As Pride Month comes to a close, Pluto TV has launched OUTtv Proud, Fuse TV’s new LGBTQ+-created free ad-supported streaming channel.

The OUTtv Proud channel, created by Fuse and the Canada-based OUTtv streaming service, features LGBTQ+-targeted original programming featuring rising stars and top talent, as well as library content from OUTtv’s original series, documentaries, films and specials.  

“Pluto TV strives to offer a diverse range of programming for a wide range of audiences, and OUTtv Proud is a  great addition to our channel lineup,” Pluto TV senior VP of programming Scott Reich said in a statement. “It’s important to deliver viewers opportunities to see themselves represented and celebrated in the media they consume.” 

Fuse CEO Miguel Roggero said the launch of OUTtv on Pluto TV during Pride Month not only expands the service’s footprint, but also aids in “amplifying LGBTQ+ voice and spreading our mission of equality and inclusion.”

OUTtv CEO Brad Danks added, “We’re thankful that our partnership with Pluto TV will greatly expand access to the people and their stories that reflect the authenticity and full diversity of this amazing global LGTBQ+ community.”

McDonald’s has returned as the sponsor of LGBTQ+-first streaming media network Revry’s House of Pride virtual event.

The burger chain is also backing Music Out Loud, Revry’s series celebrating LGBTQ+ music.

“McDonald’s fans loved celebrating with House of Pride last year so we’re very excited to bring it back,” said Elizabeth Campbell, senior director of cultural engagement marketing, McDonald’s USA. “We’ve been working to partner with more diverse owned media, and a big part of that is our expanded partnership with Revry to create fun and meaningful events that bring together the LGBTQ+ community.”

As part of its sponsorship, McDonald’s will get featured hero unit placements on Revry’s biggest channel partner platforms including Samsung TV, editorial takeovers across Revry apps and social media and an in-app hero unit offering McDonald’s products. McDonald’s will also have exposure in tune in video ads on social platforms, a 15-second tune-in trailer running across Revry networks and third-party editorial takeovers promoting Hose of Pride.

Segments and stories featuring McDonald’s will appear in Revry shows, online content and newsletters.

House of Pride Brought to You By McDonald’s USA is set to premiere June 5 on Revry. It will be hosted by Rani KoHEnur from Queen of the Universe and radio host and DJ Hannah Rad. Comedians Kia Barnes, Sampson McCormick and Isla Ebony, and musicians Frankie Simone, Keiynan Lonsdale, Madison Rose, Julian King and Mila Jam will perform.

Music Out Loud launches June 13 with a lineup of queer musicians and artists including Angelica Ross and Cassidy King.

“House of Pride streamed 600K times in its first year and this June, we are expecting millions to tune-in,” said Damian Pelliccione, CEO and co-founder of Revry. “With the support of McDonald’s, we are able to include so many of the LGBTQ voices in Pride programming that are representative and inclusive of our diverse community.”

Revry is available on Samsung TV, the Roku Channel, Vizio WatchFree, Rakuten TV, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Comcast Xfinity and Xumo. ■

ABC Owned Television Stations shared its plans for Pride month, including parade broadcasts, town halls and specials. Stations will broadcast the Los Angeles Pride parade June 12 and the parades in New York, Chicago and San Francisco June 26. The Los Angeles and New York parades will stream live on ABC News Live and Hulu. 

June is Pride Month, a celebration of the LGBTQ community. 

Besides Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and San Francisco, the ABC group’s stations are in Philadelphia, Houston, Raleigh-Durham and Fresno.

Documentary Our America: Who I’m Meant to Be premieres June 1 on the ABC-owned stations, and streams on their mobile apps. The one-hour special highlights intersectionality and explores how LGBTQ individuals’ identities exemplify who they are. Last year’s Our America special featured the voices of transgender communities across America. 

WABC New York airs hour-long special We Belong: Pride 2022 June 25, and the three-hour 2022 NYC Pride March live June 26. Angelica Ross, star of Pose, hosts with Sam Champion, Ken Rosato and Lauren Glassberg of WABC. The parade streams live on ABC News Live and Hulu. 

KABC Los Angeles hosts a community town hall on LGBTQ teens and mental health June 1. On the Red Carpet Celebrates Pride happens June 11, and KABC airs LA Pride 2022 June 12, a two-hour event. Raven-Symoné hosts with her wife Miranda, with KABC’s Ellen Leyva, Karl Schmid, Christiane Cordero and Eric Resendiz hosting as well.

KGO San Francisco airs a half-hour special on Bay Area LGBTQ individuals and organizations June 25, and San Francisco Pride 2022: Love Will Keep Us Together June 26. 

WLS Chicago has a town hall with LGBTQ leaders June 7 and airs Chicago Pride Parade 2022 June 26. 

WPVI Philadelphia airs FYI Philly Pride June 4 and streams 2022 Stonewall Awards June 26. WPVI airs a half-hour Stonewall Awards special June 30. 

KTRK Houston streams the town hall Protecting Our LGBTQ Youth June 16 and debuts Localish: Houston Pride June 25. KTRK hosts Pride in Business Awards June 22, with anchor Melanie Lawson the emcee. 

WTVD Raleigh-Durham hosts a town hall focused on LGTBQ in the military June 15 and features Out! Raleigh Pride Festival June 25. 

KFSN Fresno hosts community roundtable Celebrating Pride: A Central California Conversation, which can be streamed starting June 1. KFSN sponsors the 32nd Annual Fresno Rainbow Pride parade, which happens June 4, and airs Secretly Awesome: Celebrates Pride that same day. ■

Discovery Plus, the Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service, is launching a new hub of content celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community called Always Proud.

The year-round hub will launch with three new series arriving in time for Pride Month in June. The three series are Trixie Motel, Generation Drag and The Book of Queer.

“Discovery+ stands for equality, inclusivity and respect, and the ‘Always Proud’ hub will be a place that not only celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community, but will amplify the its diverse voices," said Lisa Holme, group senior VP of content and commercial strategy. “We’re proud to launch this year-round platform that will share these authentic and untold stories with audiences around the globe.” 

The entire season of Generation Drag drops June 1. The show follows five teen and tween drag performers as they prep for Dragutante, a first-of-its-kind drag ball event for teens and tweens. The six-part documentary series features Jameson, Noah, Vinny, Bailey and Nabela juggling the pressures of being a teenager and the pursuit of drag greatness and provides an intimate look into the lives of these teens, tweens and their families.

Also: Upfront: Warner Bros. Discovery Puts Sports in Its Premier Package

Trixie Motel launches with two episodes dropping June 3 and new episodes arriving weekly afterward. Drag queen Trixie Mattel, who has taken the world by storm with her sense of humor and vivacious, retro-kitschy style, ventures into uncharted waters in the new Discovery Plus. The eight-episode series follows Trixie and her partner and property co-owner, David Silver, as they tackle the massive overhaul of a ramshackle mid-century motel in Palm Springs, California. Trixie secures “free labor” from friends, including hospitality mogul Lisa Vanderpump, comedian Nicole Byer, actor and musician Zooey Deschanel, Property Brother Jonathan Scott and drag queen/partner in crime Katya. More famous friends lend a hand during the season, including actor Leslie Jordan, musician and model Iggy Azalea, actor and television host Jonathan Bennett and musician Belinda Carlisle.

The Book of Queer launches June 2 with episodes dropping weekly. The five-episode docu-series highlighting some of history’s most fabulous “queeroes,” whose stories and contributions have been erased, marginalized or straightwashed throughout the years. Narrated by Margaret Cho, Dominique Jackson, Leslie Jordan, Will & Grace, Ross Mathews and Alex Newell, the show looks into LGBTQIA+ through interviews with queer historians and experts. Every topic has been rigorously researched, fact checked and supervised by executive producer and queer historian, Eric Cervini.

Other shows featured in the Always Proud hub include the original 2003 series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, The Nate & Jeremiah Home Project and I Am Jazz.

90 Day Journey: Kenny & Armando, Design Star: Next Gen, Secret Crush, The Cabins, PS Burn This Letter, Mind for Design, Self-Made Mansions, The Laundry Guy, My Lottery Dream Home, Seen and TRANSitioning also can be found as part of Always Proud. ■

Media veteran Sarah Kate Ellis has been leading the advocacy organization GLAAD for more than seven years, focusing its efforts on building and fostering greater media acceptance of the growing LGBTQ+ community. Ellis, who will be honored at the June 23 B+C and Multichannel News Pride TV Summit, talked about the relevance and importance of this year’s Pride Month celebration, as well as the state of LGBTQ+ representation on television in an interview, an edited version of which appears below.

More on the Pride TV Summit: Pride TV Summit Hones in on the Business of Inclusion

B+C: Does this year’s Pride Month celebration take on greater significance given the cultural climate change the country has experienced over the past year? 

Sarah Kate Ellis: Absolutely. Two things are at play here. One is that for the LGBTQ community as a whole, community is a really important part of our identities, especially because for so long, we lived in the shadows. Our coming together in person was sorely missed last year, especially because so many of our youth live in unaccepting households. From a policy and political perspective, there have been over 250 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced this year in state legislatures across the United States — most of those are targeting trans and non-binary people. This year, we've seen 27 murders of transgender, non-binary people who are mostly Black and Latina, and we’re pacing to be the deadliest year yet for the community. With the Equality Act, which is the largest piece of legislation for our community ever, passed in the House but stalled in the Senate, I think it’s really important for us to use this month to build awareness and education about the Act and what it does to help protect our community. 

B+C: What role can the entertainment industry play in educating the public about the issues you’ve mentioned? 

SKE: TV and streaming content are empathy and education machines for our community. For instance, only 16% of Americans report knowing somebody who is transgender, so the rest of the country is learning about transgender people through media. Our annual report, Where We Are on TV, came out in January 2021, and we found that there was greater diversity of LGBTQ characters, but less characters overall. I'm really hopeful that [the decline] is likely due to COVID because a lot of productions were stopped, but a great example of how important content is for the community is FX’s Pose. This was a revolutionary show that focused on trans people of color for the most part and told their stories, but it also focused on HIV and AIDS in the ’80s. When this show shuts down this month, we will lose a significant number of trans characters on television, and we will then have zero characters living with HIV on scripted TV. 

That’s a lot of weight for one show to carry in terms of creating culture, education and empathy for our community. We need to see that spread out among other shows.

B+C How does the industry go about developing more shows like Pose that depict authentic LGTBQ+ characters and storylines on screen? 

SKE: Hollywood likes success — look at all the awards that Pose has received. Hulu’s Happiest Season is an LGTBQ holiday movie that broke all of their records for new subscribers during its first weekend viewing. So if you put the content out there, the audience will come and they will flock to it as long as it’s fair and accurate. I think that’s a big motivator to create programming that’s going to attract audiences and bring in new fan bases. I think the industry is moving in the right direction because it is showing more diverse characters. For so long, shows and films were scared to include LGBTQ characters mainly out of fear of backlash, and we’re way past that. If you look at the latest Gallup poll, 16% of 18 to 24 year olds in America identify as LGBT. So they want to see themselves and their lives reflected back to them. As content creators look to attract younger audiences, they're going to have to include LGBTQ people.

B+C: What is GLAAD doing to increase LGBTQ+ representation on screen? 

SKE: We approach it really from three different places. One is that we do our annual reports on the TV and streaming content providers and their content. We do the studio responsibility index on films and theaters. So we measure those. We have the GLAAD Media Institute where we work with these creators. We just launched a new project with Procter & Gamble called The Visibility Project. We know how important media representation is and, just like in television and film, advertising is pervasive. We know that if we can be in more ads that will grow acceptance for our community.

What we look to do is provide some measurements so that they have a benchmark that they could move forward from, as well as to hold them accountable, but also offer all our support and services to make sure that they are successful.

With Pride Month celebrations in full swing, Broadcasting+Cable and Multichannel News are gearing up for the first-ever Pride TV Summit virtual conference June 23, focused on the business of television featuring LGBTQ+ characters and storylines. 

Unlike other Pride events that focus on entertainment value and performances, the Pride TV Summit is a business conference that puts the spotlight on relevant LGBTQ+ issues and challenges within the TV and streaming industry. It also honors individuals and companies who are committed to creating strong and more meaningful representation across distribution platforms.

“We have gathered leading creatives, brands, and executives to participate in our program at the Pride TV Summit,” said event producer Joe Schramm. “This event proves that targeting TV and video programming to LGBTQ+ audiences, and about the LGBTQ+ community is simple, good business. Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or not, this event is worth your time.”

More on the Pride TV Summit: Register | GLAAD's Sarah Kate Ellis Primes TV's 'Empathy Machine'

A Sense of Where Things Are

With the number of LGBTQ+ characters on scripted broadcast, cable and streaming shows declining during the pandemic-challenged 2020-21 television season according to GLAAD’s annual Where We Are on TV report released earlier this year, the conference will examine the importance and impact of representation, how LGBTQ+ characters and storylines have evolved and the overall acceptance of LGBTQ+ characters and storylines.

“We continue to see that the industry and audiences are extremely engaged and interested in the growing landscape of LGBTQ+ content across media today,” GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said. “As we aim to grow authentic LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion, the Pride TV Summit and events like it help give best practices and guidance to ensure impactful content that will also be well-received."

Among the highlights of the event is a panel discussion featuring programming executives discussing the sensitive and controversial nuances of casting LGBTQ roles in today’s market. The panel will feature actor Nicole Maines, who plays the first first transgender superhero on television in CW’s Supergirl, as well Star Trek: Discovery casting director Margery Simkin, NBC Telemundo Enterprises executive producer Karen Barroetta and Batwoman writer/producer/showrunner Caroline Dries. 

The Summit will also feature key interviews with content creators such as three-time Emmy nominee Randy Rainbow as well as a session featuring TV critics who review top programs to watch for the Pride season.

Opening the conference will be a focus on the state of the current marketplace and the impact of LGBTQ+ programming from Hollywood to the TV screen. Luis Sandoval from Univision’s Despierta America will host the opening festivities. 

The event will also feature a series of presentations, case studies and candid conversations from advertisers and sponsors targeting LGBTQ+ audiences, including representatives from such companies as P&G and Getty Images.

Honoring the Leaders

A main highlight of the Pride TV Summit is The Pride TV Leadership and Courage Awards Ceremony which will showcase industry leaders advocating for the LGBTQ+ community on television. The Membership or Employee Association award will be presented to Comcast, while The CW will receive the Television Network award. The Media Agency award will go to the RAPP marketing agency. 

GLAAD’s Ellis will receive the Advocacy award, while on-screen talent awards will go to ABC News transportation correspondent Gio Benitez and MSNBC’s The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart host Jonathan Capehart. 

Producer Ilene Chaiken will receive the Pride TV Awards’ Leadership and Courage award for her groundbreaking work as executive producer of such shows as Showtime’s The L Word, Fox’s Empire and more recently, NBC’s Law & Order: Organized Crime.

Fuse Media is commemorating Pride Month by rolling out its Future LGBTQ Class of 2021.

Fuse’s Future History franchise, sponsored by Procter & Gamble, started in 2016 and aims to celebrate emerging leaders and their stories. Since 2021 Fuse has been naming Future History Classes of people making an impact.

The Future LGBTQ History Class of 2021 is: 

Recording artist Lil Nas X for breaking any expectation that he’s a one trick pony and using his elevated status to express himself on his own terms.

Writer Carmen Maria Machado for continuing to break boundaries for queer authors and bringing new perspectives to sci-fi and horror fiction with the collection, “Her Body and Other Parties.”

Trans icon, role model and top model Isis King, one of television's and fashion’s most visible transgender person. For many, seeing themselves represented on the screen and the catwalk is a welcome affirmation.

Composer, artist, cellist and singer, Kelsey Lu who shares their activism and emotions through their art and will make an impact for years to come.

Fuse will spotlight The LGBTQ History Class of 2021 through a short-form video series that premieres this week on the Fuse digital and social platforms, as well as its Fuse and FM (Fuse Music) linear channels. 

Telemundo is launching a new campaign to commemorate Pride Month that features authentic stories told by LGBTQ+ Hispanics, highlighting their contributions.

Telemundo, part of Comcast's NBCUniversal unit, is kicking off the campaign with Public Service Announcements that will air on the network and Telemundo stations. News shows will feature segments on the trans and Latinx experience, an expert panel on policies relevant to the LGBTQ+ community and stories about pride with celebrity guests.

Also Read: NBCU Telemundo Launches Studio Built for Streaming

The effort also includes digital promotion, HR diversity spotlights, internal panel discussions and stories of employee pride featured on internal channels.

Among the people featured in the PSAs are Arianna Lint, an educator originally from Peru who has worked with the Florida Health Department in the field of HIV and AIDS since 2006; Eduardo Placer, a Cuban-American story doula, public speaking coach and activist who leads workshops for the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and U.N. diplomats; Charlies Ruiz Vasquez, a Mexican-American writer and expert on LGBTQ+ cultural education and sensitivity looking to build a shelter for homeless members of the community and Yameeliz Fret, who works directly with school districts, families, community organizations and other stakeholders to implement professional development training, best practices and programs that create safe and inclusive learning environments for students.

Haystack News, the ad supported streaming new service, is planning to create a series of timely hyper-relevant channels marking events in June.

The first channel, available June 1-4, will focus on the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.

Also Read: History Channel, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Team on 'Fight the Power: The Movements That Changed America' Documentary

The next channel will mark Pride Month from June 7 to June 30.

Juneteenth, marking the end of slavery in the U.S., will be commemorated from June 15 to June 21.

Haystack News will also have a channel following the sentencing of Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd. The channel will run from June 23 to June 26.

“Dedicated Haystack News streaming channels are a popular way our users consume news and get multiple perspectives on the Haystack platform,” said Daniel Barreto, co-founder and CEO of Haystack TV. “Our curated channels on trending topics surface high-quality journalism to more of our viewers and allow them a deep-dive experience bringing together news from hundreds of partners.”

As Pride Month celebrations continue, a recent survey from advocacy group GLAAD reports a greater acceptance of the LGBTQ community among the public as more gay and lesbian characters are portrayed on television.

GLAAD’s LGBTQ Inclusion in Advertising and Media survey reported that 48% of respondents who had been exposed to LGBTQ people in the media said they are more accepting of gay and lesbian people, compared to 35% of respondents who had not recently seen LGBTQ people in the media.

GLAAD chief communications officer Rich Ferraro discussed the results of GLAAD’s survey as well as the organization’s advocacy plans beyond Pride Month in a wide-ranging interview, an edited version of which appears below.

Before we begin, what is your reaction to the recent Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ workplace protections?

The Supreme Court’s historic ruling protecting LGBTQ people from being fired for being LGBTQ is a moment to celebrate, but it is long overdue. It’s shocking that still in 2020 our dignity is being debated and decided upon by the highest Court in the land. The ruling is a reminder for how far LGBTQ have to go for full equality, particularly at a time when the number of murders of Black transgender women are rising and when conversion therapy – the dangerous and debunked practice of trying to change the sexual orientation of LGBTQ youth – is still allowed in many states. So while we can celebrate that a conservative leaning Supreme Court granted us a basic right, we are reminded of how far LGBTQ have yet to go.

What is the correlation between the increase in the public’s acceptance of the LGBTQ community as sited in GLAAD’s report and the rising number of gay and lesbian characters on television?

Over the past few years, we've definitely seen an uptick of characters across broadcast streaming and cable who are LGBTQ. I think that's a reflection of the world that we're living in where there are more LGBTQ people visible and being out. What our latest report showed is that non-LGBTQ people are comfortable with this. I think that's a big permission slip for the industry to do more and do better, and by do better I mean it's not just enough to have an LGBTQ character in a secondary role these days. What we should be looking at is how we can focus more on diverse LGBTQ people and stories.

Are you satisfied with the progress the media has made in the positive reflection of LGBTQ characters?

It's still a mixed bag when it comes to the quality and diversity of LGBTQ people. There are shows like Pose (pictured) which has really raised the bar for representation of LGBTQ people on TV. The show centers on trans issues, HIV and other issues that for too long were missing from television and from the industry. I think there are some networks and streaming services like Netflix that are recognizing this and are creating content to meet that need. We're having discussions with casting directors to make sure that there are queer voices at the table to represent the community in the best way. We're not saying every character on TV has to be an LGBTQ hero, although it would be great to see more LGBTQ superheroes. What we're asking for is accurate and diverse depictions. They don't always have to be positive because LGBTQ people do have struggles, and I think that those struggles and those issues are often glossed over by the industry.

In the GLAAD study, 85% of respondents believe companies that feature LGBTQ characters in their advertisements reflect a commitment to offering products to all types of customers. Does that show that inclusion is good for a company’s bottom line?

Inclusion is good for business and good for your brand. Research has shown that when people see us in the media, they're more likely to accept LGBTQ people and issues and those brands that associate with it. I think that's a big shift from just a few years ago when media companies and brands were concerned about including LGBTQ people, because they thought the general public would respond negatively. But now we're hearing that the general public is ready to see more LGBTQ stories, so the next step is to make sure that those stories are presented in ways that fairly and accurately reflect our diversity.

What next’s up for GLAAD in terms of what the organization is doing within the marketplace?

This year we entered a Pride Month in which over 205 marches and festivals were canceled or postponed, and where our safe spaces -- bars, LGBTQ community centers and nightclubs -- were closed, leaving some LGBTQ people -- especially youth -- to isolate in homes that are not affirming. So people are turning to the media, and we wanted to make sure that the industry heard that LGBTQ visibility is good for business and it's good for the world. We are also centering our messaging on content featuring LGBTQ people of color, specifically black LGBTQ people.There are so many intersectional issues right now that often go unnoticed as LGBTQ issues … LGBTQ people of color are victims of police brutality and are living in a racist society, and more and more of the LGBTQ movement and our organizations are standing with those individuals and with those communities. It's so important for our community to hear from black LGBTQ voices during this time and going forward.