Arts & Entertainment
Walmart slammed for using gay couple in promo video
The AFA launches petition urging the chain to remove the ad

Walmart is under fire for including a gay couple in its new promotional video series on Facebook.
“Love Is In The Aisle: A dating show at Walmart” shows couples going on blind dates shopping in Walmart. Episode two features Andy and Pat who get to know each other by sharing “pan” puns and conspiracy theories on all-in-one body wash, shampoo and conditioner products.
The American Family Association wasn’t pleased with Walmart’s attempt at LGBTQ inclusion. AFA President Tim Wildmon urged people to sign a petition asking Walmart to remove the video.
“In a move that most Christians probably never expected to see, retail giant Walmart has posted an online video that normalizes homosexual relationships. For most Christians and other traditionalists, the idea that marriage is between a man and a woman is sacred. We’ve seen many large corporations reject that in their marketing, but I honestly never thought Walmart would join the cultural revolution and reject the beliefs of its customer base,” the petition’s description reads.
“It’s clear that Walmart is on the path of elevating homosexual relationships to the same level as the male-female model of marriage,” the post continues. “We have no choice but to ask our supporters to let the company know how they, the customers, feel about Walmart’s shift away from neutrality on this controversial issue to full support for same-sex relationships.”
The Capital Pride Alliance presented the 2026 Capital Pride Honors at “The Audacity Brunch: In Full Fuchsia” at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 7.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)












Out & About
Congressional Cemetery hosts Gays & Graves
Daylong Pride celebration blends history, remembrance, art and community
Historic Congressional Cemetery will host the second annual “Gays & Graves: A Big Gay Festival” on Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m.
The event will feature pioneering activist Randy Wicker, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, and new public art installations and programs celebrating LGBTQ+ history. Gays & Graves is an official partner event of Capital Pride 2026.
This event is a daylong Pride celebration blending history, remembrance, art and community. Visitors can shop from LGBTQ+ and allied artists and makers, experience performances and interactive installations, and engage with programs exploring LGBTQ+ history and lived experience.
For more details, visit the cemetery’s website.
Baltimore Pride is underway, taking place from June 8-14.
The Pride Parade will be on Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m. at Charles Street & North Avenue, followed by the Pride Block Party at 1 p.m. at Druid Hill Park. And then the Pride Festival will be held on Sunday, June 14 at 12 p.m. at Druid Hill Park.
There will be an array of additional events including: a fashion show, a “Suits and Sneakers” reception and a 5k race, among many other events.
For more details, visit Baltimore Pride’s website.
