Episode: Listen Up Girl — Saturday, May 31, 2026

Today's stories:

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Listen Up Girl | May 30, 2026

Today's episode covers five major LGBTQ+ news stories:

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Listen Up Girl | Global LGBTQ+ News | May 29, 2026

Today on Listen Up Girl, your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast, we're going global with five major international stories.

In Russia, Human Rights Watch reports that nine LGBTQ+ support organizations — including Coming Out, the Russian LGBT Network, and Centre T — have been banned as "extremist" between March and May 2026, part of an escalating crackdown rooted in a 2023 Supreme Court ruling. The UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, issued a stark warning on May 18th that global trends on LGBTQ+ rights are worsening, with more than one in three countries still criminalizing same-sex conduct and 45% of LGBTQ+ youth reporting school bullying. In Ghana, the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill is gaining dangerous momentum as the country hosts the fourth African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family and Sovereignty — a far-right-linked forum — this week in Accra. Japan's Supreme Court Grand Bench has formally accepted six same-sex marriage cases for consideration, with a landmark ruling expected in early 2027 in the only G7 nation that still offers no legal recognition to same-sex couples. And in Mexico, multiple states are advancing legislation to codify transfemicide — the targeted killing of trans women — as its own crime in their penal codes.

Global news. Our community. Every day.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

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Six stories as we count down to Pride Month:

Maine's Secretary of State killed an anti-trans ballot measure after more than 12,500 petition signatures were found to be invalid or forged — leaving the campaign funded by out-of-state billionaire Richard Uihlein just 532 signatures short.

New research reveals that more than a quarter of LGBTQ+ people feel underrepresented or excluded by mainstream Pride Month celebrations, with 10% saying they now avoid public LGBTQ+ spaces due to the political climate.

A man was arrested in Washington D.C. for threatening to shoot a bar employee with homophobic slurs during DC Black Pride weekend on the U Street corridor.

DC Black Pride, celebrating its 35th anniversary under the theme "New Black Renaissance," faced corporate sponsors going dark under pressure from the orange convicted felon's anti-DEI campaign — though many continued giving quietly.

Malaysian police conducted four raids on Kuala Lumpur hotels on May 24th, arresting 51 men in connection with what authorities labeled a "gay party." One man was pronounced dead at the hospital. Homosexuality remains criminalized in Malaysia under both civil and Islamic law.

And 9-1-1 star Oliver Stark declared at a fan convention that he is "absolutely proud" to play bisexual character Buck — pushing back on stereotypes about bi men and sending a powerful message just days before Pride Month begins.

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Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Episode Notes:

Follow Listen Up Girl: New episodes every day. Find us wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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We open with Garrett Snoeyenbos — a former college offensive lineman who played at Vanderbilt, the Naval Academy, and the University of Tennessee — and the moment after graduation when he could no longer hide who he was. It's a story about the weight of the closet and what it costs to finally put it down.

Our Pride Pioneer spotlight looks back at Penn State hockey player Voight Demeester, who came out in 2016 and proved that sexual orientation is no barrier to athletic identity or success.

Then: Kentucky eighth grader Daniel Mattingly goes completely off-script at his middle school graduation — calling his school "built on racism, sexism and homophobia" and telling classmates to stand up for themselves even if it makes a scene. His line about "an angry gay kid with a microphone" went viral almost immediately. What makes it hit harder is the backstory: Daniel lost both of his parents to cancer. His original speech was written to encourage other kids carrying trauma. When the school wouldn't let him deliver it, he found another way.

Shia LaBeouf has been formally charged with misdemeanor battery following a February Mardi Gras bar altercation in New Orleans where anti-gay slurs were allegedly used. His subsequent public comments drew further criticism. The legal process is now underway.

In Russia, a 13-year-old has been registered as a juvenile offender under the country's LGBT propaganda law after allegedly showing a video to classmates. The child's identity is protected. The content of the video has not been disclosed publicly.

Our history moment: In 1979, Swedish queer activists called in sick for being "too gay to work" — and simultaneously occupied the National Board of Health and Welfare in Stockholm. Within months, Sweden became one of the first countries in the world to remove homosexuality from its official list of illnesses.

We report on the loss of Murry Foust — a 22-year-old transgender student from Northern Kentucky University whose body was found on Sunday, nearly a month after they were last seen on April 27th. We say Murry's name.

A 2026 Out Leadership study finds that 87.9% of LGBTQ+ individuals now feel comfortable being out at work — the highest figure ever recorded.

Iceland has been named the most trans-friendly country in Europe and Central Asia in the 2026 Trans Rights Index, scoring 30 out of 32 points. Russia scored zero.

Out Missouri Democratic House candidate Whitney Wisker-Brooks is seeing something quiet but real in her deep-red district: Trump flags are coming down. She believes Republican voters in Missouri's 116th district are growing tired of how the orange convicted felon's decisions are affecting their lives, and her advisors think now may be the first real opening for a Democrat — and an out one at that.

We close with Arnold Dahl-Wooley, founder of Two-Spirit Advocacy, who started his organization from the back of a truck and now runs a full community center in Minnesota offering ceremonies, support groups, and culturally safe care for Native LGBTQ+ families. His story is featured in this month's issue on queer spirituality. His words: "We've lived through a lot, we've overcome a lot, but we're still here."

Stories Covered

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Title: Trans Porta-Potty Law, Smith College Probe, GOP Groomer Arrested & Pete Buttigieg Claps Back

Episode Summary: Seven stories from the front lines of LGBTQ+ rights — South Carolina's shocking new trans bathroom law, the federal government targeting Smith College, a Republican "groomer" accuser arrested for soliciting a child, the Supreme Court gutting conversion therapy bans, Colorado's gay governor in hot water with his own party, an Iowa Democrat going viral, and Pete and Chasten Buttigieg refusing to stand down.

Episode Notes:

1. South Carolina HB 4756 — Trans Students Sent to Porta-Potties Gov. Henry McMaster signed the "Student Physical Privacy Act," requiring trans students to use outdoor portable toilets instead of school restrooms. Also covers overnight trip sleeping arrangements and college rooming policies. Must be implemented by the 2026-2027 school year. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, PinkNews

2. Smith College Title IX Investigation The Trump DOE's Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into 155-year-old Smith College in Northampton, MA, for admitting trans women since 2015. Triggered by conservative group Defending Education. Could impact all Seven Sisters colleges. Sources: CNN, WBUR, Inside Higher Ed

3. Colorado GOP Chair Dave Williams Arrested Former Colorado Republican Party chair Dave Williams — who called LGBTQ+ people "groomers" and "predators" in official party communications — was arrested for attempting to hire a child prostitute. Follows the January 2026 sentencing of SC Rep. RJ May (17.5 years for distributing child sex abuse material) and the April 2026 arrest of a Hanahan, SC city councilmember on similar charges. Source: LGBTQ Nation

4. Supreme Court — Chiles v. Salazar (March 31, 2026) The Court ruled 8-1 that Colorado's conversion therapy ban likely violates the First Amendment. Brought by Christian counselor Kaley Chiles. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the sole dissent. The ruling is expected to threaten conversion therapy bans in 20+ states. Every major U.S. medical association rejects conversion therapy as harmful and scientifically discredited. Sources: NPR, CNN, The 19th, PBS NewsHour

5. Gov. Jared Polis Commutes Tina Peters' Sentence Colorado's first openly gay governor drew bipartisan condemnation on May 15 after commuting the 9-year sentence of election tamperer Tina Peters, who was convicted of multiple felonies for allowing election deniers access to voting machines. Condemned by the Colorado AG, secretary of state, Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper, the AFL-CIO, Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, and the Republican DA who prosecuted Peters. Sources: MSNBC, NBC News, Colorado Sun, CNN

6. Iowa's Rob Sand Goes Viral Iowa State Auditor and 2026 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand went viral this week for his town hall singing ritual — asking attendees of all parties to sing "America the Beautiful" together before any political discussion. At a 2025 town hall, Sand directly called Iowa's repeal of civil rights protections for transgender Iowans "wrong" and pledged to restore them if elected governor. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Iowa Starting Line, The Gazette

7. Pete Buttigieg vs. Sean Duffy's Road Trip Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appeared on CNN's State of the Union on May 18 to call current Secretary Sean Duffy's "Great American Road Trip" — a seven-month cross-country reality show — an "embarrassment." The show is sponsored by Boeing, Shell, and Royal Caribbean, all of which are regulated by Duffy's own department. Chasten Buttigieg also called out the Duffys on social media, referencing their attacks on Pete during their son's NICU stay in 2021. Rachel Campos-Duffy told Chasten to "stand down." He did not. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, HuffPost, The Hill, CNN

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

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Story 1 — Rhode Island Judge Blocks DOJ Trans Youth Records U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy voided a DOJ subpoena demanding six years of medical records from Rhode Island Hospital for trans minor patients. In a 24-page ruling, she called it a "bad faith fishing expedition" and accused the DOJ of misrepresenting facts under oath to a Texas judge. The DOJ immediately appealed to the First Circuit. Eight federal courts have now blocked the administration's subpoena campaign. Sources: Boston Globe, Rhode Island Current, The Hill.

Story 2 — Thomas Massie Kentucky Primary The Republican primary in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District — the most expensive House primary in history at $32M+ in ad spend — took place today. A pro-Massie PAC ran an ad calling Gallrein's supporters the "LGBTQ Mafia" and warning "the weirdos will take over." Both candidates are anti-LGBTQ+. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Metro Weekly, Axios.

Story 3 — PEPFAR/CDC Dismantling On May 5, the State Department issued guidance ending CDC support for PEPFAR programs in most countries by September 30, 2026, moving to a "fee for service" model. PEPFAR has saved an estimated 26 million lives since 2003. HIV experts warn the program will crumble. Congress allocated nearly $6 billion for the program this fiscal year; the administration is reportedly withholding funds. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Science/AAAS, AVAC.

Story 4 — Trevor Project 2025 National Survey Released May 6, 2026. Based on 16,000+ LGBTQ+ young people ages 13–24. Key findings: LGBTQ+ youth in accepting communities attempted suicide at less than one-third the rate of those in non-accepting communities; 85% of trans and nonbinary youth say anti-trans legislation debates have negatively impacted their mental health. Crisis support: thetrevorproject.org or call/text 988. Source: The Trevor Project.

Story 5 — NYC Pride 2026 Grand Marshals NYC Pride announced its 2026 grand marshals: Peppermint (Drag Race Season 9 runner-up, first out trans woman to originate a principal Broadway role, ACLU's first Artist Ambassador for Trans Justice); Dominique Jackson (Pose, ballroom icon); Bowen Yang (SNL, Las Culturistas, first Chinese-American SNL cast member, Emmy winner); Bernie Wagenblast (voice of the NYC subway); and Gays Against Guns (founded after Pulse massacre, 2016). Theme: "For All of Us." March: June 28, broadcast live on WABC-7. Sources: The Advocate, GLAAD, ABC7 NY.

Story 6 — UK Mother Sues School Over Trans Student Joanna Donoghue filed a pre-action letter for judicial review against Beverley High School in East Yorkshire after the school admitted a transgender girl without notifying parents. The school cited GDPR and the Equality Act. Her lawyers argue the admissions policy is unlawful following the 2025 UK Supreme Court ruling defining "sex" as biological sex. Sources: PinkNews, GB News.

Story 7 — 517 Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills in 2026 Per the ACLU, at least 517 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced by Republican state legislators in 2026 — before Pride Month. Targets include healthcare, education, sports, legal identity, libraries, drag, and more. Sources: ACLU (via The Advocate/NYC Pride materials).

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Story 1 — Texas Children's Hospital Detransition Clinic Texas Children's Hospital agreed to open the nation's first "detransition clinic," pay $10 million, and fire five physicians as part of a settlement with Texas AG Ken Paxton and the Trump DOJ. The hospital denies wrongdoing and says it settled to avoid ongoing litigation. Sources: Texas Tribune, Axios Houston, Houston Public Media.

Story 2 — HIV Functional Cure Breakthrough Three participants in a clinical trial using broadly neutralizing antibodies suppressed HIV for months without antiretroviral therapy. Published May 16, 2026. Source: LGBTQ Nation, aidsmap.

Story 3 — Bureau of Prisons Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) demanded the BOP reverse anti-trans prison policies including bans on gender-affirming care even when self-funded, deadnaming, and forced facility transfers. The BOP rejected the demand. Source: Washington Blade.

Story 4 — Kansas Court Win Douglas County Judge Carl Folsom III temporarily blocked Kansas Senate Bill 63, banning gender-affirming care for trans minors, finding it likely violates the Kansas Constitution's equal protection and parental rights guarantees. ACLU filed suit on behalf of two trans teens. AG Kobach to appeal. Case: Loe v. Kansas. Source: ACLU, AP.

Story 5 — Japan Non-Binary Ruling The Osaka High Court ruled May 8 that Japan's national family registry (koseki) violates Article 14 of the constitution by offering only male/female gender options. The court called for national legislative reform. Sources: The Japan Times, PinkNews, Them.

Story 6 — GLAAD Social Media Safety Index GLAAD's 2026 SMSI found declining safety scores across all major platforms except TikTok. YouTube dropped 11 points to 30; X scored 29; Meta's platforms scored 39–41. Meta's 2025 policy changes allowed anti-LGBTQ rhetoric; YouTube removed gender identity from hate speech protections. Full report: glaad.org/smsi. Sources: GLAAD, The Advocate.

Story 7 — IDAHOBIT 2026 The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia was observed worldwide on May 17 under the theme "At the Heart of Democracy." The date marks the 1990 WHO decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental illness. More at may17.org. Source: ILGA World.

Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman

https://www.listenupgirl.com/

Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/

Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.