Trans activist Laverne Cox said he’s lost most of his money, and Donald Trump is the one to blame.
The &#8220;Orange Is the New Black&#8221; actor explained the situation while <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/15/free-from-shame-laverne-cox-trans-woman-in-trump-america">speaking to</a> The Guardian, claiming the Trump administration turned people away from accepting radical trans ideology.
&#8220;Over the past two years, [Cox] has lost 90% of [his] income, however. Hosting contracts have ended and not been renewed. Corporate speaking engagements have dried up,&#8221; the outlet reported.
“This regime has threatened to defund any colleges and universities that promote gender ideology, DEI [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion],” Cox told The Guardian. “Even though I’d be teaching a graduate acting class, it could be perceived as promoting trans ideology. These are the realities.”
The activist went on, “I’m not complaining — I’m very blessed. I think the important thing to note is that if Laverne Cox’s income has gone down significantly, what about all the other trans people who are not as privileged and as blessed as I am? There are material consequences for this kind of discrimination and scapegoating.”
Cox said it was all part of the plan, which was Project 2025&#8217;s agenda.
“All these words had to be taken out of every piece of legislation, policy, government document: gender, gender ideology, gender identity, LGBTQ, DEI, abortion, contraception,” he told The Guardian. 
Cox then used the tired analogy of comparing the “fundamentalist Christian ethno-nationalist project” with Nazi Germany.
“We’re in a very similar moment to Germany at that time,” he warned.
While most of the world, including corporate America, continues to move away from the radical trans agenda, Hollywood is still clinging stubbornly to the far-left ideals that dominated the culture six years ago. 
For Cox in particular, the souring of public opinion must be jarring. In 2014, he was celebrated for being the first openly transgender actor to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy. But after Trump was elected, he claimed he lost out on speaking opportunities and other work. 
“I feel that this is a moment where we have to make some really important decisions about who we are, who we want to be, and how we’re going to proceed. I’ve been saying when history looks back at me, I want to be a Christian Dior, not a Coco Chanel. It’s that serious,” he told the New Yorker in a separate <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/laverne-cox-wants-to-rehumanize-everybody">interview </a>this week. 
“We’re in a fascist moment with this crazy president who wants to be a dictator, who’s just thrown every law out the window. In Nazi Germany, trans people were some of the first people who were attacked, and history is repeating …  It’s nuts, and they just keep finding new things to do to disenfranchise trans people in order to delegitimize our identities.”
“It’s not even about hope. We have to take action right now. We have to have the courage to tell the truth… I think rhetorically we need to rehumanize trans people and rehumanize everybody,” Cox insisted.

Laverne Cox

Trans Actor Blames Trump After Losing 90% Of His Income

Trans Actor Says He's Lost 90% Of His Income, And It's All Trump's Fault

Celebrities

Donald Trump

Entertainment

Hollywood

LGBT

Transgender

Major League Baseball has officially warned San Francisco Giants players who counter-signaled or rejected the team&#8217;s LGBT &#8220;Pride Night.&#8221;
Starting pitcher <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/giants-pitcher-refuses-to-hide-christian-faith-during-pride-night">Landen Roupp</a> on Friday etched a Bible passage found in Genesis onto his Giants cap, right next to the LGBT-themed rainbow logo he was directed to wear. Other players, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker, followed suit in standing up for their Christian faith, also adding Bible verses. And relief pitcher Sam Hentges refused to wear the rainbow cap altogether, stating, &#8220;I don&#8217;t morally support it.&#8221;
MLB’s chief communications officer Pat Courtney told The Athletic on Monday that these players have been &#8220;warned&#8221; about &#8220;future violations.&#8221; He said that writing on the team&#8217;s baseball caps &#8220;violates our rules.&#8221;
The Giants also addressed the Christian players. In a statement ironically about &#8220;inclusion,&#8221; the team apologized for its players apparently causing &#8220;pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community.&#8221;
“The San Francisco Giants are proud to support Pride Night and the LGBTQ+ community,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;Baseball should be a place where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued.&#8221;
&#8220;We also respect that individuals may make personal choices about participating in team activations,&#8221; the team continued. &#8220;We understand that the choices by individual players have caused pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community and we are sorry for that.&#8221;
&#8220;Those choices do not change our organization’s commitment to inclusion, belonging, and creating a welcoming environment for all,&#8221; the statement closed. &#8220;We remain grateful to our fans, partners, employees, players, and coaches who help make Pride Night a meaningful celebration.”
<div id="attachment_1116807" style="width: 833px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1116807" class="wp-image-1116807 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2281423727-823x576.jpg" alt="" width="823" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2281423727-823x576.jpg 823w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2281423727-300x210.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2281423727-768x538.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2281423727.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 823px) 100vw, 823px" />Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images</div>
Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet reacted to the MLB &#8220;warning&#8221; with his own warning — a sentiment widely expressed online.
&#8220;MLB should tread carefully,&#8221; he posted. &#8220;There’s a lot more us fans that agree with the pitchers than with the league when it comes to pride night propaganda. Let the MLB be warned, not the pitchers. Be careful, MLB.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
MLB should tread carefully. There’s a lot more us fans that agree with the pitchers than with the league when it comes to pride night propaganda.
Let the MLB be warned, not the pitchers.
Be careful, MLB. <a href="https://t.co/pCeHh009y5">https://t.co/pCeHh009y5</a>
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) <a href="https://x.com/AndrewKolvet/status/2066740999737770208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
Daily Wire culture reporter Megan Basham noted that the rainbow symbol is Christian based. &#8220;The LGBTQ movement appropriated the rainbow symbol from Christianity. Now Christians are taking it back. Deal with it,&#8221; she wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The LGBTQ movement appropriated the rainbow symbol from Christianity. Now Christians are taking it back. Deal with it. <a href="https://t.co/i2XmwXeyQR">https://t.co/i2XmwXeyQR</a>
— Megan Basham (@megbasham) <a href="https://x.com/megbasham/status/2066754376543429037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
Actor Rob Schneider called the MLB &#8220;anti-Christian&#8221; and said he&#8217;d &#8220;pay the fines for any [MLB] Christian player who wears a Bible verse on their uniform.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I will pay the fines for any <a href="https://x.com/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLB</a> Christian player who wears a Bible verse on their uniform.<a href="https://x.com/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLB</a> is ANTI-CHRISTIAN <a href="https://t.co/miAT89eXJu">https://t.co/miAT89eXJu</a>
— Rob Schneider 🇺🇸 (@RobSchneider) <a href="https://x.com/RobSchneider/status/2066796902021210190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
As highlighted by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/giants-pitcher-refuses-to-hide-christian-faith-during-pride-night">The Daily Wire</a>, the Giants&#8217; &#8220;Pride Night&#8221; was held on Friday. The game was dedicated as a “celebration of Pride and the LGBTQIA+ community” and included “pregame festivities, in-game celebrations, and appearances,&#8221; <a href="https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/specials/pride-celebration">according</a> to the MLB. Same-sex couples renewed their marriage vows on the field in the presence of a drag queen, and the Giants celebrated the LGBT community <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/san-francisco-giants-pitcher-writes-bible-verse-hat-defiance-pride-night">through rainbow-colored hats</a>, Fox News reported.
Roupp inscribed a Bible passage from Genesis 9 on his cap. The verses describe God’s promise to Noah and all future generations that he would never again destroy the earth with a flood, with the rainbow serving as the sign of that covenant:
<blockquote>And God said, &#8220;This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.&#8221; — Genesis 9:12-16</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/giants-pitcher-refuses-to-hide-christian-faith-during-pride-night">Giants Pitcher Refuses To Hide Christian Faith During Pride Night</a>

Giants Final

MLB Targets Christian Players Who Rejected LGBT ‘Pride Night’

MLB Targets Giants Players Who Rejected LGBT ‘Pride Night’ 

Bible

Christianity

Pride Month

San Francisco Giants

The UK-based cosmetics brand Lush Cosmetics is all in for trans rights. But some window art at a local store has drawn the ire of breast cancer survivors, who say glorifying voluntary “gender affirming” mastectomies is just wrong.
The photo was posted earlier this month on the Facebook page “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/chelmsfordforyou">Chelmsford for You</a>,” which is dedicated to the historic city about 30 miles north of London. It was one of several store murals meant to celebrate Pride month ahead of the Essex Pride celebration on June 20. Among the expected rainbows, however, the Lush mural stood out. 
It features a tiger with the signature trans flag inspired pink and baby blue stripes, plus pink mastectomy scars. It includes text that says, “Proud of my stripes.” The Facebook account noted that the design was created by queer artist <a href="https://www.instagram.com/your_pal_bucky/">Bucky Ringsell</a>.
The responses online were very negative.
“Ugh. This is DISGUSTING,” one reaction said. “Teenage girls love to shop in your stores and here you are happily encouraging them to CUT OFF THEIR HEALTHY BREASTS in the name of trans pride. This is beyond repulsive. It&#8217;s dangerous and sick. No parent should allow their child near your stores.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Ugh. This is DISGUSTING <a href="https://x.com/LushLtd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LushLtd</a>. Teenage girls love to shop in your stores and here you are happily encouraging them to CUT OFF THEIR HEALTHY BREASTS in the name of trans pride.
This is beyond repulsive. It&#8217;s dangerous and sick. No parent should allow their child near your… <a href="https://t.co/yfhuGGtL82">https://t.co/yfhuGGtL82</a> <a href="https://t.co/h9fRSCXRl5">pic.twitter.com/h9fRSCXRl5</a>
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) <a href="https://x.com/JuliaHB1/status/2066241254837633417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Several breast cancer survivors also weighed in on the transgender propaganda masquerading as “art.”
“As a woman who had half a breast removed last year due to cancer, I am writing to raise my concerns about your ‘Proud of My Stripes’ window display,” London-based journalist Janet Murray <a href="https://x.com/jan_murray/status/2066140253430161807">wrote</a> in an open letter to Chelmsford city council.
“I am also, on behalf of other women who have experienced breast cancer, respectfully requesting its removal,” the post continued. “Because mastectomies are not a fashion statement, an identity marker or something to be celebrated. They are something women undergo because they are ill, because they are frightened, because they are trying to stay alive.”
Murray said she’s not anti-trans and that it’s a “personal choice,” but says she still takes offense to the window display.
“I think I speak for many women who have experienced breast cancer &#8211; and for their families &#8211; when I say this: Breast removal surgery is not something I regard as cute, playful or empowering,” she added. “Nor is it something I believe retailers should be celebrating.”
She concluded by demanding that the mural be removed, a sentiment echoed by several others.
“Ditto. This is an insult to millions of women who lost their breasts to cancer,” former professional tennis player Martina Navratilova <a href="https://x.com/martina/status/2066168892502761819?s=43">wrote</a> in response to Murray’s letter. 
Lush Cosmetics has a history of fervent LGBT activism. Last fall, the company partnered with the activist group TransActual to create a 24-page illustrated book titled “Dream vs. Reality: creating a world where trans people are safe.” The company also released a pink, blue, and white “Liberation bath bomb” to raise money for trans causes. 
A <a href="https://weare.lush.com/press-releases/lush-partners-with-trans-led-groups-to-stand-up-for-trans-rights/">statement</a> at the time said, “This campaign comes from the heart of the business. Requested by our staff and led by our incredible campaign partners, it comes at a time where positive trans representation is needed to counterpoint some of the toxic narratives that have been shaping public discourse. We hope that the vision presented in this campaign becomes reality and helps to shape a world we can all be proud of.”
Lush Cosmetics did not immediately respond to The Daily Wire’s request for comment on backlash over the image.

trans flag

Breast Cancer Survivors Sound Off On Graphic Trans Pride Mural

Breast Cancer

United Kingdom

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/upstream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream</a>, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
The massive Pride campaigns that Target and Bud Light splashed across their stores and cans a few years ago have quietly disappeared. Not because the culture moved on, but because those brands never truly believed in the slogans. They believed in revenue, and rainbow branding looked like an easy shortcut. When it backfired spectacularly, they walked away.
Woke corporate stances are merely pragmatic: marketing strategies dressed up as moral crusades. There’s nothing authentic or altruistic about them. At bottom, it’s always been about profits, and performative progressivism seemed like an efficient way to court younger consumers.
Though it started in the 2010s, woke capitalism took over in 2020 with the Black Lives Matter explosion and black squares all over Instagram. But since then, consumers have noticed it was all a bunch of bull.
Now people are just exhausted by brands that preach values they don’t practice. Faux-generous brands claim to take the harder right over the easier wrong, when in fact it is the opposite. The minute the numbers shift, they drop the social justice stance.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with chasing profits. Businesses exist to make money. The problem is when campaigns erode trust by promising principles they abandon at the first sign of trouble. It’s the misrepresentation, the lying, that is the problem.
A growing number of shoppers are demanding something simpler: brands that are honest.
As the founder of XX-XY Athletics, I started this brand with the idea that we would be the first pro-woman, pro-truth brand that champions female athletes, even when it’s hard. We would also promise to make our product ethically. We didn’t promise all made in the U.S. — because we didn’t know if we could pull it off given reduced capacities here at home. So we didn’t lie about it. But we continue working to make it a reality.
On the other hand, Nike makes money pretending to champion female athletes. In reality, when Allyson Felix, the most decorated female track athlete of all time, became pregnant, they proposed cutting her pay by 70%. When junior elite runner Mary Cain joined Nike’s Oregon Running Project, she was bullied for her weight and psychologically abused to the point of considering suicide.
Beyond the hypocrisy in the athletic category, fast fashion has changed everything in the clothing business. We buy twice as much and wear it for half as long as we did 20 years ago, and it all ends up in the landfill.
We used to shop twice a year: in spring and fall. Fast fashion brands created today’s modern demand cycle, which is basically always on. Buy more, buy it now, who cares if the quality sucks, you’ll just get more next week.
The average American buys close to 70 new items a year. More than 50% of those items remain unworn and go straight to the landfill. But that doesn’t stop major fast fashion brands from pretending they are “green.”
“Values-led” branding in fashion is especially performative. Fast fashion’s self-created economic reality makes real alignment an impossibility: chasing volume and low prices clashes with genuine sustainability or ethical labor.
But the fashion hypocrisy is everywhere. Take Everlane, once celebrated as a beacon of “radical transparency.” Founded in 2010, it built a loyal following by revealing production costs and factory details for basics such as t-shirts and jeans. It told us we deserved to know how and where our goods were made. And it promised to transform the industry through its “radically transparent” approach.
Guess what happened next? In May, after years of slumping sales and debt accrual, Everlane <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-fashion-company-millennials-loved-just-got-bought-by-americas-rival">sold</a> to ultra-fast-fashion giant Shein for about $100 million. The brand that sold a conscience is now under the roof of a company notorious for the opposite model. Shein has been cited as one of the biggest apparel polluters in the world, not to mention the well-founded allegations that the brand uses forced labor from the Uyghur Muslim minority in China.
H&amp;M offers another textbook case. Its “Conscious” collection and ambitious goals — 100% recycled or sustainable materials by 2030, climate positive by 2040 — sound impressive in marketing. Yet the core business remains a fast-fashion volume machine churning out massive overproduction, waste, and pollution. The brand has faced lawsuits and criticism for misleading claims on polyester-heavy items marketed as eco-friendly. It also brags about its recycling program, offering discounts to encourage consumption to those who bring in products to dump in its bins. Talk sustainability; walk disposability.
Then there’s Lions Not Sheep, which wrapped itself in pro-America, patriotic messaging only to get fined by the Federal Trade Commission for ripping out “Made in China” tags and replacing them with fraudulent “Made in USA” labels on imported apparel. The penalty was over $211,000. Patriotism as costume.
Marketing fake values goes both ways, it seems.
Wellness brands such as Prime market themselves as clean and health-focused while drawing scrutiny over ingredients and formulations that don’t fully match the hype.
Even Patagonia, long hailed as the gold standard for environmental activism because it has touted itself as such, relies heavily on petroleum-based synthetics. No brand is perfect, but when your image vastly outpaces your practice, it’s greenwashing.
Brands that claim values must live them, especially when it’s hard, or they will lose the trust of their fans. Consumers should demand to know more about what they wear every day: where it comes from, how it’s made, and whether the company actually stands for anything beyond the next quarterly report.
Shoppers are waking up. They’re tired of being sold conscience by companies that treat principles as optional marketing strategies. Real values aren’t flexible. They don’t vanish when the market shifts.
Brands that understand this — the ones that align strategy with substance — will be the ones that endure. The rest are just full of it.
***
Jennifer Sey is the CEO of XX-XY Athletics. She is an author, filmmaker, and retired national champion gymnast.

MoveOn PAC Commissions Billboard Truck To Circle Target HQ In Minneapolis On Pride Weekend, Calling For The Company To “Reinstate Pride Merch”

The Truth Behind The Disappearing Rainbow Logos

Bud Light

Target

Upstream

Woke Culture

The meal delivery service HelloFresh made headlines last week for a vulgar ad it shared on social media in honor of Pride Month. Not to be outdone, its competitor company Blue Apron followed with an equally suggestive Instagram post.
“Official Statement: We know that for some, eating is a top priority this month. We respect that. And while eating out can be exciting, there’s something to be said for diving head first into a satisfying box at home. Happy Pride to everyone who appreciates a good box,” the company <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZYLUusgQ1V/">wrote</a>. The caption added, “Happy Pride. Comment BOX and we’ll DM you how you can eat ours.”
This was, of course, a thinly veiled reference to oral sex. It was likely an appeal to lesbians and a response to the HelloFresh post, which alluded to anal sex for gay men. 
Commenters on the Blue Apron post were either delighted or disgusted, with no in-between.
“Just cancelled my subscription,” one of the top comments says. 
“Why does everything have to do with sex,” a second commenter asked. 
“This is…. f***ing weird,” a third reaction said.
The Daily Wire reached out to Blue Apron, seeking comment.
The controversial social post came just days after meal kit delivery company HelloFresh shared an equally sexually charged social media post.
“We know that eating isn’t always a top priority this month,” the company wrote. “We respect that. But for those of you who are … prepping … we have an extensive lineup of high-fiber recipes available. Happy Pride.”
The post is a reference to anal sex and preparation for sexual activity. The company further amplified the “joke” by using a suggestive promotional code from a commenter. “Use code BOTTOMSUP for a Pride Month discount,” the company wrote, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hellofresh-crosses-line-with-repulsive-pride-month-ad-its-sickening">reported</a>.
Major food companies have used sexual themes during Pride Month marketing in the past. In 2022, the Uber-owned food delivery service Postmates launched a “bottom-friendly” Pride campaign developed with an anal surgeon that promoted specific foods for those preparing to engage in anal sex. 
Despite the backlash, these companies continue to cater to a very small percentage of their customers and virtue signal their fealty to Pride, even as other <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/target-replaces-pride-collection-with-all-american-nuclear-family">major retailers like Target</a> move away from rainbow-drenched displays in June.

Blue Apron

HelloFresh Rival Saw Grotesque Pride Ad And Said, ‘Hold My Beer’

Business

Food

“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Kathy Hilton has been dropped from the WeHo Pride Parade in Los Angeles due to her association with President Donald Trump.
<a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/06/04/celebrity-news/kathy-hilton-pulls-out-of-pride-event-following-backlash/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">The 67-year-old socialite</a> was originally scheduled to serve as grand marshal of the event, but an outpouring of backlash forced event organizers to move in a different direction.
Hilton was also accused by one of her “RHOBH” co-stars of using a homophobic slur in the past, which also led to activists demanding that her invitation be rescinded. 
“Wtf she literally parties at mar-a-lago,” one person wrote on Instagram in response to the news that Hilton would serve as grand marshal. 
“MAGA Kathy Hilton?? Have you all lost your MIND??” another commenter shared. 
She denied using the slur, and Bravo executive Andy Cohen said that the results were inconclusive following an in-depth HR investigation.
Event organizers said in their <a href="https://www.wehopride.com/news/joint-statement-from-the-city-of-west-hollywood-weho-pride-and-kathy-hilton">official statement</a>, &#8220;The announcement of Kathy Hilton as Grand Marshal Icon for the 2026 WeHo Pride Parade has generated a range of perspectives across our community. In recent days, community members have shared thoughtful feedback regarding the role and significance of Pride honorees.&#8221;
“The City of West Hollywood is grateful for the respectful and sincere dialogue that has taken place,” the statement continued. “These conversations reflect the passion people have for WeHo Pride and underscore the importance of ensuring that WeHo Pride continues to honor the history, values, and diverse voices of the LGBTQ+ community.”
Hilton also shared a statement in response to the news. 
&#8220;I am honored to have been considered for this recognition and appreciative of the support I have received from members of the community throughout the years. My reason for wanting to be involved in this year’s WeHo Pride weekend was simple: to celebrate, support, and share in the joy of a community that means a great deal to so many people. Pride is, and always will be, about celebrating and uplifting LGBTQ+ voices, experiences, and achievements,” the reality star said. 
“I respect the thoughtful conversations that have taken place and remain deeply committed to supporting LGBTQ+ causes and visibility,” she added, listing several LGBT organizations she’s been involved with.  
“My support for the community and WeHo Pride is unwavering. This monumentally important event has always had a special place in my heart, and I will always cherish the experience I had acting as Grand Marshal of the LA Pride parade with my daughter in 2005. Thank you to everyone who works so hard to make it happen, and I wish the community nothing but love, joy, and a fantastic WeHo Pride weekend.”
Hilton is associated with Trump through social and professional connections in New York City. She and her husband Rick Hilton have not publicly endorsed candidates or revealed their political affiliations, but they have been known to socialize with the Trumps over the years.

Kathy Hilton

Pride Parade Grand Marshal Ousted For Trump Ties

Hilton

Pride

Real Housewives

Now for a little dose of good news: while some companies are clinging to Pride-themed ad campaigns in June, one of the most notorious offenders is going all-in for Americana just ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday.
Target’s homepage on Tuesday featured a man and woman with children smiling and clad in red, white, and blue. “Epic Style: Americana-inspired looks for everyone,” the website headline says.
 The retail giant still has an LGBT-themed section, because of course they do, but it’s way below the fold and not prominently featured.
<div id="attachment_1107019" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1107019" class="size-large wp-image-1107019" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026-1024x482.png" alt="Target 2026" width="1024" height="482" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026-1024x482.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026-300x141.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026-768x362.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Target.com</div>
This is a significant change from years past. 
In 2021, the Minneapolis-based retailer pushed its Pride collection to the top of its homepage in all its rainbow-hued glory. The banner read, “#takepride everywhere” and included various people, and even a dog, sporting Pride-themed apparel. It also promoted a children’s book called “What Are Your Words? A Book About Pronouns.” 
<div id="attachment_1107015" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1107015" class="size-large wp-image-1107015" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021-1024x300.png" alt="Target 2021" width="1024" height="300" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021-1024x300.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021-300x88.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021-768x225.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Target.com via Wayback Machine</div>
&nbsp;
In 2020, there was not a hint of red, white, or blue on the homepage. Instead, a rainbow-colored shirt that said, “Ask Me About My Pronouns,” was featured front and center. 
<div id="attachment_1107013" style="width: 464px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1107013" class="size-large wp-image-1107013" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020-454x576.png" alt="Target homepage" width="454" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020-454x576.png 454w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020-236x300.png 236w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020-768x975.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 454px) 100vw, 454px" />Target.com via Wayback Machine</div>
By 2024, the Pride collection had been moved down toward the bottom of the homepage. But even that placement was far more prominent than its status in 2026. 
<div id="attachment_1107017" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1107017" class="size-large wp-image-1107017" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024-1024x281.png" alt="Target homepage" width="1024" height="281" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024-1024x281.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024-300x82.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024-768x211.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Target.com via Wayback Machine</div>
The march back toward sanity comes as no surprise after Target announced it would be reversing its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in early 2025.
“Many years of data, insights, listening and learning have been shaping this next chapter in our strategy,” Chief Community Impact and Equity Officer Kiera Fernandez said in an internal memo at the time. “And as a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future – all in service of driving Target’s growth and winning together.”
WATCH FROM TODAY&#8217;S EPISODE OF MORNING WIRE:
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Target also stopped reporting to external diversity-focused groups, including the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
The retailer came under fire in 2023 for marketing a line of Pride-themed merchandise, including products like “tuck-friendly” swimming suits, in prominent displays near the front of its stores. Other products in its “Pride Collection” included small shirts with phrases like “Just Be You And Feel The Love,” Pride-themed onesies, rainbow-colored leggings, tutu skirts, and jumpers.
Following widespread backlash and boycotts, the Pride collection was significantly scaled back in 2024. It was also confirmed at the time that the retailer would no longer market Pride merchandise to children, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/target-rolls-back-dei-joining-other-major-companies-like-walmart-meta">reported</a>.

happy family with the flag of america USA at sunset outdoors

Target Picks A Different Flag This June

Celebrating Pride Month, New York City Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani shared an article claiming there has been an uptick in &#8220;violent killings&#8221; of people who identify as transgender. However, a review by The Daily Wire found that none of the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYNjI44HDlJ/?img_index=7">deaths</a> cited in the article have been classified as anti-trans hate crimes by law enforcement agencies investigating the cases.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Discrimination based on gender identity or expression is illegal in New York City.
Trans New Yorkers are protected by law. Our City will protect your rights, defend your humanity and stand beside you without hesitation. <a href="https://t.co/Ptoy3nAKz4">https://t.co/Ptoy3nAKz4</a>
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) <a href="https://x.com/NYCMayor/status/2061540194260558171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
The article was published by Them, which describes itself as &#8220;the award-winning authority on what LGBTQ+ means today — and tomorrow.&#8221; It claims to cite seven transgender-identifying victims killed this year, but both the report and its underlying source identify only six individuals.
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<div id="attachment_1106345" style="width: 550px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1106345" class="wp-image-1106345" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-01-at-6.55.04-PM.png" alt="" width="540" height="221" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-01-at-6.55.04-PM.png 1416w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-01-at-6.55.04-PM-300x123.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-01-at-6.55.04-PM-1024x419.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-01-at-6.55.04-PM-768x315.png 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px" />Them</div>
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Several of the cases cited involved domestic violence or personal disputes rather than alleged anti-trans attacks.
The first victim named is Eryka Caldwell. According to the outlet&#8217;s own previous reporting, Caldwell was allegedly stabbed to death by his boyfriend, 38-year-old Jonathan Fernandez. Caldwell&#8217;s sister said he had previously sought refuge from Fernandez in domestic violence shelters.
Even organizers of a vigil for Caldwell acknowledged the case was not viewed as anti-trans violence. The activist who spoke at the vigil said, “When we were organizing for tonight’s vigil, a few people asked me why the trans community would rally for Eryka, since she was a victim of domestic violence, not anti-trans violence.” 
Davonta Curtis was allegedly beaten to death by his boyfriend. Prosecutors say the suspect later stole Curtis&#8217;s car, phone, and money. Court records reportedly show the suspect searched phrases including &#8220;how to kill someone with a hammer&#8221; and &#8220;if a person gets hit in the head with a hammer while sleeping, what happens.&#8221;
Other cases were investigated as homicides without hate-crime designations.
Aleanna Royal Belcher was found dead in a homeless shelter stairwell with a stab wound to his abdomen. After completing their investigation, police said they did not believe the killing was a hate crime. 
Lucas Redbeard Knapp was shot after reportedly intervening in a confrontation between two parties. Law enforcement investigated the death as a homicide, not a hate crime.
Another individual cited in the article, Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-McCray, was <a href="https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/03/26/justice-shyyell-loved-ones-popular-drag-performer-speak-out-petersburg-police-investigate-murder/">found</a> shot to death inside a home. Public reporting contains conflicting descriptions regarding whether Sanchez-McCray even identified as transgender or was a gay man who performed in drag. Authorities have not announced a motive, and the investigation remains ongoing. 
Dannielle Spillman died in a hit-and-run incident after a dispute involving a vehicle. Authorities have also not classified the case as a hate crime, just like the other five killings in the article.

New York City Pride March Winds Through Manhattan

Mamdani Pushes One Of The Left’s Favorite Hoaxes

New York City

Zohran Mamdani

The lead singer of Beartooth, an Ohio-based metalcore band, recently announced that he was gay despite being married to a woman for 14 years. 
Caleb Shomo, 33, declared on social media that he’s “a proudly gay man” after fans speculated on his sexuality. Now his wife, Fleur, has added her perspective to the conversation.
“Not really sure how to start this cause does anything even need to be said? But I guess I’ll just dive right in,” Fleur shared on Instagram Saturday. “The past few months have been a very disorientating and hurtful time to navigate. For both of us. But I will always want to love, protect, and support Caleb. I have cared more about his well being over the years than anything else in the world.”
She continued, “To see the confusion and pain he went through and the highs and lows and wanting to help but not knowing how. You never want anything more for your person than for them to just be ok. You also ask yourself constantly if you’re a bad person for wondering wtf this means for your world &amp; the anger you also feel. …You can love and support your person through the hardest time in their life, whilst also be completely demolished &amp; lose yourself at the same time.”
She confirmed the marriage is “over,” and wrote, “Nobody will know anything about our marriage like we do. And no one can ever truly know what depths of love exist between two people unless they are those people.”
“I already miss it &amp; my husband more than anything. Our story was a good one. And now it’s done,” Fleur said.
This was all in response to Shomo’s original <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYr3ld8GzI3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">post</a> on Saturday, which said, “There has been a lot of speculation surrounding my personal life as of late and I feel compelled to set the record straight before it affects those I love any further. I am a proudly gay man,” he told his Instagram followers. “This is something I’ve been unpacking and reckoning with in my life for quite some time now. It’s been difficult to navigate the feelings surrounding the subject and figure out what to do with this fact.” 
The post went on, “When it comes to my art/Beartooth, I have always strived to chase who I am in the deepest part of my soul from album to album. As you could gather if you’ve followed the band at all in the earlier years, there are 4 very self deprecating albums about exploring my religious upbringing, depression, self hatred, self loathing, and hopelessness. I am grateful for all these albums, yet feel embarrassed at times that I wouldn’t allow myself to really dig up the roots for so long.”
This was all after Shomo temporarily disabled his Instagram in March following the release of the music video for the Beartooth single &#8220;Free,&#8221; which featured him wearing a cropped leather jacket and dramatic makeup. 
The rock star left social media after the onslaught of “homophobic” comments he received following the music video’s release.

Shinedown: Dance, Kid, Dance Tour – New Orleans, LA

Rock Singer Comes Out As Gay And Wife Of 14 Years Reacts

Rock Singer Comes Out As 'Proudly Gay Man,' His Wife Of 14 Years Shares Her Reaction

Music

rock music

Actress Margaret Cho said she turned down a role in the popular gay hockey drama “Heated Rivalry” because it was filming in Canada and she was afraid of being “detained at the border.”
The 57-year-old comedian and outspoken Trump critic made the comments during a recent appearance on the “I Never Liked You” podcast.
“Last year, I got a pilot script for a show that I really loved, but it shot in Canada. I was, like, so scared because I’m so vocal about hating ICE and hating this administration,” she said. “I was like, I will get detained at the border and I will be put in ICE detention if I go. And I was like struggling over it, and I had to talk to all these people about it, and I was super upset, and I said no. And it was ‘Heated Rivalry.’”
“Like, it kills me,” Cho added. “And it’s all because of Trump.”
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She further stated that she asked showrunners about being involved in season two, which is currently in development. “I asked them, we’ll see,” Cho said.
The stand-up comedian <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/disney-actress-says-its-time-for-a-trans-disney-prince-princess">made headlines</a> in 2023 for advocating for trans characters in Disney projects. Cho said as much after playing an LGBTQ guidance counselor in the made-for-TV Disney+ movie, “Prom Pact.”
“I would love to see them everywhere,” Cho said of “queer characters” in kids&#8217; films. “I would love to see trans characters and different types of people in roles of, like, Disney princess, Disney prince, and Disney everything.”
“I think this would be really important and it’s a move towards the future,” she added. “It’s a move towards who we are. I think it’s really admirable and really exciting.”
“Heated Rivalry,” which became a breakout hit in 2025, follows two closeted hockey players who engage in a romantic relationship. It’s been criticized for featuring graphic sexual content. Despite that, it has been especially popular with heterosexual women.
Former first lady Jill Biden was fully prepared to shell out $35,000 for a chance to appear in an upcoming season of the show after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jill-biden-paid-how-much-for-a-chance-to-appear-in-gay-hockey-show">bidding on the prize</a> during an LGBT charity auction last month.

Margaret Cho

Trump-Hating Actress Rejects Role In Gay Hockey Drama Over Fears Of ICE

Actress Rejects Role In Gay Hockey Drama Over Fear Of ICE Raids

Canada

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Television

Public schools teaching children about sexuality and transgenderism without parental consent have been put on notice by the Department of Justice.
The Justice Department&#8217;s Civil Rights Division <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-launches-investigations-concerning-gender-ideology-pre-k-12-schools-36" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Thursday it was investigating 36 Illinois school districts to find out if they have sexual orientation and gender ideology content in their pre-k and K-12 curricula, noting these districts receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funding.
“This Department of Justice is determined to put an end to local school authorities keeping parents in the dark about how sexuality and gender ideology are being pushed in classrooms,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon.
“Supreme Court precedent leaves no doubt: parents have the fundamental right and primary authority to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children. This includes exempting their children from ideological instruction that contradicts their values or decisions about their children’s health and best interests.”
The Supreme Court sided with parents when it <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/supreme-court-sides-with-parents-says-schools-cant-mandate-lgbt-curricula" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ruled</a> in June 2025 that parents have the right to opt their children out of LGBT programs in public schools.
If Illinois school districts are discovered to be teaching students sexual orientation and gender identity content, the DOJ will determine if parents have been given the chance to opt out of the programming. The department will also be investigating whether students can access bathrooms and locker rooms based on biological sex and whether only biological females can compete on girls&#8217; sports teams.
Shannon Adcock, founder and president of the parental rights group <a href="https://www.awakeil.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Awake Illinois</a>, called the investigation a &#8220;huge win&#8221; for parents.
&#8220;The DOJ’s launch of investigations into 36 Illinois school districts for pushing gender ideology in Pre-K-12 classrooms without proper parental notification is a huge win for parental rights and child protection,&#8221; Adcock told The Daily Wire. &#8220;For years, groups like Awake Illinois have been on the front lines demanding transparency, opt-out rights, and adherence to Title IX — protecting single-sex spaces, girls’ sports, and biological reality in our schools,&#8221; Adcock told The Daily Wire.
&#8220;Every district under scrutiny should immediately restore parental authority and biological fairness,&#8221; she added. &#8220;We won’t stop until our kids’ schools prioritize truth, safety, and parental involvement over ideology.&#8221;

US-POLITICS-JUSTICE-EDUCATION-LGBTQ

Justice Department Investigating Schools That Secretly Teach Children About Transgenderism

gender ideology

Public Schools

A transgender-identifying man in Wiconisco Township, Pennsylvania, made a video complaining about being unable to afford “bottom surgery” in the United States.
Stephanie Fritsch, an election official who moved from Las Vegas to a small town in Pennsylvania after “transitioning,” was discovered ranting about not having sufficient funds to mutilate his body domestically. 
“I have tried for a very long time to get my bottom surgery,” Fritsch <a href="https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/2046244642673336479">said</a> in a video surfaced by Libs of TikTok. “Unfortunately, it’s been out of my affordability level for a very long time.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Stephanie Fritsch is in charge of elections in Wiconisco Township, Pennsylvania.
He complains that he might have to travel to Thailand to chop off his d*ck because it’s too expensive in America
This elected official oversees elections… <a href="https://t.co/0O5ZG9kZMi">pic.twitter.com/0O5ZG9kZMi</a>
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2046244642673336479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bottom surgery generally refers to operations on the genitals intended to bring a person&#8217;s physical anatomy in line with their gender identity. He went on to say he’s disabled and on assistance, but still can’t afford the surgery he wants.
“I’m grateful to have Medicare, but at the end of the day, it’s not enough,” he went on. “&#8230;the bottom line is, it would be cheaper for me to go to Thailand or Canada to get my bottom surgery than in America.” 
Fritsch, who <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DXBkN6LDUvB/">describes</a> his political affiliation as &#8220;non partisan,&#8221; said he’s trying to “raise some money” to travel abroad for the surgery.
“It’s kind of hard to unpack the reality that I have to fly halfway around the world to get a medically necessary procedure instead of getting it done in America. Could you imagine having to go to get a procedure in another country?” Fritsch complained.
The video circulated widely online, prompting criticism from some commenters who questioned his role as an election official.
“This man obviously has some issues. Why has he been elected to oversee anything. He can’t even oversee his own mental health!” one person <a href="https://x.com/Donna0616579586/status/2046576440372781459">wrote</a>.
“There are so many things wrong with this. First, that he is ‘in charge of elections,’ much less anything. Then, calling this elective surgery a ‘medically necessary surgery.’ We have got to quit going along with these people and their mental illness,” another X commenter <a href="https://x.com/Gabriel44678059/status/2046342100719980814">agreed</a>.
“How does anyone vote for a person like this? Let alone a majority of people. This person needs mental help,” a third commenter <a href="https://x.com/Nameless0816/status/2046358747778539969">said</a>.
Fritsch previously <a href="https://www.unclosetedmedia.com/p/ahead-of-the-philadelphia-debate">told</a> Uncloseted Media that he has experienced hostility in his community, saying, “Being a public transgender woman, my life is in jeopardy all the time.”

Stephanie Fritsch

Trans Election Official Complains ‘Bottom Surgery’ Costs Too Much In U.S.

Election

Pennsylvania

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