There are a record number of LGBTQ athletes competing in the Winter Olympics that kick off today in Beijing. Fourteen years ago Janet Jackson said she’d have a lesbian fling with Alicia Keys and Alicia has finally responded. We salute Ernestine Eckstein during our Black History Month Spotlight & Anna shares some of her favorite audio drama podcasts for you to get into. 

00:00 – Welcome & Intro

00:33 – Rate & Review Queer News Ad

01:01 – Intro Music

01:42 – There are a record number of LGBTQ athletes competing in the Winter Olympics that – kick off today in Beijing

02:42 – Fourteen years ago Janet said she’d have a lesbian fling with Alicia Keys and Alicia has finally responded

03:37 – We salute Ernestine Eckstein during our Black History Month Spotlight

04:57 – Anna shares some of her favorite audio drama podcasts for you to get into

05:43 – Anna’s Got A Word

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Family, this is your favorite queer radio personality Anna DeShawn here with our queer news from today. 

There are a record number of LGBTQ athletes competing in the Winter Olympics that kick off today in Beijing. Fourteen years ago Janet Jackson said she’d have a lesbian fling with Alicia Keys and Alicia has finally responded. We salute Ernestine Eckstein during our Black History Month Spotlight & I share some of my favorite audio drama podcasts for you to get into. 

Our leading story for today is about the Winter Olympics. They kick off today in Beijing where 3,000 athletes are competing across 15 disciplines and 109 events. Well “Team LGBTQ” has set a record with at least 32 out athletes from 14 countries competing in the games. We even have our first non-binary athlete competing as well. And it wouldn’t be the Olympics without a little drama and this one is no different. With COVID in the midst and 300 cases already reported of which 111 are athletes or team officials, the US imposing a diplomatic boycott to protest China’s alleged human rights abuses, and the tensions in Eastern Europe as Russia is threatening to invade Ukraine. These games are not without their drama but I wish the athletes the best of luck as they train their entire lives for these moments. These moments that seem to come and go in the blink of an eye. 

Also we are still showing love to Janet because that documentary was litty okay. Now we know Janet has always been a friend of the community and Gaye Magazine recently reported following the doc dropping that Alicia Keys finally responded to Janet admintting she would have a lesbian fling with her. Janet said this 14 years ago but Alicia never responded till now. Alicia posted a screenshot of the article on Instagram and said, “I always knew I was bae”. [laughing] Alicia later responded to a follower who wrote that she must feel “validated” for Jackson’s comment. She said, “I kinda did feel some kind of way !!!! 👑👑👑,” I bet you do cause Janet could get it okay if I wasn’t you know happily married in a loving relationship. Hey boo boo [laughing] 

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Ya’ll know its Black History Month and in every episode this month we are going to celebrate living at the intersections of being Black & Queer. There are so many Black LGBTQ folks who have made history but their sexuality was left out of the story. I’m here to change that. E3 Radio is here to change that. Who they are is just as important as what they did and acknowledging the full depth and breath of someone’s existence can not be understated. We deserve to be seen for all of who we are. Anything less is unjust. So with that our Black History spotlight today is Ernestine Eckstein. As reported by NBC News Ernestine was a leader in the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the United States. She attended “Annual Reminder” picket protests and was frequently one of the only women — and the only Black woman — present at early LGBTQ rights protests. Eckstein was also an early activist in the Black feminist movement of the 1970s and was involved with the organization Black Women Organized for Action. According to historians, she viewed the fight for civil rights and LGBTQ rights as intrinsically linked. Ernestine Eckstein we see you & we salute you. 

It’s Friday so it’s time for some more podcast recommendations. Today, I want to drop audio drama recommendations because I have fallen in love with audio dramas. I was speaking with someone last week and they likened audio dramas to our mothers watching their stories. That felt so real except in this case we are listening to our stories. Now all of these are podcasts I’ve listened to and would listen to again, okay you ready; Bronzeville, Kiss, The Two Princes, Purple Panties & Fruit. I promise you won’t be disappointed with any of these audio dramas and remember to always start with season 1, episode 1. Dramas do run in sequential order #protip. 

This leads me right into our word for today which is find you some me time. As we head into the weekend make sure you are making time for yourself. Curl up on the couch with your headphones and dive into one of these audio dramas. Pick up that book that’s been collecting a lot of dust. Go to YouTube University and learn about something that has sparked your interest. We spend a lot of time taking care of others but make sure you find time to take care of you too. Till Monday family, peace. 

Sources

Covering LGBTQ Athletes at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics: a Guide for Media

https://www.glaad.org/blog/covering-lgbtq-athletes-2022-beijing-winter-olympics-and-paralympics-guide-media

At least 6 out athletes are representing the United States at the 2022 Winter Olympics

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/01/least-6-athletes-representing-united-states-2022-winter-olympics/

16 queer Black trailblazers who made history 

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/black-history-month-17-lgbtq-black-pioneers-who-made-history-n1130856

Gaye Magazine 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZaWaoWLE8J/

Team LGBTQ is representing at the Winter Olympics, Alicia Keys finally responds to Janet Jackson’s lesbian fling remark, Ernestine Eckstein is our Black History Month Spotlight & Anna drops audio drama podcast recommendations – Friday, February 4, 2022