August is supposed to be fully clear of Pride month, according to the calendar. But when I popped by a popular harvest festival in my neighborhood, it looked like summer had surrendered to the rainbow flag.
Picture a sweet 3-year-old girl wearing a green tutu and glittery stickers clapping alongside a parade of high school marching bands writhing to Penthouse-style routines, at the instruction of male choreographers who stepped out in full faces of makeup. At the same moment, a (drunk?) man I didn’t know made a joke by purposely touching my backside after I apologized for accidentally bumping into his. An eye for an eye. He said he was sorry. I’m an adult; I said it was fine. 
What was happening? This was a freaking vegetable festival at 9 a.m. on a Saturday. Calm down, Nashville. 
An hour later, EDM blared from a popular gay bar as a tomato red disco ball glimmered in the sunlight. A couple running their homemade gelato cart tried to make the best of the heart-thumping beat spilling onto the street. Small children looked on as revelers dressed in booty-baring festival garb gathered with friends. At least the bar got the memo on the theme. The Bloody Marys and micheladas on the cocktail list featured tomato-ish ingredients.
Fifteen minutes in, things were going off the rails. 
Every August, the historic Five Points neighborhood in East Nashville cranks its eclectic spirit up to an 11 for the <a href="https://www.tomatoartfest.com/">Tomato Art Fest</a>, a two-day event that goes all in on the savory fruit. Now in its 23rd year, the official motto declares the tomato as “A Uniter, NOT A Divider! Bringing Together Fruits &amp; Vegetables.” But I’ll be the judge of that.
Just like the first time I voted for Obama, I was filled with hope. (Leave me alone — I’m a tomato fest survivor.) After moving to the state several months ago, I was desperate to dive into local tradition. And how cute! A festival based on the season’s harvest. Coming from the dirty, soulless streets of Los Angeles where I learned that “stronger together” means “every man for himself,” I imagined a cozy farmers market-style craft fair with tomato-focused foods from local farmers. Fried green tomatoes! Wood-fired pizza! Gazpacho! Weird heirloom varieties we never see in stores! Tomato ice cream! Tomato beer! A blue ribbon for whoever can grow the biggest tomato! The Hallmark Channel works.
Instead, the few ripe tomatoes I saw all day were strung together as a necklace by a guy in a t-shirt that used to be white. Bless his heart. (I’m learning.) Call me crazy, but acai bowls, mac and cheese, and barbecue aren’t exactly screaming “tomato fest.” 
Per usual for a warm weather celebration, the “all are welcome here” crowd turned out. In reality, the unspoken guest list for this kind of party is pretty restrictive. But please enjoy social bonus points for having a thing for fishnets, vodka sodas, socialism, and an insatiable need to get away to Palm Springs. You seem fun.
I got a hot dog (they were out of ketchup) and watched an LGBTQ marching band squawk its way through a song the Girl Scout troop parading behind them would have played better, even if they had to form a band from scratch on the spot. Several trans-identifying men passed by me in the crowd. I handed one of them a paper fan I wasn’t really using. We smiled at each other. He was kind. Would he hate me for writing a feature on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/weekend-plans-with-chloe-cole-detransitioner-and-child-advocate?author=Lauren+Bair&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Weekend+Plans+With+Chloe+Cole%2C+Detransitioner+And+Child+Advocate">Chloe Cole</a> for work? Are we all really welcome here, like, with our thoughts and everything?
You know those neighbors who keep Christmas trees up all year long? Some people around these parts display tomato signs in their yards 365 days a year. Now I see why. The concept started out earnestly, as far as I can tell. The tomato has served as Tennessee’s official <a href="https://sos.tn.gov/civics/pages/tennessee-state-symbols">state fruit</a> since 2003 (so what if the Supreme Court classified it as a veg in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nix_v._Hedden">1893</a>), and the festival grows bigger every year, promising a weekend of wholesome fun for the whole family that includes a costume parade, 5K race, full roster of live musical performances, arts and crafts vendors, kid-friendly science experiences, portrait painters, food trucks, and drink tents for fun aunts. 
I tried really hard to conjure the collective kumbaya I assumed was baked into the neighborhood’s biggest event of the summer. But it remained elusive. Political campaigns dotted the parade for candidates I don’t know yet. A small leftist organization shouted something about voting and planting seeds. Tomato-ish, but I assume they’re talking about voting only one way. Another woman seemed better suited for Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade dressed in a fish tail and tomato bikini instead of seashells. She and her cool bikini friends navigated large groups of children representing their magnet and charter school programs.
I was having trouble wrapping my head around the “heartland risqué” aesthetic. I wondered if Spain’s La Tomatina festival — the one where 20,000 people throw tomatoes around for an hour until everyone looks like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DakFFFaz-KM/">human meatballs</a> sloshing around in street pulp — has a more cohesive je ne sais quoi.
Maybe what was missing were the actual tomatoes. I know they’re out there. The devil works hard; that tomato vine in your backyard works harder.
But I was also missing a real sense of community. I’m new here, but I can already feel the neighbors picking sides. The “Pride” vibe can be exclusive, weaponizing the rainbow — a promise that was meant for everyone — as a symbol of one particular team. With all the LGBTQ venues opening in my neighborhood, Tomato Fest will likely become an all-rainbow party someday. I watched it happen in my Los Angeles neighborhood. Families will still go, but they’ll be consuming 100% more drag in order to do it. (And even fewer tomatoes.)
Later that afternoon as the festival rocked on, black storm clouds rolled in, and a sudden crack of thunder unleashed a downpour. I wondered if this is what everyone not in Noah’s Ark felt like, back in the day. I imagined all of those ancient folk somewhere on the other side, throwing tomatoes at each other, with some divine understanding of where it all went wrong. Sure, we’ve been promised no more epic floods. But we definitely needed to be cleansed from whatever just happened at Tomato Fest.
***
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.

Gemini_Generated_Image_ovk1bmovk1bmovk1

The Tomato Festival That Turned Into A Culture War

Food

Nashville

Pride

Upstream

The Denmark-based toy company LEGO has come under fire for promoting Pride parades and other LGBT themes despite having a young customer base.
It’s true that plenty of adults enjoy building LEGO sets, and some of the company’s offerings are explicitly made for ages 18+. But that doesn’t change the fact that the vast majority of LEGO sets are marketed to children. Those kids are also following the brand on social media.
“Pride moments built, brick by brick,” the Pride-themed Instagram caption says. “Swipe to see more of our LEGO colleagues&#8217; stories.”
The attached slideshow includes video clips of LEGO minifig characters discussing their “coming out” stories, including one attending a Pride parade and another male character proposing to his boyfriend. 
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Many parents were furious and called for a boycott. 
“LEGO is now openly pushing Pride parades, gay marriage, and rainbow ideology straight at children,” one X commenter <a href="https://x.com/UnluckyIrishman/status/2072706657055089009">wrote</a>. “This isn’t ‘inclusion.’ It’s sexualizing childhood and grooming the next generation with adult themes.”
“Parents are waking up. Boycott time. Companies that target kids with this stuff deserve to lose customers… keep this garbage away from our children,” the post continued. 
“So it is the 250th year of [the] United States and THIS is what a beloved American toy, a favorite pastime for millions and millions of kids produced! THIS is what you push to kids and young people,” another person <a href="https://x.com/Littleeagle09/status/2072661078576648251">agreed</a>.
This isn’t the first time LEGO has promoted Pride. In 2021, the company released a set called “Everyone Is Awesome” that showcased 11 figurines with different hairstyles and faceless heads, each in a color of the Progress Pride flag. The set included a purple-colored drag queen.
LEGO labeled the product as being intended for an 18+ audience, though set designer Matthew Ashton said in a statement that it was designed with children in mind. Ashton recalled his experience coming out as a gay man in his teens and said that if he had received this set from a loved one, he would have felt more supported.
“Children are our role models and they welcome everyone, no matter their background. Something we should all be aspiring to,” Ashton said. “If I had been given this set by somebody at that point in my life, it would have been such a relief to know that somebody had my back. To know that I had somebody there to say ‘I love you, I believe in you. I’ll always be here for you.’ So, in a way, this set is not just for the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s for all of the allies — parents, siblings, friends, schoolmates, colleagues, etc. — out there as well.”
This year, on June 1, the company again promoted an “<a href="https://ideas.lego.com/activities/710a1994-c0cf-4ec3-b28d-5ce9dd161b65" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Everyone is Awesome</a>” activity on its official website. “It&#8217;s time to paint the town red, orange, yellow, green… basically a whole rainbow of color! That’s right, it’s Pride Month, and we’re celebrating the best way we know how: with LEGO® bricks!” the description says. 
“This year, we want you to celebrate what makes you — and everyone you love — quite frankly, AWESOME. Embrace the power of those words and what they mean to you.”
“Remember, the more color, the better! After all, what would a Pride-themed build be without bright, beaming splashes of color? We want to see Technicolor creations that celebrates everything Pride Month stands for. So, gather your bricks and unleash your creativity!”

Lego Pride

Popular Toy Brand Promotes Pride Parades To Children

Business

Denmark

Lego

LGBT

Pride Month

Social Issues

Toys

Fresh off the heels of the San Francisco Giants &#8220;Pride Night&#8221; controversy, the Baltimore Orioles announced it will hold a &#8220;Pride Night&#8221; game, which will feature a drag queen performer.
The Orioles X account on Wednesday boasted, &#8220;Baseball is for everyone. See you at The Yard this Friday for Pride Night!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Baseball is for everyone 🧡
See you at The Yard this Friday for Pride Night!<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/WallpaperWednesday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WallpaperWednesday</a> <a href="https://t.co/tQSns5fV7G">pic.twitter.com/tQSns5fV7G</a>
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) <a href="https://x.com/Orioles/status/2069778979905552733?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
The team also bragged that a drag queen performer dubbed &#8220;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/heidincloset/">Heidi N Closet</a>&#8221; will be at the game, featured as a &#8220;guest splasher.&#8221;
At Orioles home games, there&#8217;s a section called the Bird Bath Splash Zone where a character named &#8220;Mr. Splash&#8221; sprays fans with a hose when the Orioles nab extra-base hits. This is typically promoted as a family-friendly event. As the guest splasher, the drag queen will apparently be spraying fans.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This Friday, Heidi N Closet will be our Guest Splasher in the <a href="https://x.com/TowerFCU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TowerFCU</a> Bird Bath for Pride Night at The Yard!
🎟️ <a href="https://t.co/YPUvkCiApe">https://t.co/YPUvkCiApe</a> <a href="https://t.co/JKra5hYa5y">pic.twitter.com/JKra5hYa5y</a>
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) <a href="https://x.com/Orioles/status/2069815004203778506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
One account on X noted how the incorporation of a drag queen in this role seems inappropriate. &#8220;I&#8217;m frankly indifferent on most of these political topics, but isn&#8217;t the splash zone area for kids? Like this is kinda weird even for centrist, independents, or even slightly Left-leaning folks right?&#8221;
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Im frankly indifferent on most of these political topics, but isn&#8217;t the splash zone area for kids? Like this is kinda weird even for centrist, independents, or even slightly left leaning folks right? <a href="https://t.co/7HUeywLsdB">https://t.co/7HUeywLsdB</a>
— Bird4Life (@BirdforLife49) <a href="https://x.com/BirdforLife49/status/2069835819704078559?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
Two weeks ago, the San Francisco Giants held a &#8220;Pride Night&#8221; where players were pressured to wear LGBT rainbow-colored Giants caps. When some of the Christian players counter-signaled the event by adding Bible verses to their hats, the MLB gave them a &#8220;warning,&#8221; sparking outrage from some MLB fans and public officials.
Still, the MLB is moving forward with &#8220;Pride Night&#8221; events. Aside from the scheduled Baltimore &#8220;Pride Night,&#8221; the New York Mets will hold a &#8220;Pride Night&#8221; of their own on Friday, too. Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Athletics, and the St. Louis Cardinals similarly held these LGBT-themed games.
The Giants &#8220;Pride Night&#8221; notably featured a drag queen and 10 same-sex couples renewing their vows on the field.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mlb-scrambles-for-damage-control-after-targeting-christian-players-no-ones-buying-it?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=8&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=MLB+Scrambles+For+Damage+Control+After+Targeting+Christian+Players.+No+One’s+Buying+It.">MLB Scrambles For Damage Control After Targeting Christian Players. No One’s Buying It.</a>

MLB / LGBT

Another MLB Team Announces ‘Pride Night’ Game, Features Drag Queen Performer

Another MLB Team Announces ‘Pride Night,’ Features Drag Queen Performer

Baltimore Orioles

Baseball

Drag Queens

San Francisco Giants leaders are refusing to speak ill of the Christian players who counter-signaled the team&#8217;s LGBT &#8220;Pride Night.&#8221;
Reporters on Tuesday night pressed San Fran manager Tony Vitello about the recent &#8220;Pride Night&#8221; fiasco, where players were pressured to wear gay pride rainbow-logo hats. When a reporter suggested Vitello was somehow disrespected by Christian ball players who added Bible verses to their hats, he refuted the journalist.
The reporter argued that because the Christian players didn&#8217;t tell Vitello they were going to write on their hats, it was an act of &#8220;disrespect to the manager.&#8221;
&#8220;I don&#8217;t see that as a disrespect to me to be honest with you,&#8221; Vitello responded, adding that what would be disrespectful in his view would be players not giving it their all on the field for their teammates. &#8220;I have not been disrespected in this role, at all.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
From players writing on their Pride Night hats without him knowing to the Rafael Devers incident, Tony Vitello feels no disrespect whatsoever.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t see that as a disrespect to me to be honest with you&#8230; I have not been disrespected in this role at all.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/Vemfv4ty11">pic.twitter.com/Vemfv4ty11</a>
— KNBR (@KNBR) <a href="https://x.com/KNBR/status/2069565974488179047?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
Buster Posey, the Giants&#8217; president of baseball operations, also shared a vague statement about the Christian players, and then refused to answer questions about anything other than &#8220;baseball.&#8221;
“I’d like to recognize that the organization has shared its response to &#8216;Pride Night,&#8217; and I understand that there’s strong feelings on this topic,” Posey said, before taking questions from the media. “There’s differing perspectives, and out of respect to everybody involved, it’s not something that I’m going to revisit.”
Reporters continued to press Posey about the Christian players, stressing that they believe the LGBT community is vital to the San Fran area. Posey, time after time, told the press that he&#8217;d only take &#8220;baseball questions.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Buster Posey opened his media availability with a prepared statement on the Pride Night controversy, then proceeded to decline to answer further questions on the topic, stating he will only answer &#8220;baseball related questions.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/pxsC0p4hiQ">pic.twitter.com/pxsC0p4hiQ</a>
— KNBR (@KNBR) <a href="https://x.com/KNBR/status/2069535169497968640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
The response online was generally positive from apolitical and conservative X users, who criticized the media. However, as California-based civil liberties attorney Laura Powell highlighted, the controversy started because the Giants chose to host a &#8220;Pride Night.&#8221;
&#8220;Tense moments as the press pesters Buster Posey with questions about the Pride cap controversy, but he says he will only respond to baseball-related questions,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;I was on Posey’s side, as I’m sick of the local media milking this story with biased takes, but this reporter made a good point: &#8216;But you guys have made this baseball related because you had Pride Night.'&#8221;
&#8220;Stick to baseball, please!&#8221; Powell added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Tense moments as the press pesters Buster Posey with questions about the Pride cap controversy, but he says he will only respond to baseball-related questions.
I was on Posey’s side, as I’m sick of the local media milking this story with biased takes, but this reporter made a…
— Laura Powell (@LauraPowellEsq) <a href="https://x.com/LauraPowellEsq/status/2069569429269356898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
Powell also noted the LGBT flags at the stadium, commenting on how &#8220;captured&#8221; the organization has become.
&#8220;The top of the pole is a position of honor, indicating a greater rank,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;Why did the SF Giants place the trans flag above the &#8216;progress pride&#8217; flag, which is a modification of the rainbow flag that expressly honors the trans identity? How captured is this organization?&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The top of the pole is a position of honor, indicating a greater rank.
Why did the SF Giants place the trans flag above the “progress pride” flag, which is a modification of the rainbow flag that expressly honors the trans identity?
How captured is this organization? <a href="https://t.co/H4jXLz7aGr">pic.twitter.com/H4jXLz7aGr</a>
— Laura Powell (@LauraPowellEsq) <a href="https://x.com/LauraPowellEsq/status/2069674193395023905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mlb-scrambles-for-damage-control-after-targeting-christian-players-no-ones-buying-it">MLB Scrambles For Damage Control After Targeting Christian Players. No One’s Buying It.</a>

Athletics v. San Francisco Giants

MLB ‘Pride Night’ Fiasco Takes Another Turn

Christianity

San Francisco Giants

“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

Donald Trump

Hilton

Real Housewives

Halo Studios, the developer of the beloved classic shooter game, celebrated &#8220;Pride Month&#8221; with an update to Halo on June 1. 
“Wear your #Pride all month long with the Unity armor coating, visor and emblem, available in the Halo Infinite Exchange,” Halo Studios wrote on social media, showing how gamers can change their armor skin and player icon to be adorned with rainbow colors.
Halo blocked comments on the post, silencing the reactions of their fanbase. However, quote retweets are allowed on X, and gamers didn&#8217;t hold back in roasting the company.
Many users called out Halo for being too weak to keep replies open. 
Some argued that the game&#8217;s protagonist Master Chief would disapprove of gay &#8220;Pride&#8221; and complained about woke activists seemingly infiltrating the beloved franchise to turn it into a propaganda machine.
&#8220;Dear Halo, It&#8217;s time to just start firing people who push for this to happen yearly, and then fire the artists because these suck,&#8221; one person wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Wear your <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Pride?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pride</a> all month long with the Unity armor coating, visor and emblem, available in the Halo Infinite Exchange. <a href="https://t.co/Qu0z79tUMD">pic.twitter.com/Qu0z79tUMD</a>
— Halo (@Halo) <a href="https://x.com/Halo/status/2061510595455697006?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Some users dubbed the game &#8220;Gaylo,&#8221; using AI to <a href="https://x.com/Captain_toke/status/2061562882048086096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2061562882048086096%7Ctwgr%5E0f97ea7298e16ffe5bbb4278e425f7c790ad83b7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnotthebee.com%2Farticle%2Fhalo-locked-the-replies-to-its-gay-pride-post-but-it-forgot-about-the-quote-tweets">reimagine</a> the game with safe diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives, such as safe spaces and pronoun affirmation. Other social media users posted a GIF of the scene from &#8220;The Godfather,&#8221; where Vito Corleone laments, “Look how they massacred my boy.” 
Former Blizzard Entertainment executive Mark Kern, known by his hundreds of thousands of social media followers as &#8220;Grummz,&#8221; has been a vocal advocate against DEI in video games. 
In a recent <a href="https://x.com/Grummz/status/2061885611473342959">post</a> on X, Kern pointed out that many major gaming companies have decided to avoid celebrating Pride Month, calling 2026 a “massive June month win for gamers.&#8221; 
&#8220;A year ago [these gaming companies] would have been all skittles,&#8221; he wrote. 
Kern reminded gamers that even though Halo might still be woke, many other gaming companies are not anymore.

Experience: HALO by Xbox 360

Gamers React After Popular Shooter Game’s ‘Pride’ Update

Entertainment

Gaming

LGBTQ

Twitter

Video Games

Woke Culture

Katy Perry celebrated the advent of June with an announcement that many of her fanatic followers would consider to be out of this world and her critics wish had been lost in space.
“I know so many of you are doing so much for this month, but me? I’d like to introduce the earth to the world’s first gaylien!” Perry crowed in a <a href="http://instagram.com/reel/DZDritwyxy_/">post</a> on social media.
This announcement joins the laundry list of Pride-related shoutouts that no one asked for.
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Perry&#8217;s “gaylien&#8221; wore a tangerine orange beanie and a black, white, and orange sweatshirt emblazoned with a green alien face. The person in the costume wore a mask that looked like a shriveled gray mummy with stereotypically beady alien eyes. 
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Despite rumors that the man in the alien costume was her boyfriend former Canadian Prime Minister <a href="https://people.com/katy-perry-shares-new-photos-justin-trudeau-miranda-kerr-instagram-11964886">Justin Trudeau</a>, the alien was likely just a backup dancer.
Perry proceeded to join the alien in doing a dance that appeared to be a mix of a forgotten &#8217;90s workout routine and a mating ritual from a lame bird of paradise.
In the video, the man in the alien costume jumped up into the air and proceeded to do an extended squat. He shook his legs and his butt in seizure-like contortions while swaying his hands and wrists in a circular fashion. He then feigned a melodramatic collapse on the floor, came back up to do off-brand Michael Jackson moonwalk step, then fell to the floor again.
The gaylien will reportedly be making appearances at Perry&#8217;s European summer festivals to celebrate pride.
Perry has been notorious for being supportive of gay rights, with her hit song “I Kissed a Girl” being famous for its depiction of a lesbian relationship. She has also shown an interest in space with her song “E.T.” and her widely mocked <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/blue-origin-sent-celebs-up-for-minutes-they-came-back-with-astronaut-egos?author=Lauren+Bair&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Blue+Origin+Sent+Celebs+Up+For+Minutes.+They+Came+Back+With+Astronaut+Egos.">Blue Origin flight</a>.
Perry&#8217;s &#8220;gaylien&#8221; also seems to ride on the wave of renewed public interest in aliens, especially after the U.S. government has released documents <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-admin-opens-secret-ufo-vault-tells-americans-to-decide-whats-real">detailing</a> UFO sightings.

Katy Perry

Katy Perry’s ‘Gaylien’ Will Make You Wish You Weren’t On Planet Earth

Aliens

Celebrities

Dance

Gay Rights

Media

Music

pop music

Social Media

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>
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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.”
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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

Target

A Bay Area coffee shop chain is reportedly facing backlash from LGBT activists after a new corporate protocol was handed down. 
Customers are outraged that the company CEO, Mahesh Sadarangani, has ordered the removal of Pride flags at certain locations in pursuit of an “inclusive” atmosphere.
“At Philz, we have always believed everyone who walks through our doors deserves to feel welcome and safe, and that belief is at the core of everything we do. Our longstanding support of the LGBTQIA+ community is unchanged. We are working toward creating a more consistent, inclusive experience across all our stores, including removing a variety of flags and other decor,” Sadarangani said in a statement. 
“This is a change in how our stores look, not in who we are. Our allyship runs deeper than what is on our walls. It shows up in who we hire, how we treat one another and in our annual Pride Month Unity celebration, which returns this June as it has every year. Unity is fundamental to how we operate,” he added.
A Philz manager at one San Francisco location <a href="https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/petition-circulates-claiming-philz-coffee-asked-stores-to-remove-pride-flags/">told</a> KRON4 News that Sadarangani had told store leadership to consider whether in-store displays make all customers feel included during a recent company summit. According to the outlet, employees at multiple Bay Area locations said they have not been asked to take down Pride flags.
Despite the executive’s stated commitment to LGBT causes, leftist activists were melting down online and started a petition in an attempt to have the flag removal decision reversed.
As of Friday afternoon, a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/urge-philz-coffee-to-keep-pride-flags-up">petition</a> created by “Philz Coffee Baristas” had more than 4,000 signatures. “In today&#8217;s society, businesses have an essential role in fostering inclusivity and support, and displaying the pride flag is a simple yet remarkably powerful demonstration of that role,” the description said in part. 
“Removing these flags risks alienating a core group of team members and loyal customers who see Philz not just as a coffee shop, but as a place where they are embraced and celebrated for who they are.”
Some customers interviewed on the street were also outraged, saying they would “boycott” the business if the decision wasn’t reversed.
Philz Coffee was founded in San Francisco in 2003. It operates more than 60 locations, mostly in California, with a few in Chicago. 
The company made headlines in 2025 when the private equity firm Freeman Spogli &amp; Co. bought it for $145 million, prompting complaints from many customers. Some commenters blame the new ownership for the revised Pride flag policy.

Philz Coffee

Coffee Chain Ditches Politics To Be Inclusive And Still Dems Rage

Coffee

Pride Flag

The Cracker Barrel restaurant chain caved to public pressure for the second time in as many days on Wednesday, removing several items from the corporate website that advertised a commitment to supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and LGBTQ Pride events.
Robby Starbuck took to X to share what he touted as a &#8220;major victory,&#8221; noting that the company had scrubbed several key pages from the website even as the backlash over a recently sanitized corporate logo — which was abandoned within days of its unveiling — was just beginning to die down.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Major victory to report. After a week running our pressure campaign, Cracker Barrel FINALLY caved and removed their LGBTQ and DEI page.
Let this be a message to all companies: It is now socially unacceptable to promote trans causes or DEI and it’s unacceptable to use our money… <a href="https://t.co/tDqvanEYZs">pic.twitter.com/tDqvanEYZs</a>
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) <a href="https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/1960767840644162041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Major victory to report. After a week running our pressure campaign, Cracker Barrel FINALLY caved and removed their LGBTQ and DEI page,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Let this be a message to all companies: It is now socially unacceptable to promote trans causes or DEI and it’s unacceptable to use our money for Pride events.&#8221;
&#8220;YOU could be next if you embrace wokeness. Now’s the time to fix it,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Conservative consumers will no longer fund companies who use our money to violate our values. Just be neutral on politics and social issues. You don’t need to parrot our politics. Just stay out of politics and focus on your core business. That’s the path to greatness. First 3 screenshots are yesterday, 4th is today.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s my pleasure to deliver y’all another win for those of us who want sanity. Many more to come!&#8221; Starbuck concluded.
Cracker Barrel&#8217;s capitulation on DEI and LGBTQ issues follows the company&#8217;s quick backpedal over an attempted rebrand that sparked an immediate public outcry.
Starbuck shared the news on Tuesday, saying. &#8220;Big news: Cracker Barrel has caved. They just sent an email confirming that they’re returning to the old logo. All plans for the new logo have been scrapped. Now they just need to end DEI and stop funding all ages pride shows!&#8221;
&#8220;The emailed statement: &#8216;We thank your guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have. Our new logo is going away and our ‘Old Timer’ will remain. At Cracker Barrel, it’s always been – and always will be – about serving up delicious food, warm welcomes, and the kind of country hospitality that feels like family.&#8217; As always, we get results and we have them on the run. They’ve also distanced themselves from the woke @HRC by saying they don’t associate with them now. We are winning and we plan to keep winning.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Big news: Cracker Barrel has caved. They just sent an email confirming that they’re returning to the old logo. All plans for the new logo have been scrapped. Now they just need to end DEI and stop funding all ages pride shows!
The emailed statement:
&#8220;We thank your guests for… <a href="https://t.co/13OJLzfGBX">pic.twitter.com/13OJLzfGBX</a>
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) <a href="https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/1960475170063192477?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Cracker Barrel Redesigns Its Logo

Cracker Barrel Thought The Logo U-Turn Would Be Enough. It Wasn’t.

Cracker Barrel Thought The Logo U-Turn Would Be Enough. It Wasn't

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Cracker Barrel

A Texas mayor was caught on video using disturbing language berating a Christian preacher at a LGBT festival, video shows.
Jim Ross, the mayor of Arlington, Texas, targeted the preacher during a 2023 LGBT event. The shocking moments were captured by Vice, though Ross&#8217;s face is blurred and the footage has just now been <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/exclusive-arlington-mayor-jim-ross-200000969.html">uncovered</a> by The Dallas Express.
Ross claims he&#8217;s a moderate, but routinely <a href="https://www.keranews.org/politics/2023-04-05/arlington-candidates-tackle-dei-issues-transportation-development-in-naacp-forum">pushes</a> race-based and gender-based initiatives and has promoted LGBT &#8220;pride.&#8221;
“I believe y’all can have free speech. But this is some hateful s*** and I am a heterosexual guy,&#8221; Ross says in the footage, speaking to preacher Ruben Israel, who has since passed away.
“You stand out here like you are a b*da** motherf***er,” the mayor continued. “You don’t think anal sex is good, do you? Have you ever f***ed your old lady in the a**? I’d f*** your old lady in the a**.”
Ross was not done, however. He called Israel a &#8220;p**** mother***er&#8221; and told him, “Shut your a**, shut your a**, you little piece of s***. You ought to talk s***, these people around here are having a good f***ing time.”
At the time of the confrontation, Ross was serving as mayor of Arlington, and currently holds the same position.
Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French said Ross needs to resign &#8220;immediately&#8221; over the conduct.
Tarrant County Republican Precinct Chair TK Campbell, also speaking to The Dallas Express, said Ross&#8217;s unprofessional behavior mirrors that of prominent Democrats, who&#8217;ve clung to cursing as an apparent political strategy.
“The now Mayor of Arlington’s vile, profanity-laced rant at the late Ruben Israel, a Christian street preacher, is a disgrace,&#8221; Campbell said. &#8220;Perhaps the mayor was stressed out because of not being able to pay his taxes of late, but his unprofessional conduct mirrors the worst of today’s cursing Democrats. Leadership demands better.&#8221;
Campbell&#8217;s comments regarding taxes seem to reference Ross recently having his wages garnished by the IRS. <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/arlington-mayor-acknowledges-irs-garnishment-160013005.html">According</a> to The Dallas Express, Ross owes $940.39 in penalties and interest and has an outstanding debt of about $175,000.
During his tenure as mayor, Ross has created advisory councils based on race, religion, and identity, including black, Asian, Latino, Muslim, and LGBTQ.
In 2023, Ross defended the forums during an NAACP event. “You have to have a black advisory council because, folks, black people are not the same. Did y’all know that?” he said, <a href="https://www.keranews.org/politics/2023-04-05/arlington-candidates-tackle-dei-issues-transportation-development-in-naacp-forum">according</a> to KERA News. “Latinos are not the same. Asians are not the same.”
WARNING: Language 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨BOMBSHELL🚨 Newly surfaced footage identifies Texas Arlington Mayor Jim Ross at an LGBTQ festival telling a Christian preacher: “I’d f*ck your old lady in the *ss.” Ross used vulgar language and made explicit remarks
Read article👇.
Follow: <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasExpress?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dallasexpress</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Carlos__Turcios?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Carlos__Turcios</a> <a href="https://t.co/IzagUbFqb5">pic.twitter.com/IzagUbFqb5</a>
— Carlos Turcios (@Carlos__Turcios) <a href="https://twitter.com/Carlos__Turcios/status/1953919764616638727?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2025</a></blockquote>

Mayor Jim Ross

‘I’d F*** Your Old Lady In The A**’: Liberal Mayor Berates Christian At LGBT Festival

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Politics

A spokesperson for the group Heritage of Pride confirmed that about 25% of their corporate sponsors had either pulled out of sponsoring New York City’s Pride parade or reduced contributions, leaving organizers scrambling to replace those funds.
“The vast majority of what we have heard is that folks are treading carefully from an economic perspective,” Kevin Kilbride <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/nyregion/nyc-pride-sponsors-trump-tariffs.html">told</a> The New York Times during an interview published in late May. He asserted that companies are distancing themselves from the Pride movement for political reasons.
“&#8230;Some folks have definitely mentioned the fear of potential blowback from the Trump administration if you are a big corporation and you are publicly supporting D.E.I. initiatives,” Kilbride told the outlet.
Now the event is happening in ten days. A few weeks ago, Heritage of Pride organizers had been focusing on community funded donations after big corporate spenders pulled back. They were facing a shortage of about $750,000.
“That gap we’re trying to fill with a community fundraising campaign. So in the middle of May, we launched a peer-to-peer campaign so folks can start their own fundraiser online, share it with their friends, and then have folks donate to that,” he told NYT.
Kilbride confirmed the organization planned to “lean a little bit more into individual giving and support from the community.”
Per NYT, four of the five companies that were Platinum sponsors last year either scaled back contributions or canceled. Those include Garnier, Skyy Vodka, Target, and Mastercard. Pepsi and Nissan are also <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/08/pride-month-sponsorship-decline-2025">not contributing</a> funds this year.
Several other cities have reported similar results, with corporate and individual sponsorships being reduced this year compared to others. This has led to some Pride events in large cities being <a href="https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/boise-pride-cancels-june-kickoff-event-due-to-low-attendance-despite-strong-online-support-idaho/277-85507887-f32c-4bae-ae4b-366f10d9eda3">canceled</a>.
This pulling back from Pride has become a trend with major retailers. Target shoppers noticed that the retailer has moved their Pride messaging to the back burner. Social media is buzzing with photos of patriotic apparel displays in Target stores during the month of June. Just two years ago, these same displays would have been decked out in rainbow flag glory.
In 2023, Target was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/target-to-offer-pride-merchandise-in-fewer-stores-after-backlash-against-tuck-friendly-swimsuit-sale-last-year">blasted</a> for offering “tuck-friendly” female swimsuits, which led to boycotts and sinking sales. After the backlash, Target scaled back its “Pride” displays in June 2024, only offering “Pride” merchandise at a limited number of stores. Now, almost all have been <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/target-swaps-out-rainbow-flags-stars-stripes-shoppers-notice-shift-during-pride-month">replaced</a> with red, white, and blue.

NYC Pride

NYC Pride Parade Loses Corporate Sponsors, Begs For Individual Donations

New York City

U.S.

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