The A.M. READ newsletter is a news tipsheet highlighting LGBTQ+ news and HRC updates. It covers a wide range of topics from breaking news to politics to LGBTQ+ pop culture to sports and everything in between.
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
JOURNALIST DON LEMON DELIVERS EMOTIONAL SURPRISE SPEECH AT HRC NEW YORK DINNER: On Saturday, journalist Don Lemon made a surprise appearance at the Human Rights Campaign’s 2026 Greater New York dinner and delivered an emotional speech about the attacks on journalistic freedom and the need for solidarity in these perilous times. During his speech, Lemon touched on his recent arrest following his coverage of an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church while urging the public to “keep fighting” against the attacks on the media. See the full video of Don Lemon’s speech here.
PRIDE HOUSE TAKES CENTER ICE AT OLYMPICS: In Milan, Pride House is showing the world that visibility is power. Organized by Italian LGBTQ+ advocates, Pride House is using the global spotlight to celebrate out athletes, build community, and call attention to the real gaps in LGBTQ+ rights in Italy and beyond. As project lead Joseph Naklé put it, the goal is to “use this media attention to raise the voice” — a reminder that when LGBTQ+ people show up proudly on the world stage, equality can’t be sidelined. Read more in the Washington Blade.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
TRUMP ADMIN TO SLASH LGBTQ+ HEALTH FUNDING FROM FOUR STATES: The New York Times reports that the Trump Administration plans to cut $600 million in public health funding from programs in California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota. The administration claims that they are cutting programs that “do not reflect agency priorities.” But those programs include: $7.2 million from the American Medical Association in Illinois to support transgender youth care and $5.2 million from Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago for increasing H.I.V. prevention therapy among Black women. This comes just months after the CDC’s website was changed to say that it will “move away from focusing on diseases that predominantly affect certain populations.”
SPOTLIGHT STORY
BAD BUNNY’S SUPERBOWL HALFTIME SHOW FEATURED PROMINENT QUEER ARTISTS AND A MESSAGE OF LOVE OVER HATE: On Sunday, Bad Bunny’s Superbowl halftime show featured LGBTQ+ musical artists and legends Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga, paying homage to his Puerto Rican roots and uplifting messages of love, unity and joyful celebration. The performance was broadcasted to millions across the country and spotlighted the importance of authenticity and inclusion, especially at a time of anti-LGBTQ+ and racially-motivated political violence. Read more about the “Benito Bowl” from OUT here.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The First Amendment is not just a legal guarantee. It is breath in the lungs of a democracy. And when that breath is threatened, you feel it before you can explain it.” …. “Freedom is fragile, but it is not finished. Truth is contested, but it is not defeated. Democracy is strained, but it is not silent.” – Journalist Don Lemon
Love Conquers Hate
