Queer News

Welcome to our Summer series! This week on Queer News, Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community! Anna dives into her experience attending the grand opening of the Obama Center and has an update on Lil Nas X. Queer News contributor, Benjamin Coy, catches up with RiVERSE, a four person pop collective of critical acclaim from Toronto. The collective consists of four members: Justice, Khadija, Zach, and Monroe. RiVERSE talk about their origins as a group, their creative process and synergy, and their new EP, Humanity in Volume, that was released on World AIDS Day last year. 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. 🎧 We are Queer News Done Right. 00:26 Welcome to Queer News 07:30 Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew 08:14 Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening 15:54 Lil Nas X Returns 17:49 Subscribe & Support us on our new Substack https://queernewspod.substack.com 18:22 Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 19:04 Interview with RiVERSE 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ Important Episode Links Join the QCrew! Giving starts as low as $5/month Send In a Queer News Tip or email info at e3radio dot fm 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ Interested in advertising? Email: info at e3radio.fm Subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/@e3radio 📣 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. 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ This week's episode of Queer News is packed with historic milestones, urgent calls for justice, and accountability. Here is your social-media-ready breakdown of every story from Episode 343. This Week's Top Story Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening The Obama Presidential Center has officially opened, and Anna had the opportunity to attend the grand opening. The Grand Opening Ceremony was held on Juneteenth eve and in addition to the Obama family, Former Presidents Biden, Clinton, and Bush were in attendance. Musicians Jennifer Hudson, TEMS, Stevie Wonder, and so many more graced audiences with their musical talents throughout the day. A small group of people got to sit on the Obama Center main campus, but arguably the true party was on the Great Lawn where Chicagoans from all over brought their families to witness the historic moment. In addition, the Obama Foundation welcomed Chicago vendors primarily from the South Side to table at the grand opening. If you're looking to get tickets to the museum I'd suggest doing so quickly as they're already sold out through November. But there's so much more than the museum to explore on the Obama Presidential Center Campus. This Week In Culture & Entertainment Lil Nas X Returns Lil Nas X has briefly returned to social media! The pop Icon released a three minute video giving fans an update on his health and what he's been up to for the past few months. Backlit by a clear blue sky, Lil Nas X visibly looked like he was feeling better as he talked to the camera about his Bipolar diagnosis saying "I feel like I had known for like the past few years, but I didn't want to admit to it because I didn't want to have to take medication and, I don't know, have people think different of me." 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ 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 drops every Monday by 9am CT. Edited by Ryan Woodhall for Public Sound. Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.

This week our Queer News correspondent Corey Antonio Rose takes us behind the scenes for an intimate, "fly-on-the-wall" look at the creative process of up-and-coming star B DeVeaux. An immensely talented non-binary neo-soul singer and songwriter, B. is currently preparing for their landmark SF Jazz Festival debut, where they are tackling the monumental task of performing Jazmine Sullivan's 2008 classic Fearless from front to back. This special episode is a reminder to dream beyond the limits of your own imagination, because as B says, "when it happens, it's going to happen real quick." B.'s new single, "I Had to Learn," is out now on all streaming platforms. Go listen and support today, because we all we got! 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 🎧 We are Queer News Done Right. 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ Important Episode Links Stream B. Deveaux's new single "I Had to Learn" TODAY Join the QCrew! Giving starts as low as $5/month Send In a Queer News Tip or email info at e3radio dot fm 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ Interested in advertising? Email: info at e3radio.fm Subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/@e3radio 📣 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. 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ 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 drops every Monday by 9am CT. Edited by Ryan Woodhall. Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.

This week on the Queer News podcast, In top news, The Trump Administration ordered the removal of the pride flag from Stonewall. Cathy Renna was there in person and left us a voicemail to share more about it. In politics, The Trump Administration attempts to revoke $600 million in health care funding from four states who've vocally opposed him, and we break down what the Transgender Bill Of Rights could look like. In culture and entertainment, Don Lemon pleads not guilty to federal charges and the Seeing Her docu-series premieres! 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 🎧 We are Queer News Done Right. 00:26:00 Welcome to Queer News 04:05:00 Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew 04:45:00 Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 05:20:00 Queer News Headlines 06:01:06 The Trump Administration Orders The Removal of The Pride Flag From Stonewall 10:28:17 The Trump Administration Attempts To Revoke $600 million in health care funding from four states 12:50:00 The Trangender Law Center Breaks Down What A Transgender Bill Of Rights Could Look Like 16:18:00 Book an ad today! Email info @ e3radio.fm 16:47:06 Help Us Be Better - Take Our Survey here https://medill.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eShfyyVDy5qQmbQ?Newsroom=E3_Radio 17:46:08 Subscribe to the Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 18:21:06 Don Lemon Pleads Not Guilty To Charges in Minnesota 21:50:00 The Seeing Her Docu-Series Premieres! 25:00:00 Anna's Word 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ Important Episode Links Join the QCrew! Giving starts as low as $5/month Send In a Queer News Tip or email info at e3radio dot fm Seeing Her Docu-series Episodes 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ Interested in advertising? Email: info at e3radio.fm Subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/@e3radio 📣 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. 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ This week's episode of Queer News is packed with historic milestones, urgent calls for justice, and accountability. Here is your social-media-ready breakdown of every story from Episode 324. This Week's Top Story The Trump Administration Orders The Removal of The Pride Flag From Stonewall The Trump Administration really tried it. Four days ago the Trump administration called for the removal of the pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument. The National Park Service complied, telling CNN that "Recent adjustments to flag displays at the monument were made to ensure consistency with federal guidance and applicable executive order…Stonewall National Monument remains committed to preserving and interpreting the history and significance of this site through its exhibits, programs, and educational initiatives" People quickly organized a protest the same day that the pride flag was removed from Stonewall and many prominent lgbtq+ activists spoke out. Cathy Renna, the communications director for the national LGBTQ taskforce, left the QNP team a voicemail sharing what it was like at the protests at Stonewall and the energy on the ground when the flag was raised once again. Tune in to this week's episode to hear the full story. This Week In Politics The Trump Administration Attempts To Revoke $600 million in health care funding from four states As if the removal of the pride flag wasn't enough, the Trump Administration is aiming to cut $600 million dollars in public health care funding to four states. California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota are all at risk of losing millions in federal funding grants. It's not lost on anyone that these states are led by democrats who continue to vocally disapprove of The Trump administration and its deplorable actions. A spokesman from the HHS announced that "These grants are being terminated because they do not reflect agency priorities". Those "unreflected priorities" being programs aimed at the LGBTQIA+ community, HIV awareness, and disease outbreak management. On February 13th Illinois federal judge Manish Shah blocked the cutting of funds citing that "the states have shown that they would suffer irreparable harm from the agency action.". This action stops the Trump Administration from acting on their decision to rescind the funds for 14 days. The Trangender Law Center Breaks Down What A Transgender Bill Of Rights Could Look Like The Transgender Law Center speculated what a potential Trans Bill of Rights could look like after the U.S. House of Representatives made a call for the development of a Transgender Bill of Rights. "Should the bill advance, this resolution would outline a federal framework to protect trans and gender-expansive people's access to healthcare, housing and shelter, safety from violence, and economic security." The Transgender Law Center encourages those who can to take action by calling their member of congress and asking them "Have you endorsed the transgender bill of rights?" This Week In Culture & Entertainment Don Lemon Pleads Not Guilty To Charges in Minnesota Independent journalist Don Lemon has returned to Minnesota to testify in court. As we reported in episode 322, Lemon was one of a handful of journalists briefly detained earlier this year on charges of "conspiracy against the rights of religious freedom at a place of worship and injuring, intimidating and interfering with the exercise of the right of religious freedom at a place of worship". It was announced on Friday, February 13th that Don Lemon has pled not guilty. He addressed reporters and supporters outside the court house with the following message: "This isn't just about me, this is about all journalists, especially in the United States...The events before my arrest and what's happened since show that people are finally realizing what (the Trump administration) is all about. The process is the punishment with them," Lemon declared. "I will not be intimidated, I will not back down, I will fight these baseless charges and I will not be silenced." The Seeing Her Docu-Series Premieres! Maliyah Londyn serves on the major's LGBTQ advisory council, is the chair of the board at Howard Brown Health, and is featured in the new docu-series Seeing Her. The docu-series "invites you to follow [the] inspiring journeys [of the recipients of the Deschamps-Braly Clinic's Pay It Forward program] firsthand—celebrating each recipient's advocacy, resilience, and personal evolution through surgery and healing. The Deschamps-Braly Clinic's Pay It Forward program honors "transgender advocates who exemplify courage, compassion, and community impact—offering each a fully funded, gender-affirming facial surgery." Anna's Word Anna's word for this week is "take-off". This is her word for 2026 and will remind her that this is the year we will indeed take-off to another level with this not only this work but the work of The Qube. 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 drops every Monday by 9am CT. Edited by Ryan Woodhall. Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.

This week on the Queer News podcast, our top story contains a round up of anti-trans laws states are attempting to pass this year. In politics, We remember Jay Lee, and stand with California as they fight for trans youth. In culture and entertainment, The National Rainbow College Fund Launches Their 2026–27 Scholarship Program and Magic: The Gathering players raise more than $600,000 for Trans Lives. 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 🎧 We are Queer News Done Right. 00:26 Welcome to Queer News 04:09 Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew 04:33 Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 05:02 Queer News Headlines 05:34 Anti-Trans Law Roundup: A Brief Summary Of the New Anti-Trans Laws States Are Attempting To Pass 12:12 Remembering Jay Lee 15:00 The State of California Takes Legal Action After the Termination of Trans Youth Care 20:02 Book an ad today! Email info @ e3radio.fm 20:30 Subscribe to the Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 21:06 The National Rainbow College Fund is Accepting Applications 23:28 Magic: The Gathering Players Raise Over $600,000 For Trans Lifeline 26:21 Anna's Got A Word 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ Important Episode Links Join the QCrew! Giving starts as low as $5/month Send In a Queer News Tip or email info at e3radio dot fm 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ Interested in advertising? Email: info at e3radio.fm Subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/@e3radio 📣 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. 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ This week's episode of Queer News is packed with historic milestones, urgent calls for justice, and accountability. Here is your social-media-ready breakdown of every story from Episode 323. This Week's Top Story Anti-Trans Law Roundup: A Brief Summary Of the New Anti-Trans Laws States Are Attempting To Pass For our top story this week, in this day and age it's important to stay up to date on the laws in this country as they seem to change almost everyday. We've rounded up four anti-trans laws that states are trying to pass in 2026. In Kansas, bills SB 244 and HB2426 are making big strides towards the senate. Those bills would allow private citizens to act as bounty hunters, encouraging them to search for trans people utilizing private business restrooms and sue them for as much money as possible. Nebraska is also trying to implement a whole slew of anti trans laws including bathroom bans for state owned buildings such as colleges, restrictions in gender-affirming care, and the possible ban of HRT for youth under 19 years old. As if Minnesota hasn't already been through enough, the Trump administration is targeting Trans athletes in the state. And Indiana is targeting incarcerated trans people with the bill SB 182. This Week In Politics Remembering Jay Lee Back in 2022, cherished member of the LGBTQ+ community in Oxford Jay Lee vanished without a trace. His remains were found last year. For years his family searched for answers, and now all has been revealed. Dateline released a 2 hour episode detailing Lee,s disappearance and two trials that led to the conviction of Sheldon "Timothy" Herrington Jr, Lee's murderer. The State of California Takes Legal Action After the Termination of Trans Youth Care One of the largest hospitals that offered gender affirming care to youth in the state of California, Rady Children's Hospital, announced last month that they'd no longer be offering those services. This was a devastating blow to trans youth in California as the hospital served over 1,900 patients seeking gender-affirming care with approximately 1,450 of those patients under 19 for the past 14 years. The state of California is now suing them. California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading the lawsuit against the Rady Children's Hospital. Bonta's leading complaint aims to "address Rady Children's Health's (RCH) unlawful refusal to fulfill its legal obligations to the Attorney General to the detriment of its patients." This Week In Culture & Entertainment The National Rainbow College Fund is Accepting Applications The National Rainbow College Fund has launched their 2026–2027 Scholarship Program! "National Rainbow College Fund is powered by San Diego Foundation, one of the largest community foundations in the U.S. and a leading scholarship provider in California. The fund supports efforts to reduce educational disparities for students who have faced barriers related to sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, and is open to all applicants and allies who support these principles." The fund will award 200 selected California students a combined total of five-hundred-thousand dollars which averages out to two-thousand-five-hundred per student. Applications close on March 4th and those interested in applying can do so at RainbowCollegeFund.org/apply. Magic: The Gathering Players Raise Over $600,000 For Trans Lifeline This card game is gathering more than magic, it's gathering funds that will benefit trans lives! Brian Lewis aka "The Professor" organized the fundraiser on his youtube channel Tolarian Community College. From February 4th to February 7th, the team at the Tolarian Community College youtube channel collected donations on behalf of the organization Trans Lifeline. As of Saturday morning, the fundraiser raised over $600,000 dollars for Trans Lifeline, breaking their record from last year! What a cool way to fundraise money that saves lives. While the giveaways are now closed, you can still donate to Trans Lifeline by visiting their website: https://give.translifeline.org/campaign/765774/donate Anna's Word The word this week comes from one of Anna's favorite Kirk Franklin songs "Road Trip". Pack a smile, cause this road won't be easy Doubt will come, believe me Sometimes you'll wonder if it's alright Hold on tight, it's about to be amazing When you see what God is making I can't wait for you to tell me that (it's alright) Travel light and leave room for tomorrow, expect delays And sorrow, avoid left turns, don't forget what's right Pray always, listen to that voice above you Only let folk ride that love you, see you've come too far You've gotta wrap on tight But every time that you've been through For His glory God is using you See it's only in the darkest night That you really see the stars shine bright 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 drops every Monday by 9am CT. Edited by Ryan Woodhall. Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.

This week on the Queer News podcast, Chicago has appointed Antonio King as the city's first Director of LGBTQ+ affairs. In politics, we have updates on the murders committed by ICE in Minneapolis. and. In culture and entertainment, we share the 2026 LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame inductees, we say goodbye to ballroom legend Boom Balenciaga, and we stand with Karamo as this Queer Eye drama unfolds. 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 🎧 We are Queer News Done Right. 00:26 Welcome to Queer News 03:54 Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew 04:24 Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 06:02 Queer News Headlines 06:42 Chicago's new Director of LGBTQ+ affairs 09:12 The Murders in Minneapolis 14:54 Book an ad today! Email info @ e3radio.fm 15:23 Subscribe to the Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 15:58 The 2026 Class of the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame 18:32 Ballroom Loses A Legend 20:46 All Eyes on Queer Eye 24:00 Anna's Got A Word 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ Important Episode Links Join the QCrew! Giving starts as low as $5/month Send In a Queer News Tip or email info at e3radio dot fm 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ Interested in advertising? Email: info at e3radio.fm Subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/@e3radio 📣 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. 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ This week's episode of Queer News is packed with historic milestones, urgent calls for justice, and accountability. Here is your social-media-ready breakdown of every story from Episode 321. This Week's Top Story Chicago's new Director of LGBTQ+ affairs Chicago has elected Antonio King as the city's new Director of LGBTQ+ affairs. This is the first time that the newly elected director will work directly with Mayor Brandon Johnson's office to oversee the creation of policies that protect and create openings for LGBTQ+ Chicagoans. When asked about the promotion, King had this to say: "I'm building on the foundations that were laid by people like Mary Morten and Bill Greaves," King told the Windy City Times. "We're at a time where we have a federal administration that is so adversarial to the LGBTQ+ community, including our trans siblings who are under attack. It's important to have this role working with this mayor, at this moment in history, to show that we are supported in Chicago." This Week In Politics The Murders in Minneapolis Yesterday ICE struck again, killing Alex Prettia, 37 year old nurse from Minneapolis. Caught on videos by a bystander, Alex could be seen helping a woman who was being targeted by ICE. He defended her from their physical assaults and in turn they redirected the attacks on him. Multiple ICE officers can be seen pepper spraying Alex and beating him before they brutally opened fire, shooting at the man multiple times. Alex was later pronounced dead by a local hospital. In the aftermath of the shooting protestors who were already on scene flocked to the location of Alex's murder to voice their anger with ICE. In response ICE deployed tear gas and flash bangs to disperse the crowd, but Minneapolis residents refused to back down. Hundreds gathered to pay their respect to Alex at a makeshift memorial on site. At this time updates about the shooting are still rolling in, but we will continue to keep you updated on ICE activity in Minneapolis as best we can. This Week In Culture & Entertainment The 2026 Class of the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame Last Tuesday the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame announced their class of 2026 at the Center on Halsted. Established 13 years ago, the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame has honored LGBTQ athletes for their efforts in sports and in the community. "The group's mission is to celebrate diversity, promote inclusion, and inspire future generations by recognizing the courage, talent, and perseverance of LGBTQ individuals who have broken barriers and made a lasting impact on the sporting community. Through education, advocacy, and celebration, we strive to create a more inclusive and equitable sporting landscape where every athlete can thrive authentically, inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression." Inductees will be inducted into the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony on July 25, 2026 in New York City. Congratulations to the Hall of Fame class of 2026. Ballroom Loses A Legend The House of Balenciaga announced on January 21st that legendary ballroom commentator and social media icon Boom Balenciaga has passed away at the young age of 36. Also known as Kirk Pressley, the beloved ballroom figure was a member of The House of Balenciaga as well as an initiate of the Mu Chapter of the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity. Outside of the ballroom scene, Pressley spent most of his career assisting the LGBTQ+ community through public health services. Others not familiar with the ballroom scene may recognize Pressley from his walk in season one of the hit show Pose. Those who tuned in to the 2023 Rihanna Super Bowl Halftime Performance would recognize Pressley's iconic voice in the teaser for the show. Houses and icons in the ballroom scene from all over have expressed their grief as the community continues to heal from this loss. All Eyes on Queer Eye Queer eye is in the media again for alleged in-fighting within the group after co-star Karamo Brown brings tensions to light live via a Gayle King interview. Brown's publicist sent a letter to Gayle that stated that "I hope everyone remembers the main theme I have tried to teach them over the past decade, which is to focus on and to protect their mental health/peace from people or a world who seek to destroy it; which is why I can't be there today." Gayle also mentioned that Brown was worried about being bullied by his castmates. The rest of the group was quick to wish Brown well. Fans observed that Brown also unfollowed the cast on their social media pages. Maybe the details of what went down between the group will be revealed during the new season? Anna's Word 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 drops every Monday by 9am CT. Edited by Ryan Woodhall. Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.