For Niecy Nash-Betts, life has always had a way of surprising her—and being named Out’s 2025 #Out100 Icon of the Year was one more beautiful twist she didn’t see coming.

In our cover story, Niecy reflects on authenticity, representation, and what it means to live in her truth with joy and pride. 🏳️‍🌈

If you’re an LGBTQ+ federal employee who’s taken steps to hide your identity by removing Pride flags or pics of your partner, or other measures, out of fear of retribution, I’d love to talk.

email me - christopher (dot) wiggins at equalpride.com

Or securely on Signal - cwdc.98

Can stay anonymous.

If you were in the room during Hegseth and Trump's speech, and you'd like to share your response anonymously, reach out to me on Signal (in bio.) Share widely.

Donald Trump should listen to Donald Trump.

He owns this shutdown.

Ben & Jerry's founder Jerry Greenfield resigns, says he's 'been silenced' over LGBTQ+ rights Jerry Greenfield said Ben & Jerry's parent company wouldn't let him defend "the rights of immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community."

Jerry Greenfield said Ben & Jerry's parent company wouldn't let him defend "the rights of immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community."

With mint chip ice cream!

They want us to believe that Trump has bruises on BOTH HANDS from handshaking with his right hand, but his ear healed so perfectly after being shot that there was NO SIGN of it within weeks. Got it.

Andry Hernández Romero on surviving CECOT: 'They told us we would die there' “I want the world to know that being Venezuelan is not a crime,” the gay makeup artist told The Advocate in an exclusive interview.

I hope you’ll read this & share it widely.

What struck me the most during our hour-long conversation was how gracious & positive Andry Hernandez Romero is. He’s bright, kind, & thoughtful.

What the Trump administration did to him could have broken him. It didn’t.

www.advocate.com/news/andry-h...

International embarrassment.

This is insande.

NEWS: U.S. layoffs in July surged to highest level since the early months of the COVID pandemic, jumping 29% from June and 140% compared to July 2024.

Nectarine, lol

NEWS: Jeffrey Epstein Survivor Jess Michaels Speaks Out. Share Her Story. Please watch this powerful interview. I also highlight all the news you missed overnight in this newsletter.

This morning I spoke with Jess Michaels, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's horrific crimes.

Her story is one that needs to be shared everywhere.

Take a minute. Listen to her. And please, spread the word. open.substack.com/pub/aaronpar...

I'm confused by this. Seniors in college?

🧨 The Wall Street Journal is about to drop a BOMBSHELL about the Trump/Epstein island affair.

Buckle up, ya’ll.

It’s about to get very ugly very fast.

Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person. 🤢

Lance Bass and Michael Turchin get surprised with a replica of their wedding cake While on set for their Love Inc. Magazine cover shoot, the couple enjoyed a mini version of their wedding cake.

While on set for their Love Inc. Magazine cover shoot, the couple enjoyed a mini version of their wedding cake.

Are we great yet?

Beloved Georgia librarian fired after child chooses book with transgender character for library display “I wasn’t going to tell the kid no,” LaVonnia Moore said. “I was just happy the kid was reading, happy they were engaging in their library.”

This is outrageous. She worked at the Pierce County Public Library for 15 years. Last month, they fired LaVonnia Moore for including a single book from the library’s collection about a trans kid in a summer reading display that the public contributed to.

www.advocate.com/news/librari...

These hotlines are still available for LGBTQ+ youth after Trump kills 988 services The Trump administration is cutting the 988 special service for LGBTQ+ youth, but there are still several existing lifelines for LGBTQ+ youth in crisis. Here are some.

The Trump administration is cutting the 988 special service for LGBTQ+ youth, but there are still several existing lifelines for LGBTQ+ youth in crisis. Here are some.

Senate Republicans propose deeper Medicaid cuts. Here’s what that means. Senate Republicans are taking Medicaid cuts even further than their House counterparts with legislation that targets hospital payments.

Senate Republicans' one-finger salute to rural America:

"Hospital networks said they may reduce pediatric, maternity or behavioral health services; end telehealth programs; close rural facilities; or enact layoffs if the Medicaid cuts become law..."

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Advocate Originals to Launch on Hulu for Pride Month (EXCLUSIVE) Advocate Originals will make its official debut on Hulu on June 21.

"Advocate Originals, a slate of LGBTQ programming from the Advocate magazine, will debut on Hulu on June 21 to coincide with Pride Month." — @variety.com

Inside the Veterans Affairs Department’s underground resistance to Trump’s care ban for transgender vets “We’re building the underground as fast as we can,” one Veterans Affairs medical center doctor told The Advocate.

Scoop: Trump’s crackdown on Veterans Affairs Department care for transgender people sparked a secret resistance — a network of doctors defying the administration to keep trans vets alive.

“We’re building the underground as fast as we can,” one VA doctor told me.

www.advocate.com/news/inside-...

Always.

Welp, I guess it wasn’t a lie.

A hardworking expert performs tuckpointing work on exterior brick on an oldish building.

The universe has a sense of humor.

In response to passing the gas leaf blower ban, I’m enjoying tuckpointing outside my window from 8:00-5:00 daily. It’s a cacophonous mix of drill bit and engine noise that’s “chefs kiss.”

Pride is everywhere in @alexandriavagov.bsky.social I snapped this in the Lyceum (one of our history museums) last week. 👏 👏 👏 🏳️‍🌈

"It felt very empowering," Advocate cover star Cynthia Nixon says about being photographed at New York's Henrietta Hudson bar. "The [queer] elders on the wall felt so great. It also felt like just a fun place to be."

🔗: bit.ly/4mdOIXn

Idina, Megan, Kristin, Lea, and Maleah take the stage for LGBTQ+ equality For Out's May/June cover, Broadway divas join forces to continue the long theatrical tradition in which women and queer people fight for and celebrate one another.

For Out's May/June cover, Broadway divas join forces to continue the long theatrical tradition in which women and queer people fight for and celebrate one another.

Employees quit after Florida bookstore reportedly removes LGBTQ+ titles Bodacious Bookstore & Cafe denies removing titles, saying it only responded to complaints about age-inappropriate content visible to children.

Several employees said they quit their jobs after a manager directed them to remove LGBTQ+ titles from the shelves of a popular independent Florida bookstore.