Episode Description:

Family, in politics this week on the Queer News podcast we talk about the U.S. Olympic Committee falling in line with Trump's executive order, George Santos is headed to prison and we honor the lives of Dream Johnson and poet Andrea Gibson. In culture and entertainment, Raheem DeVaughn stands up for Black women living with HIV, artist Amy Sherald pulls her work from the Smithsonian because of anti-trans censorship, and Laverne Cox opens up about a deeply personal love story with a right-wing Trump supporter. Let’s get into it. 

Want to support this podcast? 🏳️‍🌈Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to be amplified, support the work we do. Join the QCrew for as low as $5 a month, https://bit.ly/3L3Ng66

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00:26    Welcome to Queer News     

01:27    Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew        

01:59    Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502     

02:31    Queer News Headlines        

03:15    George Santos Heads to Prison     

05:56    Olympics Enforce Trump’s Ban on Trans Women in Sports     

09:26    We Speak Her Name: Dream Johnson    

10:47    Poet Andrea Gibson Dies at 47 

13:00    Support Artis, https://www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with-artis-aid-for-brandi-and-brittany       

13:44    Your Mental Health Coverage Is Just As Important As Your Physical Health Coverage., https://getcovered.illinois.gov/resources/mental-health-parity.html 

14:14    Buy an Ad campaign, email info @ e3radio dot FM          

14:44    Raheem DeVaughn Advocates for Black Women with HIV     

18:49    Amy Sherald Pulls Art from Smithsonian in Protest     

21:32    Laverne Cox Shares Her Love Story     

24:04    Anna's Got A Word     

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Important Episode Links

Support Andie's Recovery from Anti-Trans Attack

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A World AIDS Day Special: Shine a Light on It: Black Women, HIV & its Impact

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🛑 Olympics Enforce Trump’s Ban on Trans Women in Sports The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee says it will comply with a Trump executive order, effectively banning trans women from competing in women’s sports.

⚖️ George Santos Heads to Prison The former Congressman check-in to prison to begin serving his 87 month sentence for wire fraud, identity theft, and campaign finance charges.

🕊️ We Speak Her Name: Dream Johnson Dream Johnson, a 28 year old Black trans woman was fatally shot in Washington, DC adding to the devastating list of trans people lost to violence in 2025.

✍🏾 Poet Andrea Gibson Dies at 47 The award-winning, nonbinary spoken word poet who inspired a generation passed away from ovarian cancer. Their words and impact will live on.

This Week In Culture & Entertainment

🧬 Raheem DeVaughn Advocates for Black Women with HIV During a press briefing, the R&B artist used his platform to highlight the realities Black women face when living with HIV.

🖼️ Amy Sherald Pulls Art from Smithsonian in Protest The celebrated Black artist removes her work from the Smithsonian amid controversy over an exhibit’s censoring of trans content.

💔 Laverne Cox Shares Her Love Story The Emmy-nominated actress and advocate opens up about a deeply emotional and complicated love story, one that has the comments on fire.

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

About Queer News

An intersectional approach to a weekly news podcast where race & sexuality meet politics, entertainment and culture. Tune-in to reporting which centers & celebrates all of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & comrade communities. Hosted by Anna DeShawn. New pod every Monday by 9am CT. 

Edited by Ryan Woodhall. 

Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.

Family, this is your favorite queer radio personality Anna DeShawn and you’re listening to Queer News, your weekly pod where race & sexuality meet politics, culture, and entertainment. Only on E3 Radio. This week, I’m coming to you with a heart full of gratitude and a story full of hope. Amidst a chaotic week caring for my family, a bright moment stopped me in my tracks: Lambda Legal won a massive legal victory that restored $6.2 million in funding to LGBTQ+ and HIV organizations. I knew we had to talk about it. So I sat down with Jose Abrigo, Lambda’s HIV Project Director, to break it all down. Because even when the world feels heavy, there’s still good news worth celebrating.

Want to support this podcast? 🏳️‍🌈Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to be amplified, support the work we do. Join the QCrew for as low as $5 a month, https://bit.ly/3L3Ng66

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00:26    Welcome to Queer News     

05:53    Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew        

07:08    Your Mental Health Coverage Is Just As Important As Your Physical Health Coverage., https://getcovered.illinois.gov/resources/mental-health-parity.html  

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08:20    Lambda Legal Win with Jose Abrigo     

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About Queer News

An intersectional approach to a weekly news podcast where race & sexuality meet politics, entertainment and culture. Tune-in to reporting which centers & celebrates all of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & comrade communities. Hosted by Anna DeShawn. New pod every Monday by 9am CT. 

Edited by Ryan Woodhall. 

Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.

Episode Description:

Family, this week on Queer News, Anna DeShawn honors the life of Jewel Thais-Williams, a Black lesbian pioneer who built spaces that saved our lives. In politics, Wisconsin’s Supreme Court clears the way to finally ban conversion therapy, while a sobering new report reveals foundation funding for LGBTQ+ causes has plummeted nearly 20%. In culture & entertainment, Artis restaurant keeps fighting to stay open, American Airlines refuses to back down under conservative pressure, and BET+ debuts House on Fire, a docuseries spotlighting the legendary House of Miyake Mugler. 

Want to support this podcast? 🏳️‍🌈Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to be amplified, support the work we do. Join the QCrew for as low as $5 a month, https://bit.ly/3L3Ng66

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00:26    Welcome to Queer News     

01:55    Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew        

02:21    Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 

02:42    Queer News Headlines        

03:24    Honoring Jewel Thais-Williams     

07:47    Funding for LGBTQ+ Organizations Plummets     

11:40    Wisconsin Supreme Court Clears Path to Ban Conversion Therapy     

14:18    Your Mental Health Coverage Is Just As Important As Your Physical Health Coverage., https://getcovered.illinois.gov/resources/mental-health-parity.html  

15:05    Artis Restaurant Still Fighting to Stay Open     

16:47    American Airlines Refuses to Fold Under Pressure     

19:00    BET+ Debuts House on Fire     

21:30    Anna's Got A Word        

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

Politics

✨ Honoring Jewel Thais-Williams We remember the matriarch Jewel Thais-Williams, who opened Jewel’s Catch One in 1973, the first Black-owned LGBTQ+ nightclub in Los Angeles and one of the first in the country. Her club became a refuge for Black, Brown, trans, and queer people during a time of police raids and exclusion. Beyond nightlife, she founded the Minority AIDS Project, opened Rue’s House for women and children living with HIV/AIDS, and brought holistic health care to underrepresented communities. Jewel passed away at 86, but her legacy of love, resistance, and safe spaces lives on.

📉 Funding for LGBTQ+ Organizations Plummets A new report from Funders for LGBTQ Issues shows foundation support dropped nearly 20% in 2023 — about $49 million. Factoring in inflation, it’s closer to 22%. Funding for Black LGBTQ+ communities fell by 41%, for trans communities by 24%, and for youth by 42%. Major funders even chose to stay anonymous for fear of federal backlash. It’s a reminder: our liberation needs resources, and sometimes, as history shows, we have to save ourselves.

⚖️ Wisconsin Supreme Court Clears Path to Ban Conversion Therapy In a 4–3 ruling, Wisconsin’s Supreme Court stopped lawmakers from blocking a ban on conversion therapy, calling out the Legislature’s overreach. This decision not only protects LGBTQ+ youth but also strengthens the executive branch’s power to enact protections in areas like public health and the environment. A reminder that our fight isn’t only cultural, it’s structural.

Culture & Entertainment

🍽️ Artis Restaurant Still Fighting to Stay Open After the tragic shooting outside Artis, a Black lesbian-owned restaurant, the owners are fighting aldermanic efforts to close them down. They’re asking us to call the alderman’s office and support them, and there’s also a GoFundMe to help cover mounting business costs while they can’t operate. Our safe spaces matter — and they deserve to stay. 

✈️ American Airlines Refuses to Fold Under Pressure Conservatives tried to pressure American Airlines into leaving the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Index, claiming inclusion hurts business. But the airline’s shareholders overwhelmingly rejected that idea, and the board doubled down on their commitment to LGBTQ+ employees and customers, including sponsoring Dallas Pride again this year.

🏠 BET+ Debuts House on Fire The new docuseries follows the legendary House of Miyake Mugler, capturing the beauty, struggle, and truth of ballroom culture. For many networks, these stories felt “too risky,” but BET+ invested in telling them. As house members say, this visibility is a sign that change is happening — and it matters deeply to Black and Brown queer communities.

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📣 Stay Connected

• Subscribe for news & queer deals: Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 

• Follow Anna @annadeshawn on social for the latest queer news updates!

• Rate, review, and share this episode to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices. 

📢 Queer News Tip Line: Got a story I should cover? Send it my way! https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 or email info at e3radio dot fm

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About Queer News

An intersectional approach to a weekly news podcast where race & sexuality meet politics, entertainment and culture. Tune-in to reporting which centers & celebrates all of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & comrade communities. Hosted by Anna DeShawn. New pod every Monday by 9am CT. 

Edited by Ryan Woodhall. 

Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.

This week on Queer News, Anna DeShawn is holding space for the hard and the hopeful as Iowa becomes the first state to strip gender identity from civil rights protections, and UPenn caves to Trump’s threats, erasing Lia Thomas’ NCAA wins. We hear about the family of Chyna Long, a Black trans woman, finally getting some justice in court. Then there’s resilience too: nearly 100,000 march for Pride in Budapest despite a government ban, Noah’s Arc: The Movie makes Black queer history on Paramount+, and Chicago’s Artis restaurant fights to stay open after tragedy. From heartbreak to historic wins, let’s get into it.

Want to support this podcast? 🏳️‍🌈Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to be amplified, support the work we do. Join the QCrew for as low as $5 a month, https://bit.ly/3L3Ng66

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00:26    Welcome to Queer News     

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02:50    Queer News Headlines        

03:35    Iowa is First to Remove Gender Identity from Civil Rights Code     

05:50    Chyna Long’s Murdered is Sentenced in Milwaukee     

08:32    UPenn Erases Lia Thomas’ NCAA Titles Under Trump Pressure     

12:40    RSVP for Black Sex Series, https://events.eventnoire.com/e/black-sex-series   

13:20    Your Mental Health Coverage Is Just As Important As Your Physical Health Coverage., https://getcovered.illinois.gov/resources/mental-health-parity.html 

13:36    Howard Brown is on the South Side too, https://howardbrown.org/service/community-testing-sites-outreach-services/     

14:16    100,000 March in Budapest Pride, Defying Government Ban     

16:13    Chicago’s Artis Restaurant Faces Closure After Mass Shooting     

19:30    Noah’s Arc: The Movie Makes Streaming History   

21:26    Anna's Got A Word    

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

⚖️ Iowa is First to Remove Gender Identity from Civil Rights Code After nearly two decades, Iowa lawmakers reversed protections, making it legal to fire, evict, or deny service to trans people. Medicaid will no longer cover gender-affirming care, and birth certificates must match sex assigned at birth erasing visibility and safety for trans Iowans.

🩺 UPenn Erases Lia Thomas’ NCAA Titles Under Trump Pressure Facing threats to freeze $175 million in research funding, UPenn caved, stripping Lia Thomas’ titles and banning trans women athletes from women’s spaces. Advocates say this isn’t about fairness, but about erasure.

🕊️ Chyna Long’s Murdered is Sentenced in Milwaukee Two years after she was murdered, the man responsible has been sentenced to 50 years. Chyna’s family remembers her joy and truth, knowing nothing will bring her back but hoping this stops future violence.

Culture & Entertainment

🏳️‍🌈 100,000 March in Budapest Pride, Defying Government Ban Despite threats, surveillance, and fines, LGBTQ+ Hungarians and allies marched in their largest Pride ever reminding the world that Pride began as resistance.

🍽️ Chicago’s Artis Restaurant Faces Closure After Mass Shooting After tragedy struck outside this Black lesbian-owned safe space, city officials push to close it down. The community is rallying to keep Artis’ doors open and protect what it stands for.

🎬 Noah’s Arc: The Movie Makes Streaming History The first all-Black gay film to break into Paramount+’s Top 10, proving again the hunger and need for authentic Black queer stories.

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

📣 Stay Connected

• Subscribe for news & queer deals: Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 

• Follow Anna @annadeshawn on social for the latest queer news updates!

• Rate, review, and share this episode to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices. 

📢 Queer News Tip Line: Got a story I should cover? Send it my way! https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 or email info at e3radio dot fm

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About Queer News

An intersectional approach to a weekly news podcast where race & sexuality meet politics, entertainment and culture. Tune-in to reporting which centers & celebrates all of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & comrade communities. Hosted by Anna DeShawn. New pod every Monday by 9am CT. 

Edited by Ryan Woodhall. 

Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.

Family, this is your favorite queer radio personality Anna DeShawn, and this is Queer News — your favorite weekly news pod where race & sexuality meet politics, culture, and entertainment. This week, we’re wrapping up Pride month with headlines you need to know: the Supreme Court keeps lifesaving HIV prevention free under the Affordable Care Act, Chicago is officially named the #1 safest travel destination for LGBTQ folks, and Netflix drops a powerful new documentary honoring ballroom legend Venus Xtravaganza. From legal wins to cultural milestones, let’s get into it.

Want to support this podcast? 🏳️‍🌈Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to be amplified, support the work we do. Join the QCrew for as low as $5 a month, https://bit.ly/3L3Ng66

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00:26    Welcome to Queer News     

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02:15    Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502     

02:35    Queer News Headlines        

03:11    Supreme Court Ends Term with a Split     

06:08    Delaware Declares Itself a Sanctuary for Trans Care     

07:56    Gina Ortiz Jones Makes History     

09:00    Community Voices at Senator Mike Simmons’ Pride Press Conference     

13:30    Sidetrack Could Make History Again — This Time at O’Hare     

16:30    Chicago Crowned #1 Safest LGBTQ Travel Destination     

18:18    Netflix’s ‘I Am Venus’ Honors Venus Xtravaganza     

19:50    Anna's Got A Word     

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

⚖️ Supreme Court Ends Term with a Split The court ruled parents can pull kids from classes with LGBTQ themes, a move critics call state-sanctioned censorship. But in a separate ruling, the Court upheld free HIV preventive care under the Affordable Care Act — a win for LGBTQ health.

 Delaware Declares Itself a Sanctuary for Trans Care Governor Matt Meyer signs an executive order blocking other states from targeting trans youth, protecting medical privacy and refusing extradition.

🌈 Gina Ortiz Jones Makes History San Antonio elects its first lesbian mayor — in the 7th largest city in the U.S. — proving representation matters in every zip code.

Community Voices at Senator Mike Simmons’ Pride Press Conference At Chicago’s Gerber Hart Library & Archives, activists like Precious Brady Davis, TPAN, Rayo Clinic and more came together to share visions for mental health, safety, and holistic LGBTQ care.

Culture & Entertainment

🍹 Sidetrack Could Make History Again — This Time at O’Hare The legendary gay bar bids to open in Terminal 1, showing just how far LGBTQ visibility has come from raids and fake names to airport gates.

🏳️‍🌈 Chicago Crowned #1 Safest LGBTQ Travel Destination According to Misterb&b’s 2025 Queer Safety Index, our city beats out Seattle, San Francisco and more — thanks to policy, protections, and an unshakable sense of belonging.

🎥 Netflix’s ‘I Am Venus’ Honors Venus Xtravaganza Decades after her tragic death, this new documentary shines light on the ballroom icon’s story and the family and community still seeking justice.

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

📣 Stay Connected

• Subscribe for news & queer deals: Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 

• Follow Anna @annadeshawn on social for the latest queer news updates!

• Rate, review, and share this episode to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices. 

📢 Queer News Tip Line: Got a story I should cover? Send it my way! https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 or email info at e3radio dot fm

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About Queer News

An intersectional approach to a weekly news podcast where race & sexuality meet politics, entertainment and culture. Tune-in to reporting which centers & celebrates all of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & comrade communities. Hosted by Anna DeShawn. New pod every Monday by 9am CT. 

Edited by Ryan Woodhall. 

Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.

This week on Queer News, we begin with the sounds of the Gender Liberation movement, protesting the United States v. Skrmetti decision, which upholds Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. We remember Taylor Casey, who disappeared one year ago in the Bahamas, and report on the Trump administration’s cruel move to defund the LGBTQ youth lifeline. But there’s a spark of justice—Reagan-appointed judges are ruling for the people, declaring NIH grant cuts unconstitutional. And in Culture & Entertainment, joy wins with the long-awaited premiere of Noah’s Arc: The Movie, reviewed by our dynamic duo Benjamin Coy & Corey Antonio Rose. Plus, The Ultimatum: Queer Love returns with more lesbian drama and messy television we can’t stop watching.

🏳️‍🌈Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to be amplified, support the work we do. Join the QCrew for as low as $5 a month, https://bit.ly/3L3Ng66

🎧 We are Queer News Done Right.

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

00:26    Welcome to Queer News    

02:20    Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew       

02:50    Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502    

03:11    Queer News Headlines       

05:36    Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth    

11:02    Judge Reinstates $1B in NIH Grants Slashed by Trump    

14:02    Trump Admin to Shut Down LGBTQ+ Youth Crisis Lifeline    

18:24    Noah’s Arc: The Movie Returns After 20 Years    

25:24    The Ultimatum: Queer Love Season 2 Drops This Week    

27:03    Anna’s Word: Make Time for Joy  

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

Top Story

🕯️ We Remember Taylor Casey, One Year Later Chicago yoga teacher Taylor Casey vanished in the Bahamas one year ago this week. With no answers and no justice, her mother now believes she was targeted for being trans. We hold space and demand accountability.

⚖️ Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth In a 6–3 decision, SCOTUS locks in Tennessee’s trans youth healthcare ban potentially impacting 27 states. Justice Sotomayor calls it “discrimination, plain and simple,” while Raquel Willis and the Gender Liberation movement lead powerful protest actions on the steps of the Court.

🔬 Judge Reinstates $1B in NIH Grants Slashed by Trump A Reagan-appointed judge rules Trump’s DEI-related NIH cuts unconstitutional, calling the discrimination “palpable” and restoring funds for LGBTQ+ and racial health equity research.

🚫 Trump Admin to Shut Down LGBTQ+ Youth Crisis Lifeline The LGBTQ+ youth crisis line will lose federal support on July 17. The Trevor Project calls the move “devastating” and urges us all to act before it’s too late. Visit TheTrevorProject.org/ActNow to join the fight.

Culture & Entertainment

🌈 Noah’s Arc: The Movie Returns After 20 Years Benjamin Coy and Corey Antonio Rose join forces for an exclusive review of Noah’s Arc: The Movie. Spoilers ahead as they break down this iconic return of Black gay & queer storytelling.

📺 The Ultimatum: Queer Love Season 2 Drops This Week Messy lesbian television is back! We preview what to expect from the new couples. Get ready for trial marriages, tears, and TV gold.

🎤 Anna’s Word: Make Time for Joy Between missile strikes and rulings that hurt, joy is resistance. Anna shares Pride updates, including emceeing the Chicago Sky Pride Night and leading Sidetrack’s float in the Chicago Pride Parade.

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

📣 Stay Connected

• Subscribe for news & queer deals: Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 

• Follow Anna @annadeshawn on social for the latest queer news updates!

• Rate, review, and share this episode to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices. 

📢 Queer News Tip Line: Got a story I should cover? Send it my way! https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 or email info at e3radio dot fm

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🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

About Queer News

An intersectional approach to a weekly news podcast where race & sexuality meet politics, entertainment and culture. Tune-in to reporting which centers & celebrates all of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & comrade communities. Hosted by Anna DeShawn. New pod every Monday by 9am CT. 

Edited by Ryan Woodhall. 

Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.

In this episode of Queer News, Anna breaks down one of the most significant legal wins for trans rights this year—a federal judge blocking Trump’s ban on gender-affirming care for incarcerated trans folks. We remember Laura Schueler, a beloved Black trans woman murdered in Cincinnati, and we honor the 49 lives lost at Pulse Nightclub nine years ago.

Plus, we celebrate the power of protest and performance: four drag queens crashing Trump’s Kennedy Center return with defiance and dignity. Contributor Benjamin Coy takes us to the Native Son Gala, a night honoring the brilliance of Black gay and queer men. From the courts to the stage, from mourning to marching—this episode reminds us that resistance takes many forms and our stories will not be erased.

🏳️‍🌈Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to be amplified, support the work we do. Join the QCrew for as low as $5 a month, https://bit.ly/3L3Ng66

🎧 We are Queer News Done Right.

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

00:26    Welcome to Queer News    

01:37    Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew       

02:02    Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502

02:31    Queer News Headlines       

03:16    Judge Blocks Trump Ban on Transgender Healthcare in Federal Prisons    

06:55    We Speak Her Name: Laura Schueler, Black Trans Woman Killed in Cincinnati

08:38    Navy to Erase Civil Rights Icons from Ship Names, Including Harvey Milk    

12:48    9 Years After Pulse: Honoring Lives Lost, Fighting for Gun Safety    

17:08    Native Son Gala Celebrates Black Queer Brilliance    

19:33    Drag Queens Crash Trump’s Kennedy Center Return with Bold Defiance    

22:45    Anna's Got A Word    

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

Politics

⚖️ Judge Blocks Trump Ban on Transgender Healthcare in Federal Prisons

A Reagan-appointed federal judge sides with trans inmates, ruling that gender-affirming care is a constitutional right—even under Trump’s executive orders.

🕊️ We Speak Her Name: Laura Schueler, Black Trans Woman Killed in Cincinnati

Laura’s death adds to the growing list of violence against trans women. Her community remembers her as a local icon, the “Beyoncé” of her city.

🚢 Navy to Erase Civil Rights Icons from Ship Names, Including Harvey Milk

Defense Secretary Hegseth pushes name changes to support Trump’s “warrior ethos,” sparking backlash from Democrats and LGBTQ leaders.

Culture & Entertainment

🕯️ 9 Years After Pulse: Honoring Lives Lost, Fighting for Gun Safety

We revisit a conversation with survivor Brandon Wolf and call for real action—because remembrance without reform isn’t enough.

🏆 Native Son Gala Celebrates Black Queer Brilliance

Contributor Benjamin Coy takes us inside the star-studded night uplifting Black gay and queer men making cultural change.

👑 Drag Queens Crash Trump’s Kennedy Center Return with Bold Defiance

Tara Hoot, Vagenesis, Mari Con Carne, and Ricky Rosé turn protest into performance, refusing to be erased despite bans and censorship.

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

📣 Stay Connected

• Subscribe for news & queer deals: Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 

• Follow Anna @annadeshawn on social for the latest queer news updates!

• Rate, review, and share this episode to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices. 

📢 Queer News Tip Line: Got a story I should cover? Send it my way! https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 or email info at e3radio dot fm

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

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🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

About Queer News

An intersectional approach to a weekly news podcast where race & sexuality meet politics, entertainment and culture. Tune-in to reporting which centers & celebrates all of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & comrade communities. Hosted by Anna DeShawn. New pod every Monday by 9am CT. 

Edited by Ryan Woodhall. 

Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.

Family, this is your favorite queer radio personality Anna DeShawn, and this is Queer News — your favorite weekly news pod where race and sexuality meet politics, culture, and entertainment. This week’s episode is unlike any other because I’m fresh off the plane from WorldPride Washington, DC 2025 and bringing you a special edition filled with the powerful voices, moments, and movements that made the week unforgettable.

In this special recap, Anna shares firsthand reflections from the week that brought LGBTQIA+ activists, artists, and leaders together from across the globe. From the Human Rights Conference to the National Trans Visibility March and the International Rally+March on Washington for Freedom, hear voices from the frontlines—including Jasmine Tasaki, Raquel Willis, Chris Mosier, Marissa Miller, Brian Michael Smith, and so many more.

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

00:26    Welcome to Queer News    

02:15    Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502

02:32    Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew       

03:55    World Pride Recap    

08:46    Tori Cooper    

10:52    Marissa Miller    

11:36    Bella Bautista    

12:34    Vincent Folkes    

13:36    Zahara Bassett    

14:12    Toi Washington-Reynolds    

14:44    Jae Douglas

16:38    Your Mental Health Coverage Is Just As Important As Your Physical Health Coverage, https://getcovered.illinois.gov/resources/mental-health-parity.html

17:55    Learn more about the Help Stop Hate Campaign, https://ilstophate.org     

19:46    Japer Bowles    

20:42    Evan Low    

21:22    Raquel Willis    

22:24    Kenya Hutton    

22:58    Chris Mosier    

23:42    Brian Michael Smith 

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

Resource Hub 

Tori Cooper, Director of Strategic Outreach and Training at the Human Rights Campaign

• https://www.hrc.org/

Lynn Morrison, Mother of the March

• https://ntvmarch.org/ 

Marissa Miller, Senior Strategic Director for the National Trans Visibility March & Founder of Trans Solutions Research and Resource Center

• https://www.instagram.com/msmarissamiller/?hl=en 

Bella Bautista, 1st trans woman to qualify for Miss Georgia USA & winner of Miss Buckhead USA 2025

• https://www.instagram.com/bellabxllaa/?hl=en

Vincent Folkes, founder of For the Boys PGH

• fortheboyspgh.org 

• https://www.instagram.com/fortheboyspgh 

Zahara Bassett, Founder & CEO of Life is Work &

• https://lifeiswork.org/ 

• https://www.instagram.com/life.iswork/ 

Regina Livingston, Executive Director and Founder of Unspoken Treasure Society

• https://www.unspokensociety.org/ 

• https://www.instagram.com/unspokentreasuresociety/

Toi Washington-Reynolds, Founder & Executive Director of the Trans Women of Color Healing Project

• https://www.twochealingproject.org/ 

• https://www.instagram.com/twochealingproject/

Jae Douglas - 21 year old activist, poet, speaker and artist

• https://www.instagram.com/jaethechaos/ 

Japer Bowles, Director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs in Washington, DC

• https://communityaffairs.dc.gov/molgbtqa

Evan Low, President and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund

• https://victoryinstitute.org/

• https://www.instagram.com/victoryinstitute/ 

Raquel Willis, award-winning activist, journalist, and co-founder of Gender Liberation Movement. 

• https://www.raquelwillis.com/

• https://www.instagram.com/raquel_willis 

Kenya Hutton, President and CEO of the Center for Black Equity

• https://centerforblackequity.org/

• https://www.instagram.com/ctr4BlackEquity 

Chris Mosier, "The man who changed the Olympics", First transgender athlete to represent the United States in international competition, first transgender athlete in the ESPN Body Issue, and first transgender athlete sponsored by Nike. First transgender athlete to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the gender they identify. 5x National Champ. 

• https://www.thechrismosier.com/ 

• https://www.instagram.com/thechrismosier

Brian Michael Smith, actor and advocate 

• https://www.thebrianmichael.com/

• https://www.instagram.com/the_brianmichael/ 

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

📣 Stay Connected

• Subscribe for news & queer deals: Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 

• Follow Anna @annadeshawn on social for the latest queer news updates!

• Rate, review, and share this episode to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices. 

📢 Queer News Tip Line: Got a story I should cover? Send it my way! https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 or email info at e3radio dot fm

🌈 Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to be amplified, support the work we do. Join the QCrew today! https://bit.ly/3L3Ng66

🎧 We are Queer News Done Right.

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

Interested in advertising? Email: info at e3radio.fm

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

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🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

About Queer News

An intersectional approach to a weekly news podcast where race & sexuality meet politics, entertainment and culture. Tune-in to reporting which centers & celebrates all of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & comrade communities. Hosted by Anna DeShawn. New pod every Monday by 9am CT. 

Edited by Ryan Woodhall. 

Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.

In this special episode of Queer News, Anna drops the script and speaks directly from the heart. As Pride Month begins amidst a wave of political attacks, rising hate crimes, and corporate retreat, Anna reflects on the importance of joy as resistance and why we must never stop telling our stories. 

From celebrating her upcoming WorldPride panels in DC to spotlighting a heartbreaking hate crime in Illinois, this episode is raw, unfiltered, and full of fire. We also hear from contributor Jake Wittich of Windy City Times, who reports on a recent anti-LGBTQ hate crime in Illinois that’s rocked the local community. If you’re moved by the story, please consider donating to the survivor’s GoFundMe — the link is in the show notes. This is not just news — this is truth-telling, soul-centering, and community care. Pod in, family. This one’s for us. 💜

00:26    Welcome to Queer News    

01:29    Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502    

01:56    Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew    

02:54    Queer News Headlines       

03:08    Your Mental Health Coverage Is Just As Important As Your Physical Health Coverage, https://getcovered.illinois.gov/resources/mental-health-parity.h   

03:38    Howard Brown launches new testing site 

04:17    Anna Speaks    

18:12    Learn more about the Help Stop Hate Campaign, https://ilstophate.org/     

18:42    Hate Crimes On The Rise, with Jake from windycitytimes.com    

25:26    Anna's Got A Word

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

📣 Stay Connected

• Subscribe for news & queer deals: Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 

• Follow Anna @annadeshawn on social for the latest queer news updates!

• Rate, review, and share this episode to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices. 

📢 Queer News Tip Line: Got a story I should cover? Send it my way! https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 or email info at e3radio dot fm

🌈 Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to be amplified, support the work we do. Join the QCrew today! https://bit.ly/3L3Ng66

🎧 We are Queer News Done Right.

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

Interested in advertising? Email: info at e3radio.fm

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

https://youtube.com/@e3radio 

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

About Queer News

An intersectional approach to a weekly news podcast where race & sexuality meet politics, entertainment and culture. Tune-in to reporting which centers & celebrates all of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & comrade communities. Hosted by Anna DeShawn. New pod every Monday by 9am CT. 

Edited by Ryan Woodhall. 

Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.

In this week’s episode of Queer News, we remember the legacy of Harvey Milk and the power of hope in the fight for liberation. We take you inside BET’s Black & Iconic Soirée with a special report from contributor Benjamin Coy, get all the nostalgic tea on the 20-year comeback of Noah’s Arc, and unpack the final chapter of the Jussie Smollett saga. Plus, Da Brat and Jessica Betts are teaming up for a musical duet just in time for Pride, and Chicago Sky legends Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley celebrate the arrival of their first child. Oh—and don’t forget, I’ll be repping Queer News at WorldPride DC 2025 with panels, podcast activations, and my very first brand deal with Kirrin Finch. Let’s get into it, family.

00:26 Welcome to Queer News  

02:39 Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message, https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502  

03:50 Queer News Headlines    

04:43 BET’s Black & Iconic Soirée Honors Black Queer Legacy 

08:16 Noah’s Arc Returns for 20-Year Anniversary Special  

10:13 Support Queer News Coverage at World Pride 2025, https://bit.ly/WorldPride2025 & Meet us there, https://worldpridedc.org/  

11:23 Jussie Smollett Saga Comes to a Close with Settlement  

13:47 Your Mental Health Coverage Is Just As Important As Your Physical lth Coverage, https://getcovered.illinois.gov/resources/mental-health-parity.html  

14:18 Da Brat & Jessica Betts Drop New Pride Anthem  

15:45 Chicago Sky Legends Welcome Baby Girl  

16:52 Anna's Got A Word

🌈 Culture & Entertainment

• BET’s Black & Iconic Soirée Honors Black Queer Legacy Contributor Benjamin Coy gives us an inside look at this stunning celebration of Black LGBTQ+ brilliance.

• Noah’s Arc Returns for 20-Year Anniversary Special The iconic Black queer series is back—Noah, Wade, twins(!), and all—with a timely revival for a new generation.

• Jussie Smollett Saga Comes to a Close with Settlement After six years of controversy, Jussie reaches a resolution with the City of Chicago and donates to a local youth arts nonprofit.

• Da Brat & Jessica Betts Drop New Pride Anthem The Chicago-based duo releases “Have U 2 Myself,” their first official collab and a major independent moment for Da Brat.

• Chicago Sky Legends Welcome Baby Girl WNBA champs and married couple Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley introduce the world to baby Jana Christine.

• Anna Heads to World Pride DC 2025 I’ll be moderating and speaking at the Human Rights Conference, reppin’ Queer News, and styled by Kirrin Finch in my first brand deal!

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

📣 Stay Connected

• Subscribe for news & queer deals: Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 

• Follow Anna @annadeshawn on social for the latest queer news updates!

• Rate, review, and share this episode to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices. 

📢 Queer News Tip Line: Got a story I should cover? Send it my way! https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 or email info at e3radio dot fm

🌈 Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to be amplified, support the work we do. Join the QCrew today! https://bit.ly/3L3Ng66

🎧 We are Queer News Done Right.

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

Interested in advertising? Email: info at e3radio.fm

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

https://youtube.com/@e3radio 

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

About Queer News

An intersectional approach to a weekly news podcast where race & sexuality meet politics, entertainment and culture. Tune-in to reporting which centers & celebrates all of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & comrade communities. Hosted by Anna DeShawn. New pod every Monday by 9am CT. 

Edited by Ryan Woodhall. 

Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.