The Gaily Show

John Parker and Jim Pounds as they sit down with Luis Argueta from Unidos Minnesota to discuss the “Business for Democracy” initiative and why major Minnesota corporations like Target and Best Buy need to do more than just release PR statements. They also catch up with Jake Wittich of the Windy City Times to dive into the legal limbo of trans healthcare and the recent DOJ investigations targeting dozens of Illinois school districts.

John Parker and Jim Pounds discuss the legal complaint filed against the EEOC chair regarding the investigation of LGBTQ+ employment discrimination. They analyze national discrimination statistics, focusing on high complaint rates in Texas and Florida, and reports on the European Parliament’s recent vote to ban conversion therapy. Then we’re joined by Nissa Nordland, who discusses her performance in the play Feffu and Her Friends and provides a preview of the Twin Cities Horror Festival.

Executive Producer Jim Pounds guest hosts today’s episode. He covers the Western Health Alliance and he’ll also interview James Grace. James is an actor, dancer, choreographer who is performing in A Chorus Line at Park Square. It opens May 15! For tickets and more information: https://www.parksquaretheatre.org/a-chorus-line

We start a new segment today: Onstage with Jim Pounds. Every month, Jim will preview theatre in Minneapolis and Chicago. Today he talks with Leslie Buxbaum the bookwriter and co-lyricist for the new musical Out Here which is now playing at Chicago’s Court Theatre.

THEN: Daniel M. Lavery’s new novel Meeting New People drops June 2nd. He joins us to talk all about it. In its review, Publishers Weekly wrote Meeting New People is “Wry and empathetic … Barbara is an endlessly companionable narrator, especially in her moments of self-awareness. … Thanks to Lavery’s sharp-tongued heroine, this one leaves a mark.”

Pre-order your copy of Meeting New People here: https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9780063425880

It’s our weekly Unpack This For Me episode where a guest joins us for the hour to help me unpack a particular issue facing the LGBTQ and allied community. Today, Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez is my guest. His new book Conversion Therapy Dropout:A Queer Story of Faith and Belonging comes out May 5th. He worked with the biggest evangelical megachurches, while spending eight years in conversion therapy. He takes us inside both worlds on this special episode. 

Order your copy of Conversion Therapy Dropout:A Queer Story of Faith and Belonging here: https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9798889835431 

Connect with Tim here: http://www.timothysrodriguez.com

On Instagram, Tiktok, and Substack search for timothy.s.rodriguez

Luis Argueta from Unidos Minnesota joins us to talk about upcoming actions for May Day. Plus the Minnesota Truth Council who is documenting, “the full truth about the violations, receive comprehensive reparation and be protected from further violence or retaliation.” Connect Unidos Minnesota’s May Day actions and events here: https://unidos-mn.org/events/2026/5/1/may-day-2026

THEN: Joe Reberkenny the White House Correspondent for the Washington Blade will be here.

He brings new reporting on:

Since 1969, The Washington Blade has been the nation’s independent source for fearless reporting earning the paper the moniker “the newspaper of record for the LGBTQ+ community.” Read their award-winning journalism at more than 100 locations throughout the DC region and online at https://washingtonblade.com.

The Supreme Court actually gave the LGBTQ a break. They declined to take up a case about LGBTQ students safety. Renee Nicole Good’s widow has sued the Trump administration for withholding evidence. The voting map wars continue with more drama today. Plus Tammye Nash is back with new reporting from the Lone Star State. We’re talking about the National Latinx Conference on HIV that was held in Dallas last week, intimate partner violence in lesbian couples, and reporting about the trans community in the age of MAGA.

Dallas Voice just started its 42nd year as the Voice of the LGBTQ Community in North Texas and beyond. Visit their website at https://DallasVoice.com and their social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and BlueSky.

Another attempted assassination on elected leaders in the United States. Virginia Supreme Court hears oral arguments on whether to overturn Virginia’s election for new congressional maps. Meanwhile, Florida proposed new maps today that would create 4 new GOP seats.

Ten Thousand Things’ production of Frank Loesser’s Musical The Most Happy Fella begins its tour of Minnesota on April 29th. Paid performances start May 14th. One of its stars Sasha Andreev joins us to discuss! Get tickets: https://tenthousandthings.org/the-most-happy-fella/. 

Connect with Andreev on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sashaandreevnow

and https://www.instagram.com/sashaeatseverything/. Or visit his website: https://www.sashaandreev.com  

PLUS: A LGBTQ coalition has filed a legal challenge against an anti-trans ballot initiative. Plus, good news: Botswana officially removes an anti-LGBTQ law from its books. Mayor Mamdani appoints a critical new role in his administration.

The exhibition Martin Wong: Chinatown USA is now open at Wrightwood 659. Martin Wong was a queer painter and poet. This exhibit has over 100 of his paintings, sculptures, drawings, and photographs. It has been curated by Dr Yasufumi Nakamori who is our guest.

Please note! Admission is by advance ticket only. Walk-ups are not permitted. Get your tickets here: https://wrightwood659.org. You can follow Dr. Nakamori on Instagram: he is @nakamoriyasufumi

THEN: April 24 marks the annual commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. John is Armenian-American and shares part of his family’s story, how the Genocide is tied to the ethnically cleansing in Artsakh, as well as commemoration events happening in the US.

The Queer experience isn’t bound to state boundaries. Our queer lives span borders (and so do the anti-LGBTQ coalitions). So on today’s Unpack This For Me episode we look at the Great State of Arizona!

Joseph Darius Jaafari the Editor in Chief and Founder of LOOKOUT, Arizona’s LGBTQ newsroom. He shares the LOOKOUT’S reporting from across Arizona. Since launching in 2022, LOOKOUT has won the General Excellence in Newswriting award from the Arizona Media Association. Their newsletters have also won several awards including, “Best Source for LGBTQ News.”

Read all of the LOOKOUT’S reporting here: https://www.lookoutnews.org