Today to kick off Black Pride Weekend here in Chicago I want to celebrate Black+Queer podcasters. It’s perfect because I usually drop a podcast recommendation every Friday and today I get to share four. Four that were featured on a broadcast I co-produced with ShePodcasts called Unapologetic: Being Black+Queer in Podcasting. You will hear from

The Proud Boys show up at a pride-themed story time at a library in Texas and are met by counter-protesters who love the gays. The “Don’t Say Gay” state had the largest pride parade in its history and Disney is getting ready for its first open-gay teen romance. Let’s go.  00:00 Welcome & Intro 00:50

To take a beat from the news this week Anna talks the latest in queer TV and Film. From B-Boy blues on BET to the Queer as Folk reboot on Peacock, the queer vampire drama First Kill on Netflix and Fire Island on Hulu. All have diverse casts and LGBTQ actors on full display. 00:00

She is a political prisoner. Period. 99% of people who face court in a Russian court get found guilty. She’s facing up to 10 years. Family, our work to raise awareness has been working. But to guarantee BG’s safe return, President Biden and the state department needs to negotiate her release from Russia. 00:00 Welcome 

I will never understand why people think it’s okay to put laws in place that control other people’s lives. If you don’t agree with abortion don’t get one. If you don’t believe in gay marriage. Don’t have one. If you don’t believe in contraceptives don’t use protection. But your beliefs which are often rooted in

The state department set up a call so BG could speak with her wife for their special day. Brittney tried calling 11 times. No one was in the office to connect the calls. Charelle has ‘zero faith’ in the government to bring BG home. & Anna has an invite with your name on it to

Anna is back from her Juneteenth / Father’s Day family trip and she has a special one for all the dads out there! Beyoncé releases her first single from Renaissance, her 7th solo studio album, giving us New Orleans bounce and the jury is still out on her house music moment. Biden signs LGBT executive

Mama Gloria Allen, a legend in Chicago’s trans community, passed away Monday, June 13th. In today’s episode, we honor her legacy. Brittney Griner’s pre-trial detention extended until July 2. & Idaho police arrested a group of white supremacists affiliated with  Patriot Front for conspiracy to riot at a Pride event on Saturday. 00:00 – Welcome

Turns out Rebel Wilson only came out to avoid being forcefully outed by Australian newspaper, the 75th Tony Awards celebrates queerness in theatre, & Jennifer Hudson wins Tony Award for producing “A Strange Loop” making her the newest EGOT inductee. Penny Taylor calls for Brittney Griner’s release at her induction into Women’s Basketball Hall of

QCrew, I went to San Francisco’s largest display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt for its 35th anniversary because of your support, Rebel Wilson and David Archuleta celebrate Pride Month by coming out on their socials, & Saucy Santana calls Blue “nappy headed” in 2014 and twitter ain’t having it in 2022. Things for you to

Brittney Griner has been wrongfully detained for 111 days, Justine Lindsay makes history in the NFL, a hate crime leaves a gay rugby player unsure if he will play again & Queer Asian men are centered in the new film Fire Island. 00:00 – Welcome & Intro 00:48 – Happy Pride 01:08 – Intro Music

Brittney Griner has been wrongfully detained for 110 days, Lil Nas X gets snubbed by BET and he had something to say about it & Angelica Ross dropped a new single exclusively on xoNecole for the summer. 00:00 – Welcome & Intro 00:49 – Happy Pride 01:17 – Intro Music by Aina Bre’Yon 01:57 –

The QCrew came through and Anna is going to San Francisco to cover the 35th anniversary of the AIDS Memorial Quilt! Aunjanue Ellis comes out as bisexual and a school board bans the pride flag but the students and faculty get creative.  00:00 – Welcome & Intro 01:41 – Happy Pride 02:02 – Intro Music

Mattel worked with Laverne on the dolls’ style and likeness with a red flowing dress and then changing it up with sparkling high heeled boots. It’s dropping on Tuesday at Amazon, Walmart, Target and MattelCreations.com for $39.99. 00:00 – Welcome & Intro 01:03 – The NECANN Illinois Cannabis Convention is coming to Chicago on June

Ray Muscat, a 24 year old trans man, was murdered in Michigan & by his girlfiend. The CDC held a news conference because Monkeypox is back and it is affecting men who have sex with men a little bit more than others. If you work for Starbucks and are looking to get an abortion or

Tennessee’s anti-trans bathroom law gets shut down by a judge who said it was a violation of a businesses first amendment rights. TomboyX & Humankind partner with Target and drop exclusive pride wear you’ll want to support. In Jeffersonville, Indiana a non-binary high school student dressed in drag wins prom king. 00:00 – Welcome &

It’s been a week and Karine Jean-Pierre has officially completed her first week as the first Black person and first queer person to be the White House Press Secretary. After six years of fighting, U.S. women’s soccer has won the equal pay fight for their sport. It’s Friday & I’m recommending the WinHers United Podcast

On LGBTQ Elders Day Governor Pritzker of Illinois signed groundbreaking legislation which will ensure LGBTQ older adults have a voice at the table. L. Morgan Lee becomes the first trans woman nominated for a Tony for her role in Strange Loop. Janelle Monae announced that she will be playing Josephine Baker in an upcoming TV

An Alabama judge blocks part of the most transphobic legislation passed to date. A Lyft driver kicks racist passengers out of his car & Kendrick Lamar’s “Auntie Diaries” didn’t hit for the queers 00:00 – Welcome & Intro 00:45 – NECANN  Ad, Cannabis convention coming to Chicago June 10th & 11th https://necann.com/illinois/  01:28 – Intro

What is the leading story for today? Is it Urvashi Vaid passing away? Is it Buffalo? Is it Brittney Griner? Is it Roe v. Wade? In this moment as a Black queer woman all of my identities are being activated and attacked. It’s really hard to put into words all of my feelings. My anger,

19 states are fighting back against anti-trans legislation by rolling out bills together to create a safe haven for our trans fam called the “Rainbow Wall”. The senate fails to protect a woman’s right to choose and VP Kamala Harris has a lot to say about it. It’s Friday and Anna is recommending the WinHersUnited

Family, this is your favorite queer radio personality Anna DeShawn with our queer news for today. The queer news for today is that issa celebration. It’s our 100th episode and I am just full of gratitude. This will be an unscripted episode. I want to just talk with ya’ll about the last 100 episodes. Support

Once again Karine Jean-Pierre makes history. This time as the first Black woman and the first LGBTQ person to serve as the White House Press Secretary. A Roe v. Wade rally took place downtown Chicago and they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Taco Bell is showing their support for the LGBTQ community with a

A tragic story out of Chicago today where a gay man killed another after leaving an iconic bar on the southside. Oklahoma doubles down on their hate for our trans fam by banning nonbinary markers on birth certificates. It’s Friday which means Anna is recommending a podcast and this week it’s The Confidence Chronicles. 00:00

Today is for Elise. Her visitation is today and her funeral services are tomorrow so I thought it would be fitting to center her for this episode. I got the opportunity to chat with one of her good friends Iggy who is also the Executive Director of Chicago Therapy Collective where Elise did so much

Late Monday, a State Department official sent ESPN a statement, saying, “The Department of State has determined that the Russian Federation has wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Brittney Griner. With this determination, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens will lead the interagency team for securing Brittney Griner’s release.” What?! It’s been 75 days

The Chicago Therapy Collective shared the visitation, funeral and reception service information for our beloved Elise Malary, a celebration of life took place for the Andre Leon Talley on Friday & Ellen has filmed her final episode after an epic 20 year run. 00:00 – Welcome & Intro 00:47 – The Qube, Be the first

It’s Friday which means Anna is dropping a podcast recommendation. I decided to close out lesbian visibility week stories with a lesbian podcast you need to check out called Cruising. The Brooklyn Public Library is fighting back against the far-right book banning mission with an initiative of their own. In entertainment, Sauncy Santana & KeKe

Since its lesbian visiblity week lets show some love to some funny lesbian comedians, after a long battle Cristina Nichole Iglesias has won & will become the first federal prisoner to receive gender-affirming surgery & a Delta Airlines passenger assaults a crew member mid-flight and blames it on his homophobia. 00:00 – Welcome & Intro

You all know that yesterday kicked off lesbian visibility week & today is lesbian visibility day. So I thought about all the ways I could honor the day and in the end I just got in my own way. I Virgo’d my way through it by overthinking. Now it’s 10:30pm and I’m committed to getting

It’s lesbian visiblity week and we are celebrating our lesbian fam all week long. This is Ariana DeBose’s season as she’s been booked for another hot role. Anna got to chat with RC Riley about her upcoming live podcast recording on mental health awareness for the QTPOC community. 00:00 – Welcome & Intro 00:48 –

Rash, the LGBTQ nightclub out of Brooklyn, New York that was set ablaze a couple of weeks ago by arsonists, announced that a suspect has been identified. Florida politicians look to punish Disney for standing up against the Don’t Say Gay legislation. I recommend a new podcast called Stories All Around Us.  00:00 – Welcome

I just want to say this level of hate is fueled by fear and ignorance. Plain and simple. One of my jobs is to report on it so you’re aware and so you can support people, organizations, and movements fighting on our behalf. Today it’s NCLR and I’m grateful for their work because it’s more

Ina Fried of Axios started a movement on Twitter called #Letters4TransKids and its shining light & hope where Republicans have been serving darkness & hate. Jorge Diaz-Johnston a Florida LGBTQ advocate was murdered back in January and they found out it was his roommate who killed him. Pabllo Vittar, a Brazilian drag queen, made history

The Wade’s posted a beautiful family Easter pic & Zaya has a boo. The Air Force is allowing their LGBTQ families to relocate out of transphobic states causing them harm. 2022 is the 35th anniversary of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and San Francisco is honoring this moment with the largest quilt display in over a

The notorious Ed Burk known as Dr. Kevorkian to the LA homeless community was finally sentenced for killing two Black gay men. He got 30 years behind bars. The Kentucky legislature decided to override the governor’s veto and pass an anti-trans sports bill. Anna recommends Jasmyne Cannick’s new podcast which focuses on the murder of

An Ohio school thought a book was gay because it had rainbows & unicorns on the cover so they banned it. When in fact it was a book about being yourself. P-Valley, one my fav shows, is coming back this June & Michael Sam landed a coaching job which he totally deserves. 00:00 – Welcome

It’s been 55 days since Brittney Griner was detained by Russian Federal Customs Service. 55. We still have more questions than answers and it feels like it will be that way for a while. I have been following the story closely and want to give an update to share the things I’ve been hearing and

The WNBA draft took place last night in New York City and it made some history for HBCU sports. Rash, a new LGBTQ club in Brooklyn, New York was set on fire while people were inside. In refreshing political news Kentucky’s Governor Beshear vetoes a trans sports bill that landed on his desk. 00:00 –

After 233 years, a Black woman will be sitting on the Supreme Court and her name is Ketanji Brown Jackson. Magic Johnson & his son EJ sit with Variety and talk candidly about EJ coming out and how they got through it. Marvel has been coming through with the queer representation of late. This time

Will Larkins, a nonbinary high schooler in Florida, decided to fight back against the Don’t Say Gay bill by leading a presentation about Stonewall in class. Out Rep. David Cicilline and the LGBTQ Equality Caucus sit with President Biden to talk about pressing political issues facing the LGBTQ community. Chicago journalist, Kate Sosin, takes to

Jerrod Carmichael comes out in his HBO special Rothaniel and it’s moving to say the very least, New York City Mayor Eric Adams launches an ad campaign targeting Florida residents in response to the Don’t Say Gay legislation and says come to a city where you can say and be whoever you want. The new

NCLR is taking the fight to Florida & challenging the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation that was recently signed. Lil Nas X shows out on the Grammy stage & South Carolina wins the NCAA Women’s National Championship in epic fashion. 00:00 – Welcome & Intro 00:35 – E3 Radio Ad, Tune-in 00:58 – Intro Music by

It’s the last day of women’s herstory month and also Trans Day of Visibility so I’ve got a couple of special moments for you today. For Trans Day of Visibility I want you all to go watch Logo TV’s 3-part series titled the Trans Youth Summit hosted by Raquel Willis. Now for women’s herstory month,

Trans week of Visibility is underway and Elise would have been 32 yesterday. Ariana DeBose makes history at the Oscars becoming the first out Afro-Latina to win. We salute CeCe McDonald in our women’s history month spotlight.  00:00 – Welcome & Intro 01:39 – The Qube Ad, The one and only app curating the best

It has been a tough couple of weeks for my Chicago LGBTQ fam. As you all know we lost Elise but we also lost another Black trans woman Tatiana Labelle, 33, also known as  “Tee Tee”. Tatiana was reported missing by her family and days later she was found dead on the southside of Chicago.

This is a special episode titled Money, Money, Money: Closing The Gap for LGBTQ Seniors Access to SSA Survivor Benefits. LGBTQ seniors who lost their partners before marriage was legal or before they reached the nine month mark are finally getting justice. They are getting paid for the benefits they were due thanks to the

A vigil took place to honor the life of Elise; a daughter, a sister, a friend and fearless advocate for the trans community here in Chicago. To have known Elise is to know what kindness really is and how it can show up in the world.  00:00 – Welcome & Intro 00:12 – The Qube