Queer News

Don Lemon Arrested for Reporting on Minneapolis, 12 States are Suing HHS, and Queer Artists Win Big at the Grammy's

This week on the Queer News podcast, Our top story is all about Don Lemon and the group of journalists arrested while covering the protests in Minneapolis. In politics, we dive into the twelve states suing the HHS, and USA Hockey's secret ban of trans athletes. In culture and entertainment, we take a look at the safest travel destinations for the LGBTQ+ community and the LGBTQ artists that won big the Grammy's. 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 03:10 Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew 03:58 Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 04:18 Queer News Headlines 04:54 Independent Journalist Don Lemon Arrested while covering the protests in Minneapolis 10:28 States Sue Trump over Transphobic Policies 13:14 The USA Hockey Organization Quietly Banned Trans Athletes In Secret 17:18 Book an ad today! Email info @ e3radio.fm 18:46 Subscribe to the Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 19:12 LGBTQ+ and traveling within the US? Here are some of the safest cities to visit in 2026 21:26 Billionaire philanthropist Mackenzie Scott Gifts Millions to the Trevor Project. 23:34 Queers Win Big at the Grammy's 26:13 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 322. This Week's Top Story Independent Journalist Don Lemon Arrested while covering the protests in Minneapolis Don Lemon was one of multiple journalists arrested on Friday for covering a protest at a Minnesota church. The pastor of Cities Church in St. Paul, David Easterwood, was alleged to be working with ICE, so protestors peacefully interrupted a Sunday service, and Don Lemon was one of a group of journalists present at the church. The DOJ charged the journalists with "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". Lemon was later released the same day with a court date of February 9th in Minneapolis. This Week In Politics States Sue Trump over Transphobic Policies California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington have joined together to sue the head of health and human services Robert F. Kennedy over the executive order embedded within the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. By refusing to comply with the executive order, these states have lost millions in funding for vital programming. New York Attorney General Letitia James is guiding the collection of states during the lawsuit. The USA Hockey Organization Quietly Banned Trans Athletes In Secret The USA Hockey organization quietly made the move to ban trans athletes from competing in "hockey leagues that match their gender identity" late last year. USA Hockey debuted a new participant Eligibility Policy back in November. Within the policy restrictions for trans athletes are written boldly: "In all programs where participation is restricted by sex, athletes are only permitted to participate in such programs based on their sex assigned at birth, except that a female (as assigned at birth) may not play in programs restricted to females if they have undergone any male hormone therapy." This policy will go into effect for the 2026 USA hockey season set to begin on April 1st thus essentially barring trans athletes from competing on National and Olympic teams. Several have spoken out against this discrimination including the first out trans hockey player Harrison Browne and the Seattle Women's Hockey League. This Week In Culture & Entertainment LGBTQ+ and traveling within the US? Here are some of the safest cities to visit in 2026 Blog misterb&b's Queer Safety Index has the 411 on the safest cities to visit in 2026. They describe the Index as "an ordered ranking based on a weighted scoring model incorporating multiple data sources, starting with misterb&b most booked destinations. Safety is measured using FBI-reported hate crimes over the last five years. Each factor is normalized to a 0-1 scale, and weighted to produce a final ranking, where higher scores indicate greater LGBTQ+ safety and inclusivity." Coming in at number one on the Index is the beautiful windy city Chicago, IL with a score of 0.925818. Billionaire philanthropist Mackenzie Scott Gifts Millions to the Trevor Project. Billionaire philanthropist, and Jeffery Bezos' ex wife, Mackenzie Scott is putting her fortune to good use. She recently donated $45 million dollars to the Trevor Project marking this donation as the biggest one the non-profit has ever received in the history of the organization. Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black wrote in a statement "At a time when many LGBTQ+ young people are facing heightened stigma, political hostility, and mental health challenges, MacKenzie Scott's support sends a powerful message. LGBTQ+ young people matter, and the world is full of people fighting for their safety and well-being." Queers Win Big at the Grammy's Queer musicians who won big at the Grammy's. Durand Bernarr for Best Progressive R&B Album, Kehlani for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song, Tyler the Creator won for Best Album Cover, Doechii for Best Music Video and Billie Eilish for Song of the Year. The speeches were phenomenal and called us to act. Anna's Word Take care of you. This is Anna's word for the week. We are living in dark times and the bes way for you to combat that is to take great care of yourself. Rest, read a new book, journal, go shopping, the list goes on, but whatever it is make time to do it. We can't pour from an empty cup. 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.

Chicago announces its first Director of LGBTQ+ affairs, this ICE needs to melt, and we stand with Karamo around here

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.

A Dr. King Special Episode: Honoring Coretta while Remembering Martin

This week on the Queer News podcast Anna DeShawn shares a few top queer news stories and drops a special episode honoring the work of Coretta Scott King while celebrating everything Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was to the world. Just as Dr. King was called to this civil rights work, so was Coretta. History has put her in boxes that keep her narrative somewhere behind Martin's but no, not here on this podcast. On Queer News she is not just the wife of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; she is the movement. 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 02:27 Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew 02:56 Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 03:31 Top Queer Stories 03:48 Queer News Headlines 08:40 Book an ad today! Email info @ e3radio.fm 09:12 Subscribe to the Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 10:00 Honoring Coretta while Remembering Martin 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ 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. 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ 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.

Season 5 Premiere: Honoring the Legacy of Andrea Jenkins, Remembering Renee Good & Las Culturistas Apologizes

Family, this week on Queer News, Anna DeShawn kicks off Season 5 by honoring the historic legacy of Andrea Jenkins, the first out Black trans person elected to public office in the U.S., as she announces her retirement. In politics, we head back to Minneapolis to discuss the heartbreaking killing of Renee Good by ICE agents and look ahead to the Supreme Court, where the future of trans girls in sports hangs in the balance. In culture and entertainment, the boys of Las Culturistas are catching smoke for their comments on Jasmine Crockett, and gospel legend Donnie McClurkin faces a shocking lawsuit that brings the "pray the gay away" conversation back to the forefront. 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 Welcome to Queer News 02:18 Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew 03:00 Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 03:17 Queer News Headlines 04:00 Honoring the Historic Legacy of Andrea Jenkins 08:12 Renee Good Should Still Be Here 13:19 Trans Youth Sports Take the Stand at the Supreme Court 18:10 Book an ad today! Email info @ e3radio.fm 18:40 The Queer Family Podcast 19:40 Subscribe to the Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 20:12 Las Culturistas Catch the Smoke After Jasmine Crockett Comments 24:21 Gospel Legend Donnie McClurkin Faces SA Lawsuit 28:50 Anna's Word 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ Important Episode Links Watch Shine a Light On It: Black Women, HIV & Its Impact Join the QCrew! Giving starts as low as $5/month Send In a Queer News Tip or email info at e3radio dot fm Watch Creating Change Interview with Anna DeShawn & Cathy Renna Creating Change Details & Registration Creating Change FAQs 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ 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 the Season 5 premiere. This Week's Top Story Honoring the Historic Legacy of Andrea Jenkins In a move that marks the end of an era, Andrea Jenkins, the first openly Black transgender woman elected to public office in the U.S., has announced her retirement from the Minneapolis City Council. Since her historic 2017 win, Andrea has led through "tumultuous" times, serving as Council President, navigating the 2020 uprisings, a pandemic and managing an MS diagnosis with grace. Now, she is returning to her first loves, poetry and family. We honor her as a possibility model who didn't just break the glass ceiling, she held the door open for everyone behind her. This Week In Politics Renee Good Should Still Be Here The Minneapolis community is reeling following the killing of Renee Nicole Macklin Good by an ICE officer, less than a mile from where George Floyd was murdered. Despite federal attempts to characterize Renee as a "domestic terrorist," eyewitnesses and local officials are disputing the claims. Renee's wife, Becca, describes her as a woman who "literally sparkled." In a historic show of community support, a GoFundMe for the family amassed $1.5 million in days, which the family has moved into a trust. We continue to demand accountability for this federally sanctioned violence. Trans Youth Sports Take the Stand at the Supreme Court Tomorrow, January 13th, the Supreme Court will hear arguments for Hecox v. Idaho and B.P.J. v. West Virginia. At the center of the storm is 15-year-old Becky Pepper-Jackson, who just wants to play middle school track and field. Despite having no "biological advantage" and having transitioned in the 6th grade, Becky is fighting state laws that aim to ban trans girls from sports. With a 6-3 conservative lean, the stakes for trans inclusion in public life have never been higher. This Week In Culture & Entertainment Las Culturistas Catch the Smoke After Jasmine Crockett Comments The award-winning podcast Las Culturistas found itself in hot water this week. Hosts Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang faced major backlash after Matt suggested on-air that listeners shouldn't give their money to Jasmine Crockett, the Black congresswoman known for standing up to MAGA extremism. Following a justified social media firestorm, both hosts issued apologies. It's a reminder that once your voice hits the internet, accountability is the only way forward. Gospel Legend Donnie McClurkin Faces SA Lawsuit Gospel icon and "reformed homosexual" Donnie McClurkin is facing a lawsuit from a former assistant alleging years of sexual abuse. The plaintiff, Giuseppe Corletto, claims the abuse began during "pray the gay away" sessions after he sought McClurkin's help to overcome what the pastor calls the "curse of homosexuality." While McClurkin denies the claims, the lawsuit highlights the deep trauma and manipulation often found in conversion therapy spaces. As Anna says: "You can't pray away something that was God-given." Anna's Word The Bears' BIG win over the Packers (against a 4% chance!) is a reminder: What God has for you, is for you. No matter the odds or what seem like insurmountable odds, keep your head up and stay on purpose. 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ 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.

Pt. 2 - 2025 Year in Review: We're a Christian Podcast x Bad Queers Crossover

Family, "Me and God gonna have a lot of talks about forgiveness on this one..." The holiday tradition continues! While we are still on our winter break, we are bringing you the conclusion of our annual end-of-year takeover with Kris and Shana of the Bad Queers Podcast. In Part 2, we're moving from the heat of July through the final moments of December to wrap up what can only be described as a "dumpster fire" of a year with a little bit of grace and a lot of laughs. In Part 2, we're getting into: The Wins: Lambda Legal's massive $6.2 million victory and Anna's beautiful "Shine a Light on It" exhibit. The Mess: From the WNBA "Green Sex Toy" marketing stunt to the Charlie Kirk fallout and the end of the Dinah Shore era. Bad Queer Opinions: Why we're "too gay to be transphobic" and why some folks are officially not welcome in the circle in 2026. The All-Star Vision: Anna, Kris, and Shana manifest a "Black & Gay as Hell" Summer 2026 in Chicago for the WNBA All-Star Game. It's been a wild year, family, but we are closing it out with the people who make us laugh the loudest. We'll be back with our standard Queer News episode next week, but for now enjoy the chaos! And don't forget… Independent Black queer media runs on your support. If you love this crossover, make sure to show some love to the Bad Queers fam! 🔗 Connect with the Family Follow Anna DeShawn: @AnnaDeShawn Follow Bad Queers: @BadQueersPodcast Support Bad Queers on Patreon: patreon.com/BadQueersPodcast Shop the Swag: https://www.google.com/search?q=badqueers.com (Use code FALL25 for 25% off!) 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. About Bad Queers Podcast Breaking LGBTQ+ Stereotypes A space where we discuss breaking stereotypes and share stories that are often overlooked. We're dedicated to those who feel like they came out of the closet only to be placed in a box they don't belong to. Here, our conversations are like stepping into an intimate gathering among your closest queer friends—sometimes messy, sometimes serious, but always real. 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ 00:26 Welcome to Queer News 00:54 Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew 01:11 Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 04:48 Book an ad today! Email info @ e3radio.fm 05:18 Subscribe to the Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 06:00 Pt. 2 - 2025 Year in Review 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ 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. 🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨ 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.