TDS Time Machine | Pride Month

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Daily Show: Ears Edition
Episode: TDS Time Machine | Pride Month
Date: June 7, 2026
Main Hosts: Jordan Klepper, Desi Lydic, Dulce Sloan, Roy Wood Jr., Troy Iwata, Jaboukie Young-White, Ronny Chieng, Grace Coolensmith

Overview

This special Pride Month episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition takes a satirical and poignant look at the evolution, commercialization, and current challenges of LGBTQ+ Pride—both in the United States and abroad. Through skits, news analysis, correspondent segments, and hilarious banter, the team explores shifting corporate involvement, political backlash, the commercialization of Pride, historical context, and recent developments in LGBTQ+ rights.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Corporate Retreat from Pride (00:18 - 05:25)

• The episode opens with the observation that, in 2026, major retailers and brands are cutting back on public Pride displays and merchandise due to fears of political backlash and conservative activism.

• Insight: Corporations once eager for “gay cash” are retreating, fearing association with LGBTQ+ causes may harm their business under a new conservative administration.

  Quote:

  "Major corporations, not Lindsey Graham."
  — Jordan Klepper [01:44]

• Troy Iwata satirizes what true corporate commitment to the queer community should look like, joking about asking executives to literally “bottom” as proof of solidarity.

• The conversation skewers performative allyship and highlights how support is often transactional, not genuine.

2. LGBTQ+ Rights, Legal Fights, and Discrimination (06:02 - 12:03)

• The team revisits notable legal and social challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community, focusing on issues such as same-sex divorce recognition in Texas and employment discrimination in law enforcement.
• Memorable Quote:

  "Taking advantage of the state’s homophobic marriage laws just to get back at your ex. That is impressive to see a lesbian pulling such a dick move. Nice."
  — Desi Lydic [08:11]

• The struggle for equal legal treatment is shown to extend to heartbreaking events, such as a Navy vet not being allowed to be buried with her wife in Idaho.

3. History and Evolution of Pride Month (12:03 - 16:19)

• Jordan Klepper narrates the “coming out story” of Pride Month, tracing its origins from 1960s protests to the first Pride Parades following Stonewall, the creation of the rainbow Pride flag, struggles during the AIDS crisis, and the gradual mainstreaming of Pride throughout the Clinton, Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations.

• History Highlights:

  • Early activism: Reminder Day pickets, Black Cat Tavern riot, Stonewall.
  • Symbolism: Gilbert Baker’s rainbow flag (and intentional lack of copyright).
  • Mainstreaming: 1999 executive order by Clinton, subsequent evolution by Obama, Trump, and Biden.

  Quote:

  "He [Gilbert Baker] called himself the gay Betsy Ross... Not only did they both design iconic flags, but they also belonged to communities where wigs were very popular."
  — Jordan Klepper [14:09]

• The segment also addresses how Pride’s mainstream status doesn’t mean struggles and discrimination are over.

4. Corporate “Queer-Washing” vs. Genuine Support (22:13 - 26:57)

• Through on-site reporting from Pittsburgh’s Pride Equality March, Jaboukie Young-White and other correspondents lampoon the ever-increasing commercialization of Pride—and how companies sometimes want credit without commitment (or even act in contradictory ways, supporting both Pride and anti-LGBTQ politicians).

• The debate extends to whether corporations can truly be "part of the community," with quips about whether Walmart “seems like a top” [23:58] and furries, drunks, and “pups” being part of the parade.

• Focus on corporate hypocrisy: Sponsorship by companies like EQT, a fracking company, whose alleged allyship is deeply conflicted.

  Quote:

  "EQT doesn’t just shoot hot liquid deep into holes in the ground. They also swing both ways by supporting Pride and various anti gay politicians."
  — Jaboukie Young-White [24:50]

5. Gay Vague Advertising & Brand Hypocrisy (32:46 - 38:10)

• Dulce Sloan delivers a comedic history of advertising to the LGBTQ+ community—from Absolute Vodka pioneering targeted ads, the AIDS-related pullback, to the “gay vague” advertising phase in the 1990s.

• Hypocrisy Exposed: Companies that publicly support Pride while funding anti-LGBTQ legislation or producing merchandise in anti-gay countries.

  Quote:

  “AT&T loves to show everyone how much they support Pride, while also giving $1,000,000 to anti LGBTQ politicians and PACs... Which is another reason wearing this ugly ass top should be a crime.”
  — Dulce Sloan [36:38]

6. International Perspectives and Ongoing Struggles (38:21 - 44:42)

• Skewering the perception that LGBTQ+ rights are universally more accepted overseas, the show covers France’s anti-gay protests, Russia’s “gay propaganda” laws, and the Vatican’s rumored “gay lobby.”
• Memorable Satirical Moment:

  “What kind of evil monsters would turn away this adorable pair of matching Simon Peggs?”
  — Desi Lydic [18:51], on a UK bed-and-breakfast denying gay couples

7. New Political Backlash and “Straight Pride” (44:42 - 48:06)

• The team punctuates the episode with examples of fresh anti-LGBTQ moves in the U.S., like Florida banning rainbow bridge lighting, Idaho instituting “Heterosexual Awesomeness Month,” and Colorado Republicans calling to burn Pride flags.

  Quote:

  "Are you kidding me? Target stopped selling gay stuff, but their logo is literally a butthole."
  — Grace Coolensmith [48:21]

8. Satirical Product “Orientation” and Closing (48:46 - 51:04)

• In a playful exchange, the hosts assign sexual orientations to everyday items from Target, illustrating the absurdity of “banning” Pride products.
  • “Water bottles? Gay.” — Desi Lydic [49:42]
  • “Electrical sockets? Gay. Obviously. They're power bottoms.” — Roy Wood Jr. [50:04]
  • “Standard calculators are straight, but graphing calculators are gay because they're doing way too much.” — Roy Wood Jr. [50:09]
• Final thoughts return to the heart of Pride: community, struggle, and love, not corporate merchandise.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Secretly paying gays because you're ashamed – you're major corporations, not Lindsey Graham.”
  — Jordan Klepper [01:44]
• “They can watch Drag Race. I love Drag Race.”
  — Jordan Klepper [05:13]
• “It's not taking up any more space to have both of us in there. And I don't see where the ashes of a couple old lesbians is gonna hurt anybody, Idaho.”
  — Desi Lydic [11:59]
• “If you don't like being around gay people, you really shouldn't open a bed and breakfast. Kind of their jam...”
  — Desi Lydic [17:04]
• “Burger King offering Whoppers with two top buns and two bottom buns. Listen, it's still bread. And every gay man I know is not eating bread in the summer.”
  — Dulce Sloan [32:52]
• “Every product has a clear orientation.”
  — Roy Wood Jr. [49:39]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:18: Corporate retreat from Pride, intro to the year’s shifting climate
• 03:29: Satirical “demands” for true corporate commitment to Pride
• 06:02: “Gay Lesbian Life Cycle” – legal cases and discrimination
• 12:03: History of Pride Month – Stonewall, parade origins, rainbow flag
• 22:13: Corporate involvement and debate from Pittsburgh’s Pride
• 32:46: Dulce Sloan’s comedic history of gay marketing in America
• 38:21: International backlash and progress — France, Russia, Vatican
• 44:42: New American backlash — ‘Straight Pride’, flag burnings
• 48:46: Satirical exchange: product “sexual orientation” at Target

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Conclusion / Takeaways

The episode delivers a sharp, funny, and unflinching critique of the commercialization, commodification, and politicization of Pride Month. It traces the arc from protest to mainstream acceptance, calls out corporate hypocrisy, and re-centers the focus on genuine allyship and the persistent fight for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. The blend of satire, history, news analysis, and absurdist humor makes for an informative and highly entertaining Pride Month special.

Transcript

[Desi Lydic]

You're listening to Comedy Central.

[Jordan Klepper]

June is Pride Month, where we celebrate the LGBTQ community and stores roll out their Pride merch to rake in some of that sweet gay cash, or as it's known in the gay community, money. But this year are different.

[Dulce Sloan]

Pride Month is here, and some big brands have gone conspicuously quiet.

[Desi Lydic]

Corporate America is scaling back its marketing that includes selling Pride themed merchandise or posting supportive messages on social media.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Walmart, Mastercard, Comcast, Pepsi and more have either stopped or scaled back Pride events.

[Desi Lydic]

Anheuser Bush not sponsoring Pride St. Louis after a 30 year partnership, targets once bold Pride displays now stripped bare.

[Jordan Klepper]

Absolutely despicable. Target has completely abandoned its role as the number one destination for gay people with horrible fashion sense. But the question is, why are these companies suddenly retreating back into the Closet?

[Desi Lydic]

More than 60% of more than 200 executives say they fear backlash from the Trump administration and its actions against diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts by companies. Our country will be woke no longer. Some fear falling prey to conservative activists and customers, becoming the next Bud Light. Some companies writing checks, but asking that their names and logos not be included. It's just. It's a strange time for Pride this year.

[Jordan Klepper]

Come on. Secretly paying gays because you're ashamed you're major corporations, not Lindsey Graham. For more analysis, we turn now to our senior gay business correspondent, Troy Iwata.

[Troy Iwata]

Thank you so much, Desi. Yes, I am the senior gay business correspondent.

[Jordan Klepper]

Just to clarify, are you a correspondent on gay business or a business correspondent who is gay?

[Troy Iwata]

Yes.

[Jordan Klepper]

Cool. Cool, cool, cool. So what do you make of corporations pulling back from Pride Month?

[Troy Iwata]

You know what? I get it. Big corporations. I get it. You were only into jumping all over Pride a few years ago because it trendy and cool and so Obama and you wanted all that gay cash. But we have a lot of it. You know, I get it. Most of us don't have kids. Ugh.

[Jordan Klepper]

Right? Totally. You don't do that boring breeding thing that we do.

[Troy Iwata]

Yeah, yeah, totally. You know, but I get it. The vibes have shifted. You know, MAGA's ascended, Trump is president, Obama is dead. But I. You know, one day the pendulum is gonna swing back toward the gays. And when it does, a little rainbow flag isn't gonna cut it. If they want our business again, they're gonna have to do something that shows their commitment.

[Jordan Klepper]

Sure, like discounts. Or they could donate to LGBTQ causes.

[Troy Iwata]

They're gonna have to.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

Bottom.

[Ronny Chieng]

Oh,

[Jordan Klepper]

I'm sorry. Bottom.

[Troy Iwata]

Yeah, yeah. Hey, corporations. You want to prove that you have commitment? Find your most Homophobic executive. Change his fiber intake. Day one of the act. Make him eat light, mostly greens. Okay, he needs to douche because sometimes you can't just trust your body. And then he needs lubricant. Okay, you can't just pull a Heath Ledger and spit on it.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Rip.

[Jordan Klepper]

Wow. Bottoming does take a lot of commitment.

[Troy Iwata]

Yeah, it does. I. Even some gay guys won't do it. Brian,

[Jordan Klepper]

That demand is detailed.

[Troy Iwata]

Yeah, sorry, is that too much. Too much detail for you? Does male love make you cringe?

[Jordan Klepper]

Oh, my God, no. No. Oh, God, no. It's so beautiful. Like, so beautiful. I mean, in fact, I wish I could be there with you in the room, just like, celebrate it all, you know?

[Troy Iwata]

All right, calm down.

[Jordan Klepper]

Sorry. I just. I want to be an ally. So do you think bottoming will be enough to satisfy them?

[Troy Iwata]

Well, you know, it depends on the angle.

[Jordan Klepper]

No, no, I mean to satisfy the gay community.

[Dulce Sloan]

Oh.

[Troy Iwata]

Oh, right. Okay. No, no, no, no. There's all sorts of ways companies can embrace gay culture. They can. They can show their appreciation of Megan Hilty. They can find out who Megan Hilty is. They can open their marriages, then close their marriages, then open their marriages again. Amc. You can put Nicole Kidman in charge of the company. She's basically the only reason gays go to the movies.

[Jordan Klepper]

Yes. Yes. Oh, and they can give Goldman Sachs to Katy Perry.

[Troy Iwata]

I love that you're trying, but you don't get it.

[Jordan Klepper]

They can watch Drag Race. I love Drag Race.

[Troy Iwata]

A true ally.

[Jordan Klepper]

Yeah, thank you. That really means a lot. I feel so sad. And that is what Pride Month is all about.

[Troy Iwata]

That's not true, but.

[Jordan Klepper]

Okay, so let me ask you this. The next time the pendulum swings to the right, what if corporations abandon your community again?

[Troy Iwata]

Well, that will be difficult. And if they come crawling back a third time, they'll need to go above and beyond to regain our trust. And you know, there is something they can do, and I think we both know what it is.

[Jordan Klepper]

Yes.

[Troy Iwata]

Equal hiring practices.

[Desi Lydic]

Wow.

[Ronny Chieng]

What.

[Troy Iwata]

Did you. You just said full on fisting.

[Jordan Klepper]

No, no, no. I said what you said. Drag queen. Yes. Queen. All teen. No shame.

[Ronny Chieng]

Troy won.

[Desi Lydic]

Everyone. Betty Pride. We all know that two gay men in a loving, committed relationship poses a threat to our American way of life. We'd always assume that two gay ladies were. But we find out otherwise in tonight's special edition of Gay Lesbian Life Cycle. First we begin. I don't know if that's a stock photo or not, but first, we begin with one of the most important milestones in a woman's life. You meet someone, in this case another woman, you fall in love, you get married. And then, and only then, if you're both ready. A Bexar county judge has ruled that two San Antonio women married in another state can legally get a divorce here in Texas. They did it. True. Disdain really does conquer all. Congratulations.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

The case could have ripple effects because the state of Texas does not recognize same sex marriage and in this case is recognizing same sex divorce.

[Desi Lydic]

Oh, that's right. There could be a slippery slope that would open the door to same sex trial separations, same sex labor day barbecues, same sex quinceaneras, same sex bar mitzvahs. It's a slippery slope. Just wondering though, why do they need to to get a divorce if the state doesn't even consider them married? Alison Flood lesh hasn't seen 14 month old Caitlin since November. Shortly after she and her wife of three years decided to separate. Oh, right, Legal protection. She needs to get a divorce in order to get the legal right to see her kid. Right? Well, that sounds reasonable. Lesh's wife asked the judge to toss the case since gay marriage isn't legal in Texas. But late Tuesday, the judge denied that request. Wow.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Wow.

[Desi Lydic]

Taking advantage of the state's homophobic marriage laws just to get back at your ex. That is impressive to see a lesbian pulling such a dick move. Nice.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Nice.

[Desi Lydic]

On to the next stage in the cycle of a lesbian's life. Retirement. A joyful reflective time. Though less so when said retirement is not voluntary. Such was the case for LOTTA South Carolina Police Chief Crystal Moore, who claims she was fired after 23 years on the force because of her sexual orientation. But was she? Was she? Some residents believe the mayor firing Crystal was payback. Chief Moore investigated Mayor Bullard's most recent hire. Chief Moore found the mayor neglected to conduct a background check on Sellers. And if he had run a background check, the mayor would have found out that Vontrae Sellers had crashed his car into a ditch while drunk driving. So it is possible this isn't a case of homophobia and just some good old fashioned small town cronyism. The city's new mayor, Earl Bullard, who was secretly recorded by a council member. I would much rather have somebody who drank and drank too much taking care of my child that I had somebody whose lifestyle is questionable around children. Okay, homophobia, it was. All right. I'm sorry. No, he's just saying that his childcare hierarchy is this. His first choice, his ex wife, second choice, 15 year old down the street with ADD, then drunk guy, then escaped mental patient, then Toronto crack smoking mayor Rob Ford, then figment of his imagination, and then and only then, a responsible lesbian who runs an accredited and licensed childcare facility. Sir, just out of curiosity, why can't a lesbian take care of your child? Because that ain't the damn way that it's supposed to be. Says it right there in the Bible. God saith unto Moses, thou shalt leave thy son to be watched by he who drunkenly abandoneth his car in a

[Ronny Chieng]

ditch,

[Desi Lydic]

so sayeth the Lord. So lesbians don't get to take part in everyday life. Even the bad parts like divorce and work. At least tell me they're treated equally at the end of the life cycle. In Idaho, a Navy vet is mourning the death of her late wife, but Madeline Taylor is also mourning something else. The state run veterans cemetery where Taylor hopes to be buried one day is refusing to bury her with her wife's remains. You ass. Congratulations, Idaho. You figured out how to screw gay people from beyond the grave. And a veteran, no less. Let me tell you something, this woman better not be adorable or you're in a lot of trouble. Taylor was hoping the cemetery would approve it since their ashes would fit in one spot on the wall. It's not taking up any more space to have both of us in there. And I don't see where the ashes of a couple old lesbians is gonna hurt anybody, Idaho, you're telling me you don't want to see that sweet old lady burned to ashes and place them in. Point is, just let her do what she wants.

[Jordan Klepper]

Happy Pride Month, everyone. Or as it's called at Mike Pence's house, June Pride is a celebration of queerness, acceptance, and club remixes you can actually dance to. And today I'm here at RuPaul's private pool to tell you how Pride Month came to be. Because just like all queer people, June has a coming out story of its own. You could say Pride's roots go back to the 60s with Philly's reminder Day pickets. Reminder Day was like the precursor to what Pride is now. In the same way that Madonna was the precursor to Lady Gaga. And if you don't get that reference, you should probably stop watching now because this is a Pride segment and you're a terrible ally. The 60s also saw protests all over America like the Black Cat Tavern riot in LA and a protest at the White House demanding equal employment opportunities for gay people. That's right, it used to be legal to fight fire people just for being gay, which makes no sense. Who you have sex with should have no bearing on whether you get to keep your job unless you do it on the copy machine. Well known fact, that is how most paper jams get started. I learned the hard way. But then, of course, came Stonewall in 69, when police raided a gay bar in New York City called the Stonewall Inn, and the queer community fought back. It was such a significant moment in America's gay rights movement that to this day, that whole block is now a historic site visited by people from all over the world. The only way that corner of Christopher street would attract more gay people is if Britney had a residency there. Stonewall was the big turning point. Though they still faced so much discrimination, the LGBTQ community finally felt empowered enough to hold big public celebrations. The first ever official Gay Pride parade was held in Chicago in 1970. But one day later, New York held an entire parade, Pride Week. During this seven day celebration, the community marched from the Village to Central park with slogans like Gay, Gay all the way and Gay Power, which isn't just a good slogan. It's also the energy source that keeps the lights running on Broadway. Of course, we can't talk about pride without talking about the symbol of it. No, not your grandparents Googling. What is scissoring? I'm talking about the rainbow flag, which was designed in 1978 by Gilbert Baker. He called himself the gay Betsy Ross, which makes sense. Not only did they both design iconic flags, but they also belonged to communities where wigs were very popular. One of the coolest things about Gilbert Baker was that he refused to trademark the pride flag. He wanted everyone to be able to share it and reinterpret it, which is why today, the flag has become as fluid as sexuality itself. By the time we reached the 80s, the AIDS crisis came to the forefront, and pride took on a new mission. It wasn't just about visibility and acceptance. It was about destigmatizing and promoting public health, which was especially important because the federal government pretty much just pretended AIDS didn't exist, like what Tom Hanks does with Chet. Once we made it to the 90s, pride was even more mainstream than ever before. And in 1999, President Bill Clinton signed the executive order officially recognizing June as Pride Month for the first time. Yeah, if two people of the same gender wanted to have sexual relations, that was fine with him, even if he didn't totally understand the definition of sexual relations.

[Desi Lydic]

I did not have Clinton's executive order

[Jordan Klepper]

referred to June as Gay and Lesbian Pride month. Then in 2009, President Obama changed it to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. Then President Trump dialed it back a little and just called it LGBT Pride Month, which makes sense. No big words, and it's less scary for Mike Pence. But these days, the Biden administration extended the name again to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month, making it, as of now, the only thing that's been built back better. But whatever you call it, Pride has truly become a global phenomenon. It's celebrated everywhere. Manila, South Africa, Brazil, Madrid. Pride's gone to so many places, if it had an Instagram, you'd have to mute their stories. We get it. Pride. You had fun in Spain. Stop making the rest of us feel so boring. So this month, don't forget where Pride came from and all the people who fought to make it a reality. The LGBTQ community still faces many challenges, but it's also experienced a lot of progress. And if you ask me, that's worth celebrating.

[Desi Lydic]

Hello, hello, hello.

[Jordan Klepper]

RuPaul's back from vacation early.

[Desi Lydic]

It is finally December, which, as we all know, is the year's third gayest month. Look it up. Making it time once again for gaywatch. Where shall we begin?

[Jordan Klepper]

The Supreme Court has ruled against the Christian owners of A, B and B who only allow couples to share a double bed if they are married. Judges said the policy discriminated against gay couples, even though it was applied to unmarried heterosexuals as well as homosexuals.

[Desi Lydic]

Here's a career tip for you kids out there. If you don't like being around gay people, you really shouldn't open a bed and breakfast. Kind of their jam, some cases marmalade, by the way, other businesses you don't want to open if you don't want to hang around gay people is a Liberace replica furniture museum, combination chest waxing and spangling shop, and of course, a Subaru dealership. I'm just saying these owners of a bed and breakfast seem to have made a basic error about who your bed and breakfast target audience is. And it is a shame, because otherwise this bed and breakfast sounds quite lovely. You can get a good home cooked

[Ronny Chieng]

English breakfast here at the Chaimorva Hotel

[Desi Lydic]

and enjoy the views. Don't look up English Breakfast on Urban Dictionary. Don't look up English Breakfast on Urban Dictionary. I can't help it. Oh, my God. Who cooks tomatoes for breakfast? There really is on Urban Dictionary on English Breakfast, and you really don't want to know what it is. So let's meet the offending couple.

[Ronny Chieng]

We just wanted a relaxing weekend away, something thousands of other couples in Britain do.

[Desi Lydic]

Every weekend, because we wanted to bring our new dog, we checked that he would be welcome.

[Ronny Chieng]

It didn't even cross our minds that in 2008 in Britain we needed to ask if we would be.

[Desi Lydic]

Of course the dog is welcome. The Bible doesn't say anything about dogs going to hell. In fact, I have it on good authority that they all go to heaven. What kind of evil monsters would turn away this adorable pair of matching Simon

[Jordan Klepper]

Peggs, Peter and Hazel Mary Bull gave their reaction outside the court.

[Desi Lydic]

Oh my God, they're just sad eyed old people. We appeal to the Supreme Court to

[Ronny Chieng]

introduce more balance when dealing with competing rights of sexual orientation and religious liberty. We're just ordinary Christians who believe in the importance of marriage as the union

[Desi Lydic]

of one man and one woman. That is respectfully a load of. What kind of. I don't know. I steer cow. Bull. That is literally Bull. First of all, if you're good Christians, you wouldn't charge weary travelers to stay in your home in the first place. You know where I learned that? A little bestseller called the Bibble. Maybe you've heard of it, like in Romans 15:7. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God. Oh, and by the way, there is a continental breakfast included or this old chestnut from First Peter 4 9. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling and you be grumbling. Not to mention Olive Garden 24 7. When one is with you, he is family. That's just Jesus 101. With our final story, we turn to the Catholic Church and David Gregory's recent interview with New York's own Cardinal Dolan. Let me touch on gay marriage. Here's the why do you think the Church is losing the argument on it in effect? Well, I think maybe we've been out marketed. The Catholic Church. Out marketed? You're the outfit that convinced a billion people to give up masturbation and pay 10% of their income for the privilege. How does an organization like that get out marketed? When you have forces like Hollywood, when you have forces like politicians, when you have forces like, like some opinion molders that are behind it, it's a tough battle. Sure it's a tough battle. And all you have on your side is God. Don't know if it ever occurred to you. Maybe in this situation it's not about marketing. Maybe, I don't know, maybe the Catholic Church is in this instance in the morally inferior position. That is why. But if this is about marketing, all you gotta do what struggling products do, then fire your creative team and rebrand a little bit. I give you a Charlie Brown heteronormative Christmas.

[Jordan Klepper]

Stop.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Everyone stop this devil music. We've forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. Leviticus 20:13. If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman. Both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. And it also says, eating shellfish is an abomination. But those are so delicious. Now let's all make this Christmas tree a little less gay.

[Desi Lydic]

Yay.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Perfect. Now that's a proper heterosexual Christmas tree.

[Desi Lydic]

Worth a shot. Because otherwise, you got nothing. As you know, June is Pride Month, a time when the LGBTQ community celebrates the right to be seen and recognized. But are corporations part of that community?

[Troy Iwata]

Well, we sent Jaboukie Young White to

[Desi Lydic]

Pittsburgh to find out.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

Hi, I'm Jaboukie Young White, the Daily Show's senior Rust Belt correspondent.

[Troy Iwata]

Jk.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

I'm gay. And so is Pittsburgh. It's Pride Month, and Equality March is the original Pittsburgh Pride. It has bikers, pups, pups, furries, queens, twunks, drunks, cops, bears, and fish creatures. But there is one group that not everyone is happy about. A lot of corporations are capitalizing off Pride and off lgbtqia.

[Dulce Sloan]

Like, merch.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

I don't know. They're just making a lot of money off this. That's what the Q and LGBTQIA stands for. Corporations.

[Dulce Sloan]

Okay.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

But surely discriminating against our pride loving corporations can't be the answer.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Pittsburgh Pride Equality March is for everybody. It doesn't matter who you are, where you work, or who you love.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

And just so you know, we love corporations. Viacom, you're great. Keep doing what you do. We're really big fans here at the Daily Show. Viacom, Mwah.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Love you.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

So the answer is obviously to hug these corporations close. And corporations are hugging right back. Google, kpmg, Aetna, Lyft, Not Chick Fil A. And here comes the true slay queen, Walmart. Is Walmart gay?

[Desi Lydic]

Walmart does take pride in their gay associates as a company. I don't think you can label a company with a sexual orientation.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

Walmart seems like a top to me.

[Ronny Chieng]

I would agree with that. Yeah.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

I think it's amazing that so many people could come out and just live their truth as a marketable demographic, for sure.

[Desi Lydic]

And they really made it, like, a safe place for everybody. I think for us too.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

Yeah.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

100%. It's like, here I am, I'm queer, I have a debit card.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Everyone's gay as hell now. And gays love money.

[Desi Lydic]

Bitch. Right?

[Jaboukie Young-White]

So queer capitalism is totally chill. Actually, there is a specific issue with corporate sponsorship in Pittsburgh and it involves the F word. No, not that. Fracking.

[Grace Coolensmith]

There's a lot of corporations that are seemingly buying.

[Desi Lydic]

Last year this march was called the EQT Equality March.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

EQT doesn't stand for equality.

[Troy Iwata]

It stands for They're a fracking company.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

Do you think that it's appropriate that a fracking company is a sponsor for Pittsburgh Pride?

[Grace Coolensmith]

Lol.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

I think that it is completely inappropriate

[Desi Lydic]

that a fracking company is a sponsor for anything.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

EQT doesn't just shoot hot liquid deep into holes in the ground. They also swing both ways by supporting Pride and various anti gay politicians. So what are people supposed to do? Have a separate Pride without corporate sponsors? Some say frack.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Yes.

[Desi Lydic]

This Pride event represents the people. Non corporational pride.

[Dulce Sloan]

Something that centers our TLGBTQ communities of Pittsburgh.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

Do you think corporations can be gay people?

[Dulce Sloan]

No, corporations cannot be gay people.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

The people's pride is non. Corporate has more color in its rainbow. And I found someone who can keep up with my moves. But are they turning their back on progress? Don't you think it's beautiful that queer people have been able to come out and live their truth as a marketable, capitalizing demographic?

[Ronny Chieng]

No, I would think it would be

[Troy Iwata]

beautiful if those actions were genuine.

[Desi Lydic]

They want to be a part of

[Troy Iwata]

what's trending right now.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Right now being gay is trendy.

[Desi Lydic]

You know, pose is out and there

[Troy Iwata]

are lots of gay celebrities now.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

Could you name a couple by the chance?

[Ronny Chieng]

So off the top of my head

[Desi Lydic]

right now, Big Frida, There's Daeshaun Wesley and Naomi Maldonado.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

They don't even want my brand. This is where I draw the line. There has to be some way for corporations like EQT to prove that they're really committed and not just experimenting. Like maybe they just need to show that they're really about queer subculture in like a more inventive, creative way.

[Desi Lydic]

So I'm afraid where you're going with this.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

I thought that maybe this could really get across the message of what EQT stands for. It's like drilling, but also it's a little fast.

[Desi Lydic]

Could you slow it down maybe that.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

That's right. Progress takes time. Fifty years ago, corporations wouldn't touch the gay community and now they can't wait to show their love in public. And what better way to reciprocate that love than with the EQT varyspeed deep fracking drill deck brought to you by eqt.

[Desi Lydic]

Welcome back to the program for yet another installment in our award adjacent series, gaywatch. Our first story tonight, daughter of the former Vice president Liz Cheney, who was running for Senate. Now you may be thinking to yourself, that really doesn't sound so gay. Well, as you probably know, Cheney's sister Mary is both gay and married. And recently, supporters of Liz Cheney Senate primary opponent Mike Enzi decided to make Liz Cheney choose sides.

[Ronny Chieng]

She's been attacked by some super PAC

[Desi Lydic]

ads for being in favor of gay marriage. She appears on MSNBC to campaign against the marriage amend and support government benefits for gay couples. Oh, my God. She appears on msnbc. That's, that's basically the gay bathhouse of cable news. That makes what she said on the network gay squared. But this was a chance for Liz Cheney to have a defining moment, to stand up not only for her sister, but for equality.

[Jordan Klepper]

I do believe it's an issue that's gotta be left up to the states.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I do believe in the traditional definition of marriage.

[Desi Lydic]

And you know, remember when Dick Cheney retired and we were worried there wouldn't be a Cheney on television saying awful things? There lives another. But the Cheneys aren't alone in facing a bit of fuss these days. Hallmark's new holiday sweater ornament uses a lyric from Deck the Halls, Don we now are fun apparel. They have used the word fun to

[Jaboukie Young-White]

replace the word gay.

[Desi Lydic]

First of all, first of all, how many people were sitting around that table? Second of all, this is happening so much that is true. It's like when Congress retroactively changed the name of the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan to the Enola Fund. It was less offensive to gay people and way more so.

[Jaboukie Young-White]

Why?

[Desi Lydic]

Why did Hallmark do that? And if Nightline could drive home the context about gayness with a thumping techno beat, that would be appreciated.

[Troy Iwata]

They explained that back when it was first translated, the word gay had only one real meaning, and they didn't want

[Desi Lydic]

to leave it open to, quote, misinterpretation. So it's about misinterpretation. They didn't want the confusion. You know, they don't want people confusing the meaning of the sweater. It was like what happened with last year's Hallmark holiday sweater ornament, I want to suck your for Christmas, which, as you know, is just that beloved old English Christmas carol. I believe it went something along the lines of, I want to suck your for Christmas. I want, I want to suck it.

[Ronny Chieng]

Now,

[Desi Lydic]

I've been so Very good, Please. By the way, Why stop there, Hallmark? I mean, there's so many other Christmas terms that are open to misinterpretation. Yule log, candy canes, stocking stuffers. Come to think of it, I don't think any holiday has gayer verbiage. What about Santa going down the chimney? I mean, that could mean something else. Especially if there's a guy named Chimney. Or what about giving Santa milk and cookies? What if someone misinterprets that as the Urban Dictionary slang for the act where a guy into one person's mouth, into another person's mouth, and then the other two kiss each other and then swirl it around? I mean, what if someone did that to Santa? What are we. What are we talking about still? I just want to point out, like, that is a real thing on Urban Dictionary. We do not know if I. That is a real thing. And you should have seen the other ones. For our last story tonight, we thought we'd end with some good news.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Gay marriage.

[Desi Lydic]

Now the law in Hawaii. The governor signed a bill making the

[Grace Coolensmith]

Aloha State the 15th state plus the

[Desi Lydic]

District of Columbia to allow same sex marriage. Yes, this is great news. Hawaiian gay marriage. Finally, Hawaii's gay citizens can stand up and say we are deserving of the same dignity as our fellow citizens. For as we all know, there is truly only one abomination in the state of Hawaii, and it is their disgusting pizza. I mean, ham and pineapple. Even Chicago thinks your pizza's disgusting. Just kidding about the pizza thing. June is Pride Month.

[Ronny Chieng]

Or as it's called in the state of Florida.

[Desi Lydic]

Shh. But while you're out there celebrating pride, don't forget that some of its biggest supporters weren't always on its side.

[Ronny Chieng]

For more, we turn to Dulce Sloane for another installment of Dulce in.

[Dulce Sloan]

Hello, friends. It's June, which means it's the first month of the year where it's just hot enough outside to not be sexy. But in America, we know June also means Gay Pride Month. So I want to wish everyone a happy pride. And I'm not the only one. This year it feels like every damn company with the logo is going to full rainbow. You've probably seen these ads like Burger King offering Whoppers with two top buns and two bottom buns. Listen, it's still bread. And every gay man I know is not eating bread in the summer. They're doing keto and crunches until October. But don't forget, companies weren't always jumping on the pride float looking like a Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper when the gay rights movement first began in 1969, most companies were too affected, afraid to advertise to gay people. They didn't want to offend the rest of America, especially religious conservatives. They were so uptight, they thought pretzels are too sexy. All those twists. Oh, it's so sinful. So companies kept their distance. Except for Absolut vodka. Absolut was one of the first big companies to market to the queer community. Because those Swedes don't give a shit about the religious right. They were like, who cares if the right doesn't like us? All they drink is milk. So thanks to Absolute for being a true ally. It's a good year. I didn't drink the whole thing because I got a work meeting after this and they said, I gotta be sober this time. Anyway. As gay people became more visible in society, some advertisers slowly started reaching out into the community. Until the AIDS epidemic blew up. That sent companies fleeing for the hills again. Oh, no. What if the gays look at our aids? Wait, is that how you get aids? But you know what company doubled down on their advertising during the AIDS crisis? That's right. Absolute vacuum. The second half got a kick. Damn. All right, where was I? Right. By the 1990s, the queer community had once again fought its way into greater acceptance. So brands once again tried to dip their toes into the pool party. But they were still too nervous to jump all the way in. So American advertiser entered a phase now known as gay vague, which sounds a lot like being in a fraternity. Basically it was companies hinting at possible homosexuality. Like this Volkswagen ad where two dudes are driving in a car and then pick up this dirty ass chair off the sidewalk. So the ad leaves it open to interpretation. Are they roommates? Are they lovers? Are they roommate lovers? Because that's the worst kind of hookup. You gotta wait for them to text you back and finish up in the bathroom. Now, a few times during this era, a brand tried to make an outright gay ad, like Benetton in ikea. And the ad completely won over the religious right. And they apologized for everything. Psych. One IKEA in Long island even got a bomb threat. What is wrong with these religious fanatics? They know the furniture isn't gay, right? Plus, if there's one place that can reassemble after a bombing, it's an ikea. Unfortunately for the religious right, but luckily for everyone else, their time was ending. Over the next two decades, Americans started to realize that gay people were just the same as everyone else, except with better abs. And as popular opinion improved, companies finally felt it was safe enough to take gay money. And this time, it was major brands. Amazon started advertising to gay people. Coca Cola aired a commercial with two Dads during the Super Bowl. And just Salad even had a big gay salad, which, come on, that was just a regular salad. At least saw some glitter in it. And that brings us to today, when practically every company does Pride Month marketing. But just because every June, a business acts like they're auditioning for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, it doesn't mean their values line up with their tweets. Take AT and T, for example. They love to show everyone how much they support Pride, while also giving $1,000,000 to anti LGBTQ politicians and PACs. Or how retailers like H and M are launching Pride collections with items made in countries that criminalize homosexuality. Which is another reason wearing this ugly ass top should be a crime. And they aren't the only hypocrites donating to anti queer causes. But hey, why go through all the trouble of listing them here? I'm no hater. Oh, and that one, too. Okay, are we done? Listen, let's make it mistake. The point is, enjoy all those gay whoppers and pink Toyotas, but don't forget what this month is about. Pride is the time to celebrate the right to love who you are and to honor the people who fought to give us that right back when no brand was on their side except for Absolute.

[Jordan Klepper]

Mm.

[Dulce Sloan]

You know what one of those gay whoppers sounds real good about now, though? I'm dizzy.

[Ronny Chieng]

What about overseas, where people are famously more enlightened about these issues? Let's check in. In tonight's installment of gaywatch International edition, brought to you by international mail. International mail. Selling mesh underpants for pretend pirates since 1974. Our first stop. Our first stop on this trip, France, which recently legalized gay marriage. A move that I can only assume was met with the traditional nationwide Gaelic shrug.

[Desi Lydic]

Violence erupted across Paris as demonstrators swarmed to the streets to rally against France's new law allowing gay marriage. Some of them fought with police, throwing bottles and chasing journalists. Police say there were 150,000 demonstrators.

[Ronny Chieng]

Really? I did not expect that. I guess they just feel very strongly about preserving traditional marriage in France, which is, of course, one man, one woman and her sister once. And their maid and the college age daughter of friends who stayed with them for the summer. You know, traditional French marriage, like God intended. Actually, can we see some of that protest footage again? Quick Question. How is it that France's anti gay protests look so much gayer than our pro gay protests? That doesn't make any sense. You can't be against what? And that wasn't even France's gayest anti

[Jordan Klepper]

gay protest fireworks at the French Open this weekend. It had nothing to do though, with tennis. A masked bare chested protester leaped onto

[Roy Wood Jr.]

the court and lit a flare over Francis decision to legalize gay marriage.

[Ronny Chieng]

Listen, I don't want to be in the position of giving tips to bigoted anti gay forces, but just in terms of pure message discipline, you might want to go with something that doesn't so much scream audition peace for Cirque du Soleil. Now look, people can protest all they want, but with votes happening across Europe, marriage equality seems to be taking root. I mean, what national government would today have the balls to say that gays are not equal citizens with equal rights?

[Desi Lydic]

The lower house of parliament in Russia voted overwhelmingly today for a bill that targets gays.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay, Russia, Yeah, Russia. Actually quite a few, but Russia would definitely be among them. So specifically, what's in this bill?

[Desi Lydic]

The Russian parliament has voted almost unanimously

[Grace Coolensmith]

to pass a law to punish the promotion of homosexuality with fines and jail terms.

[Ronny Chieng]

That's actually smart because nothing reduces instances of homosexuality like a lengthy jail term. That's smart. That's some visionary thinking so far. This bill was actually only passed by the lower house of parliament. So what happens now?

[Grace Coolensmith]

The bill now goes to the Senate before being signed into law by President Putin. Steps considered to be a formality.

[Ronny Chieng]

I wouldn't be so sure about that. Remember, this is the man we're talking about. Seriously, at this point, I firmly believe that Vladimir Putin is just three months shy of having his own calendar. We can come up with a better title than that. Yes, there it is. That is the perfect joke. So gays are coming under attack in both France and Russia. But there is one place where apparently they have found a home.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

A stunning revelation coming from the head of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis says there is a gay lobby at the Vatican.

[Ronny Chieng]

I don't know if I'd call a Vatican gay lobby. A stunning revelation. Really? The whole building is basically a Liberace film fever dream. Oh, unless. I get it. I get it. Unless you don't mean an architectural lobby.

[Desi Lydic]

Gay lobby, I think, is kind of a confusing term. We use lobby to mean someone putting forth a certain agenda.

[Ronny Chieng]

Oh, I'm. I'm sorry. I. I wasn't listening to a word that man was saying. Cause I was lost in his eyes. Look at them so piercing blue and his hair so snowy white. It's like if Anderson Cooper and a Siberian husky made beautiful, sweet love and had a little baby priest. I. I want one of those. I want one of those.

[Desi Lydic]

I'm sorry.

[Ronny Chieng]

I'm sorry, Father McDreamy, you were saying that lobby is not a good word for it.

[Desi Lydic]

Probably a better word would be gay cabal, gay clique.

[Ronny Chieng]

Right. And other acceptable collective nouns include a gay brunch, a man pile, a cabin crew, an Oscar party, or a Palm Springs traffic jam. If there is a gay lobby, what is it that they want? How much damage could they do?

[Jordan Klepper]

So there have been long rumors here that the gay lobby drove Pope Benedict from the church.

[Ronny Chieng]

That is just ridiculous. A gay lobby did not drive Pope Benedict from the church because if they had, it would have looked like this. You've got to admit, that would have been one hell of an exit. The bottom line to all of this is no matter what country you live in, what religion you belong to, it seems crazy that in this day and age, anyone has a problem with which gender you want to. What's the phrase? Want to do sex with each other.

[Grace Coolensmith]

This June, which means it's time to celebrate the holiday JoJo Cy invented pride Month. Pride Month started as anti establishment protest, but over the last few decades, it's gone mainstream. There are parades in every city, Pizza Hut puts out gay boxes, and even Exxon changes all its oil spills to a rainbow color ally. But recently, the conservative backlash has been growing. And this year, some Pride traditions are coming under fire.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

In Florida, Ron DeSantis administration has forbidden cities across the state from displaying colorful lights on their bridges during Pride Month, limiting bridge coloration to red, white, and blue. Bridges across the state that normally illuminate in colorful arrays of light to mark holidays won't be able to use any other colors. The goal of Ron's order is clearly to shut down any celebration of Pride Month.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Yo, what is up with Ron DeSantis? I mean, I can't believe a guy who rocks three inch heels is such a dick to the gay community.

[Desi Lydic]

But by the way,

[Grace Coolensmith]

by the way, red, white, and blue lights on crumbling infrastructure. Perfect metaphor for America. And it's because having pride colors on bridges also prevented a lot of straight people from killing themselves. Guys would be like, hey, I can't jump off this bridge. That's gay. But if you think it can't get any pettier than a ban on rainbow bridges, there's a bar in Idaho saying, hold my heterosexual beer.

[Desi Lydic]

An Idaho bar is offering A break from the pride push that's being forced on Americans by declaring June to be Heterosexual Awesomeness Month. The old state saloon offering deals all month long, including hetero male Monday, when any heterosexual male. Get this. Who must be dressed like a heterosexual male, gets a free pint of beer.

[Grace Coolensmith]

You must be dressed like a heterosexual male. So this straight bar is going to be critiquing everyone's outfits as soon as they walk in the door. It sounds super straight to me. What? What exactly are they even saying here? Like, our bar is so straight that we're offering special deals to pack it entirely with dudes. I mean, you're basically one brick away from being stonewall. Okay, so now I guess someone could argue that none of this stuff is explicitly anti gay. But just check out how Colorado Republicans are celebrating pride.

[Desi Lydic]

The Colorado Republican Party is calling on people to burn all gay pride flags, proclaiming in a mass email to supporters

[Ronny Chieng]

that, quote, God hates pride.

[Desi Lydic]

The Republican Party's message attacks so called godless groomers. And it echoes the anti gay slur used by Westboro Baptist Church protesters.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Okay, awful story, but hang on.

[Troy Iwata]

Wait.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Did Jesus have laser eyes? Was that in the Bible? I mean, I knew he had powers. I didn't know he was into X Men. I don't get how anyone can be so angry about rainbow flags. I mean, it must be exhausting being that homophobic. You know, just eating a bag of Skittles like, no homo. No, no, no homo. No homo. So there's backlash to Pride Month all around the country. And guess what? Some of those corporate allies are turning out to be fair weather friends.

[Desi Lydic]

Target says it will no longer sell its Pride Month collection in all of its stores. The decision comes after conservative groups came upset over the chain's decision to sell LGBTQ themed merchandise last June. The company says the backlash harmed sales.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Are you kidding me? Target stopped selling gay stuff, but their logo is literally a butthole. Well, you know, that's it. From now well on, I will be going somewhere else to pretend to shop so I can poop in the bathroom. For more on this story, we go live to Target with our senior lesbian correspondent, Grace Coolensmith.

[Desi Lydic]

Grace, Grace, Grace.

[Grace Coolensmith]

What's the feeling at Target?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

It's pretty amazing. Did you know if you use the self checkout machine, you don't have to pay?

[Grace Coolensmith]

Yeah, okay. I don't think that's right, but that's not what I'm talking about. How you do. How do people feel about Target banging gay merchandise?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Oh, yeah. It's so disappointing. Gay people Just want equality. If Target wants to ban gay items, fine. But if they want to be equal, then they also need to ban all the straight items, like golf clubs or cargo shorts or two in one shampoos.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Wait, no, that's the shampoo I use. I mean, it saves time and my hair looks great.

[Dulce Sloan]

Yes.

[Grace Coolensmith]

All right, so anyway, so straight items. Items that straight people use?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

No, it's more of a vibe. Every product has a clear orientation.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Every product. Okay, what about, like, I don't know, water bottles?

[Desi Lydic]

Gay

[Grace Coolensmith]

cell phone cases? Great, okay, I think I get it. So a slotted spoon. That feels gay.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Slotted spoons are so straight, they're serving nothing.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Okay, okay. What about sweaters? Straight dog sweaters? Gay. Electrical sockets? Gay.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Obviously. They're power bottoms.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Okay, what about calculators?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

So that one's interesting. Standard calculators are straight, but graphing calculators are gay. Cause they're doing way too much.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Okay, okay, I think I'm getting it. Printers are straight and humidifiers are gay.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Ronnie, don't out them. They haven't told their family yet.

[Troy Iwata]

Okay.

[Ronny Chieng]

What?

[Troy Iwata]

Shit.

[Ronny Chieng]

I'm sorry.

[Grace Coolensmith]

I don't know what.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Look, hey, that's besides the point, okay? Pride isn't about rainbow tank tops at Target. It's a way for the queer community to remember how far we've come from the violence and discrimination we once faced. And most importantly, it's about me hooking up with my ex girlfriend's ex girlfriend in a cabin in Vermont. Let's just say that I'm the electrical.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Okay.

[Desi Lydic]

Explore more shows from the Daily show podcast universe by searching the Daily Show. Wherever you get your podcasts, watch the Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount.

[Grace Coolensmith]

Plus,

[Desi Lydic]

this has been a Comedy Central podcast.