Kansas beats an anti-abortion ballot, Senator Tammy Baldwin believes we can pass the Respect for Marriage Act & a gay couple rallies against hate and wins with a kiss-a-thon – Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Representative Sharice Davids explains why Kansas’ got the win when an abortion ballot failed, Senator Tammy Baldwin thinks she has the 10 republicans needed to pass the same-sex marriage bill, and a gay couple chased out of a park rallied the community with kiss-a-ton. Let’s go!
00:00 – Welcome & Intro
01:09 – Top news stories
01:26 – Intro Music by Aina Bre’Yon
02:07 – Kansas
03:31 – Respect for Marriage
05:59 – Bogotá, D.C.
06:40 – Anna’s got a word
07:39 – Outro
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Family, it’s your favorite queer radio personality Anna DeShawn with our queer news for today. Now, I want to make you a promise. We will continue to bring you the latest in queer news, culture, and politics: 7 minutes a day, 5 days a week. So, if you are digging our intersectional take on the daily, consider joining the QCrew.
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Now, for the news; Representative Sharice Davids explains why Kansas’ got the win when an abortion ballot failed, Senator Tammy Baldwin thinks she has the 10 republicans needed to pass the same-sex marriage bill, and a gay couple chased out of a park rallied the community with kiss-a-ton. Let’s go!
Our leading story for today is out of Kansas. Roe v. Wade was devastating to so many of us and we’ve seen what Republicans have been up to when they have majority control over a legislative body. They’ve been passing anti-abortion bills left and right and far right. Well this leads us to Kansas. The Rupublicans and anti-abortion activists put a midterm primary ballot intiative on the ticket because they hoped that older and more conservative voters would carry it through as mid-term elections historically have low voter turnout.
But you know what, Kansas said “NO”. They said no to their rights being restricted. The Supreme court in Kansas has ruled that the state constitution guarantees the right to abortion in the state.
Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas said a woman told her two-year-old daughter “she shouldn’t have to grow up with fewer rights than her mother.” Isn’t that true? The voters in Kansas spoke loud and clear: We will not tolerate extreme bans on abortion. I hope that gives hope and energy to people who already felt defeated and let down by the Supreme court. There’s strength in numbers; we only need to believe we can make a change.
The Respect for Marriage Act would recognize interracial and same-sex marriages performed by states, and require states to recognize marriage in other states. It passed the House of Representatives in a 267-157 vote with all Democrats and most Republicans voting against it.
In the Senate, however, ten Republicans have to support the bill for it to pass. Five have come out in favor of the bill and at least 5 others have said they are leaning towards it, according to Sen. Tammy Baldwin. This won’t hit the Senate floor till September.
71% of Americans and 55% of republicans are in favor of the bill. It just seems that Congress is always behind on most policy positions and it’s quite embarrassing. But, let’s hope for the best that the bill passes.
For our next story I think we’ve got a new saying. Communities that rally together stay together;
A shocking video emerged out of Bogota showing an angry neighborhood mob chasing a gay couple for kissing in a park. The angry mob even had one frenzied angry woman that wielded a broom handle telling them if they don’t leave, they will lynch them. They even went as far as exaggerating they were having sex in public and in the presence of children. Seriously, what’s up with some people?
Well the community wasn’t having it. Hundreds of supporters rallied for this couple. Even the mayor of Bogota condemned the incident but unfortunately this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. In 2019, a mob chased a gay couple out of an upscale shopping mall for hugging and holding hands. Yes! For hugging and holding hands.
But for Sunday’s kiss-a-ton event, the turnout was huge as supporters kissed, danced, and played music while rainbow flags filled the park. What an atmosphere! Signs read “Kissing is not a crime,” “Kissing is a sign of affection”, and “We want to be able to kiss without being monitored.”
The community showed up and said we don’t all feel the same as the mob; love whoever you love and show affection unapologetically.
So, even though the world still needs to work on some of its discriminatory issues and actions, kind acts, no matter big or small show LGBTQ+ people you are loved, accepted, and worthy of rights and benefits like any other group.
As always we close out our podcast with a word of the day. Today’s word is forgiveness. The word is so easy to say but so challenging to practice. When people have wronged us it’s hard to let that go. There have been times when I just walked away from friendships without even a conversation. There have been times when I held on to that wrong so long, I forgot what I was mad about and still chose not to speak to that person again. Was it worth it? Is that a healthy way to live? I say all this to say that forgiveness is freedom. Only things you give energy too can percolate in your world. So choose to give your energy to something and someone else. Let that burden go. Release that harm. Forgive & experience the freedom that gives you in your life. Till tomorrow family, peace.
