Pride month is upon us and television news networks are covering LGBTQ+ stories in myriad ways over the next several weeks and beyond. Here’s what ABC and NBC have in store for viewers.
ABC News:
- To honor and celebrate Pride Month, ABC News will have month-long coverage highlighting the LGBTQ+ community, including a one-hour primetime special from ABC News Studios’ named The Freedom to Exist.
- The Freedom to Exist, which debuts Tuesday, June 6 at 10 p.m. ET, will take an in-depth look at the transgender community and features a broadcast exclusive interview with Oscar-nominated actor Elliot Page, who came out as transgender in 2020 and was the first openly trans man to appear on the cover of Time Magazine. With the release of his new book, Pageboy: A Memoir, Page discusses his difficult journey to standing in his truth and how he hopes to champion inclusivity in Hollywood. The conversation, which includes audio excerpts from his memoir, also unpacks sexuality and gender identity.
- The Freedom to Exist will report on the state-wide bans across the country and how they are impacting families and conversations in schools; access to books; the banning or restricting drag queens from performing; and gender-affirming care. The special will also cover the LGBTQ+ community and allies, including State Sen. Karen Berg (D-Ky.), who lost her trans son late last year, and those working to protect rights.
- The Freedom to Exist includes interviews with Sasha Colby, winner of season 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race; actress Angelica Ross from the hit FX series Pose and American Horror Story; Chase Strangio, ACLU’s deputy director for transgender justice; Nicole Maines, the first actress to portray a live-action transgender superhero on television; Dr. Jules Gill-Peterson, professor at Johns Hopkins University; animator ND Stevenson; Dr. Ben Hoffman, president-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Raquel Willis, activist and author of The Risk It Takes to Bloom; model Laith Ashley; and actress and singer Sandra Caldwell.
- The Freedom to Exist: A Soul of a Nation Presentation is executive produced by Robert Zepeda and Catherine McKenzie. Tine is the series director. David Sloan is the senior executive producer of ABC News Studios. ABC News Studios is led by Mike Kelley.
- ABC News will also have dedicated coverage across programs and platforms for Pride Month.
- Good Morning America will spotlight the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month with its GMA Out Loud series, kicking off on Thursday, June 1.
- GMA Out Loud explores a wide range of topics and issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community, with contributing correspondent Becky Worley reporting on a local drag queen making a difference in their hometown.
- Nightline co-anchor Juju Chang meets with families as they offer insight on trans participation in sports, while senior national correspondent Steve Osunsami highlights the 50th anniversary of the PFLAG organization.
- GMA Out Loud continues with a special segment on a teacher who receives a full makeover from celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons, makeup artist and influencer Patrick Starr, and stylist to the stars Scot Louie.
- Additional guests and interviews with influential LGBTQ+ figures include Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka for their new Hulu series Drag Me to Dinner, Elton John in recognition of National AIDS Day, Page on his new memoir, and Sean Hayes on his debut novel Timed Out.
- Plus, GMA will feature music performances by Lily Rose and Adam Lambert.
- World News Tonight will spotlight key figures in the LGBTQ+ community within its America Strong and Person of the Week segments.
- Nightline will present special content and features surrounding LGBTQ+ Pride Month throughout June.
- This Week with George Stephanopoulos will preview The Freedom to Exist and look at the personal fight for legislators fighting for trans rights, including Sen. Berg. The program will also highlight which states are banning gender-affirming care and how it is affecting the LGBTQ+ community.
- GMA3: What You Need to Know will celebrate Pride Month by shining a light on the LGBTQ+ community with special guests and dedicated segments covering food, fashion, newsmakers, celebrities and more.
- The View will honor Pride Month by highlighting the achievements and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community, kicking off the month with Montana State Rep. Zooey Zephyr, who was barred from the state House floor for opposing multiple anti-LBGTQ+ bills; Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka for their new series, Drag Me to Dinner; and Page with his new book.
- ABC News Live will have LGBTQ+ content across the channel throughout the month of June.
- On June 19, ABC News Live will debut a half-hour Soul of the Nation special featuring Page’s interview.
- On June 25, the channel will present an unprecedented five-hour anchored Pride Across America extravaganza, which will also stream live to all Hulu subscribers.
- In partnership with Hulu and owned stations WABC (New York), WLS (Chicago) and KGO (San Francisco), ABC News Live will cover three of the nation’s largest Pride marches on one program with ABC News anchors fanned out across the country. Pride Across America will begin June 25 at 11 a.m. EDT with a pre-show in advance of the New York City march featuring special guests and inspiring content.
- GMA Digital and ABC News Digital will present a series called Protecting Pride: Resilience After Tragedy, featuring personal stories from survivors of the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs and a group dedicated to safeguarding LGBTQ+ youth. The series will highlight the community’s strength and unity in the face of anti-LGBTQ+ laws and nationwide tragedies, exploring the concept of safety and the community’s collective progress.
- ABC Audio will have special segments in Perspective, ABC News Radio’s weekly newsmagazine, as well as reporting highlights in hourly newscasts from ABC News programs and platforms.
NBC News:
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- NBCUniversal News Group is commemorating LGBTQ+ Pride with cross-platform coverage across NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC and extensive reporting from NBC Out, NBC News’ dedicated vertical covering the LGBTQ+ community.
- On June 8, anchor Joe Fryer will host an all-new special Pride 2023: Out Front on NBC News Now at 10:30pm ET, highlighting trailblazers throughout media, culture and politics who are changing the conversation on LGBTQ+ representation and acceptance.
- The special will also feature interviews with actress Trace Lysette, RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon and Tony-nominee J. Harrison Ghee.
- This week, NBC Out published its annual Pride 30 List, which, this year, spotlights 30 of the most influential drag performers in modern history. Pride 30: Drag Edition highlights performers who paved the way for the art of drag – from a formerly enslaved person who first donned drag in the late 1800s to the stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
- Throughout Pride month, Today, NBC Nightly News and Meet the Press will feature in-depth stories surrounding the LGBTQ+ community.
- Today will highlight a variety of inspiring segments, including an interview and Citi Concert Series performance by Kim Petras, who is the first transgender woman to win a Grammy in the best pop duo and group performance category.
- On Today, Joe Fryer will profile LGBTQ+ athletes, while the 3rd Hour of Today will spotlight LGBTQ+ nonprofits and business leaders, and Today with Hoda & Jenna will look at line dancing group Stud Country and feature a performance by country singer Brooke Eden.
- NBC News Studios and Focus Features’ new documentary Every Body, which will debut in theaters on June 30 after its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, is an in-depth investigation into the lives of intersex people.
- Stay Tuned, NBC News’ flagship Gen Z news brand, will also profile the subjects of Every Body, with interviews airing across Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.
- MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart will debut a new special Defending Pride on MSNBC, speaking with leaders at the national, state and local levels on efforts to defend LGBTQ+ rights.
- The special airs on June 25 at 10pm ET.
- Programs across MSNBC will feature extensive coverage throughout June, including a drag performer roundtable on The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle.
- Additionally, CNBC will interview prominent LGBTQ+ leaders, business owners, CEOs and executives across industries.
- CNBC will also report on issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community, including corporate board diversity, hidden costs of caregiving for LGBTQ+ seniors, corporate fertility benefits, the difficulties of getting coverage among same sex couples and Walmart’s new program to provide specialty care in communities at high risk for HIV. CNBC.com and CNBC Make It will also feature profiles and deep dives throughout June.