Big Boy making way across U.S.
Plus...not every brand has given up on Pride
Hi! Welcome to the new subscribers. Glad you’re here — hope you stay!
Last week, I wrote about Pride as more than celebration. The entire newsletter was about how existence is resistance.
Right now, LGBTQ people — especially transgender people — are being targeted by the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers who are trying to limit rights, restrict health care, police identity and push people further to the margins.
That should make you mad. I know it makes me pissed off.
Pride cannot just be something we cheer for in June and forget by the Fourth of July. Pride has to push us to act (and act now before it’s too late) — vote, defend our friends and refuse to let cruelty win.
Support LGBTQ businesses and organizations.
This one’s really important: Pay attention to what is happening in your state.
And push back when cruelty is dressed up as policy.
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Not every brand has given up on Pride
A lot of companies have left LGBTQ people in the dust — nixing store displays, social media posts or email campaigns celebrating Pride. Despite the retreat, some brands continue to feature inclusivity.
The Advocate highlighted seven of them (one of which, Levi’s, I mentioned last week), including American Eagle.
The Pittsburgh-based company has a line of Pride apparel and said its AE Foundation is donating $150,000 to It Gets Better.
29* MLB teams to host Pride nights — 1 still refuses
Of the 30 MLB teams, 29 plan to host Pride nights.
Any guesses on that one team that refuses?
The hometahn Pittsburgh Pirates have set June 11 as Pride night. While no giveaway is planned, the Bucs have a post-game fireworks show planned.
Cleveland plans to have a gay ol’ time June 8 when they host the Yankees for Pride Night. The Guardians booked Onya Nurve to throw out the first pitch. The night also will feature the Windsong feminist chorus, Cleveland Foundation’s LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund, the Play Catch with a Dad volunteer group and card writing to LGBTQ+ people.
In addition to hosting a Pride game at PNC Park, the Pirates are on the road for two other Pride nights — Houston (which was June 3) and Sacramento (June 17).
The team that won’t acknowledge Pride? The Texas Rangers. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
*What did the Royals do?
Somehow, the Kansas City Royals failed to be a good ally and still outraged the trolls.
The social copy and image copy just ain’t it: “A sport enjoyed and loved by all.” “Proud to be a Royal.” Huh?
At least they got the Pride flag colors right — including the trans flag, lesbian flag and Progress Pride flag.
Christian Post compares ‘faith nights’ and Pride nights
The Christian Post shared a story detailing that half of the MLB teams are planning “faith nights.” It noted each team’s plans for those promotions.
While the Christian-focused site did not belittle Pride nights, its comparison of Pride nights and Christian faith nights is incorrect.
Faith is a choice. Being LGBTQ is not a choice.
Time running out for ‘60 Minutes’?
According to published accounts, sources suggest the long-running “60 Minutes” could soon be canceled.
This comes following the ongoing behind-the-scenes madness created by Trump-friendly Bari Weiss, the blogger-turned-NYT opinionist was handed the role of editor-in-chief at CBS News last year.
The feud escalated last week when the network abruptly fired Scott Pelley, who apparently told the show’s new executive producer that Weiss was “murdering ‘60 Minutes.’”
“She does not love this place; she was brought in to kill it and is doing exactly that,” Pelley reportedly said in a Monday staff meeting.
By Tuesday, the longtime journalist was fired.
Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim say they plan to “stay and fight” at 60 Minutes.
Here’s a growing list of major figures who have resigned or been fired from CBS News since Weiss took over (as of June 6), according to People magazine:
Scott Pelley (fired)
Anderson Cooper (resigned)
Sharyn Alfonsi (let go through contract expiring)
Cecilia Vega (fired)
Tanya Simon (fired)
Scott MacFarlane (resigned)
Mary Walsh (resigned)
John Dickerson (resigned)
Maurice DuBois (resigned)
Lisa Ling (laid off)
Michelle Miller (laid off)
Dana Jacobson (laid off)
Big Boy to make Pennsylvania stops on U.S. rail tour
Big Boy No. 4014 — the world’s largest operating steam locomotive — is expected to pass through Erie County on June 9, stopping briefly in North East.
The locomotive is on a coast-to-coast tour as part of “America250,” with a July 4 weekend stop in Philadelphia.
It will make an extended stop in Altoona, arriving July 8 and departing July 11 on its way west toward Pittsburgh.
A 30-minute stop is planned for Leetsdale on July 11.
Big Boy is 133 feet long and weighs 1.2 million pounds, according to Union Pacific.
There were 25 Big Boys commissioned for Union Pacific Railroad. The first was delivered in 1941. The locomotives were used to haul heavy equipment in support of the war effort and typically operated between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
You can track Big Boy here and find its schedule here.
‘I Knew It’: Taylor Swift continues breaking records
Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” is breaking records.
Apple Music said the song broke its all-time record for “biggest soundtrack single, based on first-day plays.” It also became the streaming platform’s biggest country single of 2026.
On Spotify, the song became the “most-streamed country song in a single day by a female artist in Spotify history.”
And, on Amazon Music, the song had the “biggest first 24-hour streaming debut globally for any song” this year. “I Knew it, I Knew You” is included in the upcoming “Toy Story 5” film, set for release June 19.
And, finally…
Existence is resistance, ‘n at.