urinary tract and upper respiratory tract infection. ask your doctor about gemtesa. more time here, less time there. >> janai: good morning, america. it's our second hour. the tsa screening a record number of passengers, the highest since 2019 heading into juneteenth holiday weekend. what to know before taking to the skies and hitting the road. >> whit: "gma" parenting alert. are weighted sleep sacks unsafe for infants? that new warning out from the american academy of pediatrics saying the products could pose deadly danger. >> gio: happening now, pride and politics in the buckeye state. how anti-trans bill are turning ohio pride into a call for action.

>> they aren't necessarily getting rid of us. >> janai: tianna madison speaks out. >> we need to put ourselves in position to save ourselves. >> >> reporter: the two-time olympian advocating for black maternal health following the death of teammate tory bowie and opening up about her own complications while pregnant. >> whit: also this morning, a birthday fit for royalty, king charles' first trooping of colour as monarch. full of british pomp and pageantry as the royal family readies to watch 70 aircraft fly over that famous balcony over buckingham palace. ♪ you're still the one ♪ >> gio: booked and busy. the novel being hailed as one of the best summer reads. plus, our sit-down with the avenger turned children's book writer. >> a little bit of a reprieve for you. >> it is. >> gio: as we say good morning america, america. ♪ still the one i kiss good night ♪

>> janai: good morning, america, on this juneteenth weekend, father's day is tomorrow. you excited? >> whit: yep. i'll send you my list. >> janai: all right, daddy. as we come on the air, the heat is on with 40 million americans waking up under heat alerts stretching all the way from texas to florida. >> whit: somara theodore is standing by in houston tracking that summer scorcher and another round of dangerous storms this holiday weekend. >> gio: we'll start this hour with what to know before you head out the door. the travel rush, a sure sign summer is on. as millions of americans pack airports and take to the skies. let's go back to zohreen shah at l.a.x. this morning. good morning again, zohreen. >> reporter: hey, gio. it's a busy morning here at l.a.x. with travellers checking in and it's expected to be like this through the whole weekend. a record number of travelers over memorial day and we just hit another record travel number on thursday.

tsa screened over 2.75 million people at the airports, the highest number since 2019 and now we're entering father's day and juneteenth weekend. the faa forecasted 50,000 flights over american skies yesterday with most people heading to vegas, atlanta or orlando, and this appears to be a part of a larger trend that we're seeing after the pandemic, likely a rebound in travel that we'll continue to see. the number of flights will dip this weekend before they pick back up again on monday and tuesday. by wednesday, almost another 50,000 flights in the air. guys? >> whit: all right, thank you, zohreen. appreciate it. now to trooping the colour happening now as king charles iii celebrates his first official birthday as monarch. full of pomp and pageantry fit for royalty. victoria murphy is live outside buckingham palace. victoria, good morning to you. >> reporter: hi, there. good morning, guys.

you joined us at the perfect time. happening right now that spectacular military flyover. 70 aircraft going over our head. i say perfect time, but it's very loud. members of the royal family have gathered on the buckingham palace balcony behind me. we're seeing the working members of the working family, william and kate, princess anne and william and kate here with their three children. one thing that people are also talking about here today, guys, is that the fact this is a big day for king charles and his second son prince harry and meghan, they weren't invited to be here. unfortunately pointing to a new low in relations between the sussexes and the rest of the royal family. but here today, celebratory atmosphere. the crowds really enjoying the moment. not his real birthday but a big celebration for king charles' first trooping. back to you. >> janai: victoria, thank you. also a celebration here, a juneteenth holiday weekend. celebrations across the pond. still coming up here on our

"gma" morning menu, that new warning for parents about a popular baby product that could pose a deadly danger. >> gio: also ahead, tensions on the rise in ohio as pride celebrations clash with a recent run of anti-trans legislations. >> whit: plus, tory johnson is in the house with decorative deals and stylish steals to spruce up your space. all the alliterations today. we'll be right back with all that. thank you, tory. lit we'll be right back with all that. thank you, tory. my doctor told me rybelsus® lowered a1c better than a leading branded pill and that people taking rybelsus® lost more weight. i got to my a1c goal and lost some weight too. rybelsus® isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. don't take rybelsus® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if allergic to it.

stop rybelsus® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or an allergic reaction. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. gallbladder problems may occur. tell your provider about vision problems or changes. taking rybelsus® with a sulfonylurea or insulin increases low blood sugar risk. side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. need to get your a1c down? you may pay as little as $10 per prescription. [ upbeat music ] ♪ do your thing ♪ ♪ i said, do your thing ♪ ♪ just do your thing ♪ adulting made easy. that's totally target.

so i'm mentally preparing for the power outage. oh, well we can help stop one because we're gonna reduce our energy use from 4-9pm. - what now? - i stepped on a plug. oh that's my bad... unplugging. when it comes to preventing outages, the power is ours. >> janai: welcome back. let's get right to our "gma" parenting alert about a popular product known for helping infants get a better night sleep that may be in your baby's nursery right now. we have one hanging up at home. the american academy of pediatrics issuing a warning over weighted sleep sacks, saying that putting weight on babies while they're sleeping could pose a danger and potentially deadly risk.

the group goes on to say there's no evidence that weighted sleep sacks are safe or effective when it comes to helping babies sleep longer. adding the products could contribute to increase risk of sudden infant death syndrome. >> whit: it's important to note that the consumers product safety commission has yet to put out any warnings and dreamland baby and nested bean, makers of the best-known weighted sleep sacks maintain their products are safe. abc news reached out to both companies for comment. dreamland telling us they've had no adverse effect from its weighted sleep solutions since the product went on the market in 1999. janai, you were talking about a lot of parents having these. there's a lot to consider, sometimes these warnings come through and it's worth taking the time to look into it for families. >> janai: absolutely. do your research. >> gio: important to know about it. we turn now to our "gma" cover story as the nation sees waves of legislation which critics say target the lgbtq+

community. this morning all eyes on the buckeye state with pride celebrations being called a cry for action to that community to push back against these bills. alex presha is in columbus, ohio, as this story unfolds. good morning, alex. >> reporter: good morning, gio. welcome to pride columbus. we got vendors set up over here, march check-in back here, police back here with a staging area, some 700,000 people are participating in pride festivities here this weekend, but they're saying it's not just a celebration but also a call to action. this morning, columbus is preparing to welcome an estimated 700,000 people to its annual pride parade while a battle is brewing just blocks away at the ohio state house over the future of trans rights. the republican-controlled state legislature is considering a number of bills impacting trans youth. one called hb-68 would make it illegal for doctors to prescribe gender-affirming care for

minors. including prescribing puberty blockers or hormones. >> that one concerns me because i'm actively on the list for puberty blockers. >> reporter: 11-year-old michael has identified as a boy for years now. his parents say puberty blockers are needed to pause his development. >> it makes me uncomfortable if i'm having to go through feminine puberty. >> this is to save adolescents from experimentation. >> reporter: he also touts that it bans doctors from performing surgeries on a minor. something opponents say is not happening in ohio. >> i've done a lot of research on this. our side gets ignored on this. we have this science on our side. >> reporter: the american academy of pediatrics

a study finding trans gender teens who were given puberty blockers experience superior mental health outcomes. compared to those who didn't receive it. nonbinary youth, those with access to gender-affirming care had lower odds of depression. >> i love these kids. i care about these kids. >> reporter: they have accepted that the bill may become law. they say that's why for in the lgbtq community this year's pride parade has been a call for action. >> it may hurt the trans community. it's not going to make us detransition or just pop out of existence, i guess. they aren't necessarily getting rid of us. >> reporter: now the family tells me they're going to stay in ohio and fight this legislation for as long as possible. it's not just here in ohio. the human rights campaign, which tracks these bills, say some 500 bills impacting the lgbtq community have been introduced across the country just this year.

gio? >> gio: 500 bills, important story. alex presha, thank you for joining us. janai? >> janai: now to the story bringing much-needed attention to the black maternal health crisis. olympian tory bowie dying during childbirth this past may. now her teammates are speaking out about their own difficulties while program. it's something that disproportionately affects black women. tianna madison posting on instagram about her experience. she went to the hospital with her medical directive and her will, giving birth to her son at just 26 weeks. i got the chance to sit down with her and ask her about that decision. here's our conversation. tianna madison the two-time olympian was training for the tokyo 2021 olympics when she

learned she was two months' pregnant. the unexpected pregnancy took another unexpected turn at just 26 weeks. >> when i stepped out of the shower and dried off there was blood on my towel. i went to my partner and said we need to go to the hospital. we went to the hospital and i learned that i was dilated. >> reporter: when they left for the hospital, she grabbed her directive, along with her will. >> what specifically made you think if i'm going to the hospital right now, i need to have my will with me? >> i knew what the stats were for black women when they go into the hospital to give birth. my partner and i had discussed it. we were very prepared. we had a conversation. if it came between me and the baby, he would choose me if i was incapacitated. >> reporter: the latest report from the cdc showing shocking high rates of maternal in the u.s. a 40% spike in 2021 with black women three to four-times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than a white woman.

>> in 2021 we lost over 1,200 people to maternal mortality and it turns out more than 80% of those deaths were preventable. >> reporter: under medical care, tianna and her baby survived. the traumatic events of her pregnancy and the risks to black mothers have changed her future plans. >> do you plan on having more children? >> no. we have discussed this extensively. to voluntarily put myself and my body at risk is not something that my family is willing to do. maybe that will change, but as of right now, absolutely not. >> reporter: for this doula black mothers to be need to find the care team that works for them. >> you want to find providers who are like meeinded and you g along with well and you feel like you can voice your concerns

with. a huge thing that comes up for a lot of black women and birthing people is they don't feel heard or they might feel dismissed. we don't often get the adequate care we need. oftentimes we're misdiagnosed. things that can be treated earlier in a pregnancy might be lethal in the end. so really important to have that communication with your care providers. >> when you have friends or family members, other black women tell you they're pregnant what goes through your mind? >> we need to put ourselves in position to save ourselves and advocate. i want you to do what you need to do to come home alive so you can raise your babies. >> janai: the federal government has invested in awareness, training and health care plus resources for women during pregnancy and the first year after giving birth, all with the hopes of reducing the number of maternal deaths. experts say these things have been neglected for a long time and systemic change is necessary. if you need help there's a national maternal health hotline.

1-833-tlc-mama. 1-833-852-6262. the hotline has licensed healthcare providers and mental health clinicians and certified doulas. one thing that donned on me speaking with tianna, on her post she pointed out that 3 out of the 4 women on their relay dealt with difficult births. one obviously didn't survive. i'm a black woman. i'm pregnant. your socioeconomic level, your educational level, none of those things matter. it's something that, even reporting on, doesn't make me immune to it. it's something that is top of mind and something we're living with. >> whit: as the surgeon general said 80% of those deaths are ve ventable. that shows how much of a difference can be made if they address this issue. >> gio: you have been leading the way on this story. it's so important because it affects so many women. >> whit: thank you, janai.

we'll shift gears now and get another check of the forecast. somara theodore is in houston with temperatures in the triple digits, plus the humidity. somara, good morning. >> somara: good morning, whit. the sun is up now and we're starting to feel that heat and soupiness in the atmosphere. this is where the juneteenth roots were laid. they're getting ready to have a big celebration. walks and runs will be taking place. as a result hydration is important. take a look right now at so much the heat alerts in place, excessive heat warning not only for texas, but louisiana as well. one thing i want to stress, the power grids, that's big issue. the good news is they're saying they have the capacity to handle it in texas. it's not just texas. we're looking at oppressive heat and triple digit feel like temperatures for naples, miami and southern florida. that's the weather across the country.

>> whit: now to "deals & steals." there's no place like home. start saving now by scanning that qr code right on your screen. it will take you to the deals on goodmorningamerica.com. tory johnson here as always. let's do it. peach skin sheets, it's ultra soft, incredibly breathable, moisture-wicking material. it will keep hot sleepers cool and cool sleepers cozy. one of the most exciting things is that we're debuting eight new tropical colors. they're right there in the front. >> whit: perfect for summer. >> so fun for summer.

bring a little caribbean into your home. that brings the total color count that we have to 32 color options. >> whit: okay. >> that we've got available for you. really great line. all 50% off. starts at $52.50. >> whit: some of us run hot at night so these are good. >> those are going to help. >> whit: let's add a little greenery. >> this is wally grow. this is really fun. these small containers here allow you to hang plants on the wall or use them flat on table surface, desk surface, a shelf, anywhere you want. what's great about these, they're made in america from recycled materials. a couple of special functions, one is a smart watering system that makes it easier to water your plants. then these perforated holes here in the front. that prevents root rot. it allows air to circulate through. these are great. just to be able to use indoors or outdoors to allow plants to come into your life, really beautiful. they're $15 today. >> whit: especially to make it easy for you. okay.

what do you have here? >> this is mahogany. this is for your summer entertaining. 100% cotton. beautiful prints and fabrics are fabulous. there you go. you've got napkins, place mats, table runners, table cloths. variety of fabulous patterns. >> whit: for when i'm eating ribs. >> there you go. that should be required wearing for eating ribs. these start at $12. >> whit: love these. >> i heard gio was admiring these earlier this morning. we have one for him in the front. look at this one here. >> whit: johnson. this is nice. >> it is very nice. you can add a monogram, a name or even a handwritten recipe. take a look at this. this is a recipe. this was just like someone had written this on paper. you'll take a photocopy and then upload it. look at how beautiful it comes out. >> whit: love that. >> straight on to the board.

you can do a love note, recipe, whatever you want. these two have their eye on something. >> whit: janai's getting hers. >> janai said she doesn't cook. we said that's okay. that's just for serving. >> whit: she's never cooked a thing, but it's her kitchen. >> exactly. all slashed in half starting at $42.50. >> whit: what do we got here? this is once again home, they care about helping us to become more eco-conscious. that starts by eliminating our reliance on single-use paper and plastic. paper towels obviously are disposable. you can replace those with these really great towels. >> whit: i love these. >> they're ultra absorbent. they will absorb seven times their weight in water. we also have what i love, these really great sponges that have this really great charcoal on the inside that's going to keep them fresh and all of these things look really good in your kitchen. starting at $8. >> whit: excellent. last but not least.

>> finally, wax and whit. >> whit: i like the whit part. >> so do i. this scent. see what you think. adding a little caribbean. doesn't that smell good? if you need a little staycation vibe in your home or office, this candle is great. the scents are clean and fabulous. it's a soy wax. it's going to burn clean. make your mood better. why not, right? all slashed in half. these are starting at $12.50. >> whit: tory, you're the best as always. we appreciate it. we partnered with all these companies. find each deal on our website. goodmorningamerica.com. coming up, how elizabeth olsen is using her superhero status to help kids manage their anxiety. we'll be right back. using her status to help kids manage their anxiety. we'll be right back.

-your house is lovely... -thank you! i need to introduce you to someone. he was telling me how geico makes it easy to save on homeowners insurance, so i was thinking... [laughing] -will? -hello, old friend. so you have met... years ago we both had big dreams about saving people money on their homeowners insurance. yeah, just look at us now! your house is lovely. -yeah, i just said that. -okay! nobody... heard you. okay... (whispers) i did hear you. geico makes it easy to save on homeowners insurance. ♪ ♪ get last-minute gifts for father's day. (whispers) i did hear you. from nike must-haves... to self-care finds he'll love every day. then score great deals on his other favorites... like the top grilling gear with 15% off now at kohl's. (nadja) feeding time in the morning is very exciting. i used to feed them purina one... it just wasn't my preference feeding them the chicken by-product meal or corn gluten meal. when i look at the ingredients of the blue life protection formula... these are all things i want to feed my dogs.

it feels good feeding them something that i know is good for them. when the martins booked their vrbo vacation home, they really weren't looking for much: just time with each other. but when they needed support, i got you. they could reach a real person in about a minute. and that's what makes vrbo unique. ♪ like going hiking, just to hike to the bathroom. reaching for the bar, just to reach for pads.

waiting for the sunset, just to wait for the stall. discover gemtesa. a once-a-day pill proven to reduce all 3 key symptoms of oab: leakage episodes, urgency and frequency in adults. do not take if you have a known allergic reaction to gemtesa or its ingredients. tell your doctor right away if you are unable to empty your bladder or if you have a weak urine stream. tell your doctor if you're taking medicines that contain digoxin or if you have liver or kidney problems. side effects may include headache, common cold symptoms, diarrhea, nausea, urinary tract and upper respiratory tract infection. ask your doctor about gemtesa. and see how urovant could help you save.

building a better bay area moving forward. >> finding solutions this is abc7 news. >> good morning, everyone. i'm liz corey. it's one person is

dead after a car crash friday night in oakland. this happened just after seven last night near the intersection of foothill boulevard and vicksburg avenue. witnesses claim the crash was caused by an illegal street race. police say the crash involved an adult pedestrian who was then taken to the hospital that person later died. investigators say the driver of the car that hit the victim fled the scene and let's get a check of the forecast now with meteorologist shayla gerardin. hi, shayla. >> hey, good morning. cool and cloudy to start the day, but going to be a nice one out there. sunshine moves in a little bit later this morning. not going to see quite as much sun, though, as you head into the coast. temperatures today ranging from the 60s up to the 80s as you head inland, we cool down tomorrow with a windy father's day ahead. >> all right, shayla, thank you and thanks for joining us. the news continues right now with gma. have

so i'm mentally preparing for the power outage. oh, well we can help stop one because we're gonna reduce our energy use from 4-9pm. - what now? - i stepped on a plug. oh that's my bad... unplugging. when it comes to preventing outages, the power is ours. at kaiser permanente, oh th we care for all thoseing. who make your family, well, your family. that's why all of us work together to give them the care, and caring, that any family would. kaiser permanente. for all that is you.

♪ vacation is all i ever wanted ♪ ♪ vacation had to get away ♪ >> gio: everyone in here snapping fingers. back on "gma" with the go go's hit song "vacation." before you get away this summer, we got the hottest travel tips to keep you cool and avoiding stress from deciding who gets to claim the middle arm rest on a plane to finding out if it's ever okay to be a back-seat driver. >> janai: too bad you guys didn't see us all snapping at the same time. as long as we can get whit on beat we're good.

i'm just kidding. >> gio: don't do it, whit. >> janai: we start with the headlines. secretary of state antony blinken is on his way to china this morning ahead of the high-stakes meetings in beijing. increasing tension between the playing out in the air and on the sea. before his departure blinken saying diplomacy is what's needed to keep competition from turning into conflict. >> whit: the man who leaked the pentagon papers has died at the age of 92. daniel ellsberg announcing in february he had terminal pancreatic cancer. in 1971 the former marine gave "the new york times" copies of the massive secret report on the vietnam war revealing government's lies and doubts to the public about the war. charges against ellsberg were dropped because watergate investigators later learned that the nixon white house aimed a

campaign against ellsberg. >> gio: kourtney kardashian announcing her pregnancy at a concert in los angeles. the reality star holding up a sign. look at that. it reads, travis, i'm pregnant. meant for her drummer husband, travis barker. when he read the sign, he made his way down to the stage to give his wife a big hug. congratulations to them. that's a fun way to do it. >> janai: what a cute way. >> whit: now to the marvel superhero turned "the new york times" best-selling author, elizabeth olsen and her husband robbie arnett joining forces to write "hattie harmony opening night." will ganss sat down with the couple this week. >> reporter: elizabeth olsen is no stranger to sequels, this time it's for a children's book she says was inspired by some of her own first forays into the spotlight as a kid. she's known for playing some of the fiercest women ever seen on screen.

>> this is me being reasonable. >> reporter: but now elizabeth olsen is pouring her powers into a brand-new children's book. >> i have to imagine, correct me if i'm wrong, between wanda and candy montgomery, delving into hattie's world may be a reprieve for you. >> it is. >> reporter: teaming up with her husband robbie arnett -- >> i have a lot of ideas and every idea guy needs an editor. >> reporter: -- for "hattie harmony opening night." >> we were talking about the firsts that kids in this age group have and i think the most personal idea was opening night, because we had lots of opening nights as children. >> robbie, word on the street is there's an elvis presley hound dog-related incident from your own childhood. >> yes, right. when i was 7, it was the talent show.

i had my elvis prepared and i forgot all the lyrics. but i still had the crazy elvis dance moves which got the crowd going. >> you were hooked for life. >> reporter: the book focusing on the tools hattie and her friends use to calm their nerves on opening night of the school play. >> this concept of putting words to complicated feelings for kids is something that we really wanted to embrace. trying to give kids emotional behavioral language tools, but we worked with professionals who work with children on how best to use the writing in a helpful way for the younger audience. >> we have a friend who has a 5-year-old and she practices her breathing and practices her journalling and so it was really sweet to just see it actually in the flesh, like actually being used.

>> reporter: "hattie harmony opening night" is available everywhere books are sold. my full sit down streams on tuesday on "abc news live." you better believe i asked about a possible return to wanda and the marvel cinematic universe. her answer might make a lot of people happy. >> whit: quite a tease right there. >> janai: a big promotion. >> whit: congratulations, will. >> gio: now a multi-platform reporter here on "gma." we're calling him a multi-platinum reporter. >> don't make me sing. >> janai: will, we were on the overnights together, doing it all night long -- >> it's been a journey. >> janai: to see you ascend this way is just -- we're the lucky ones. >> thank you. it's a team effort. y'all make me look good and everyone behind the cameras makes me look good. i'm grateful for the opportunity. >> whit: you bring so much to this show and across all abc shows. we're thrilled to make it official. >> thank you.

>> whit: coming up, meet the author who is rewriting the rom-com with his debut novel. we'll be right back. he rom-com with his debut novel. we'll be right back. when moderate to severe ulcerative colitis keeps flaring, put it in check with rinvoq, a once-daily pill. when uc got unpredictable, i got rapid symptom relief with rinvoq. and left bathroom urgency behind. check. when uc got in my way, i got lasting, steroid-free remission with rinvoq. check. and when my gastro saw damage, rinvoq helped visibly repair the colon lining. check. rapid symptom relief. lasting, steroid-free remission. and a chance to visibly repair the colon lining. check. check. and check. rinvoq can lower your ability to fight infections, including tb. serious infections and blood clots, some fatal; cancers, including lymphoma and skin cancer; death, heart attack, stroke, and tears in the stomach or intestines occurred. people 50 and older with at least 1 heart disease risk factor have higher risks. don't take if allergic to rinvoq as serious reactions can occur. tell your doctor if you are or may become pregnant.

put uc in check and keep it there, with rinvoq. ask your gastro about rinvoq. and learn how abbvie could help you save. [ upbeat music ] ask your gastro about rinvoq. ♪ do your thing ♪ ♪ i said do your thing ♪ ♪ just do your thing ♪ snack success made easy. that's totally target. i brought in ensure max protein with 30g of protein. those who tried me felt more energy in just two weeks. uh... here i'll take that. -everyone: woo hoo! ensure max protein with 30 grams of protein, one gram of sugar. enter the nourishing moments giveaway for a chance to win $10,000. dads are special. fun.

inspiring. always there for you. so make father's day extra special with gifts he'll love from weathertech. floorliners... cargo liner... seat protector... sunshade... ready-to-wash system and cupfone. or our newest product, the golf cart mat. order these american made gifts or a gift card at weathertech.com have a very happy father's day. ♪ there are currently more than 750,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the u.s.

♪ the google cybersecurity certificate was made to fill that gap. -with hands-on training, recruitment support, and access to a wide network of employers, this program provides the necessary skills to begin a career in cybersecurity. -one of the best defenses against cyberattacks is a growing workforce trained to stop them. ♪ ♪

>> janai: welcome back. turning the page on our "gma" buzz pick, it's "the quiet tenant" by clemence michallon. >> whit: it's getting plenty of buzz as one of the best books of the summer. don't take our word for it. here's the debut author with more. >> good morning, america. i'm in the hudson valley where my novel is set. it's about a seemingly perfect man who is anything but. indeed, he's a serial killer. the novel features three female narrat narrat narrators. a captive our killer keeps hidden, his teenage daughter and a woman who has a crush on him. the women in the novel are strong. the killer doesn't get a voice. the book was a little scary to write but isn't that what thrillers are all about? >> whit: i'm intrigued. >> janai: me, too. "the quiet tenant" now available. gio, you intrigued, too? >> gio: absolutely, after that.

i wonder where she shot that. thank you, guys. from one debut author to another. with the novel "best men" being called a refreshing spin on the romantic comedy and author sidney karger joins us. welcome to "gma." >> thank you for having me. >> gio: you're a screen writer, now a debut author. what made you decide to write this book? >> i always wanted to write a book from an early age. i was a big reader and writer. when i was 11 or 12, i actually sat down and wrote a book and it was -- >> gio: at 11? >> 11. >> gio: you were destined for this. >> yeah. it was a choose your adventure book where it's based on a series of kids' books and i'm not sure why it wasn't a success. but i -- it was terrible obviously. but my friends and family sort of encouraged me and my parents were always asking me, when are you going to write another book? i'm like, i'm 12. give me some time. i got older and i got into film and television.

>> gio: what's easier to write? >> easier to write -- they're totally different challenges. i realized writing a book i'm using a different part of my brain from writing a screenplay. that's very economical. when i started to write this book, i was like, who is writing this? my hands were just doing the writing. you have much more of a canvas to explore, go deeper on character and story and just really sort of get into it more. when i was finished with the book, i wanted to go back to the cleansing sorbet of writing a screenplay. i finished the screenplay and wanted to go back to the book. they're both fun to juggle. >> gio: what i love about this -- a good screen writer -- you have the log line here. it says boy meets girl's fiance's brother. there's some drama, but it's funny. i'm reading it. i'm listening to the audio book too. tell me about this story in

particular because i wonder is it based on your life's experiences? >> yeah, i -- my best childhood friend in real life asked me to be the man of honor in her wedding party. i said yes. i was excited. she was excited. she had this wedding planner who was not excited. she didn't want to have one man in the all-female wedding party. so the wedding planner demoted me to an usher. i don't even know what i did. i sort of like handed out a program and sat down immediately. but i always thought that was a great idea for a story and a setup. what if the main character was in his best friend's wedding party? so i kind of was able to live vicariously through that story that i didn't get to experience. >> gio: what made you want to

write a gay rom-com? you're switching the genre here. >> i'm a huge rom-com movie fan. john hughes, nora efron, nancy meyers, i could watch those movies for days. i never saw myself in those movies. i wanted to do my own spin on it. historically gay characters have been the sidekick or the gay best friend. what if i took that trope of the gay best friend and over the course of the story he transforms into not just the sidekick but the main character of the story and so i feel like we're getting the tip of the iceberg of these kind of characters. i wanted to show there's 50 shades of gay. >> gio: all right, sidney, such a pleasure. thank you so much. loving the book, it's a lot of fun. pick up a copy of "best men." it's on book shelves everywhere. now let's send it back to somara in houston for another check of the weather. hey, my friend. >> somara: good morning, gio. temperatures here in the 80s. we're gearing up for a triple-digit heat day. one city we're keeping our eye on, oklahoma city.

take a live look right now. things are pretty peaceful. this is the calm before the storm. we anticipate multiple rounds of severe weather with this active pattern which is really uncanny for this time of the year. here's a look at the biggest tornado thread. that includes much of oklahoma, oklahoma city, just outside dallas, north of dallas. all the way down to tampa, florida, we could see damaging hail. we see that set up for areas of greenville, jackson, down to mobile, alabama, a chance for isolated tornadoes. that's a look at the weather across the country. >> janai: still coming up here, before embarking on that summer vacation, brush up on the hottest tips to keeping your cool on planes, trains and automobiles.

we'll be right back. automobiles. we'll be right back. back. no big deal? go on... well, what if you partner with ibm and red hat, use a hybrid cloud solution to connect data across clouds, then analyze all that data with watson. okay, but this needs to meet our... security standards? yup. compliance standards? mm-hmm. so they get the insights they need... yup. in real time... check. ...to make quick decisions? check. aaaand check. that's the solution ibm and a global bank created. what will you create? ibm. let's create. i've become a bit of an expert in suncare... an spf-icianado if you will. my bottle of choice? neutrogena® ultra sheer a lightweight blend that protects 6 layers deep with a smooth dry-touch finish. this round's on me. neutrogena® ultra sheer (megan) this is max we feed max blue buffalo now, this round's on me. but before that we fed him purina one. i was reading the label of blue life protection formula. there's chicken, barley, brown rice, oatmeal.

as a nutritionist, those are the kinds of ingredients i want for my family. and max is family. my a1c was up here; now, it's down with rybelsus®. his a1c? it's down with rybelsus®. my doctor told me rybelsus® lowered a1c better than a leading branded pill and that people taking rybelsus® lost more weight. i got to my a1c goal and lost some weight too. rybelsus® isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. don't take rybelsus® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if allergic to it. stop rybelsus® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or an allergic reaction. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. gallbladder problems may occur. tell your provider about vision problems or changes. taking rybelsus® with a sulfonylurea or insulin increases low blood sugar risk. side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. need to get your a1c down?

you may pay as little as $10 per prescription. ♪ ♪ ♪ [typing] ♪ you were made to act spontaneously. we were made to help plan accordingly. ♪

>> whit: welcome back to "gma." we're cooling off with summer travel etiquette. the hot tips you need to take the stress out of that next family holiday. here to test our knowledge is jacqui gifford. she is the editor in chief of "travel and leisure." good morning, great to have you. >> thank you for having me. >> whit: we've got our true or false paddles here. you're going quiz us. we've already been debating some of these topics here. the first one as we fly the friendly skies, people who get the middle seat, do they get to have both armrests on the plane, true or false? >> gio: i want to say -- >> whit: i'm saying true. both arm rests for the middle seat. >> you're 100% right, true. the middle seat flyer doesn't get that much. the window seat flyer can lean on the plane. the aisle seat gets to stretch their legs out. it's fine for them to claim

those armests. don't be territorial about it. remind people this is your space. >> janai: i like that. >> whit: don't make a big scene. >> gio: i feel like i know who makes the scene. >> janai: look at this. all right, another one for planes, true or false, fine to recline your airplane seat no matter the circumstance? gio and whit, what do you say? >> whit: false. there are certain circumstances. we'll hear from the pro here. what do you think? >> this is little controversial. it's false. here's why. when you're on a plane you're allowed to technically recline. it creates that cascade effect and everyone starts to recline. if you're on a short flight or domestic flight, i say keep your seat in the upright position. it's natural on an overnight flight to recline. check behind you. keep your seat in the upright position but definitely check behind you and to see what the other person is doing. just be careful and recline gentle. let's put it that way. recline gently.

think about the duration of the flight. >> gio: good point. >> whit: the meal service is big, too. when people are eating, it's tough. >> gio: let's go to trains. as long as you're not in the quiet car, it's okay to talk on the phone. what do you think? >> whit: no. >> gio: really? i got to say -- >> whit: you're that guy? >> gio: i am. i do it like very quietly. >> you're correct. here's why it's okay. there's a reason why the quiet car exists. if you're not in the quiet car, it's totally fine to talk on the phone. keep the conversation to three minutes or less. don't go on speaker phone or do a facetime with family members. again, look at your surroundings and keep the conversation brief. >> janai: three minutes or less that's good. >> whit: that makes sense. let's talk about the classic road trip. is it okay to be a backseat

driver if you think you know better than the person behind the wheel? >> janai: no, unless it's me and my husband. >> gio: i'm going to say true. >> whit: if janai's driving, sometimes it's like -- >> janai is correct. it's never okay to be a backseat driver. the driver is a stressful situation. >> gio: come on. what if i've been there before and they haven't? >> janai: then you should be driving. >> gio: okay. >> change drivers. no, realistically when you're driving, it's super stressful. you don't want somebody telling you you're doing the wrong thing all the time. unless you're asked. if the driver asks for your opinion, that's fine. if they're not, sit back and enjoy the ride. >> janai: tell the peanut gallery to pipe down. >> gio: i can't wait for our "gma" road trip. >> janai: our destination and our last true and false. when checking out of a hotel, leaving a tip for housekeeping is optional? >> whit: not optional. >> gio: you should leave it.

>> janai: well, i'm not going to say true now. >> it's not optional. the housekeeping works so hard. it's gone from optional to a must. leave $3 to $5 a day. if you're in a big party or stayed in a suite or you're leaving the room messy, leave more. this is a side of the hotel staff that doesn't get enough appreciation. it's absolutely a must. >> whit: we cleared up a lot today. we'll have to bring you back and do this again. they let us have the paddles again. thank you, jacqui. the july issue of "travel

( ♪ ) ( ♪ ) ( ♪ ) ( ♪ ) ( ♪ ) ( ♪ ) visit your local volvo retailer to explore electrified vehicles during the summer safely savings event.

♪ there it is. that feeling you get... when you can du more with less asthma. it starts with dupixent. dupixent is not for sudden breathing problems. it's an add-on treatment for specific types of moderate-to-severe asthma. and can help improve lung function for better breathing in as little as two weeks. dupixent helps prevent asthma attacks... and can even reduce or eliminate oral steroids. can you picture it? dupixent can cause allergic reactions that can be severe. get help right away if you have rash, chest pain, worsening shortness of breath, tingling or numbness in your limbs. tell your doctor about new or worsening joint aches and pain, or a parasitic infection. don't change or stop asthma medicines, including steroids, without talking to your doctor. who knows what you can do when you du more with less asthma.

ask your asthma specialist about dupixent. >> janai: thank you for starting your saturday with us. it's always so fun. >> whit: we learned a lot today. >> janai: we did. we'll see you back here tomorrow. >> whit: maybe we should leave a tip. you back here tomorrow. >> whit: maybe we should leave a tip. liz: it starts at 3:00 p.m. at diablo valley cremation and

funeral services on commerce avenue. the public is invited to attend. gabe went missing last year. police say he killed her and spread her remains in multiple locations. gabe' remains are being returned to her familys. the funeral service will be held on monday. construction of the triangle that will light up on twin peaks will be finished today. it has become one of the symbols of pride. a pink triangle once used to brand people suspected of being gay in nazi concentration camps is a symbol of protest against homophobia. volunteers will set of the trying of this morning. mayor london breed will be on hand for a ceremony shortly after the work is finished. happening now in the south bay, santa clara university's 172nd graduation commencement ceremony is being held at stephen stadium. the youngest graduate will walk with his peers at just 14 years old. we introduced you to him last week. he graduates this weekend with a

degree in computer science and engineering. he already has a job lined up. he will move to washington to start working as an engineer with spacex. incredible. let's get a check on the forecast with shayla. shayla: good morning. we have that marine layer sticking around to start off the day. also seem temps on the cooler side. we are in the 50's and 60's for the most part. it will be a nice afternoon with the sunshine entering the mix. temperatures today for highs ranging from the 60's to the 80's. enter father's day a little bit of a shakeup. temperatures dip for us. really windy conditions as we head into the afternoon hours. we will see some gusty winds. those linger into monday and temperatures continue to cool for us into your work week with a nice warm upcoming your midweek. liz: thank you. up next, commemorating the emancipation of the last enslaved people in the u.s. we tell you about the juneteenth celebration that kicked off this weekend and the call to action. abc 7 news at 9:00 is next.

[ cellphone buzzes ] sometimes it takes a different approach to see the possibilities all around you. almost 10. you gonna have a big birthday party?

♪ with capella university's game-changing flexpath format, you can earn your nursing degree without putting life on hold. imagine your future differently with capella university. announcer: building a better bay area, moving forward, finding solutions. this is abc 7 news. liz: now it than :00, operation overdrive. nancy pelosi requesting federal help inviting the drug crisis in san francisco and it's on its way. good morning. thank you for joining us on this saturday, june 17. hi liz kreutz -- june 16.