Moving testimony from trans youth and activists stall an anti-trans bill in Arizona. Showtime has announced The L Word: Generation Q is coming back for Season 3. We salute E. Lynn Harris during our Black History Month Spotlight. 

00:00 – Welcome & Intro

00:27 – Rate & Review Queer News Ad

00:54 – Intro Music

01:35 – Moving testimony from trans youth and activists stall an anti-trans bill in Arizona

04:59 – Showtime has announced The L Word: Generation Q is coming back for Season 3

05:41 – We salute E. Lynn Harris during our Black History month spotlight

06:58 – Anna’s Got A Word 

Things for you to check out 

Skylar Morrison’s Testimony

More about E. Lynn Harris
https://legacyprojectchicago.org/person/e-lynn-harris

Listen to More Queer News

Transcript

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

Moving testimony from trans youth and activists stall an anti-trans bill in Arizona. Showtime has announced The L Word: Generation Q is coming back for Season 3. We salute E. Lynn Harris during our Black History Month Spotlight. 

Our leading story for today is out of Arizona where some of the most courageous trans youth and activists stood up and spoke out against anti-trans bill S.B. 1138. Their courage was not in vain either as they were able to flip one Republican vote to get the hateful bill stalled for now. This bill would prohibit gender-affirming care for trans youth and is only one of 15 anti-LGBTQ bills Arizona lawmakers have introduced in 2022. We are living in a time where anti-trans rhetoric is amplified not just inside the walls of the state legislature but in the media as well; i.e. the Dave Chappelle comedy special. I’ve been saying this and will continue to do so, this anti-LGBTQ campaign fueled by hate, fear, & ignorance from Republicans is some of the most disgusting politics we’ve seen in a long while. 

One of the powerful testimonies came from 13-year old Skylar Morrison who spoke about her life and transition. She said that going through a testosterone puberty would be “so extremely harmful to me and my mental health” and she wouldn’t be here today if it were not for the medical care she could access. She went on to say, “I know who I am and I know who I continue to be and this bill is a direct roadblock in my journey to becoming fully comfortable in my own body.” I’ve included a link to the clip of Skylar’s testimony in the show notes. Take a moment and hear from her yourself. 

Skylar’s mom Chelsa Morrison of DFW Trans Kids and Families also testified and had this to say at the hearing. [PLAY CLIP]. Period. I know that’s right. She said it all. Due to moving testimonies just like these Republican state Sen. Tyler Pace sided with the three Democrats against the bill, leading to a 4-4 vote, and ultimately stalling the bill in committee. Pace said, “The testimonies we heard today about the many people who are using these avenues of medical treatments to save lives, to improve lives, I don’t want my vote to stop those great things.” It is moments like this that give some extra hope that open hearts can be changed. 

So do I have any L Word fans out there? I’ve been a fan of the series since the beginning despite its lack of inclusivity. The stories were always salacious and sexy and Jennifer Beals chile. Well when the reboot popped up a couple of years ago, “The L Word: Generation Q” I wasn’t sure at first but I really got into it. It’s far more diverse from all angles and some of my favs were still in the mix which really made it feel like a continuation of the story. Well Showtime has announced they are renewing the series for season 3. It will be a 10-episode run and drop sometime next with the whole cast in tow. Woot! 

Now y’all know its Black History Month and in every episode this month we are going to celebrate living at the intersections of being Black & Queer. With that our Black History spotlight today is E. Lynn Harris. 

E. Lynn Harris was an openly gay author who was best known for his depictions of African-American men who were on the down-low and closeted. His stories were racy and sometimes graphic tales of affluent, ambitious, powerful black men, athletes, businessmen, lawyers and alike who nonetheless struggled with their attraction to both men and women. He authored ten consecutive books that made The New York Times Best Seller list which made him among the most successful authors of his era. There are more than four million copies of his novels in print. He won numerous awards for his work as well; Novel of the Year for Just As I am & the James Baldwin Award for Literary Excellence for “If This World Were Mine” & a Lambda Literary Award for his anthology Freedom in this Village. He told the stories of Black gay men before anyone else had the courage to do so. E. Lynn Harris we see you & we salute you. 

To close out today’s word is persistence. I was inspired this morning by the affirmation in my mastermind journal. It read, “I have the dedication and persistence needed to create the life I want.” Don’t get me wrong, dedication is absolutely needed but persistence takes it to another level. The actual definition says firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. See persistence is that secret sauce because challenges will undoubtedly occur and there will be times that you will need to stand firm and/or be obstinate. It may not feel comfortable but when you’re clear on your goal there will be some things that are non-negotiable. So tap into that persistent nature of yours and go get what you deserve. Till tomorrow family, peace. 

Sources

Trans kids & activists stopped this hateful Arizona bill with their powerful testimony

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/02/trans-kids-activists-stopped-hateful-arizona-bill-powerful-testimony/

Happy Friday Lesbians! Showtime Renews “The L Word: Generation Q” For Season 3

http://gomag.com/article/happy-friday-lesbians-showtime-renews-the-l-word-generation-q-for-season-3/

E. Lynn Harris

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Lynn_Harris

E. Lynn Harris, Who Wrote of Gay Black Men’s Lives, Dies at 54

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/books/25harris.html

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