality.Since filming wrapped earlier this year, Ja'Rae is booking gigs around the world including the WorldPride SADBrunch in Washington, D.C. and reminding everyone to live out and proud."A lot of people don't want us to be happy. They're trying to take away our queer joy. Now more than ever, it's more important to be as loud and as happy ever. A smile is the best weapon to have! Kill them with kindness," Ja'Rae tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Ja'Rae is not only celebrating Pride all year long, but she's also fighting back against anyone who's speaking against LGBTQ+ equality."Shut the f*** up! Y'all are bored. We're booked and blessed! You're hating from outside the club. You can't even get in, baby. Let's clock that tea. Get in first!"Looking back on her time on Drag Race, the talented queen lip-synched a total of six times and eliminated many of her competitors. However, her personal favorite performance was a lip-sync she actually lost to Sam Star."I think 'Illusion!' I feel like that's the only one I was actually clocked in for. I knew I was going home, so it was a different way of performing. No shade to Sam... Sam did a great job, but I did an amazing job!"Approximately six months from now, season 18 of Drag Race will be announced and a new crop of contestants will be introduced to the world. Ja'Rae has some important tips to share with any queen hoping to eventually appear on the popular show."Don't do Rosa Parks for Snatch Game! Also, wear pads. Cinch your body and be good at Drag Race. Don't be bad like me! Thank you."Fans can follow Lana Ja'Rae on Instagram here. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

The Oversight Project, a spinoff of the Heritage Foundation the right-wing think tank that authored Project 2025, the blueprint for Donald Trumps second presidency has asked the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill) to submit the syllabi and class materials for all 70 of its courses. The project seeks to identify any materials (including LGBTQ+-related ones) that contradict President Trumps executive orders seeking to defund and persecute institutions that pursue diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.The request occurs as the Trump Administration continues to target DEI and pro-Palestinian protests on college and university campuses. Last week, Trumps Education Secretary Linda McMahon admitted that the administrations persecution of schools over these issues represents a monumental victory for conservatives against elite campuses and their far left-leaning professors (rather than a victory in the Trump Administrations ostensible crusade to end discrimination in higher education). Related Edwin Feulner, Project 2025 author and Heritage Foundation founder, dies His organization has made life much worse for LGBTQ+ people and working class Americans of all sorts. Oversight Project President Mike Howell submitted his request to the university on July 2, specifically requesting any data on class materials using the following terms: gender identity, queer, sexuality, microaggressions, implicit bias, and numerous other terms related to social justice and DEI efforts, Inside Highed Ed reported.Howells request said that the university should pay for the administrative costs to pull the data because Disclosure of these records will contribute significantly to the publics understanding of university operations and student-facing programming, particularly considering ongoing public concern regarding institutional compliance with the presidents anti-DEI executive orders. 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 records] will shed light on potential inconsistencies between internal practices and public representations made by officials in a matter of substantial national importance, he wrote.Its likely that if The Oversight Project detects any DEI-related keywords in the universitys course materials, it would report the school for investigation by the Department of Educations (DOE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The office has persecuted schools, threatening to revoke millions in federal funding unless they agree to remove all support for DEI initiatives and any policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in campus sports. The OCR claims that DEI and trans-inclusive policies violate federal anti-discrimination laws. UNC-Chapel Hill hasnt yet responded to the Oversight Projects request, but said that course materials remain the intellectual property of the professors who created them. As such, professors arent required to submit their course materials in response to information requests.One UNC-Chapel Hill professor, Chris Petsko, has said he wont hand over the course materials for his business management course which partially discusses the outcomes of stereotyping and prejudice in various workplace practices because he considers the projects ideology illegitimate and wholly beholden to the Trump administration.These very broad and vague requests for faculty academic records such as syllabi and faculty communications about their academic pursuits chill free speech by putting a large burden on the faculty members and revealing private academic information they use to teach their classes, said Zach Greenberg, a First Amendment attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. The DOEs OCR has persecuted several colleges and universities in pursuit of Trumps and the Heritage Foundations anti-DEI crusade. The DOE extorted $200 million out of Columbia University to restore the majority of funding that the Trump administration cut over allegations it violated anti-discrimination laws.When commenting on Columbias settlement, DOE Secretary Linda McMahon admitted, This is a monumental victory for conservatives who wanted to do things on these elite campuses for a long time because we had such far left-leaning professors. Her comment undermined the Trump administrations claims about protecting students from antisemitic and discriminatory harassment on campus.On July 29, the DOEs OCR announced that it would investigate Duke University in North Carolina for allegedly considering ethnic and racial factors in hiring, admissions, and scholarship decisions.Last year, the Oversight Project issued thousands of data requests to search all federal government workers communications that mentioned sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. The requests were likely to help identify any career civil servants who oppose the foundations and the presidents anti-DEI views, the investigative news site ProPublica reported.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.