Hosted at the LA LGBT Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza, the event may only be entering its sophomore year, but it’s quickly carving out a space of its own within Outfest’s larger legacy. Rather than functioning as a traditional film festival, OutfestNEXT feels more like a gathering place, one where established queer icons, emerging creators, and audiences can all share the same room.

And honestly, that feels especially important right now.

In an era where LGBTQ+ stories continue to be challenged, restricted, and politicized, spaces dedicated entirely to queer creativity feel less like entertainment and more like acts of preservation.

Fortunately, this year’s lineup is bringing plenty to celebrate.

Few filmmakers have shaped queer cinema quite like Gregg Araki.

The filmmaker’s newest feature, I Want Your Sex, will make its way to OutfestNEXT with a cast that feels tailor-made for internet obsession: Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman, Chase Sui Wonders, Margaret Cho, and Charli XCX.

For Araki, the event also represents a full-circle moment.

That sense of legacy is woven throughout this year’s program.

The 2026 lineup spans generations, genres, and perspectives.

There’s Test, a sports drama starring Matthew Morrison that explores ambition, identity, and complicated family dynamics through the world of competitive bodybuilding.

Documentary lovers will have Barbara Forever, an intimate look at the life and impact of legendary lesbian filmmaker Barbara Hammer. Directed by Outfest alum Brydie O’Connor and executive produced by Kristen Stewart, the film arrives in Los Angeles following its Sundance debut earlier this year.

There’s also Maspalomas, a heartfelt Spanish drama centering an older gay man whose life is disrupted when he’s forced to leave his beloved queer community in the Canary Islands.

Meanwhile, Something You Should Know About Me, executive produced by Lilly Wachowski, puts trans joy front and center through a coming-of-age romantic comedy starring EJ Marcus and Morgan Sullivan.

And for those who love discovering hidden gems before everyone else, Can’t Go Over It offers a quieter, intimate story about friendship, nature, and the messy emotions that can emerge when two queer friends spend a little too much time together while hiking through the Adirondacks.

Part of what makes OutfestNEXT stand out is that it isn’t solely focused on what’s happening on screen.

Throughout the weekend, attendees can participate in filmmaker workshops, industry conversations, and panels hosted inside the Outfest Microcinema.

The goal isn’t simply to showcase finished projects but to create opportunities for queer artists and audiences to connect with one another in meaningful ways.

“The Outfest programming team can barely contain our excitement when it comes to sharing the work of these visionary filmmakers with theaters full of movie-loving Angelenos,” Senior Programmer Daniel Crooke said in a statement.

He added that OutfestNEXT exists at “the convergence of defiant expression and community power,” two values that have long been at the heart of queer storytelling.

Outfest members will get first access to tickets beginning June 29, while tickets for the general public become available July 1.

If last year’s response is any indication, waiting until the last minute probably isn’t the move.

For one weekend in July, Los Angeles will once again become a meeting place for queer artists, audiences, and stories that deserve to be seen, proving that queer cinema isn’t just surviving. It’s continuing to evolve.

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Questions around authenticity, profile quality, privacy and paywalled safety features have become common conversation points across queer social spaces. Now, a new entrant is betting that users are ready for something different.

Gaydar, a newly launched LGBTQ+ dating app created by LGBTQ+ founders, officially debuted this month with a message that feels less focused on swipes and more focused on trust.

The launch was celebrated with an event at New York’s Stonewall Inn, where guests gathered for performances, community moments and a first look at the platform’s vision. The company says its goal is simple: create a space centered on safety, authenticity and ownership from within the community.

And in a category crowded with familiar names, Gaydar is making some ambitious promises.

For all the conversation around dating, verification and community ownership, Gaydar’s launch party understood something equally important: queer people love a little spectacle.

Hosted at Stonewall in New York’s West Village, the night mixed networking and product reveals with performances that quickly became the talk of the room.

And one performance in particular?

Jaw. On. The. Floor.

One dancer took the stage in a sweeping black skirt with chains draped across his neck and torso, a look that immediately commanded attention. What started as a slow, controlled performance steadily built into something more playful and provocative.

The skirt came off. Then came fitted leather shorts. Then, in a moment that sent the crowd into full scream mode, another reveal.

The choreography never crossed into chaos. It stayed deliberate, confident and just cheeky enough to keep everyone locked in. There were dramatic pauses, sharp transitions and the kind of crowd work that makes people suddenly remember they’re standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers.

At one point, with perfect timing, the performer snapped the waistband of his thong back into place and the room collectively lost whatever composure remained.

Needless to say, people were paying attention.

If Gaydar wanted its debut to feel less like a corporate launch and more like a queer night out, mission accomplished.

Gaydar enters the market positioning itself as a fully verified experience designed to reduce friction that many users say has become common across dating platforms.

According to the company, every account includes phone verification and selfie verification at no cost. Additional features include end-to-end encrypted messaging, spam and bot detection, unlimited blocking, location protection and real-time language translation in chats.

The company says those protections are not premium features and will remain available to all users.

That decision appears central to Gaydar’s identity.

While many dating platforms increasingly divide experiences into free and paid tiers, Gaydar says it wants core protections to stay accessible from day one.

The app is also open across the LGBTQ+ spectrum, including men, women, trans men, trans women, nonbinary and gender-fluid users. Users can customize preferences through expanded matching settings and multilingual support.

Gaydar’s founders are putting equal emphasis on ownership.

The company says it is privately operated by LGBTQ+ founders and has no outside investors, no plans to pursue an IPO and no external board directing product decisions.

That positioning arrives during a period when conversations around ownership and community accountability continue to shape consumer expectations across queer brands and platforms.

Daniel Montelongo, CEO of Gaydar and CEO of Gaygency, said the company was created after watching frustrations build across the dating landscape.

“Every other option was sliding the wrong way — ads crowding the experience, safety treated as an afterthought, and no real confidence that the person on the other end is who they say they are,” Montelongo said. “The community deserved better, and we knew that better had to come from inside.”

The company says that philosophy influenced nearly every decision behind the platform’s design.

Launching a dating app in 2026 is no small challenge.

Users already have established platforms for dating, friendships and casual connections. Breaking through often requires more than introducing another matching algorithm.

Gaydar appears to understand that.

Instead of competing on volume or novelty, its messaging focuses on reducing uncertainty and creating an environment where users feel more confident about who they’re connecting with.

Whether that approach resonates at scale remains to be seen, but the launch taps into a conversation that has become increasingly visible across LGBTQ+ spaces: what queer users actually want from digital community now.

If Gaydar succeeds, it may not be because it reinvented dating.

It may be because it listened.

For now, the newest name in LGBTQ+ dating is entering the conversation with a clear pitch: less noise, more trust.

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The Grammy-winning artist shared a candid video message on Instagram this week, revealing that he recently completed time in rehab and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In the nearly three-minute update, the musician spoke openly about treatment, returning home to Atlanta and learning to move through life with less fear.

For fans who had been wondering where he’d been, the message marked his most substantial public appearance since last summer.

“I’m doing much better,” Lil Nas X said. “I’m feeling better, I’m creating freely, and there’s less fear in my heart. I’m just smelling the roses.”

The update follows a turbulent period for the artist.

Last August, Lil Nas X, born Montero Lamar Hill, was arrested in Los Angeles after authorities encountered him walking in public while partially undressed. He later pleaded not guilty to felony charges including battery with injury on a police officer and resisting an executive officer.

Earlier this year, a judge approved a mental health diversion program, allowing the case to move toward dismissal if program requirements are completed and no additional legal issues arise during the designated period.

The decision came after the artist received a bipolar disorder diagnosis. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that can involve periods of elevated mood and periods of depression, with symptoms and experiences varying from person to person.

Rather than center the legal proceedings in his update, Lil Nas X focused on what happened afterward.

“I’ve been in rehab for a few months, and since then, I’ve been back at home trying to ground myself back to earth and get out my head,” he said.

He also shared that working with mental health professionals has played an important role in his recovery.

One of the most striking moments in the video came when Lil Nas X reflected on receiving his diagnosis.

According to the artist, the realization wasn’t entirely new.

“When I got my bipolar disorder diagnosis, I feel like I had known for the past few years, but I didn’t want to admit to it because I didn’t want to have to take medication and, I don’t know, have people think different of me.”

Then came a moment of humor that longtime fans will immediately recognize as peak Montero: vulnerable, self-aware and a little chaotic.

“I mean, I’m already Black and gay… I’m living life on extreme hard mode.”

The joke landed because it quickly pivoted into something more sincere: an acknowledgment that accepting support felt easier than continuing to carry everything alone.

His comments also arrive at a moment when public conversations around mental health continue to evolve, particularly among younger audiences and communities where seeking care has historically carried stigma.

Lil Nas X’s career has rarely followed a straight line.

He exploded onto the music scene in 2019 with “Old Town Road,” the genre-blurring single that became a cultural phenomenon and broke records with its historic run atop the Billboard Hot 100.

What followed wasn’t a retreat into safe choices.

Tracks like “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” and “Industry Baby” turned him into one of pop’s most talked-about performers while cementing his place as a queer icon who understood internet culture better than most of his peers.

His 2021 debut album Montero expanded that identity even further, mixing spectacle, vulnerability and sharp self-awareness.

Now, after months of stepping away from public life, it sounds like creativity is returning on different terms.

Toward the end of his message, Lil Nas X shifted from reflection to what fans had quietly been hoping to hear.

There’s music coming.

“I want to let you guys know that there is new music on the way,” he said. “I’m not getting completely into that just yet, but I’m excited to do that, and I’m excited to go on this journey with you guys, this next chapter.”

His long-teased sophomore era, Dreamboy, still doesn’t have a release date, but the update suggests movement after a period of uncertainty.

Before ending the video, Lil Nas X turned directly to his fan community, affectionately known as the “Montourage.”

“We’ve been through so much together. Thank you guys for holding me down.

“I love you and all I wanna do is continue to try to make you proud and make myself proud.”

For now, the biggest announcement wasn’t an album title, a release window or a surprise single.

It was simpler than that.

He says he’s feeling better.

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The 10-episode final season will bring John B, Sarah, Kiara, Pope, Cleo, and an unlikely ally, Rafe, together for one last mission after everything changed in Morocco.

Since its debut in 2020, Outer Banks has centered on a tight-knit group of working-class teenagers known as the Pogues, whose treasure hunts have repeatedly spiraled into dangerous adventures involving missing fortunes, family secrets, and an ongoing class divide with the wealthy Kooks. At its heart, though, the show has always been about friendship and the lengths this chosen family will go to in order to protect one another.

That bond will be tested more than ever in the final season.

Season 4 ended in devastating fashion when JJ Maybank (Rudy Pankow) was stabbed and killed by his biological father, Chandler Groff, forever altering the dynamic of the group. The newly released teaser makes it clear that the aftermath of that loss will drive much of the final chapter.

Speaking with Tudum, creators Shannon Burke and Jonas Pate revealed they had been planning the shocking death since the beginning.

“We’re planning a story of redemption, and a season that embodies the friendship that JJ had come to represent,” Josh said. “JJ’s death was a hard but necessary piece of the architecture for the story, and we plan on honoring that as much as we can because we love the character as much as the fans do.”

According to Netflix, John B (Chase Stokes), Sarah (Madelyn Cline), Kiara (Madison Bailey), Pope (Jonathan Daviss), and Cleo (Carlacia Grant) find themselves at their breaking point. They’ve lost the Blue Crown, enemies are closing in from every direction, and there’s little waiting for them back home. Chandler Groff remains on the run while Dalia and the Corsairs continue to pose a threat, forcing the group to rely on the same scrappy instincts that have kept them alive for years.

One of the biggest surprises teased in the footage is an uneasy alliance with Rafe (Drew Starkey). After years of complicated history, he’ll join forces with the Pogues as they fight for their future together. Also, Cleo blows up John B’s van. Why? We have no idea, but we can’t wait to find out.

The final season will also see familiar faces returning, including Austin North as Topper, Fiona Palomo as Sofia, J. Anthony Crane as Chandler Groff, and Cullen Moss as Shoupe.

After six years of friendships, romances, betrayals, and unforgettable adventures, Outer Banks is preparing to bring its story home one final time. The Outer Banks series finale will premiere on Netflix on August 20.

Watch the new teaser below.

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Lifelong’s inaugural Pride Gala raised more than $142,050 through its live auction on June 13, bringing together community leaders, advocates and supporters for an evening dedicated to expanding access to healthcare, housing and food programs across Washington.

Held at The Sanctuary, the sold-out event welcomed more than 200 guests and blended celebration with purpose, spotlighting LGBTQ+ changemakers while generating support for organizations serving thousands across the state.

Hosted by celebrity stylist and television personality Brad Goreski, the evening featured appearances and performances from Grammy-winning artist Macy Gray, drag favorite Miz Cracker and Seattle native Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters.

The event also honored actress, producer and advocate Laverne Cox with the Lifelong Pride in Action Award for her work advancing LGBTQ+ representation and visibility. Creator and advocate Chris Olsen received the LGBTQ+ Changemaker of the Year Award for his efforts to elevate queer voices and encourage greater acceptance.

Founded in 1983 during the AIDS crisis, Lifelong has spent decades supporting individuals facing illness, housing instability and barriers to care. Today, the organization provides services including nutritious food access, medication support, HIV care, housing assistance and case management.

According to Lifelong, proceeds from the gala will directly support its mission of “Health For All,” helping fund programs serving more than 8,200 people throughout Washington. A portion of funds raised will also benefit Seattle Pride’s Youth Programs, which provide affirming spaces, leadership opportunities and connection for LGBTQIA2S+ youth ages 12 to 18.

“For more than 40 years, showing up has been the defining feature of this incredible organization. When someone is in need in our community—no matter who they are—we show up,” Lifelong CEO James Shackelford said during the evening.

“We believe that food and healthcare are human rights and everyday, we’re doing the work, from the streets of Seattle to the halls of Congress, to deliver that kind of support and care for every member of our community. Tonight is another way we are showing up – not just for the LGBTQ+ community during Pride – but for our neighbors across Washington who deserve basic human rights: nutritious food, stable housing, and accessible healthcare.”

While philanthropy remained at the center of the evening, guests leaned into the celebration.

One of the most emotional moments came through a tribute video honoring Frederick “Freddie” Foy Jr., who died from AIDS and whose legacy continues to resonate within the community.

The gala’s live auction, curated by Seattle Art Source, delivered standout moments throughout the night.

A Tuscany villa getaway sparked intense bidding and ultimately sold twice for a combined $22,000. Original artworks climbed as high as $8,500, while a Camp Pinchot cabin retreat sold for $8,000. A “Mystery Envelope” reveal generated excitement before uncovering a five-night resort stay in Antigua that closed at $5,000.

Additional donations poured in during the evening’s cash call, including several individual contributions of $10,000.

And once Macy Gray took the stage, guests reportedly stayed there.

Attendees filled the dance floor during Gray’s performance, singing along to her cover of Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy” before continuing through a medley that included her signature hit, “I Try.”

For organizers, the gala represented more than a successful fundraiser.

“The inaugural Pride Gala demonstrated what is possible when a community comes together in support of health, equity and belonging,” Seattle Pride Executive Director Patti Hearn said.

“The impact of this event will extend far beyond one evening and help strengthen critical resources for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals across our region.”

The event was produced by JWP alongside Lifelong and supported by sponsors including Uber, Russell Investments, Miller Nash, Hoedemaker Pfeiffer and BNBuilders.

If the inaugural gala is any indication, Pride in Seattle came with sequins, standing ovations and a tangible impact that will continue long after June.

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That’s the question at the center of Chip Pons‘ newest novel, Dearly Departed, a queer grumpy-sunshine romance that somehow manages to be heartfelt, hilarious, emotional, and very, very hot all at once.

The premise alone is enough to grab readers. A retired Hades who now runs a funeral home. A relentlessly optimistic florist who barges into his carefully constructed world. Plenty of yearning. Plenty of chemistry. And, as Pons himself describes it, an “enthusiastic” amount of spice.

But beneath the mythology and flirtation is something much deeper.

While writing Dearly Departed, Pons unexpectedly found himself processing his own grief following the loss of his father. What started as a romantic comedy about “a retired god with slutty shadows falling in love with a florist” evolved into a meditation on loss, reinvention, and the realization that joy and grief don’t have to exist in separate spheres.

His stories are unabashedly romantic, but they’re also rooted in broader conversations about identity, purpose, and the possibility of queer characters existing outside of trauma.

And perhaps that’s why readers have connected with his work so deeply. Pons isn’t interested in writing stories that justify queer existence. He’s interested in writing stories where queer people get to be weird, hopeful, messy, sexy, and most importantly, happy.

Gayety caught up with Pons to discuss Dearly Departed, why Hades was the perfect romantic lead, the surprising emotional connection he developed while writing the book, and why queer joy will always remain at the center of his work.

The Q&A below has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Chip Pons: I’ve always been fascinated by Hades because, despite being one of the most powerful figures in Greek mythology, he’s often portrayed as this broody, misunderstood outsider standing slightly apart from everyone else.

And maybe this says something about me as a romance author, but my immediate reaction was: Okay, but what if he’s secretly just a giant loverboy?

The more I thought about it, the more I became interested in the idea of taking this intimidating, shadow-dwelling former god and stripping away all the mythology until what remained was someone who has spent so long convincing himself that connection isn’t meant for him that he’s stopped reaching for it altogether.

Telling that story through a queer romance lens felt incredibly natural because so many of us know what it’s like to feel like you’re standing just outside of the life everyone else seems to be living.

At its core, Dearly Departed is really about a man stepping out of the shadows and discovering that life—and love—might still have something beautiful waiting for him.

Chip Pons: So many of us spend years defining ourselves by one thing, be it a job, a relationship, or a role we play for other people. Sometimes we become so attached to that identity that we forget we’re allowed to grow beyond it.

Hayden has spent centuries being Hades. It’s who he is, but it’s not all he is, and that idea resonated with me because none of us are just one thing. We aren’t defined by our worst moment, our biggest success, or the label we’ve carried the longest. We’re constantly evolving.

So, I loved exploring what happens when someone who’s spent thousands of years looking backward finally gives himself permission to imagine a different future.

Chip Pons: A lot of this book was shaped by losing my father.

When I first started writing Dearly Departed, I thought I was writing this romantic comedy about a retired god with slutty shadows falling in love with a florist.

And to be fair, I was. But somewhere along the way, it also became a book about grief.

Writing Hayden and Levi’s story actually softened my own grief in ways I wasn’t expecting because it gave me space to sit with loss and examine it from a different angle.

For so long, I think I viewed grief as something separate from joy, as if one arrived when the other left. But writing this book helped me realize they often exist side by side.

The grief doesn’t disappear and the loss doesn’t become smaller, but life continues to make room for beautiful things anyway.

So, I think that’s what I wanted to capture in Dearly Departed. Not the idea of “getting over” loss but rather somehow learning to carry it anyway while still remaining open to love, laughter, connection, and hope. Grief is part of our lives because love is part of our lives, and in many ways, they’re inseparable.

Chip Pons: Because it’s absolute catnip! There’s something deeply satisfying about watching someone who has spent years insisting they don’t need anyone get completely steamrolled by a person whose primary personality trait is aggressively caring.

Levi sees Hayden and immediately decides, “Actually, I’m going to love you whether you like it or not.”

Hayden is horrified by this development, but unfortunately for him, and for a lot of my characters, that’s a dynamic that will never stop being entertaining to me.

Chip Pons: Humor is one of the ways people survive difficult things. The funniest people I know are often the people who’ve been through the most.

Life is rarely one thing at a time, you know? You can be grieving and still laugh at a stupid joke. Or you can be falling in love while carrying old wounds that honestly may never heal. So, I want my books to feel like that: messy and complicated and entirely human.

Also, if I’m asking readers to think about mortality for 300-plus pages, I feel morally obligated to reward them with at least a few jokes and scenes about slutty little shadows.

Chip Pons: Because they allow us to imagine bigger possibilities for ourselves. At their best, mythology and fantasy stories let queer readers see themselves as the heroes of their own lives. They allow us to envision futures, adventures, and love stories that we may not have always believed were a possibility.

There’s something incredibly powerful about seeing yourself at the center of the story instead of standing at its edges.

Chip Pons: The flattery! I like to describe the spice level here as “enthusiastic.”

One of the things I wanted to explore in Dearly Departed was the idea that sex doesn’t always have to be earned in a story. Sometimes, it’s not a reward for emotional growth or a vehicle for plot progression but instead, it’s all about pleasure and the joy of being wanted by someone who can’t seem to keep their hands off you. And Hayden and Levi absolutely cannot keep their hands off each other.

There are certainly moments where intimacy leads to vulnerability and emotional connection, but I also think we’re sometimes too quick to dismiss physical attraction as something shallow. Admittedly, I’ve always been a bit of an instalove and instalust apologist, and Hayden and Levi are absolutely infatuated with each other from the moment they meet.

Particularly in queer relationships, physical intimacy can sometimes become the thing that allows emotional intimacy the chance to catch up. You spend time together, let your guard down, learn things about each other you never intended to share, like you used to be Hades, and then one day, you realize you’ve accidentally fallen in love. Oops.

Of course, it helps that these two genuinely enjoy being around each other. They flirt relentlessly, do poppers on the dance floor, Hayden’s shadows occasionally decide they’d like to get… involved, and neither of them is especially interested in resisting the attraction between them.

I wanted the romance to embrace both the tenderness and the revelry of falling for someone you’re completely obsessed with. Sometimes love unfolds slowly and sometimes it hits you like a freight train. Dearly Departed is very much the second one.

Chip Pons: Probably how many readers connected with the emotional core of a story about two men fake dating their way around the world for prize money.

The premise is completely ridiculous, and I mean that affectionately. But beneath all the travel chaos and competition shenanigans, it’s really about finding connection in unexpected places and discovering that sometimes the biggest leaps of faith are the people we choose to love.

I loved seeing readers embrace both the chaos and the heart.

Chip Pons: I wish I could tell you it was intentional and strategic, but honestly, I think I’m just drawn to characters who have no idea what they’re doing because, same.

Most of us are constantly reinventing ourselves. We outgrow things, change careers, fall in love, lose people. We discover new parts of ourselves every single day, and the idea that we reach some magical age where everything suddenly makes sense feels wildly overrated to me.

So sure, my characters tend to find themselves standing at a crossroads or trying to figure out what comes next, but the good news is they usually handle it better than I would.

Chip Pons: Chosen family has shaped so much of my own life. The queer men and friends in my life have supported me, challenged me, made me laugh, picked me up when I needed it, and celebrated me in ways I’ll never be able to fully repay.

So many of my books are love stories, but for me, friendship has always been a love story too. The idea that we can choose each other, that we can build communities rooted in care, support, and belonging is one of the most beautiful things about being human.

Chip Pons: I think I’d have to go with Levi. Not because my other leading men aren’t wonderful in their own ways, but because Levi possesses a quality we could all use a little more of: hope.

Life throws a lot at him, and he still chooses kindness, optimism, and to believe people are worth loving. There’s something incredibly powerful about a person who can sit with darkness without letting it convince them the world is dark.

Also, he’s a florist. The man literally shows up with flowers.

Chip Pons: I think the variety.

For a long time, queer stories seemed to have to educate, explain, justify, or center trauma to be meaningful. And while those stories absolutely matter and always will, what excites me most is seeing queer romance expand beyond any single narrative.

I want queer romances that are funny, messy, hopeful, cozy, weird, spicy, and deeply romantic. I want books about first loves and second chances and fake dating and retired gods running funeral homes; stories where queer characters fall apart, put themselves back together, and get their happily-ever-afters.

But more than anything, I’m excited by the growing acceptance that queer joy isn’t somehow less meaningful than queer struggle. Our happiness, our love stories, our communities, and our futures are just as worthy of being centered on the page.

Chip Pons: That joy is worth choosing and that there is absolutely nothing small, frivolous, or insignificant about queer happiness. We deserve happily-ever-afters, too, and I hope my stories reinforce that idea.

Chip Pons: Queer. Joyful. Unhinged.

And I mean all three as compliments.

Chip Pons: I’ve learned that my natural state as a romance author is apparently throwing two men together, making them immediately obsessed with each other, and seeing what happens next… so part of me thinks it would be wild to write something with a little more yearning and unresolved tension! But we’ll see if I have that kind of self-control.

No matter the trope, though, queer joy will always be at the center of what I write. As for mythology… let’s just say I remain very fond of a certain family of retired gods and would be more than happy to spend time with them again someday.

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Presented by the Out Athlete Fund and hosted at Beaches Tropicana, the inaugural Pride House activation transformed opening weekend into more than a viewing experience. Across conversations, watch parties and athlete-led moments, the event created space for LGBTQ+ fans and allies to celebrate where sports culture is headed, and who gets to shape it.

One of the weekend’s standout gatherings arrived Saturday with Women in Sports Day, presented alongside Angel City FC and supported by Giesen 0%, the event’s official non-alcoholic wine partner.

Saturday’s programming put women’s football firmly in the spotlight.

The afternoon opened with a World Cup watch party for Qatar vs. Switzerland before shifting into a live taping of The RE—CAP Show featuring soccer stars Tobin Heath and Christen Press.

The atmosphere felt less like a traditional panel and more like being invited into the group chat.

Fans gathered to hear conversations around the women’s game, player culture and where the sport is heading at a moment when interest in women’s soccer continues to surge globally. Throughout the afternoon, guests moved between match reactions, social moments and conversations that reflected the growing overlap between queer culture and sports fandom.

Events like Pride House are increasingly filling a space that sports has historically struggled to create, one where LGBTQ+ fans don’t have to separate identity from community.

Across the four-day schedule, Pride House LA/WeHo built momentum through a mix of celebrations and conversations.

Programming included opening night festivities, Latin culture celebrations tied to Team USA’s opening World Cup appearance and a closing-day lineup focused on LGBTQ+ visibility in professional soccer.

Sunday’s finale expanded that mission with the first Gay MLS Players Reunion featuring former MLS athletes Collin Martin and Matt Hatzke, followed by a Gay Games sendoff recognizing athletes preparing to compete in Spain.

The weekend closed with a community toast that captured the event’s broader goal: bringing people together through sport without making participation feel exclusive.

That approach extended into the hospitality side of the experience as well.

Throughout the weekend, Giesen 0% served its newly launched 0% Spritz offerings across Beaches Tropicana, giving attendees an alcohol-free option that still felt celebratory.

Non-alcoholic beverage brands have become increasingly visible at Pride activations and major sporting events, reflecting changing habits among younger audiences who want alternatives without sacrificing the social experience.

At Pride House, that translated into something simple but effective: people lingering longer, staying for conversations and raising a glass whether they were drinking alcohol or not.

As Los Angeles looks ahead to becoming an even bigger global sports destination over the next several years, Pride House LA/WeHo offered a preview of what future fan experiences could look like.

Less gatekeeping. More connection.

And if opening weekend was any indication, women’s sports and LGBTQ+ community aren’t side conversations anymore, they’re helping lead the event.

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On June 17, GLAAD released its inaugural AI safety report, Build for Everyone: A Framework for LGBTQ Representation and Safety in AI, calling on tech companies to rethink how artificial intelligence is designed, trained, and deployed. The report argues that AI is not neutral by default, and without intervention, existing online bias risks becoming automated at scale.

The report arrives at a moment when AI tools are increasingly shaping how people discover information, communicate, access services, and participate online. GLAAD says that influence comes with responsibility.

Drawing from academic research, journalism, civil society reporting, and GLAAD’s own monitoring efforts, the organization examined the entire AI pipeline, from foundation model training and privacy practices to moderation systems and emerging agent-based technology.

The takeaway is direct: if bias enters the system early, it doesn’t stay there.

At the center of the report is a warning that AI models can absorb and reproduce harmful narratives about LGBTQ communities.

Among the examples highlighted is GLAAD’s previous research into Meta’s Llama models, which found responses recommending conversion “therapy” when users searched for language around “unwanted same-sex attraction,” terminology commonly used by promoters of the practice.

Conversion “therapy” has been condemned by major U.S. medical and mental health organizations and has been compared to torture by the United Nations.

GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said the industry can no longer treat these outcomes as accidental.

“Neutrality is no longer an option. AI systems trained on data that wrongfully positions LGBTQ lives as ‘fringe’ or treats our equal rights as ‘controversial,’ or that fail to catch sophisticated disinformation about LGBTQ people, threaten our health, safety, and civil rights.”

Ellis added that building safer systems is both an ethical obligation and a long-term business decision.

The organization has increasingly focused on technology accountability in recent years through initiatives including its annual Social Media Safety Index, which evaluates how platforms protect LGBTQ users online.

The report outlines several recommendations aimed at AI developers, deployers, and designers.

GLAAD argues AI companies should regularly update datasets and retrain systems to reflect changes in language, culture, misinformation tactics, and evolving forms of hate.

The report points to prior research showing that language models can reproduce harmful stereotypes and discriminatory associations if left unchecked.

Another major concern centers on data collection.

GLAAD warns LGBTQ users may face elevated risks when AI systems collect or infer details related to sexual orientation or gender identity. Those risks become more severe in countries that criminalize same-sex relationships and in places where legal protections are limited.

The report also notes that people increasingly share deeply personal questions with chatbots, including conversations about identity and coming out, raising questions around storage, retention, and user control.

GLAAD says automated moderation tools often miss harassment while also restricting legitimate LGBTQ content.

The report cites ongoing concerns from creators and users across major platforms who say automated systems have contributed to shadowbanning, demonetization, content removals, and account suspensions.

The concern isn’t whether moderation should exist, it’s whether platforms can build systems that recognize context instead of flattening it.

The final recommendation pushes for stronger industry accountability and collaboration with communities most affected by AI systems.

Rather than treating safety as a patch after launch, GLAAD argues LGBTQ voices should be included earlier in development and testing.

GLAAD Vice President of Research Brandon Grabowski framed the moment as one that is still open for influence.

“While the conversation can make the AI-powered future seem inevitable, there is still time to direct the technology: how safe it is, how accurate its answers are, how appropriate its actions are, and whether the technology is a net-positive or a net-harm to society.”

He added:

“With a few thoughtful protections, we can build an AI future that’s better and safer for everyone.”

That idea sits at the center of Build for Everyone: AI is no longer emerging technology. It’s infrastructure.

And if these systems are helping shape culture, access, opportunity, and information, GLAAD’s message is clear, everyone should be considered before the code ships.

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For as long as film and television have existed, audiences have looked at certain duos and thought the same thing: Are we sure they’re just friends?

Whether it was lingering glances, unwavering devotion, dramatic declarations of loyalty, or chemistry that completely overshadowed the actual love interests, some on-screen relationships felt like they were only one script revision away from becoming canon.

While LGBTQ+ representation has come a long way, there are still plenty of iconic pairings that fans continue to argue should have ended up together. Here are some of the biggest examples.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe gave audiences countless superheroes, but few relationships inspired as much passion as Steve and Bucky.

Steve spent multiple films refusing to give up on his childhood best friend, crossing continents, defying governments, and quite literally risking the fate of the world to save him. Fans coined the term “Stucky” for a reason.

Known online as “Swan Queen,” Regina and Emma became one of the most popular non-canon ships of the 2010s.

The former enemies-turned-co-parents shared a complicated, emotional relationship that evolved over multiple seasons. For many viewers, their chemistry felt stronger than several of the show’s official romances.

The cult classic eventually earned recognition as a queer horror staple, but many fans still wish the film had pushed even further.

Jennifer and Needy’s intense friendship, jealousy, obsession, and famous kiss created a dynamic that continues to resonate with LGBTQ+ audiences more than 15 years later.

One of the most talked-about examples of queer fandom in television history.

The chemistry between Dean and Castiel fueled more than a decade of speculation, fan campaigns, and online discourse. While Castiel eventually confessed his love for Dean (making it canon), many fans still argue the series dropped the ball on fully embracing the relationship viewers had invested in for years.

Here’s a video if you want to sob today.

This one comes with an asterisk.

Similar to the one above, the feelings here were canon. Stranger Things confirmed that Will was in love with Mike in the final season. The complication is that those feelings were never reciprocated, leaving many fans wondering what the story might have looked like if the series had allowed the relationship to build.

Disney Channel may have intended Alex and Stevie to be rivals, but audiences saw something else entirely.

Their banter, chemistry, and quick emotional connection turned the pair into one of the most enduring queer ships of the Disney era.

Years later, fans learned they weren’t imagining things. During an episode of Wizards of Waverly Pod, showrunner Peter Murrieta revealed that he wished the series could have explored Alex and Stevie’s relationship further. While the writers “weren’t able to” take the pair’s relationship to the next level, Murrieta said “it was pretty clear to us what that relationship was” and that the creative team got “as close as we could.”

Combined with Hayley Kiyoko’s own acknowledgment of the pairing over the years, Alex and Stevie remain one of Disney Channel’s most beloved almost-couples.

“Sterek” wasn’t just a ship. It was a cultural phenomenon.

What began as a handful of scenes between sarcastic human Stiles Stilinski and brooding werewolf Derek Hale quickly grew into one of the biggest fandom pairings of the 2010s. Their constant bickering, reluctant teamwork, and undeniable chemistry gave fans plenty to work with, even though the relationship never came close to becoming canon.

Let’s be honest: this one barely belongs on the list.

While the series never explicitly confirmed a romantic relationship, the bond between Xena and Gabrielle became one of television’s most famous examples of queer subtext. Decades later, many fans still view them as one of TV’s greatest love stories, regardless of what the scripts officially said.

In an extensive oral history published by Entertainment Weekly, executive producer and writer R.J. Stewart reflected on years of being asked about the iconic duo’s relationship.

“In the olden days, when people asked me if Xena and Gabrielle were gay, I used to say, ‘I’ll leave that up to the fans,'” Stewart said. “But 30 years later, the fans have spoken. They’re definitely gay now.”

When The Force Awakens premiered, many viewers immediately latched onto the chemistry between Finn ( ohn Boyega)and Poe (Oscar Isaac)

Their loyalty, affection, and natural rapport sparked years of campaigning from fans who believed the sequel trilogy missed an opportunity to tell a groundbreaking queer love story in a galaxy far, far away.

“Personally, I kind of hoped and wished that maybe that would’ve been taken further in the other films, but I don’t have control,” Isaac told Variety. “It seemed like a natural progression, but sadly enough it’s a time when people are too afraid, I think, of…I don’t know what. But if they would’ve been boyfriends, that would have been fun.”

Shawn and Gus spent eight seasons proving they would do absolutely anything for each other.

Their friendship was the heart of Psych, but their unwavering loyalty, constant devotion, and old-married-couple energy led many viewers to imagine an alternate version of the series where the pair ended up together.

Few relationships on television are as complicated, messy, and emotionally loaded as Jackie and Shauna’s.

The pair’s codependency, jealousy, heartbreak, and lingering obsession have fueled endless discussions among viewers about whether romantic feelings were hiding beneath the surface all along.

Unfortunately, we’ll never get to see what could have been. Maybe things would have turned out differently if Shauna hadn’t eaten her best friend. Who knows?

Long before recent adaptations leaned into Velma’s queerness, fans were already looking at Velma and Daphne.

Their contrasting personalities and close bond inspired decades of fan art, fanfiction, and speculation that Mystery Inc. may have contained an iconic queer romance waiting to happen.

Also, the kiss between Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Daphne and Linda Cardellini’s Velma that got cut and is just floating around out there? I’m gonna need it stat.

The real enemies-to-lovers story was sitting right there.

What begins as a rivalry over Warner eventually transforms into mutual respect and support, with Vivian becoming one of Elle’s biggest champions. Many fans have joked that Legally Blonde accidentally made a stronger case for Elle ending up with Vivian than with any of the men in the movie. And we agree.

Ryan and Chad’s friendship became one of the most beloved parts of the franchise.

Their chemistry exploded during “I Don’t Dance,” a musical number that many fans still consider one of Disney’s most unintentionally queer moments. The outfit swap at the baseball game? We saw it. The lingering looks? We saw those too.

While we’re thrilled Ryan was later confirmed to be queer in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, a generation of fans is still waiting for closure on whatever was going on between him and Chad. We have questions, and after all these years, we’d still like answers.

The emotional connection between Thomas and Newt resonated deeply with audiences throughout the franchise.

Newt’s unwavering faith in Thomas and their heartbreaking storyline led many fans to view them as one of the biggest missed romantic opportunities in young adult fiction. Is anyone noticing a pattern here with the fate of one of these characters? Just me?

We don’t even have that much to say here because it feels so obvious.

These two were in love. And Fiyero was there, too.

Did Elphaba not crash Glinda’s wedding? Did they not repeatedly risk everything for one another? Is the emotional core of Wicked not their relationship? Whether you’re talking about the stage musical, the novel, or the film adaptation, their story is built on devotion, heartbreak, forgiveness, and a bond that outlasts nearly everything else in their lives.

And if we’re bringing the movie into this discussion, we can’t ignore Glinda saying “I love you” while hidden away in a closet.

Fantasy television has rarely produced a relationship as emotionally charged as Merlin and Arthur.

The series centered on their growing bond, mutual devotion, and willingness to sacrifice everything for one another. By the time the finale aired, many fans were convinced the show’s greatest love story had never officially become a romance. Sorry Guinevere.

Sure, Challengers gave audiences plenty to dissect, but many viewers walked away thinking the most compelling relationship was that of Patrick and Art.

Patrick and Art’s years-long obsession, rivalry, and emotional dependence on one another often felt just as intense as either man’s relationship with Tashi. Moral of the story: this movie could have been a lot gayer than that churro scene, and we would have liked to see it.

Few recent pairings have generated as much fan enthusiasm. Their sunshine-and-goth dynamic, emotional bond, and undeniable chemistry quickly made “Wenclair” one of Netflix’s biggest fan ships.

However, we totally agree that Wednesday does not need a romance in the series and are happy she is exploring other relationships and feelings.

The creators of the show said its unlikely anything will ever come of the two, even as the show heads into season 3.

“It’s a show about female friendship, and people can read into it whatever they want, which is great. I mean, that’s the beauty of television, is people can take ownership, but they’re very much friends,” said co-creator Alfred Gough.

Before LGBTQ+ representation became more common, viewers often connected with subtext, coded relationships, and emotional bonds that felt deeper than friendship. Sometimes creators intended it. Sometimes they didn’t. Either way, these relationships became cultural touchstones for generations of fans.

And honestly? Some of them still have more chemistry than the canon couples. Canon may have let us down, but fanfiction never will.

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As Pride Month unfolds against a backdrop of renewed political battles over diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, a new digital platform in South Florida is positioning itself as both a community tool and a statement of visibility.

OutLGBTQ.com officially launched this month with a mission to connect LGBTQ+ people, local organizations, businesses, and visitors through what its creators describe as the region’s first centralized LGBTQ+ events calendar and community directory.

The platform arrives at a moment when many LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and community organizations have raised concerns about the broader cultural and political climate surrounding DEI efforts and LGBTQ+ inclusion programs across the country.

Created by community organizer Norman Extract, OutLGBTQ.com was designed to make it easier for users to discover events, explore local businesses, connect with nonprofits, and access resources in one place.

According to Extract, the idea grew out of years spent managing online community spaces and seeing firsthand how meaningful connection can become harder to maintain during periods of political tension.

“We’ve seen so many officials this year alone demonize ‘DEI,’ when in reality it’s the belief that we are all equal and deserve dignity and respect,” Extract said.

More than functioning as an event listing site, Extract says the platform is intended to reinforce community visibility and create opportunities for engagement.

“OutLGBTQ.com is so much more than your ordinary event listing platform—it’s a statement to the general populace that LGBTQ+ people are here to stay and are actively fighting for our right to exist,” Extract said. “It’s a symbol that our community is alive, and that we can come together to uplift one another in our community without fear.”

At launch, the platform is centered on the Wilton Manors–Fort Lauderdale area, long recognized as one of Florida’s most visible LGBTQ+ hubs. Expansion into additional cities is already planned.

The site combines a community calendar with a business and nonprofit directory intended to help users move between discovery and action without leaving the platform. Visitors can browse listings, reserve experiences, purchase tickets, and engage directly with participating organizations.

Extract said supporting local institutions was central to the platform’s development.

Part of the revenue generated through the platform is expected to support organizations developing cultural programming and creating welcoming environments for future generations of LGBTQ+ youth.

The team also built accessibility into the experience from the outset. Current features include six language options, text-to-speech functionality for users with visual impairments, and navigation intended to reduce barriers to access.

While Pride celebrations often bring temporary visibility to LGBTQ+ communities each year, OutLGBTQ.com is positioning itself as infrastructure designed to remain active long after June.

Extract framed the platform’s launch as a response to concerns that community gathering spaces and cultural institutions continue to face pressure.

“If our voices refuse to be heard by legislators, such as here in our home state of Florida, we’ll simply become loud enough so we CAN’T be ignored,” Extract said.

Since launching, the platform says it has already seen early community engagement and plans to continue building its network across additional markets.

“Our goal is not just to deliver to our community a powerful resource directory, calendar, and ‘Gay Yellow Pages,’” Extract said. “We want people to feel truly seen and know that they aren’t alone.”

He added, “Businesses and nonprofits can directly connect with people through their own personalized platforms, and users can efficiently purchase tickets or make reservations to their hearts content all without needing to leave the platform. OutLGBTQ.com is a one-stop-shop for those of us who have felt ignored by traditional platforms, and we can’t wait to grow and welcome even more people into our site’s family.”

For more information or to explore the platform, click here.

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