Out × Out Weekly: July 16, 2026

The Emmys came out swinging, Heartstopper's finale gets a whole lot steamier, and Kristi Noem's divorce is the meme gift that keeps giving. Plus everything you need for San Diego Pride and the SD gay scene this weekend.

This Week in Gay Life

• The Emmys got very gay: The 2026 nominations are stacked — Hacks broke Schitt's Creek's record with 25 nods in its final season, and four of the five Reality Host nominees are queer, including RuPaul, Alan Cumming, and Top Chef's Kristen Kish. Watermark Out News

• Heartstopper grows all the way up: The finale movie Heartstopper Forever hits Netflix July 17, and stars Kit Connor and Joe Locke confirm it's a lot more grown-up — think a lot more sex and one very memorable on-set prop. Out

• The witches are back: American Horror Story finally sets a season 13 premiere date and dropped the first coven set photos — the anthology's fan-favorite witchy era returns hotter than ever. Out

• Kristi Noem's marriage meme-splodes: The DHS secretary is reportedly divorcing her husband of 34 years after leaked photos of him in 'simulated breasts and tight garments' surfaced — and gay Twitter has thoughts. Out

• Love Island wants gay bombshells: After bi host Ariana Madix said she'd love more queer contestants in the villa, the After Sun hosts are co-signing — and Season 8 was already the show's gayest yet. Out

• Your next hockey-boy obsession: Off Campus — the Prime Video hockey series that shot to #1 — is filming season 2 in Vancouver, and stars Belmont Cameli and Stephen Kalyn just dropped a shirtless reunion selfie to tide you over. Pride

The Global Read

This is San Diego's biggest weekend of the year — and one of the largest Prides in the country. The parade steps off Saturday, July 18 at 10 AM, winding 1.5 miles from the giant Hillcrest Pride Flag down to Balboa Park in front of 250,000+ spectators (locals stake out University & 6th by 8 AM). Then the festival takes over Marston Point both days — Krewella headlines Saturday, MARINA closes Sunday, across four stages and 100+ performers. It all kicks off Thursday with the 21+ Hillcrest Block Party (yes, there's a Ferris wheel), and the bears take over EQ after dark with SubWOOFer and Furrageous. Our complete guide maps the parade route and best viewing spots, the full festival lineup, the after-parties worth planning around, and where to stay — book now, because Comic-Con the same month sends San Diego hotel prices soaring.

Read the full guide →

Visit Gay San Diego

San Diego does gay in the sun — and it all radiates out from Hillcrest, the walkable, rainbow-flagged heart of the city where the bars, brunches, and bookshops sit within a few blocks of each other. This weekend it hits full volume: San Diego Pride takes over Balboa Park July 18–19 with Krewella and MARINA headlining, the massive Hillcrest Block Party, and a parade that draws 250,000+. New to the neighborhood? Our complete gay Hillcrest guide maps the bars, the brunches, and where to stay.

The scene is easygoing and unpretentious — margaritas on a Baja Betty's patio, drag at Urban MO's, dancing at Rich's, and a leather nightcap at the Eagle. Here's how the locals string a Hillcrest night together.

• Urban MO's Bar & Grill — at The Hillcrest anchor — margaritas, line-dancing, drag brunch, and a patio that's packed from happy hour on.

• Rich's — at San Diego's flagship gay dance club, where the DJs and go-go boys keep Hillcrest moving late into the night.

• Baja Betty's — at Two floors of frozen margaritas and pure camp — the go-to for a boozy, colorful start to the night.

• Number One Fifth Avenue — at The laid-back Hillcrest neighborhood bar — strong pours, friendly regulars, the easy midpoint of any crawl.

• San Diego Eagle — at The city's leather-and-Levi's bar for a rowdier, cruisier nightcap — exactly what you'd hope for.