Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. Our top story breaks down the victories across the board after November 4th's election day. Continuing in politics, Anna revisit's the topic of George Santos in light of his recent commutation granted by Trump and discuss the Supreme Court's upcoming decision on a case that could effect gay marriage for all. In culture and entertainment, we take a look abroad at the first elected, o...
Nov 10, 2025•33 min•Season 4Ep. 309
Family, this week on Queer News, Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community, and this one is all about power through unity! We have an exclusive interview with national and local leaders from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC): Nik (VP of Strategic Initiatives) and Stephen (Chicago Steering Committee). They break down the organization's essential work, led by the first Black queer woman, Kelly Robinson. Learn how HRC is fighting legislative attacks, supporting...
Nov 06, 2025•28 min•Season 4Ep. 308
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In our top story, we mourn the life of Lia Smith. In politics, Anna analyzes the Texas ruling that now allows judges to refuse the unification of same-sex marriage, and uplift how LGBTQIA+ food pantries are stepping up in the loss of SNAP benefits for millions of people. In culture and entertainment, we praise a trans teen in Washington who won his settlement after being assaulted b...
Nov 03, 2025•26 min•Season 4Ep. 307
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In top news, we mourn the life of Tiara Love Tori Jackson. In politics, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of a trans athlete who faced discrimination at a powerlifting competition, and across the US we take a look at the aftermath of harmful legislation. In culture & entertainment, we take a look at the OUT100 list for 2025. Let's get into it. Want to support this podca...
Oct 27, 2025•30 min•Season 4Ep. 306
Family, this week on Queer News, Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community and this one is critical in the fight for our rights. We have a powerful, breaking news interview with Chicago's own Alderperson Jesse Fuentes (26th Ward), who was illegally handcuffed by ICE agents at Humboldt Park Health hospital simply for asking about a signed warrant. Hear directly from Alderperson Fuentes about the terrifying confrontation, what it means to be leading with cou...
Oct 22, 2025•18 min•Season 4Ep. 305
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In top news, we honor the life and legacy of transgender rights activist Miss Major. The Supreme Court ruled for parents in Maryland to opt-out of LGBTQIA+ education and only 0.03% of parents followed through. In culture & entertainment, Queer News wins big at the Black Podcasting Awards and the Duplass Brothers partner with the Transgender Film Center to launch a new film fund....
Oct 20, 2025•26 min•Season 4Ep. 304
Family, this week on Queer News, Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community, and this one is pure joy! We sit down for an exclusive, celebratory chat with Kirrin Finch founder Kelly as they celebrate 10 years of radically inclusive, gender-defying fashion. Kelly shares the personal journey and the entrepreneurial fight behind creating a clothing brand that is true armor for our community. Find out how they ditched standard sizing with a "fit party" to ensur...
Oct 15, 2025•27 min•Season 4Ep. 303
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In top news, The Queer News Podcast has been nominated for four Black Podcast Awards! In politics, The Supreme Court is looking at 3 major cases that could impact the LGBTQIA+ community, and in Chicago Alderperson Jesse Fuentes was briefly handcuffed by ICE. In culture & entertainment, The inaugural BE gala rolled out the red carpet for LGBTQIA+ advocates and Khalid has released...
Oct 13, 2025•25 min•Season 4Ep. 302
One year ago, the Purple Tie Affair was cancelled. Today, it stands as a testament to the power of resilience, community, and radical vision, raising an incredible $30,000 for Black queer media. In a deeply personal opening, Anna DeShawn pulls back the curtain on the emotional journey: from losing a major sponsor to rebuilding with grassroots support. She shares why this victory, powered by community, means more than any corporate check ever could. This powerful theme of "building your own table...
Oct 06, 2025•34 min•Season 4Ep. 301
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In top news, California lawmakers pass a bill to protect the medical data of Transgender people, a Bipartisan bill was introduced to reinstate the LGBTQIA+ suicide emergency hotline, and former Vice President Kamala Harris tells all in a new memoir detailing her 107 day presidential campaign. In culture & entertainment, Liniker, a trans artist, was nominated for 7 Latin grammy's...
Sep 29, 2025•31 min•Season 4Ep. 300
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In top news, The Okra Project Expands Nationwide with BetterHelp to Deliver Free Mental Health Care for Black Trans Communities. In politics, In a 6-3 vote the Supreme Court declined to immediately overrule a lower court's block on South Carolina's bathroom ban law, Texas A&M president steps down after upheaval over classroom video. In culture & entertainment, Jason Collins,...
Sep 22, 2025•23 min•Season 4Ep. 299
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In politics, Denver public schools stand up to the Trump administration, a Texas A&M literature professor of more than 10 years was wrongfully terminated from her job. In culture & entertainment, an underground death doula network in Michigan is ensuring that LGBTQIA+ people die with dignity, Tramell Tillman makes history at the Emmy's, after 5 years Saucy Santana's Material...
Sep 15, 2025•23 min•Season 4Ep. 298
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In top news, Pope Leo plans to continue the welcoming tradition of Pope Frances for LGBTQ folks. In politics, Texas state representatives decide to take their state mandated police escorts to a gay bar. And down in Florida, Floridians are being arrested for coloring in the Pulse memorial rainbow crosswalk. In culture & entertainment, beloved social media icon Raymond Harper aka ...
Sep 08, 2025•26 min•Season 4Ep. 297
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn is still celebrating her birthday so we're bringing you something special, a Chicago connection that runs deep. She sat down with singer-songwriter Jim Verraros, who you may remember from the very first season of American Idol, where he made history as the first openly gay contestant on national TV back in 2002. In this candid conversation, Jim reflects on coming out at a time when queer visibility was scarce, the pressures and trauma of reality TV, a...
Sep 02, 2025•38 min•Season 4Ep. 296
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In politics, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker launches IL Pride Connect, the nation's first statewide LGBTQIA+ resource hub and legal hotline. Meanwhile, the Trump administration plans to ban transgender healthcare for federal workers in 2026 and promotes conversion therapy as an alternative. In Florida, officials erase the Pulse nightclub rainbow crosswalk in the middle of the night. ...
Aug 25, 2025•32 min•Season 4Ep. 295
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In politics, we celebrate Massachusetts' Shield Act 2.0 expanding protections for abortion and gender-affirming care, while keeping a close eye on a Supreme Court case threatening marriage equality. In culture and entertainment, a Black lesbian couple survives a racially charged roadside attack in Virginia, UCLA stands firm against the Trump administration amidst pressure to roll ba...
Aug 18, 2025•28 min•Season 4Ep. 294
Family, this week on Queer News we start with good news from around the world where LGBTQ rights are being affirmed. Here in the U.S., the Air Force's betrays trans service members by promising benefits and now denying them. We also honor the legacy of Chicago activist Lori Cannon and spotlight New York City's groundbreaking homeless shelter for transgender adults. Plus, we unpack the bizarre crypto prank disrupting WNBA games nationwide. Join Anna DeShawn for Queer News Done Right.Let's get int...
Aug 11, 2025•26 min•Season 4Ep. 293
Family, this week on Queer News we're watching blue states draw a legal line in the sand as they sue the Trump administration for attacking gender-affirming care. In a major win for reproductive justice, a federal judge blocks efforts to defund Planned Parenthood. In culture and entertainment, we celebrate the crowning of the first King of Drag, bid farewell to Dinah Shore founder Mariah Hanson, and get a much-needed laugh from TS Madison and Laverne Cox on Family Feud. Plus, I bring you Baldwin...
Aug 04, 2025•25 min•Season 4Ep. 292
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 ...
Jul 28, 2025•27 min•Season 4Ep. 291
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 ...
Jul 21, 2025•22 min•Season 4Ep. 290
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 press...
Jul 14, 2025•25 min•Season 4Ep. 289
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+, ...
Jul 07, 2025•24 min•Season 4Ep. 288
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...
Jun 30, 2025•23 min•Season 4Ep. 287
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 Cultur...
Jun 23, 2025•31 min•Season 4Ep. 286
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. Contribu...
Jun 16, 2025•26 min•Season 4Ep. 285
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 ...
Jun 09, 2025•25 min•Season 4Ep. 284
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 Witti...
Jun 02, 2025•21 min•Season 4Ep. 283
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 Q...
May 27, 2025•20 min•Season 4Ep. 283
This Memorial Day, Queer News with Anna DeShawn brings you a powerful one-on-one with activist, artist, and author Christopher Murphy. Christopher's breakout thriller The Other Side of the Mirror isn't just a page-turner—it's a bold reimagining of the thriller genre told through a Black queer lens. We talk about: ✍🏾 The importance of telling our own stories 📚 How E. Lynn Harris inspired his journey 🧠 Generational trauma, mystery, and romance in his novels 🎢 His love for thrill-seeking and wr...
May 26, 2025•16 min•Season 4Ep. 282
Family, it's your favorite queer radio personality Anna DeShawn, and this week on Queer News, we're bringing you the stories that matter most to our community. From legal wins in Texas and Iowa to updates on Jazlynn Johnson's case, we're spotlighting courage, progress, and resilience. Plus, we're celebrating powerful moments in culture—from Scott Evans' Webby win to groundbreaking representation on MSNBC. Pod in, because this episode is full of truth, hope, and pride. 00:26 Welcome to Queer News...
May 19, 2025•25 min•Season 4Ep. 281
