The Daily Queer
June 1, 2026
What’s up for June 1, 2026? Elio was dequeered. Alan Cumming is feeling the homophobic heat. Queer line dancing on the rise. Equalpride cuts staff. And time for some Broadway Bares.
NEWS & CULTURE
Alan Cumming Says He Has Felt the Rise in Anti-LGBTQ+ Prejudice “Quite Palpably”
The Scottish actor, currently starring in Russell T Davies’s new thriller Tip Toe, says the shift has been noticeable even in his own New York club, where young staff have expressed growing anxiety about everyday activities like taking the subway. Cumming also warned that trans creatives are increasingly “scared” to tell queer stories for fear of being punished.
Pixar Cut Elio’s Gay Elements to Make a Film That Would “Appeal to Everybody”
Pixar’s CCO Pete Docter confirmed the studio removed gay story elements from its 2025 animated film Elio — including a pink bicycle and a fantasy sequence imagining a future with a male crush — after test audiences showed little interest in seeing it theatrically. The film’s original director, Adrian Molina, who is gay and based the story on his own childhood, left the project after the changes were ordered.
Beartooth Frontman Caleb Shomo Comes Out as Gay
Shomo posted a coming out message on Instagram declaring “I am a proudly gay man,” after months of speculation following the colorful video for the band’s single “Free,” which drew homophobic attacks online. His wife of more than 14 years, Fleur Shomo, confirmed they have split while posting her full support.
The Rise of Queer Line Dancing: “A Bit Like Going to Church”
Queer line dancing nights have spread to cities across the country, offering a space that combines community, joy, and the radical politics of queer movement. The piece notes that queer people will never stop dancing — that history proves they will always find a way back to an intimate embrace and shared rhythm.
For 34 Years, Broadway Bares Has Fought AIDS — One Striptease at a Time
What began in 1992 as an eight-person strip show at a Chelsea gay bar has grown into a massive yearly event featuring 200 dancers and over 500 volunteers, raising millions annually for people living with HIV. Founder Jerry Mitchell reflects on how Broadway Bares not only fought AIDS but helped return the art of dance itself to Broadway.
Broadway Bares Goes Undercover for Its Most Seductive Theme Yet
The 2026 edition, titled License to Strip, transforms the Hammerstein Ballroom on June 21 into a spy-inspired spectacle featuring more than 200 dancers in espionage-themed numbers, with performances at 9:30 p.m. and midnight. Tickets start at $75, with VIP options including a private cocktail party hosted by Jerry Mitchell.
‘Out’ Publisher Acquires Condé Nast’s ‘them’ Following Sweeping Layoffs
Equalpride, publisher of Out, The Advocate, and several other queer brands, acquired Them from Condé Nast, saying the move is designed to strengthen its position as the most comprehensive platform for LGBTQ+ news and culture. The announcement came just days after significant layoffs at Equalpride, including the departures of The Advocate’s editor-in-chief and several senior staff.
Internet Piles on Stephen Miller After False Tweet About James Talarico Backfires Big Time
Miller posted a false anti-trans claim about James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate from Texas, prompting the official Democrats account on X to tell the White House aide to sit down — in rather colorful terms. The response went massively viral, racking up over 35 million views in 24 hours.
Boy George Receives Lifetime Achievement Honour at LGBT Awards
The Culture Club singer was presented with the surprise honour by French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier at a ceremony in central London, with organizers celebrating his decades-long contribution to British musical culture. It was a triumphant night — he also took home music artist of the year, beating Charli XCX and Doja Cat.
Hayden Panettiere Comes Out as Bisexual: “Better Late Than Never”
The Heroes and Nashville actress, now 36, publicly came out as bisexual for the first time ahead of the release of her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, saying she started dating women “at a very, very young age” but was never encouraged to be herself. “I said it! This is the first time I got to say it out loud,” she told Us Weekly.