Right-wing conservatives have a fight on their hands in Missouri after two students filed a class action lawsuit to get LGBTQ books back in their libraries. After trying for three years, two-time Olympic gold medalist Nicola Adams and her girlfriend Ella Baig are expecting their first child. We salute Emmy-award winning Marlon Riggs in our Black History Month spotlight.
00:00 – Welcome & Intro
00:37 – Rate & Review Queer News Ad
01:04 – Intro Music
01:44 – Right-wing conservatives have a fight on their hands in Missouri after two students filed a class action lawsuit to get LGBTQ books back in their libraries
03:27 – After trying for three years, two-time Olympic gold medalist Nicola Adams and her girlfriend Ella Baig are expecting their first child
04:49 – We salute Marlon Riggs during our Black History month spotlight
06:20 – Anna’s Got A Word
Things for you to check out
Marlon Riggs
Listen to More Queer News
Transcript
Family, this is your favorite queer radio personality Anna DeShawn here with our queer news from today.
Right-wing conservatives have a fight on their hands in Missouri after two students filed a class action lawsuit to get LGBTQ books back in their libraries. After trying for three years, two-time Olympic gold medalist Nicola Adams and her girlfriend Ella Baig are expecting their first child. We salute Emmy-award winning Marlon Riggs in our Black History Month spotlight.
Our leading story for today is about a couple of students in Missouri who decided to fight back. The two students, who are not being identified, have filed a class-action lawsuit against the Wentzville School District with the help of the ACLU Missouri for banning books that talk about LGBTQ identities and race. I’ve been reporting about the school boards across the country who have been actively banning LGBTQ books basically because they’re homophobic. Well it appears these students aren’t having it. The complaint names eight critically acclaimed books the district has removed from school libraries including LGBTQ stories like Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic and George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue. This school district is also banning other books like Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg’s Modern Romance. The ACLU says the only reason these books are being banned is because the school board has a “dislike of the ideas contained in the Banned Books and with the intent and purpose to prescribe what is generally or traditionally accepted as right or true in matters of opinion.” The ACLU is banking on the first amendment to combat what’s happening. This is the first lawsuit any affiliate of the ACLU has taken on to challenge the wave of book banning campaigns right-wing conservatives have been pushing. My hope is that it’s not the last and that the students who had the courage to file this complaint get to see this wrong overturned. If they are, maybe it will give other states the precedence they need to fight as well.
We want to send a big congratulations out to Olympic champ Nicola Adams and her girlfriend Ella Baig on expecting their first child. You may know Nicola because she’s known for breaking all types of glass ceilings as an out female athlete. She was the first out LGBT person to win a Gold medal at the 2012 Olympics. She was also the first female boxer to win an Olympic gold medal after she played a key role in having the sport recognized at the Olympic games. She retired with an undefeated record too. Well her and her girlfriend have been trying to start a family for three years and the magic has finally happened. Nicola shared this on twitter, “We’re so excited to announce that our family is expanding 🤍🕊 After what feels like a lifetime, we can finally say we’re going to be parents! We’re so excited to share this magical journey with you all,the ups,the downs everything in between💫 Welcome to the world little one 🪐” Congratulations again y’all.
We’re so excited to announce that our family is expanding 🤍🕊
— Nicola Adams (@NicolaAdamsOBE) February 17, 2022
After what feels like a lifetime, we can finally say we’re going to be parents!
We’re so excited to share this magical journey with you all,the ups,the downs everything in between💫
Welcome to the world little one 🪐 pic.twitter.com/BTLesRX12L
Oh & today is 2-22-22 and that means Da Brat & Judy are having a wedding. I’m rooting for them so hard and I’ll be looking out for the fab pics & videos.
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 Marlon Riggs.
Marlon was a groundbreaking Black gay filmmaker, educator, poet, and gay rights activist, best known as the producer, writer, and director of several television documentaries, including “Ethnic Notions,” “Tongues Untied,” “Color Adjustment,” and “Black Is…Black Ain’t.” Ethnic Notion, is an Emmy award winning documentary that explored the effects of African-American stereotypes. Tongues Untied which released in 1989 was one of the first widely viewed films to examine black gay sexuality from a black point of view. Although Tongues Untied met with wide-spread critical acclaim, it drew fire from conservative politicians when it was broadcast on American public television. In the ensuing controversy, Riggs became one of the best-known and most outspoken black gay male activists. We lost Marlon far too soon due to complications from HIV/AIDS but he never stopped working. In fact, much of the final text of “Black Is…Black Ain’t” was developed by Riggs one night in his hospital room. He’s left us so much. Marlon Riggs we see you & we salute you.
Let’s close out today’s podcast with some words from Marlon Riggs. He said, “I was born gay, just as I was born Black. It is necessary to constantly remind ourselves that we are not an abomination.” I don’t know who needs this word today but you are perfectly and wonderfully made. Never forget that. Today’s date incorporates 2222 which is a very powerful number. Look it up for yourself and pay attention to the signs. You are enough and your angels have your back. Till tomorrow family, peace.
Sources
Two students sue their school for banning books about LGBTQ people & race
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/02/two-students-sue-school-banning-books-lgbtq-people-race/