PBS SoCal Honors Pride Month and Juneteenth with Programs Celebrating Black Excellence and Queer Identity

Press Contact

Chelsea Grosbeck
cgrosbeck@pbssocal.org
747.201.5202

pbssocal.org/celebratingcommunities

Select programming will also be available to stream on the free PBS App, PBS SoCal’s YouTube channel and pbssocal.org. Members of PBS SoCal get extended access with PBS Passport.

Los Angeles, Calif. – May 28, 2026 – PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS station, announced today a curated slate of content throughout June that reflect the month’s Pride celebrations and recognizes Juneteenth (June 19) commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. Headlining the lineup is HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. - THE FABRIC OF AMERICA exploring the life and work of Henry Louis Gates, Jr., one of the most renowned, respected and popular cultural historians of our time. The special examines how Gates has made history come alive for tens of millions of Americans as host and executive producer for the PBS program, FINDING YOUR ROOTS. The special airs on Sat., June 20 at 6:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus.

Also, in recognition of Juneteenth, THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD: THE PATHS & PLACES OF REFUGE brings history to life through the extraordinary true story of William and Ellen Craft, tracing their courageous journey from slavery to freedom along the secretive path from Georgia to Philadelphia. Told through the Crafts' own personal accounts, the documentary is a tribute to the spirit of Juneteenth and the enduring legacy of those who risked everything in the pursuit of freedom. THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD: THE PATHS & PLACES OF REFUGE airs on Sat., June 20 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus.

Rounding out the month, INDEPENDENT LENS spotlights artist Rashaad Newsome in “Assembly” a new documentary celebrating Black and queer identity. Part documentary and part performance, the film captures Newsome's installation at New York's Park Avenue Armory, where artistic visuals like holograms and African fractal patterns combine with dance and poetry featuring artists from across the world. The program uplifts diverse perspectives and the collective future that Black and queer communities are creating together. INDEPENDENT LENS: “Assembly” premieres on Mon., June 22 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., June 27 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus.

All PBS SoCal programs can be found on the free PBS Video App and are available to stream on the PBS SoCal website where digital resources dedicated to informing and educating the community can also be found.

Select content slated to air is listed as follows (*schedule subject to change):

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE “Stonewall Uprising” – Mon., June 8 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal

When police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in the Greenwich Village section of New York City on June 28, 1969, the street erupted into violent protests that lasted for the next six days.

QUEER SILICON VALLEY – Mon., June 8 at 11:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal

Filmmakers Bob Gliner ("We're Still Here," "Schools That Change Communities," "Walk the Walk") and Ken Yeager explore the rich history of Silicon Valley and its profound impact on the LGBTQ+ movement in the United States.

ELTON JOHN & BERNIE TAUPIN: THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG – Tues., June 9 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus

Songwriting duo Elton John and Bernie Taupin are awarded the 2024 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

TOM DALEY: ILLEGAL TO BE ME – Tues., June 9 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus

Double-world champion diver Tom Daley visits the most homophobic countries in the Commonwealth to explore how athletes are facing extreme persecution – and asks what the Commonwealth Games can do to help.

AMERICAN MASTERS “Janis Ian: Breaking Silence” – Fri., June 12 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Tues., June 16 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus

A journey through the life of singer-songwriter Janis Ian, who challenged norms while overcoming professional and personal challenges including a life-threatening illness.

DEAR IKE: LOST LETTERS TO A TEEN IDOL – Fri., June 12 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Tues., June 16 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus

The story of a teenager's all-consuming childhood quest to contact his boyhood idol, Ike Eisenmann, and ask him to star in an animated science-fiction epic that he was forever developing in an overstuffed three-ring binder.

HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. - THE FABRIC OF AMERICA – Sat., June 20 at 6:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus

Explore the career of one of the most renowned, respected and popular cultural historians and how his work has made history come alive for tens of millions of Americans.

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD: THE PATHS & PLACES OF REFUGE – Sat., June 20 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus

Tracing the journey from slavery to freedom through the personal accounts of William and Ellen Craft, who followed the secretive path from Georgia to Philadelphia.

INDEPENDENT LENS: “Assembly” – Mon., June 22 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., June 27 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus

Artist Rashaad Newsome prepares to showcase a groundbreaking exhibit at New York's Park Avenue Armory which honors Black and queer resistance and calls for a more liberated future.

UNIDAD: GAY & LESBIAN LATINOS UNIDOS – Mon., June 22 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal

Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos was founded in 1981, only a few years before HIV/AIDS began to ravage LGBTQ communities. GLLU was the Los Angeles area’s first major Queer Latin@ organization, and the film chronicles events at a pivotal time in the history of LGBTQ equality, women’s rights and civil rights movements that shaped the destinies of GLLU’s communities.

For more information, follow us on social at @pbssocal

About PBS SoCal

PBS SoCal uses the power of public media for good, strengthening the civic fabric of Southern California and providing our community with an essential connection to a wider world. As a local, donor/member-supported non-profit organization, PBS SoCal manages 7 channels — including 2 primary broadcast channels, PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal Plus as well as 5 digital subchannels. With a commitment to make content available anytime and anywhere for free, PBS SoCal reaches nearly 19M viewers in the region with programming that reflects the diversity of Southern California and showcases the full schedule of beloved and trusted PBS content spanning Education, News, Environment and Arts & Culture. PBS SoCal programming is available to viewers over-the-air, on all key streaming platforms via the free PBS App and PBS KIDS App. PBS SoCal also sparks the sharing of ideas at in-person cultural events and community conversations as well as prepares children for kindergarten and beyond by bringing bilingual, hands-on learning experiences to the community for free.