The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup tournament began on June 11 and is scheduled to conclude on July 19. 

This year, the World Cup is being hosted by three nations for the first time. The tournament is being jointly hosted by 16 cities: 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.

For LGBTQ+ fans, it’s a complex situation. This year’s tournament will see Pride House (a safe and welcoming environment for queer fans and allies) have locations in all 16 host cities. It’s an improvement over the previous World Cups in Russia and Qatar.

However, a precedent has already been set by England’s football team’s LGBTQ+ fan group, Three Lions Pride, which stated it will not attend. The group’s reasoning was that it cannot advise members that they will be safe as openly LGBTQ+ fans. 

This adds to ongoing disputes over tournament policies on fan expression, including context about FIFA and calls to ban Pride flags at World Cup fixtures, as well as a travel warning for the 2026 World Cup over safety concerns for LGBTQ+ fans.

Canada

Canada will be the host of 13 games across two cities. Of the three host countries, Canada, on paper, has the most inclusive LGBTQ+ rights and cultural acceptance. 

In the country, there is federal legal protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

Furthermore, robust legal protections include coverage of hate crimes. Canada recognises crimes motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate based on sexual orientation or gender identity as aggravated factors in sentencing.

Canada was the fourth country in the world, the first in the Americas, to legalise same-sex marriage. Also, it was the third country in the world, the first in North America, to ban conversion therapy nationwide for minors and adults.

In 2023, Canada was referred to as the most gay-friendly country in Asher & Lyric’s LGBTQ+ Danger Index. In 2024, it ranked first on the Gay Travel Index and ninth on the Equaldex Equality Index. 

Mexico

Mexico will host 13 games across three cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

In Mexico, LGBTQ+ rights are among the most progressive in Latin America. In the country, there are constitutional protections against discrimination. Mexico ranks 25th on the Equaldex Equality Index.

Though there are protections, the country does face high rates of LGBTQ+ hate crimes. Mexico reportedly has the second-highest rate of LGBT hate crimes in Latin America.

According to Statista, last year the number of LGBTQ+ hate crime aggressions in Mexico was the highest it’s been since 2014. At least 148 LGBTQ+ hate crimes were reported, with certainly more going unreported. 

“In Mexico, LGBTQ+ people have suffered horrific violence over the past few years. The Mexican government has done very little to protect them,” a report published on the London School of Economics site reads.

Furthermore, in recent friendly matches ahead of the World Cup tournament, a homophonic chant was reportedly used by fans. The chant, a one-word slur that means male prostitute in Spanish, usually occurs when the opposing goalkeeper is taking a goal kick.

Mexico currently has appeals against a FIFA punishment over a 2024 match pending before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The ongoing dispute over fans chanting anti-gay slurs certainly raises questions over LGBTQ+ fans’ safety at the 2026 World Cup.

FIFA has partnered with the Fare Network to send observers to all World Cup games to listen for discrimination.

USA

Though there are games in Canada and Mexico, the majority of games will be played in the USA. 

Ahead of the tournament kick-off, Human Rights Watch released a reporter’s guide outlining the “climate of fear” in the US.

The 79-page report highlights the risks that the US government’s policies pose to LGBTQ+ journalists, fans and players.

Amongst warnings over the current political administration’s actions, the report details the restriction and withdrawal of support for LGBTQ+ rights in the USA. 

Since returning to the White House for his second term, Trump has signed several executive orders, stripping the rights of LGBTQ+ people, specifically trans folks.

Orders include stating in the US that there are “only two sexes”, banning transgender people from serving in the military, restricting gender-affirming healthcare for trans youngsters under the age of 19 and barring trans women and girls from female sports.

According to the Spartacus Gay Travel Index, the US dropped from 41st place in 2024 to 47th place in 2026.

The US often has different legislation state by state. The World Cup host states, Florida and Texas, are two of the country’s most restrictive.

The situation of LGBTQ+ rights in Florida is complex, with a divide between local ordinances and state laws. The most publicised law in the state was the 2022 ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, which restricted education on sexual and gender identity. This year, the ‘Don’t Say Trans’ bill sought to censor the existence of transgender individuals in public schools nationwide.

In Texas, there are federal protections, like marriage equality. However, the state lacks comprehensive state-level protections. For instance, Texas University introduced a ban on the teaching and research of LGBTQ+ topics across its academic programmes.

On the other hand, California, which is hosting eight matches, is among the country’s most inclusive states for LGBTQ+ people. Similarly, New York and New Jersey, which will host the World Cup final, also have strong protection for LGBTQ rights and anti-discrimination laws.

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Miller, who plays gay character Aaron Dingle in the ITV soap and is one half of the beloved “Robron” pairing, posted a side-by-side image on Instagram showing his progress. While smiling in both shots, Miller appeared much happier in the after photo.

He wrote in the caption: “It’s not until you see old pictures that you realise how much you’ve changed.

“Looking at the photo on the left, I remember feeling run down, tired and constantly putting myself at the bottom of the priority list.”

He went on: “Like a lot of parents, I was so busy trying to be everything for everyone else that I forgot to look after myself. To be the best husband I can be. To be the best dad I can be. I first needed to be the best Danny I could be.”

The star, who won I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2021, said the progress shot wasn’t “about being perfect”, instead: “It’s about feeling healthier, happier and having more energy for the people who matter most.”

He finished: “Still a work in progress, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come.”

Friends and fans shared their thoughts, with TikTok star Luke Hamnett, who shared a kiss with Miller on his podcast, writing: “I’d neck on with both tbf.”

Emmerdale and Strictly star Lewis Cope said: “This is class! Well done!!”

Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy Dingle on Emmerdale, wrote: “Crazy proud.”

Fellow I’m a Celebrity winner Jill Scott said: “Looking great Danny!”

Meanwhile, one fan said: “Amazing! You’ve done so well Danny, you should be so proud of yourself.” Another added: “You honestly look incredible Danny! You should be so proud of yourself.”

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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In an interview with People, McMechan said that she “had no idea” she was queer when she started the Netflix project in 2020. However, when the pandemic hit that same year, she came to the realisation that she was bisexual. “We went into the pandemic, and everyone was soul-searching and realising things about themselves,” she said.

Following this realisation, the 30-year-old co-writer of the 2025 film spent the next two years coming out to friends. She ultimately told her parents in 2023, which she was worried about, as she had grown up in a religious household.

“I was so afraid of telling anyone in my life, which ironically is very accurate to the movie,” she said. “I was having this journey with my sexuality and not wanting to tell anyone and feeling ashamed of it.”

She went on to say that it was “really difficult” to come out to her parents and that they are having ongoing discussions about her sexuality as they try to accept it. She recalled her coming out experience as being “from the 1980s” and “honestly not fun”.

“They’re still trying to accept it and still asking if I’m still queer, because they think it’s a phase. I’m trying to stay strong.”

McMechan said the film, which follows a singer called Rumi who is instructed to hide her half-demon identity, started to take on new meaning for her following her sexual realisation. “Every time we rewatched it or finished another draft, I was at such a different place in my life, where it took on a new meaning every single time,” she said.

While she said that she didn’t purposefully put aspects of her queer awakening into the film, she was sure that it “bled into the writing”. One scene in particular was incredibly relatable for her, which is between Rumi and her adoptive mother toward the end of the film.

In the scene, Rumi asks her mother to accept her identity, but her mother refuses, prompting Rumi to ask why she can’t love and accept her as she is. McMahen said the scene “literally feels how I feel with my mom because she’s so religious.”

It isn’t just McMehan who saw elements of her own journey in the film, with LGBTQ+ audiences embracing and strongly resonating with Rumi’s journey. This is something that has been really special to the writer.

“It’s so cool,” she said. “There’s no group of people happier than a bunch of queer people dressed up as these girls.”

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Rex previously appeared in Scary Movie 3, 4 and 5, but doesn’t star in the new film.

Before breaking into the mainstream, Rex briefly worked in the adult entertainment industry in the ’90s and ’00s.

Rex performed in several solo videos under the name “Sebastian” for the Club 182 video collections. This included Young, Hard & Solo and The Hot Sessions.

The work was marketed within gay adult video collections, though Rex has previously clarified in interviews that he did not perform in scenes with other men and that he identifies as straight.

Rex eventually moved away from adult work and built a career across film and television, going on to appear in a range of comedies and supporting roles. He also modelled professionally for Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Versace.

He has previously spoken about that period of his life, saying he had hoped it would remain in the past as his Hollywood career developed, but has also addressed it more openly in recent years as interest in his early work has re-emerged.

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Authorities say the suspects used the dating app to arrange meetings with at least nine victims between January and May this year, before allegedly carrying out coordinated assaults and thefts, according to reports.

According to police, one suspect would pose as a date and meet victims in public before another accomplice, pretending to be a security guard, would confront them and accuse them of engaging in “indecent acts.”

Victims were then allegedly assaulted and forced to hand over cash, jewellery, and debit cards, with suspects reportedly extracting PIN numbers to withdraw money.

Police say the group, aged between 21 and 28, were arrested in Johor and were found in possession of items believed to belong to the victims.

Three have been charged with robbery causing hurt, while two others have agreed to act as prosecution witnesses.

It’s reported that the five suspects had previous records for robbery and drug-related offences, though tests conducted after the arrests came back negative.

Police are seeking another local man who they believe can assist in the investigation.

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The move comes after a judge ruled the venue’s board, selected by the president, didn’t have the authority to rename the performing arts centre.

To comply with the court order, all references to Donald Trump, both inside and outside the building and online, have been removed, Sky News reported.

The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural centre of the US. In December of last year, the Kennedy Center board “voted unanimously” to rename the institution the Trump-Kennedy Center.

The judge ruled the president’s name must be removed by 12 June. “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it,” US District Judge Christopher Cooper wrote on 29 May.

Judge Cooper also issued a temporary block on Trump’s demand the Kennedy Center’s closure for two years of renovations. Furthermore, the judge called those plans an “ill-informed and seemingly preordained decision.”

‘Only Congress can change it’

The venue attempted to block the ruling. Their argument centred on the idea that the removal of Trump’s name would result in having to return millions of dollars raised for renovations.

The filing said the “reason for this clause is that people and companies, who have given, or will be giving, millions of dollars to the Center were only willing to do so with the name Trump on the Building.”

However, the judge denied the request hours before the deadline to remove Trump’s name.

On Saturday (13 June), construction workers began removing the President’s name from the Kennedy Center’s facade. Over the weekend, the metal letters spelling Trump’s name were covered, preventing visitors from seeing it.

In December, many protested the renaming to include Trump. This included President Kennedy’s grandnephew, former congressman Joe Kennedy III.

He stated the center “is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law”. He added: “It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says.”

At the time, Democrat Representative Joyce Beatty also spoke out against the decision. She also claimed that on the voting call, she was muted and unable to vote against the renaming.

“I was not allowed to vote because I was muted,” the Democratic congresswoman told ABC News. “I would not have supported this.”

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In April, Innanen confirmed he’d had conversations about joining the gay hockey drama. It followed months of hope from fans that he would be cast as Troy Barrett or Wyatt Hayes in Heated Rivalry season two.

Now, it’s been revealed the 27-year-old was in fact offered a role – but he had to turn it down. According to Entertainment Weekly, the Canadian star was forced to say no due to scheduling conflicts. Heated Rivalry is set to pick up cameras for its second season in July.

There are no details about the role he was offered, however fans had been hoping he would play either Troy Barrett or Wyatt Hayes.

Who could Jack Innanen have played in Heated Rivalry?

Barrett is one of the focal characters in Role Model, the fifth book in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel series on which the show is based. He is traded to the Ottawa Centaurs, Ilya Rozanov’s team, after an explosive fallout with friend Dallas Kent, who has been accused of multiple sexual assaults.

In the book, Barrett falls in love with the team’s social media manager, Harris Drover.

Meanwhile, Wyatt Hayes is a side character throughout the series, who also plays for Ottawa Centaurs. He is an ally to his LGBTQ+ team mates and very supportive to Ryan Price, who takes a lead in book three, Tough Guy.

A leaked casting call confirmed both characters would be present in season two, as well as a handful of other prominent roles from the books.

Sadly, it appears he will be playing neither. Instead, Innanen is returning to screens as Paul Baker in Adults season two, and as Max in the recently announced second season of Netflix series Big Mistakes.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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The Brighter Days Ahead Foundation will distribute funding through four programmes focused on LGBTQ+ rights, mental health support, visibility, and emergency aid.

The Protect and Defend Fund will support grassroots organisations fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights, and reproductive justice.

The Heal and Dream Fund will expand access to mental health care and community support services, while the Seen and Celebrated Fund will help amplify LGBTQ+ voices and stories through organisations including Gender Liberation Movement, Glisten Rainbow Library, SAGE USA, TransLash, and Transanta.

A fourth programme, the Emergency Support Fund, will provide rapid assistance during crises and urgent situations affecting vulnerable communities.

Speaking about the foundation, Grande said: “Our mission is to support, protect, and provide resources for our vulnerable friends in need.”

“It has been my privilege to be able to support these causes on my own over the years,” she added. “I’m grateful to now be able to expand that reach and amplify the life-saving work that these organisations do.”

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Melanie Martinez has shared an emotional Instagram Story tribute after the death of her ex Oliver Tree, remembering the musician as a “true artist” with a “soft heart” and reflecting on the “formative” time they once shared.

In her message on her Instagram story, Martinez wrote: “Been an absolute wreck today,” before adding: “It’s really hard to understand how someone who you once shared such a specific and formative time of your life with can all of a sudden be gone.”

She continued: “He had such a soft heart and was a true artist in every way.”

Martinez, who is bisexual and uses she/they pronouns, ended her tribute by writing: “Rest in peace Oliver. I know you’re making the angels giggle. I’ll be here wondering what stunt and creative project you’re scheming up in heaven. All my love.”

Tree, 32, died in a helicopter crash on Sunday (14 June). It was reported that he was one of six people who died when two helicopters crashed over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Who is Melanie Martinez?

Martinez, a US pop artist who broke through after appearing on The Voice, has built a cult following through concept albums and stylised visuals.

She is known for theatrical, character-led eras including ‘Cry Baby’ and ‘K-12’, and her fan community often intersects with alternative fashion and internet subcultures. She has also toured extensively, including UK and European tour dates.

Tributes from Kid Cudi, Bebe Rexha and more

Kid Cudi was among the artists paying tribute, writing in a Kid Cudi X post: “F*** man. Spoke to Oliver a few weeks ago. This is heartbreaking. A really amazing and beautiful human. This s*** sucks bad. Sending all my prayers and love to the families dealing with losses. Oliver we love you, forever.”

Bebe Rexha also posted about learning the news while at a CD signing in New York City, writing in an X post: “I’m in shock. I was in the middle of my CD signing in NYC when I found the news of Oliver Tree. I can’t believe it. We recorded a record together to be on Dirty Blonde. He was so smart. Passionate. Talented. Kind. I’m so sad. May he rest in peace.”

T-Pain shared a video and wrote in an X post: “Never will forget this lesson from Oliver or the time we had on @NBRadioPodcast. Thanks for sharing your art and for always being different in the best way possible. See you on the brighter side,”

Comedian Whitney Cummings wrote in an X post: “Oliver Tree is one of the most talented people on earth and usually that comes with an ego and all kinds of d******* nonsense, but Oliver is pure love and the best version of what an artist and person can and should be. There’s no silver lining. We lost a giant.”

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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On Sunday (14 June), Josh Hokit won his fight against heavyweight Derrick Lewis on the White House South Lawn.

After the match, he spoke to controversial podcaster Joe Rogan. Towards the end of the conversation, Hokit said: “Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?” 

Obama has repeatedly been the target of right-wing hate and this is far from the first time that trans conspiracy theories have circulated.

As far back as 2014, she was falsely labelled a trans woman. This is seemingly an attempt by transphobic bigots to imply that being trans is something to be ashamed of.

Joan Rivers refused to apologise to her after she said “Michelle is a t*****” and that the first lady is “a transgender, we all know.”

She also claimed: “I think it’s a compliment. She’s so attractive, tall, with a beautiful body, great face, does great makeup. Take a look and go back to La Cage Au Follies [sic]. The most gorgeous women are transgender.”

In 2020, these fake allegations were once again reignited when far-right conspiracy theorist and Infowars host Alex Jones claimed he had “evidence” of her being trans. Also, he pointed to her “very wide shoulders” and her “very masculine” face as significant “proof” of his theory.

The same year, failed Republican congressional hopeful DeAnna Lorraine claimed that Michelle Obama was going to come out as trans.

‘Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?’

Donald Trump Jr, the eldest son of Trump, has spread rumours about her online. On 2024’s Transgender Day of Visibility (31 March), Trump Jr shared a now-deleted Instagram post that claimed Obama is trans.

Hokit’s statement adds to this targeting of Obama. The crowd had a mixed reaction; some cheered and laughed while others appeared shocked.

Rogan did not address the comments, saying only: “Ladies and gentlemen, Josh Hokit.”

Furthermore, the UFC event disrupted the usual White House proceedings as the South Lawn has been a space for state dinners and diplomatic ceremonies. On Sunday, it hosted cage fights. 

The event was set up for 5,000 expected guests. A huge octagonal stage dubbed ‘the Claw’ was built for the night.

Timed with Trump’s 80th birthday and the forthcoming 250th anniversary of US independence, the UFC event was the first professional sporting event in White House history.

Adam Sandler, Jared Leto and Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson are said to be among the Hollywood names turning down invites to the show. Sandler, Leto and Johnson were reportedly invited alongside Tom Brady, Guy Ritchie and Mario Lopez.

A last-minute lawsuit by the Public Integrity Project sought to stop the event, alleging that it violates National Park Service regulations and lacks congressional consent and environmental review.

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Norfolk County Council staff have begun wearing Progress Pride badges and displaying rainbow backgrounds on computer screens after Reform UK stopped flying the LGBTQ+ and Ukraine flags at County Hall in Norwich.

The show of solidarity has been visible inside the building, with staff also using rainbow screen backgrounds during online meetings following the change to which flags can be flown above the council’s headquarters.

Reform UK took over at Norfolk County Council last month and said it was “entirely appropriate” for only British national and local flags to be flown above the County Hall building. Reform councillor Scott Hussey said feedback from officials had been “largely positive” and that staff “welcomed the new energy and professionalism” of the new administration.

“The decisions we make are designed to do what residents elected us to do: deliver change and achieve results,” Hussey added.

“Rather than engaging in virtue signalling or political grandstanding – none of which improves the lives of residents – we’re focused on common sense, pragmatism and getting the job done.”

Unison representative Kris Holt said there was “a strong sense of disappointment” among employees. “The change to the local authority’s policy on flags – which has led to the removal of the Progress Pride flag – feels like a calculated snub to both staff and Norfolk residents in the LGBTQ+ community,” Holt said.

What Norfolk’s flags policy allows

Under the council’s flags policy, the Norfolk County Council flag, the Union flag, the St George flag and the Norfolk flag are permitted to be flown above County Hall on Martineau Lane. Royal flags and those of the Merchant Navy, the Armed Forces and the emergency services can still be flown on certain days.

The Progress Pride flag was previously flown from County Hall to coincide with Norwich Pride in July.

Hussey defended the decision, saying: “While the Pride flag is often presented as a symbol of inclusivity and diversity, many people view it as a political advocacy flag.”

“As such, it’s seen by some as divisive rather than unifying and the flag does not necessarily represent all the groups it claims to encompass.”

Union criticism and wider Reform rows

The row follows other disputes over Pride visibility in councils run by the party, including the uproar after London’s only Reform council cancelled a Pride flag ceremony and when a Reform-run council banned Essex libraries from promoting LGBTQ+ events.

Holt added: “We would encourage the new members at [County Hall] to focus on learning their briefs and to really engage with the vitally important role of being a county councillor.”

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A technical university in Bangladesh has reportedly expelled four students and handed two others to police following allegations of homosexuality, prompting condemnation in a statement by JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF).

JMBF chief adviser Robert Simon said: “When an educational institution attempts to control private life, personal relationships, and sexual identity, it ceases to be a place of education and humanity and instead becomes an instrument of oppression. This must stop immediately”.

JMBF said the incidents took place on 16 May and 19 May at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) in Dinajpur.

What JMBF says happened

JMBF said that on 19 May the university administration detained two students from the nearby Mahabalipur area and handed them over to local police over allegations of homosexuality.

It also said that on 16 May the university administration temporarily expelled four students from the Faculty of Fisheries and the Department of Finance and Banking over allegations of homosexuality at the nearby Haven City student residence.

JMBF said an official order signed by Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Abu Hasan stated the students’ behaviour had tarnished the university’s image and fell under “immoral activities” according to Section 15 of the Ordinance of Students’ Discipline.

Professor Dr. S. M. Emdadul Hasan, director of the Student Counseling and Guidance Department, said the expulsions were implemented in response to other students’ demands, and that permanent expulsion would be imposed if allegations were proven through investigation.

University Proctor Professor Dr. Nausher One said: “We have adopted a zero-tolerance policy against this social degradation. Immediate actions have already been taken against the accused upon receiving the allegations.”

Rights concerns and wider context

JMBF said the actions were violations of the Constitution of Bangladesh, existing laws, human rights, and fundamental civil liberties.

Bangladesh is a socially conservative country where LGBTQ+ people face significant stigma and safety risks. Same-sex sexual activity has historically been criminalised under colonial-era legal provisions, contributing to fear of reporting and vulnerability to harassment.

Bangladesh is also home to the Hijra community – trans people who don’t identify as male or female. The Hijra have been officially recognised as a third gender since 2013. From 2018, Hijira were allowed to use the third gender option when registering to vote. In 2021 Nazrul Islam Ritu made history, becoming the first trans mayor to be elected in the country.

JMBF also pointed to a previous incident it said took place on 19 January, when the university administration detained one university student and one university admission candidate from a rented residence in the same area and handed them over to police.

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Family, friends, and the LGBTQ+ community are mourning Marlow Trottie, a 35-year-old Black trans woman who was found dead in Alexandria, Louisiana, on 8 June.

Police have confirmed in an Alexandria Police Department press release that her death is being investigated as a homicide, though authorities have not yet released details about how she was killed or whether any suspects have been identified.

Marlow remembered by loved ones

Friends, family members and former classmates have remembered Trottie as a kind-hearted person who could make anyone laugh. One classmate described her in a Facebook comment as “literally the sweetest person I’ve ever met,” while others recalled her constant smile and positive spirit.

While some people who knew Trottie refer to her with “he/him” pronouns online, across several of her social media profiles, Trottie publicly identified as female and frequently shared uplifting messages about resilience, authenticity, and self-acceptance.

“I am me,” one post read. “I don’t pretend to be everyone else. I don’t want to be like everyone else. And I will not change who I am just to fit in.”

LGBTQ+ advocates and journalists emphasise the importance of respecting a person’s self-identification, particularly after death, as per the Trans Journalism Association’s 2024 advisory.

High levels of anti-trans violence

Trottie’s death has sent shockwaves through the trans community, where advocates continue to raise concerns about violence targeting transgender people, especially Black trans women. Trottie is the 11th known trans person to be killed in the last three months.

While the homicide investigation continues, friends and loved ones are calling for answers, accountability and justice for a woman they say deserved far more than to be remembered solely for the circumstances of her death.

If you’ve been affected by this story, you can reach out to Mind on 0300 123 3393, Switchboard on 0800 0119 100 or the Samaritans on 116 123.

Readers in the US can call or text 988. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.

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Three Lions Pride, the official LGBT+ supporters’ group for the England men’s national team, says it will not attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup because it cannot advise members they will be safe as openly LGBT+ fans.

The decision was announced in a statement released by the group and is described in an Amnesty International first-person account by Robert (name changed for protection), 33, a member of the group. He says: “And we cannot in good conscience say that people will be safe going to this year’s World Cup as openly LGBT+ fans, so we won’t have any visibility out there and that’s a choice that we’ve consciously made.”

World Cup 2026 is set to be hosted across Canada, the US and Mexico. Robert says he initially felt optimistic about attending, but now believes he would have to change how he presents in some locations. “As a queer person, I would not be able to visibly be myself in a number of World Cup locations and that is directly down to policy makers, law enforcement and the direction of travel in the US,” he says.

He also raises concerns for trans supporters, adding: “In the US in particular, there’s a dangerous rollback on human rights, in particular trans people’s rights, where the laws vary from state to state.”

How Three Lions Pride was formed

Robert says he helped start Three Lions Pride with friends ahead of the Russia World Cup because “There were LGBTQI+ groups for club teams, but not for our national sides.” He describes the group as a way for fans to travel together, “look out for each other”, and build safety in numbers.

LGBTQ+ supporters’ groups have grown across UK football in recent years, often organising meet-ups and visibility displays, as well as informal welfare networks for travel. Three Lions Pride’s visibility has also faced challenges, including a Pride banner ‘stolen’ during Euro 2024.

Criticism of FIFA engagement

Robert says World Cup 2026 has “disenfranchised LGBT+ fans like no other World Cup because it had so much hope”, and criticises what he describes as “the lack of engagement from FIFA and the organisers”.

Amnesty International is also promoting a petition calling on FIFA World Cup hosts to prioritise safety and rights protections for fans and communities during the tournament.

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Scottish Green MSP Q Manivannan has called for Holyrood to review its lavatory access policy after last year’s Supreme Court ruling, and said transgender women should be allowed to use women’s lavatories, in a Herald interview. The remarks were branded as “crank” and prompted condemnation from opponents.

Manivannan, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, said they had heard from constituents with differing views on single-sex spaces. They said: “I have had constituents writing to me on all sides of the opinion, but also women, cis women, who have for a very long time said: ‘I am not in fact threatened by trans women in my toilets. I am threatened by men and the violence that I face from them’.”

They also argued that men can be survivors of sexual assault, adding: “There are men who are survivors of sexual assault [by men] including friends of mine. In that case, why don’t we ban men from men’s bathroom spaces?”

Backlash and accusations

For Women Scotland co-director Marion Calder criticised the remarks, saying: “Q Manivannan should stop trying to colonise our spaces. What Q is calling for would amount to a clear breach of the law and workplace regulations.”

Scottish Conservative equalities spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher called them “crank comments”, saying: “These crank comments are further proof that the extremist Greens are determined to break the law and undermine women’s rights.”

Greens defend MSP’s remarks

Manivannan was elected on the Scottish Greens’ regional list for Edinburgh & the Lothians last month. They said abuse received after entering parliament had strengthened their resolve to remain in politics, saying: “Not for a moment. If anything, it further reinforced the fact that I should be doing this.”

A Scottish Greens spokesperson said the party believed in self-ID, adding: “To any fair-minded person reading or watching the interview, it is clear that Q was clearly not making a policy proposal to ban men from using men’s bathrooms, but instead was using it as an example to illustrate a point relating to problems that stem from blanket bans on such spaces.”

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Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine should openly discuss LGBTQ+ rights, stressing equal rights for those defending the country as lawmakers continue debating legal recognition such as civil partnerships.

The Ukrainian president made the comments on 11 June during a cultural event in Kyiv, after being asked by Oleksandr Demenko, described as a veteran and head of an LGBTQ+ military and veterans NGO, whether Ukraine needs to “normalise LGBTQ+ topics” and help increase public tolerance.

“I believe that everything should be discussed openly with society, and that is completely normal,” Zelensky replied.

He also linked equality to Ukraine’s wartime unity, adding: “We are all here together, we are defending the state, we are the same and we have absolutely the same rights, regardless of any prejudices held by people from the 15th century. We are modern people,”

Same-sex marriages and civil partnerships are not currently recognised by Ukrainian law. Zelensky previously tasked the government with looking into introducing civil partnerships, and said in 2024 that he would sign a civil partnerships law if parliament approved it. A draft law on civil partnerships later became stuck in parliament, despite some officials voicing support.

Civil partnerships and legal reform

The comments come as Ukraine’s parliament has pushed this spring to adopt an updated Civil Code, a process that has drawn criticism and debate. The initial draft sparked backlash with around 30 civil society organisations saying that some provisions of the updated Civil Code “contradict European standards” and “violate Ukraine’s commitments under its EU accession process.”

“The provisions that prevent courts from recognising the existence of family relations between people of the same sex are causing the greatest concern,” the statement read.

Public attitudes have also shifted in recent years. A 2024 Kyiv International Institute of Sociology poll found that over 70% of Ukrainians believe LGBTQ+ people should have the same rights as others. At the same time, LGBTQ+ people in Ukraine continue to face threats and violence, particularly from far-right groups.

Parliament speaker meets LGBTQ+ NGOs

On 11 June, parliament speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk met LGBTQ+ NGO representatives to discuss changes linked to the Civil Code overhaul, according to a Stefanchuk Facebook post.

“For us, it’s important to maintain an open and responsible dialogue on issues related to the individual, human dignity, private life, and equal rights,” Stefanchuk said.

He added: “All proposals must be carefully reviewed, taking into account Ukraine’s Constitution, the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, European standards, and the need for a proper social balance.”

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Around 320 people were inside Pulse nightclub, a popular LGBTQ+ venue, in the early hours of 12 June, 2016, when a 29-year-old man entered the building with two guns. The venue was hosting a “Latin Night” and most of those present were Latinx.

As the man opened fire, those inside the club called and texted friends and loved ones, appealing for help. And then, at 2.09am, a chilling message was posted to the venue’s Facebook page: “Everyone get out of Pulse and keep running.”

Shortly after 5am that morning, the gunman was shot dead.

Nine years on, the mass shooting in the Pulse nightclub shooting remains the single deadliest attack on the LGBTQ+ community in the history of the United States.

The events of that night sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ+ community all across the world as news spread that 49 people between the ages of 18 and 50 had been shot dead.

In the years that have elapsed, families, friends and loved ones of those who died have worked hard to make sure that those who had their lives cruelly cut short will never be forgotten.

Each year in June, vigils are held in Florida to remember those who were lost. This year’s anniversary comes after a rash of mass shootings across America, and amid renewed calls for gun reform.

Survivors of the Pulse nightclub massacre have called for gun law reform

Following a number of mass shootings, including one at a school in Uvalde, Texas in May 2022 that left 19 children and two adults dead, calls for gun reform have become even louder across the US.

Survivors of the shooting have for years used their voices to demand change, and many are growing weary.

“I’ll believe it when I see it because we have been screaming for this for mega years,” Orlando Torres told MyNews13 following the shooting ni Uvalde. “It’s a shame. Look what it had to take the latest shootings. Innocent little children that were 9, 10 years old.”

Fellow survivor Patience Murray shared her frustrations with The Guardian, saying: “We’ve had so many survivors, so many families that have been left behind and they tell their story. And they’re vulnerable, pouring their hearts out to these leaders, and then nothing happens.”

Leonel Melendez, 43, opened up about the long-lasting effects of that traumatic night in an interview with the New York Post in 2021, as the world marked the fifth anniversary of the shooting.

“I can’t hear on my left side and I use a hearing aid… I lost some of my vision,” Melendez said.

“I was pretty much a miracle – but my recovery has been long and hard.”

He added: “[Lawmakers] should make it so that not just anybody can own a gun. Gun control needs to be more strict.

“You should have to pass a background test and take a psychological test before you can own a gun. There has to be a better way, it should be more controlled. If there was more restriction on owning a gun this would have never happened.”

Who were the victims of the Orlando Pulse shooting?

On the ninth anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting, we are sharing the names of those who lost their lives to ensure that they are never forgotten.

Stanley Almodovar III, 23
Amanda Alvear, 25
Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21
Martin Benitez Torres, 33
Antonio D Brown, 30
Darryl R Burt II, 29
Jonathan A Camuy Vega, 24
Angel L Candelario-Padro, 28
Simon A Carrillo Fernandez, 31
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25
Luis D Conde, 39
Cory J Connell, 21
Tevin E Crosby, 25
Franky J Dejesus Velazquez, 50
Deonka D Drayton, 32
Mercedes M Flores, 26
Peter O Gonzalez-Cruz, 22
Juan R Guerrero, 22
Paul T Henry, 41
Frank Hernandez, 27
Miguel A Honorato, 30
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40
Jason B Josaphat, 19
Eddie J Justice, 30
Anthony L Laureano Disla, 25
Christopher A Leinonen, 32
Brenda L Marquez McCool, 49
Jean C Mendez Perez, 35
Akyra Monet Murray, 18
Kimberly Morris, 37
Jean C Nieves Rodriguez, 27
Luis O Ocasio-Capo, 20
Geraldo A Ortiz-Jimenez, 25
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32
Enrique L Rios Jr, 25
Juan P Rivera Velazquez, 37
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24
Christopher J Sanfeliz, 24
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25
Edward Sotomayor Jr, 34
Shane E Tomlinson, 33
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25
Luis S Vielma, 22
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37
Jerald A Wright, 31

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Ten years on from the Pulse nightclub shooting, CNN has spoken to a group of survivors about what the past decade has actually looked like. The picture highlights the lasting human impact of the massacre as LGBTQ+ people mark the anniversary a decade on.

The attack, in the early hours of 12 June 2016, remains one of the most devastating acts of violence against LGBTQ+ people in modern history. A gunman opened fire inside the Orlando gay bar during a Latin night in Pride month, killing 49 people and wounding more than 50 before he was killed by police. Most of those who died were young, gay and Latino. The FBI treated it as both terrorism and a hate crime.

CNN’s feature resists a tidy survivor narrative – the three people at the centre of its reporting have recovered in completely different ways, and none of them describes the work as finished.

A career built in a friend’s memory

Brandon Wolf, perhaps the best-known of the three, lost two close friends that night, including Christopher “Drew” Leinonen. In the years since, Wolf has turned that grief into advocacy, working as a spokesperson for Equality Florida and the Human Rights Campaign, co-founding a nonprofit in Leinonen’s name and writing a memoir. He told CNN he is now moving back to Orlando to take up a new role with Equality Florida.

“Healing is not linear,” Wolf told CNN, adding that Orlando “is a community that will probably never be fully healed.” He marks every anniversary in his own small way, beginning the day with ice cream for breakfast.

The survivor still counting the physical cost

If Wolf’s recovery has played out in public, Keinon Carter’s has been waged largely in hospitals. CNN reports that Carter has undergone so many operations over the past decade that he gave up counting at around 60. He spent a month in a coma after the attack, was told he might never walk again, and still leans on a cane on bad days.

His account also lands on something rarely mentioned in anniversary coverage: the bill. CNN reports his out-of-pocket medical costs ran past $200,000 before the hospital agreed to waive them. This year, Carter plans to visit the grave of his friend Antonio Brown, killed in the attack, for the first time.

Survivor’s guilt, and a way back from it

The third story CNN tells is Tiara Parker’s, and it speaks directly to the weight survivors carry for those they couldn’t save. Parker was at Pulse with her teenage cousin, Akyra Murray, who was killed, the youngest person to die inside the club. Parker survived gunshot wounds but, by her own account, struggled for years afterwards with survivor’s guilt that brought her to a breaking point in 2019.

What pulled her through, she told CNN, was unexpected: a passion for makeup artistry, and later a role helping other mass-shooting survivors through a victims’ nonprofit. “My cousin saved my life,” she said.

For LGBTQ+ people, Pulse has never been an abstract tragedy, and for the local community the questions it raised are still live ones, from how the site should be remembered, with survivors revisiting the nightclub before its demolition, to whether the police response that day cost lives, an issue victims’ families are still pressing 10 years on.

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In several popular gay bars, a photo ID is no longer enough. You also have to submit to a face scan.

San Francisco Gazetteer reporter Cydney Hayes investigated the scanners after an incident at a Castro bar.

Hayes reported that Mix, along with other Castro venues including Badlands and Toad Hall, are using face scanners made by a company called PatronScan.

According to one Reddit user, a violent incident involving an angry patron at Mix last year prompted the bar to install the Guard+ model, which is marketed to owners as a way to catch fake IDs and keep track of unruly customers.

The machines also collect information from patrons including names, addresses, genders, and even details of how they behave inside the venue. That data is then shared across a connected network of similar machines in nearby bars. The stated aim is to keep owners informed of a “blacklist” of problem guests, but the reality is starker. The scanners reportedly delete collected information after 30 days, unless a patron is flagged for “bad behaviour,” in which case it remains in the database.

The company behind the technology has faced several legal challenges over what critics describe as a misleading surveillance model. One class-action lawsuit went so far as to label the technology “Orwellian.”

Adding to the unease is the fact that Mix is gay-owned, which raises questions about the risks of face-scanning tech that could conceivably out people to other businesses.

According to Hayes, none of the Castro bars named responded to requests for comment on their use of the technology.

“People are not expecting that kind of collection and retention when they go to an establishment,” writer and activist Hayley Tsukayama said of the technology in 2024. “It’s a mismatch for consumer expectations, and for that reason, I think it is concerning and there should be more transparency.”

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Christian nationalist pastor Joel Webbon claimed in a 9 June Right Response livestream that female public school teachers “turn” boys gay, repeating a debunked talking point alongside broader anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.

In the same segment, Webbon and his co-hosts also alleged that childhood molestation leads boys to become homosexual. The discussion treated homosexuality as something caused by environment and trauma, despite there being no evidence presented to support those claims.

Webbon told viewers: “Don’t be gay… There is spiritual gayness, and there is literal gayness… and you need to be avoiding both of those…. You will not inherit the kingdom of God if you are a literal sodomite, that’s true, but also if you are effeminate.”

The segment was framed through a discussion of First Corinthians 6:9–11, with the hosts arguing that “feminine” men would not “inherit the kingdom of heaven”. One co-host also claimed gay men have life expectancies that are “30 years” shorter than heterosexual men, without providing evidence during the broadcast.

Claims made in the livestream

The hosts blamed “a full embrace of feminism” for what they described as more effeminate men in culture. One co-host said: “We flatter women in the way that we exalt and esteem, and raise women to a status of superiority… Because we worship women, we idolize women, we have to castrate men.”

Webbon described an effeminate man as “a bad man”, saying: “A man who is physically soft, who dresses soft, who speaks soft, who’s indecisive… you’re not just talking about an effeminate man at that point, you’re talking about a bad man, he’s a bad man.”

He then used a homophobic slur while describing mannerisms he associated with gay men, adding: “This man… he’s a spiritual f**got, and it’s indicative of who he actually is on the inside.”

Who is Joel Webbon?

Webbon is a US-based Christian nationalist pastor and online commentator associated with hard-right “culture war” Christian media. He is part of a broader ecosystem of MAGA-aligned religious influencers who frame LGBTQ+ equality as a threat to “biblical” gender roles, and is known for provocative, inflammatory rhetoric designed for viral clips and audience mobilisation rather than pastoral care.

His content typically blends theology with partisan politics and grievance narratives about feminism and public education, including claims that marijuana makes men “spiritually gay”.

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An NHS safety investigation found 78 under-18s at the WellBN clinic in Brighton were potentially harmed after being prescribed puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones without proper checks. The findings are published on the NHS investigation page.

More than 20 children were given medication without a face-to-face appointment between February 2023 and December 2025. Necessary blood tests were often not carried out, and the overall risk to young patients was potentially high, with actual harm difficult to quantify in part because of poor record-keeping.

NHS England told WellBN it must stop offering new prescriptions to children and said a number of current and former clinicians had been referred to medical regulators. One unnamed doctor was suspended from working as an NHS GP while further investigations are ongoing.

Dr Christopher Tibbs, regional medical director for NHS England, said young people were put at a high risk of harm because clinicians provided “specialist diagnosis, care and treatment that they were neither qualified, nor commissioned to deliver”. He added: “Under no circumstances should this have happened,”

The inquiry found 44 children aged 16 and under were prescribed drugs designed to delay or suppress puberty, including 12 children under 13 and one aged 11. It also found 51 children aged 16 and under were given cross-sex hormones, including four under 13. In 53 of the 78 cases reviewed, there were possible neuro-developmental issues.

How the inquiry began

WellBN opened a transgender health hub in Brighton in 2020 and, by last year, around 2,000 patients of all ages had registered, many from outside the city. The investigation began in June 2025 after families complained about services offered to under-18s and after a civil legal case had started against the clinic and the NHS. It was run by five independent clinicians appointed by NHS Sussex.

WellBN said in a website statement it recognised “the seriousness and sensitivity of the matters raised” and that its priority remained providing “compassionate, safe and effective care for all patients”.

TransActual Response

Trans advocacy group TransActual have released a statement, condemning the withdrawal of treatment from young people being cared for by the clinic.

“We are disturbed to learn that trans young people receiving gender-affirming care through WellBN recently received a letter announcing that their access to endocrine care will be withdrawn at the end of July.”

“For over-16s, this will mean being referred into an NHS CYP gender service with no guarantee of being able to continue gender-affirming hormone treatment. For those under 16, it means no prospect of hormone treatment with the NHS until they reach 18, and no guarantee of access to puberty blockers.”

“Despite many young trans patients reporting a positive experience of care with WellBN, an investigation conducted by NHS Sussex was launched in response to legal action on behalf of one parent unhappy with their teenage child’s transition care.”

“You deserve access to timely, affirming healthcare, free from political interference and we will keep working until access to that care is restored.”

Trans youth healthcare context

In the UK, most specialist NHS gender services are delivered through commissioned providers rather than standard GP practices, with GPs typically referring patients into specialist pathways. However, gender care in England has been undergoing major restructuring since 2024, with increased emphasis on regional services against a backdrop of long waits. Trans people and advocates continue to raise concerns about the impact of poor service provision, including issues raised at Alice Litman’s inquest hearing about waiting lists.

Trans youth are now incapable of obtaining new prescriptions for puberty blockers through the NHS after it has temporarily paused a trial on the treatment.

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Daniel Arnulfo Ceron, 22, was arrested on Wednesday (10 June) and charged in connection with the death of 33-year-old Persia Amarra Conway, according to the Houston Police Department. Police say he later confessed to his involvement.

Conway’s body was discovered on the morning of 25 May in a stormwater catch basin near Brays Bayou, after a person walking along the trail came across it. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and an autopsy found she had suffered multiple blunt force trauma. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences classified her death as a homicide.

According to court documents, Ceron allegedly beat Conway to death with his hands. Video reportedly captured him disposing of items later identified as a mobile phone, a pair of slippers and pieces of acrylic nails, before walking away from the scene. Records state that a woman contacted authorities to say Ceron had confessed to the killing.

Police have not released a motive, and have not said how Ceron and Conway knew each other. Prosecutors have filed a motion to set his bond at $500,000.

Conway’s mother, Michelle Simmons, told ABC13 from her home in Georgia that she had passed information to police after members of the community sent her photos and a video of a man resembling the suspect. “One particular individual sent me two photos of this young man and a video, and in the video, he was literally saying and confessing to the murder two days before,” she said.

Conway was remembered at a vigil held by family members, advocates and members of Houston’s LGBTQ+ community earlier this month. Loved ones said they were determined that she be remembered for who she was, rather than the circumstances of her death.

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Several gay bars in San Francisco’s Castro are reportedly requiring customers to complete a face scan alongside showing photo ID, prompting fears that queer patrons could be tracked across venues via shared databases.

A San Francisco Gazeteer investigation by reporter Cydney Hayes said bars including Mix, Badlands and Toad Hall are using face-scanning ID kiosks made by a company called PatronScan.

The kiosks are described as collecting personal details including “names, addresses, genders, and even how they behave inside the bar.” The investigation also said the machines share that information “with a connected network of other machines in bars nearby”, raising concerns that someone turned away or flagged at one venue could be identified elsewhere.

The data is reportedly deleted after 30 days unless a patron exhibits “bad behavior”, in which case it is said to remain in the database. The kiosks may cost owners over $4,000 per year per venue.

One interviewee quoted in the investigation warned: “It’s really not great to have lists of gay people,” underlining why surveillance-style checks can feel especially fraught in queer nightlife spaces, where some patrons rely on anonymity.

Viral backlash after a Castro visit

The issue gained wider attention after an X post on 10 June from Eddie Kim, who wrote: “I went to the Mix in the Castro, and they collected my photo and ID data without me knowing.”

Kim added: “Turns out, it’s part of a surveillance network, and some worry about a corporation having “lists of gay people” in 2026.”

Why face scanners worry LGBTQ+ patrons

PatronScan is a nightlife security and ID verification vendor that markets scanning systems to venues as tools to detect fake IDs and manage banned patrons. Privacy advocates have criticised venue ID-scanning systems for collecting more data than customers expect, with unclear retention and sharing practices.

Biometric-style identification in nightlife can disproportionately affect marginalised groups, including LGBTQ+ people, who may face heightened risks from outing or targeted harassment. In the US, regulation of private-sector facial recognition and biometric data varies widely by city and state, creating patchwork protections.

Writer and activist Hayley Tsukayama said: “People are not expecting that kind of collection and retention when they go to an establishment,” adding, “It’s a mismatch for consumer expectations, and for that reason, I think it is concerning and there should be more transparency.”

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British artist David Hockney has died aged 88, leaving behind a groundbreaking record of gay life depicted with unusual openness in a Britain where homosexuality remained a criminal offence until 1967.

Born in Bradford in 1937, Hockney rose to prominence as a pop artist in the 1960s and built a six-decade career that refused to be pinned to one style. His early paintings challenged conservative attitudes, including works that portrayed queer desire and intimacy at a time when it was still illegal.

He later became closely associated with sunlit California imagery, particularly swimming pool scenes that helped define a Los Angeles aesthetic. Works such as A Bigger Splash and Portrait of an Artist (Pool With Two Figures) captured “love, lust and loss” under bright skies, while cementing his place in popular visual culture.

Early life and defiant work

Hockney was the fourth of five children in what he described as a “radical working-class family”. After studying art at Bradford College, he sold his first painting, a portrait of his father, for £10 at the Yorkshire Artists Exhibition in 1957.

A conscientious objector, he completed two years of national service as a hospital orderly before enrolling at London’s Royal College of Art in 1959. He developed a reputation for challenging convention, including pushing back against the school’s rules around graduation requirements.

Records, innovation and personal loss

After moving to Los Angeles in the mid-1960s, Hockney’s work gained acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. In November 2018, his 1972 painting Portrait of an Artist (Pool With Two Figures) sold for $90.3m (£70.2m) at Christie’s, a world record for a living artist at the time.

He continued working after a stroke in 2012 that temporarily impaired his speech. Hockney also explored new ways of making images, from photo-collage “joiners” to digital drawing. In a 2013 Interview magazine conversation, he said: “I’m really only interested in technology that is about pictures,” and, “I’m interested in anything that makes a picture.”

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Iran’s sports minister has warned FIFA that Iran’s team manager would be responsible for stopping World Cup matches if fans bring “unofficial flags” or chant slogans against the national team, a threat that could affect Pride displays at Seattle’s scheduled Pride Match.

Ahmad Donyamali said Iran had already raised the issue with FIFA ahead of the tournament. “We have informed FIFA that if unofficial flags are brought or slogans against the national team are chanted in the stadiums where Iran plays in the World Cup, the team manager will definitely be responsible for stopping the match,” he said.

Donyamali added: “We have been assured that no disruptive incidents will occur in the stadium during the match against Egypt.”

The fixture is scheduled for 26 June 2026 in Seattle, with Iran playing Egypt. The match has been branded a “Pride Match” by SeattleFWC26, the local host committee, rather than FIFA.

Why the Seattle Pride Match is a flashpoint

The warning is reportedly widely seen as aimed at preventing displays of the “Lion and Sun” flag associated with pre-1979 Iran, but it could also affect rainbow flags and other Pride symbols inside the stadium.

It is also understood that officials from Iran and Egypt previously asked FIFA to halt Pride-related activities linked to the match and to effectively ban Pride flags during the fixture, following earlier pressure on FIFA around the Seattle plans.

Iran and Egypt were randomly selected in December as the teams for Seattle’s Pride-themed match, prompting public reaction and lobbying around the event.

FIFA’s response and what happens next

FIFA president Gianni Infantino reiterated a “focus on the football” message when discussing Iran’s participation at a pre-tournament press conference. “When Iran plays, the stadium will be full, and I hope there will be a positive atmosphere because this is football,” he said, urging those present to “promote the unity of the World Cup.”

He added: “This is about people forgetting for a moment their realities and being able to focus on a match and on a team,”

The dispute lands amid wider scrutiny of tournament policies on fan expression, including context about FIFA and calls to ban Pride flags at World Cup fixtures, and a travel warning for the 2026 World Cup over safety concerns for LGBTQ+ supporters.

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The shirtless, tattooed inflatable bust appeared on Thursday morning, the day before Musk’s space company SpaceX was due to make its stock market debut on the Nasdaq.

It showed Musk with a heart tattoo reading “ketamine,” a reference to his acknowledged drug use, alongside the printed phrase “SpaceX’s Grok makes AI child porn.” Barricades around it repeated the message and carried the hashtag #StopSpaceXChildNudes.

The protest refers to Grok, the chatbot made by Musk’s AI firm xAI, which has been at the centre of mounting legal action over sexualised images of real people, including children.

This week, prosecutors in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, charged a 66-year-old man with creating CSAM using Grok, after X flagged 37 images he allegedly uploaded or shared through the chatbot in April.

In March, three teenage girls filed a class-action lawsuit against xAI in California, alleging Grok was used to generate sexually explicit images of them as minors. The suit accuses the company of “knowingly” participating in the production and distribution of CSAM and failing to use “industry standard methods of safeguarding” against it. xAI has not publicly responded to the lawsuit’s central claims.

X said it limited Grok’s ability to create sexualised images of real people in January, after such images flooded the platform, though a Common Sense Media assessment found those restrictions easy to bypass.

Musk has not commented on the inflatable as of June 12.

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The Trump administration says it is working to restore the 988 Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth “Press 3” option by the end of 2026, but says the service must comply with an executive order that rejects federal recognition of trans identities.

An HHS spokesperson said SAMHSA is “working with the 988 Network Administrator Vibrant Emotional Health to reactivate Press 3 operations by the end of the year”, describing the effort as part of Congress’s fiscal year 2026 directive to restore the specialised services.

In a 9 June 2026 letter to lawmakers sent on behalf of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, SAMHSA said it is evaluating how to reinstate the LGBTQ+ youth specialised service. Christopher Carroll, SAMHSA’s principal deputy assistant secretary for mental health and substance use, wrote: “SAMHSA is currently assessing the most appropriate approach to implementing this congressional directive for the ‘Press 3’ option within the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, while ensuring compliance with Executive Order 14168,” referring to the order requiring federal agencies to recognise only two sexes.

The Trevor Project, which piloted the programme, said the specialised services helped more than 1.5 million LGBTQ+ young people before they were shut down. CEO Jaymes Black said: “We are grateful to see preliminary indication that the 988 Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth specialised services may be reinstated after the program was abruptly shuttered last July,” adding: “However, we remain sceptical as the administration has now plainly said the lifeline must ensure compliance with President Trump’s January 2025 anti-transgender executive order.”

Why ‘Press 3’ was shut down

The LGBTQ+ youth specialised services launched nationally in 2022 after Congress authorised LGBTQ+ youth support within the 988 system. In June 2025, SAMHSA announced it would eliminate the specialised services, arguing it would “no longer silo” LGBTQ+ callers, while proposing to eliminate the programme’s dedicated $33.1 million funding stream. The shutdown took effect on 17 July 2025, ending the “Press 3” option and other pathways, as set out when the administration announced plans to shut down the service.

Fears over trans inclusion

Black said: “The point of the 988 Lifeline’s specialised services is to provide tailored support to groups placed at highest risk for suicide in this country, including veterans and LGBTQ+ young people,” adding: “The administration’s executive order rejects these youth entirely; they cannot be supported if they are not included.”

The Trevor Project has cited survey data showing 36% of LGBTQ+ young people and 40% of transgender and nonbinary young people seriously considered suicide in the past year, and approximately 11% reported attempting suicide.

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A version of her 2024 song “Bye” was used in a TikTok post shared by the administration earlier this week.

Grande commented directly on it, telling the White House to stop using her music. “Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense. F**k ice,” she wrote, according to Reuters.

A spokesperson for Grande confirmed to Variety that she had made the comment, though “for some reason it’s not publicly visible” on the post. Her team also moved to have the audio removed from the video, and the sound was stripped from the clip shortly afterwards.

In a statement, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson hit back: “We’ll say this one last time: what’s actually barbaric, inhumane, and heinous are the criminal illegal aliens who have injured and murdered innocent American citizens.”

It is not the first time Grande has criticised the Trump administration. In September 2025, she reshared an Instagram post that condemned the administration over ICE raids and transphobic rhetoric, among other concerns. The post was originally written by

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US vice president JD Vance will make his first appearance on ABC’s The View on 16 June, as the show faces heightened FCC scrutiny linked to “equal time” rules and ABC station licence renewals.

Vance will appear live in studio to discuss his new book, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, as well as the day’s political headlines and the administration’s priorities. He is expected to join all six co-hosts, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Ana Navarro, for the conversation, as set out in details of the planned co-host panel.

The booking comes as Disney and ABC push back against regulatory pressure from the Federal Communications Commission, led by chairman Brendan Carr. The agency is scrutinising whether The View falls under exemptions that have historically allowed talk shows to interview political candidates without triggering equal-time requirements.

FCC ‘equal time’ scrutiny

The FCC investigation was launched after The View featured James Talarico, described as a Democratic US Senate candidate from Texas. Talarico appeared on the programme in February 2026.

In January 2026, the FCC issued guidance warning that late-night and daytime hosts needed to give equal time to political candidates from various parties, arguing some programmes could be operating along partisan lines.

ABC has characterised the investigation as “unprecedented”, as noted in a report on the network’s response.

ABC licence renewals and the Vance booking

The network is also in a separate dispute over broadcast licensing. The FCC ordered Disney to file for renewals of eight ABC TV station licences years ahead of schedule, and Disney said its applications were made “under protest in response to an unlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional order.”

Vance, a Republican politician from Ohio, rose to prominence with his memoir Hillbilly Elegy and later served as a US senator before becoming vice president. His media appearances are closely watched for how the administration communicates through mainstream entertainment platforms, but he has also faced criticism for opining on events such as Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance.

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Idaho officials have told a federal judge that they can use DNA testing to enforce strict trans bathroom laws in the state.

In Idaho, transgender people are required by law to use public bathrooms and changing facilities of the sex they were assigned at birth.

That law was recently questioned by a judge in federal court while considering whether or not to temporarily block the law for a lawsuit brought by six trans people over House Bill 752.

House Bill 752 – What it means

The bill, which is set to take effect from 1 July, will create criminal charges for people who “knowingly and wilfully” enter bathrooms or changing facilities that don’t correspond to their sex assigned at birth. Repeat offenders could receive up to five years in prison.

According to the Idaho Capital Sun, US District Judge Amanda Brailsford asked officials how they could expect to enforce the bathroom law when many trans people now carry ID that corresponds with their correct gender.

Idaho Solicitor General Michael Zarian then told the judge that it shouldn’t be too difficult “because there is DNA testing.”

Zarian then went on to say that trans people would not necessarily need to consent to the proposed DNA testing, but that he doubted that they would be asked to take a DNA test on the spot.

Lambda Legal attorney Kell Olson, who is a trans man, represented the six Idahoans that filed the lawsuit. He questioned the merits of Zarian’s testing proposition, saying that DNA testing usually requires a warrant.

“HB 752 does make Idaho less safe for transgender people. It threatens serious and immediate harm, no matter what trans people do,” Olson told the judge.

Potential harm and pitfalls from the bill

Olson expanded on the pitfalls of the new law while speaking to reporters after the hearing. “If I just go to a restaurant with my family and want to wash my hands before dinner, this law comes into play. Now I have to stop and decide, do I – if this law is in effect – do I go into the restroom that is illegal now, the men’s room?” he asked.

“Or do I walk into the women’s room and take all of the risk that that now comes with, whether that’s assault or harassment, or someone calling the police, because now it looks like I’m violating the law?”

ACLU of Idaho attorney Emily Croston also weighed in, telling reporters: “I don’t think the state has an answer for how you identify someone’s biological sex… Are we just going to look at folks as they enter a restroom and determine whether we think they look enough like a man or a woman? That’s ridiculous.”

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