Brittney Griner is writing a memoir, a Black trans woman is murdered, Equality Florida issues travel advisory & Durand Bernarr’s Tiny Desk is a Must Watch  – Monday, April 17, 2023

Now for the news. Brittney Griner is writing a memoir about her wrongful detainment in Russia. Another Black trans woman is murdered this time in Atlanta. Equality Florida issues a travel advisory against Florida. The Transgender Film Center partners with Netflix on a film & TV career accelerator and you need to watch Durand’s Tiny Desk. Let’s go.

00:00 – Welcome & Intro

1:23 – Black HIV in the South: How Did We Get Here? Trailer

1:55 – Today’s Top Stories

2:35 – Lost & Found for Podcasters Trailer

3:15 – Intro Music by Aina Bre’Yon

3:55 – The Supreme Court Backs Trans Athlete in West Virginia

6:22 – HRC dropped a report indicating that more than half (50.4%) of transgender youth (ages 13-17) have lost or are at risk of losing access to age appropriate, medically necessary gender-affirming care in their state 

8:25 – Listing the 20 states banning trans folks from sports

9:54 – Two TikTok Stars Raise $1.6 Million for LGBTQ Nonprofit

12:33 – Heartwarming lesbian High School Prom-posal

14:26 – Anna’s Word

15:46 – Outro

Things for you to check out

Brittney Griner’s Memoir Announcement

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BG (@brittneyyevettegriner)

Durand’s Tiny Desk

Apply for the Transgender Film Center & Netflix Lab

Transfilmcenter.org

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Our First Qube Original – Black HIV in the South: How Did We Get Here?

Join the QCrew

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Listen to More Queer News

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The Blog Post by Chat GPT

In this week’s episode of the Queer News podcast, we discuss some of the latest news stories affecting the LGBTQ+ community, including Brittney Griner’s plan to write a memoir about her wrongful detainment in Russia, the murder of Black trans woman Ashley Burton in Atlanta, and Equality Florida’s travel advisory against the state.

We begin with the breaking news of Brittney Griner’s memoir, which she announced on her Instagram page last Wednesday. Griner was detained in Russia for 10 months while playing basketball for UMMC Ekaterinburg. In her post, she wrote about the challenges she faced during her detainment and her gratitude for the support she received from people around the world. She also hopes to raise awareness about other Americans who have been wrongfully detained abroad.

As queer media personalities, we believe it is important to cover Griner’s story and help spread awareness about the issue of wrongful detainment. We also hope to have the opportunity to interview Griner about her experience and share her story with our listeners.

Next, we discuss the tragic murder of Ashley Burton, a Black trans hairstylist and makeup artist who was shot and killed in Atlanta in April. Burton was known for living her life openly and authentically, and her family and community mourn her loss. Burton’s death is the ninth violent death of a trans person in the US this year, highlighting the ongoing violence and discrimination faced by the trans community.

As members of the LGBTQ+ community, it is important that we uplift the voices and experiences of our trans family and demand justice for those who have been killed or harmed due to anti-trans violence. We must also work to address the systemic issues that perpetuate this violence, such as transphobia and discrimination.

Finally, we discuss Equality Florida’s travel advisory against the state, which warns individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and students that Florida may not be a safe place to visit or take up residence. The advisory comes in response to new laws that target the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, restrict access to reproductive healthcare, repeal gun safety laws, and provoke racial prejudice.

As queer individuals, we must be aware of the laws and policies that affect our safety and well-being. We also have a responsibility to hold our elected officials accountable and advocate for policies that protect our rights and freedoms.

Netflix and the Transgender Film Center have launched a Career Development Lab for trans and nonbinary filmmakers, offering a 12-week fellowship with hands-on site visits, virtual classes, in-person workshops hosted by industry professionals, and access to working industry executives. This is supported by a $10,000 grant from Netflix’s Fund for Creative Equity. Although it comes after backlash against Dave Chappelle, this is a positive step towards creating more opportunities for marginalized voices in the entertainment industry. Applications are open until April 23 on transfilmcenter.org. Check out Durand Bernarr’s Tiny Desk performance, featuring his amazing R&B vocals and Proud Family-inspired costumes.

In conclusion, this week’s episode of the Queer News podcast covers important news stories affecting the LGBTQ+ community. We hope to continue bringing our listeners the latest in queer news, culture, and politics every Monday, and we invite them to join our monthly membership program, the QCrew, to support our efforts to grow the podcast and bring more stories celebrating our community. As always, we stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ family and demand justice and equality for all.

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Transcript

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 every Monday by 7am CT. So, if you are digging our intersectional take on the weekly, consider joining the QCrew.

The QCrew is our monthly membership program we started to help us grow the podcast. You get weekly emails from me, exclusive interviews with LGBTQ influencers from across the country and beginning this year special behind the scenes footage too. With your support, we can bring you more stories celebrating our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & comrade communities. Click the link in the show notes to join the QCrew today. 

Now for the news. Brittney Griner is writing a memoir about her wrongful detainment in Russia. Another Black trans woman is murdered this time in Atlanta. Equality Florida issues a travel advisory against Florida. The Transgender Film Center partners with Netflix on a film & TV career accelerator and you need to watch Durand’s Tiny Desk. Let’s go. 

Family, we must lead with some breaking news. For those of you who have been listening y’all know how I covered the wrongful detainment of Brittney Griner all last year. So many of you have shared with me how this podcast kept you informed. I was doing what many mainstream outlets just weren’t and I don’t plan on stopping now that BG is back on US soil. Last Wednesday, BG made a big announcement on her Instagram page. She shared that she plans to write a memoir about her experience being detained in Russia for those 10 months. 

She wrote in her Instagram post, “I arrived in Moscow to rejoin the UMMC Ekaterinburg basketball team and was immediately detained at the airport. That day was the beginning of an unfathomable period in my life which only now am I ready to share.

The primary reason I traveled back to Russia for work that day was because I wanted to make my wife, family, and teammates proud.  After an incredibly challenging 10 months in detainment, I am grateful to have been rescued and to be home. Readers will hear my story and understand why I’m so thankful for the outpouring of support from people across the world.

By writing this book, I also hope to raise awareness surrounding other Americans wrongfully detained abroad such as Paul Whelan,…” and she goes on the list many other names of people who are wrongly detained. I think it’s pretty brave of her to want to share her experience with the world in effort to help bring others back home to their loved ones.  

I definitely want to put it out there in the universe that I want Queer News to be part of that media blitz. I’d love a sit down interview with BG to discuss this memoir. Y’all already know that I will keep you informed on the drop date and I hope y’all ready for this 2023 WNBA season because it will be one for the record books. BG will be on a whole welcome back, welcome home tour okay. Get your tickets.

Now Ashley Burton, we say your name. Ashley, a Black trans hairstylist and makeup artist, was tragically shot and killed on the night of April 11th in Atlanta. Ashely was found outside her apartment complex, where police report that she was shot inside her apartment before fleeing outside where she collapsed and passed away.

Ashley’s mother and brother shared that she was a beloved member of their family and the LGBTQ community. Her brother went on to say that Ashley was very comfortable in her own skin and lived her life openly and authentically, without hiding who she was. I think this is an important note as so often when trans women are killed the assumption is that their identity was a secret or being hidden for safety. So I get that. Her best friend said, “She was very full of life really. It was always smiles and laughs with us whenever we work together.” Her cousin described her as a hardworking and caring person who moved from South Carolina to Georgia to further her career. 

The killing of Ashley Burton marks at least the ninth violent death of a trans person in the US this year, highlighting the ongoing violence and discrimination faced by the trans community. As her family and community mourn the loss of Ashley and all those who have died due to anti-trans violence, we must continue to uplift the voices and experiences of our trans fam and demand justice. Our cases deserved to be solved too. Ashley, we speak your name. 

In political news, Equality Florida has issued a travel advisory to warn individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and students that Florida may not be a safe place to visit or take up residence. This advisory comes after the adoption of new laws that target the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, restrict access to reproductive health care, repeal gun safety laws, and provoke racial prejudice. Florida’s policies have led parents to consider relocating, prospective students to cross Florida colleges and universities off their lists, events and conferences to cancel future gatherings, and the United States military to offer redeployment for service members whose families are now unsafe in the state.

Florida’s recent actions pose a serious threat to academic freedom and  free speech. DEI departments play a crucial role in promoting diversity and inclusion on campus, and their removal undermines the ability of students and faculty to engage in critical discussions about issues of race, gender, and identity. At the end of March, The NAACP Florida State Conference voted unanimously in favor of asking the NAACP Board of Directors to issue a travel advisory for the state of Florida. They said, “The recommendation from our Florida State Conference is a clear indication of just how egregious Governor Desantis’ actions are. Any attempt to intentionally erase or misrepresent Black History is a direct attack on the foundation of comprehensive education. Be clear – Black history is American history. We are proud of our Florida State Conference for meeting this moment with the equal aggression and intention that is a necessary response to these attacks. Any location in America where our history has been erased does not offer us, or our children a bright future.”

Overall, Equality Florida urges individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and students to consider the implications of traveling to or residing in Florida, and to support efforts to defend public education and academic freedom in the state. Ya’ll so ahead and reschedule them trips to Miami & Orlando. Go ahead fly over to California. This is what it will take. 

Let’s take a quick break and hear from one of our hosts, DJ Tricey Trice. We’ll be right back. 

Now let’s jump into some culture and entertainment news. Netflix and the Transgender Film Center (TFC) have launched the Career Development Lab for trans and nonbinary filmmakers. Now this is hella dope but we also recognize this is Netflix working to repair its image after that Dave Chappelle backlash. But for this story we are going to focus on the good. This lab is a 12-week fellowship, supported by a $10,000 grant from Netflix’s Fund for Creative Equity, it aims to accelerate the careers of its participants by offering hands-on site visits, a series of virtual classes and in-person workshops hosted by industry pros, and access to working industry executives. TFC and Netflix are set to host the inaugural lab this spring, so if you’re interested in applying the application is currently available at transfilmcenter.org and submissions are open until April 23 at 11:59 p.m. PT. If you’re interested in applying, the link is in the show notes. If you know someone who should apply send them the link. 

And for our last story today, ave y’all seen the Durand Bernarr Tiny Desk? Let me take a step back. Do you know Durand? If not, you should. Durand Bernarr is an amazing R&B singer who’s sung background vocals for Erykah Badu and featured vocals for other artists such as Anderson .Paak and The Internet. In 2019, he was a runner-up on the BET reality music competition The Next Big Thing and he released his latest album DUR& in 2020. So back to this Tiny Desk. Durand and his band was dressed  in costumes inspired by The Proud Family. Yes, the Proud Family.  Durand was rocking a 1970s pink suit for which he shared that he quote “not meant to be understood, I’m meant to be experienced.” This performance was so good because he showcased his wild vocal range and expressive personality. So my point is that you gotta check out Durand’s Tiny Desk. I’ve included a link in the show notes. 

Now the word today comes from Muhammad Ali. He said, “Don’t count the days. Make the days count.” It’s such a simple concept but so hard to execute. We be waiting don’t we. Counting the days till this or that happens when instead we should be enjoying every moment and enjoying the journey. It’s not easy. We all want to be somewhere or doing something or have some goal in mind that we have to attain. But I think the heart of this message is we must make the most out of every day. So, here’s to you making this week count and learning to enjoy the journey. “Don’t count the days. Make the days count.” Till next week family, peace. 

Sources

Ashley Burton, a Black Trans Hairstylist and Makeup Artist, Shot and Killed in Atlanta

https://www.them.us/story/ashley-burton-atlanta-trans-woman-killed

Atlanta hairdresser, member of LGBTQ community found dead in her apartment

https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/atlanta-hairdresser-found-dead-in-her-apartment

Equality Florida Issues Advisory Warning For Travel

https://www.eqfl.org/florida-travel-advisory?gclid=CjwKCAjwue6hBhBVEiwA9YTx8C_AVHAgOfowTtN876gCy1gEJlNUEYQOSeBdSg1E9dGt6j7VsuBATxoC5M8QAvD_BwE

NAACP FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

https://naacp.org/articles/naacp-florida-state-conference-recommends-travel-advisory-state-response-african-american#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%93%20The%20NAACP%20Florida%20State,to%20the%20state%20of%20Florida.

Netflix, Transgender Film Center Launch Career Development Lab for Trans and Nonbinary Filmmakers (Exclusive)

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/netflix-trans-film-center-career-development-lab-1235365592/

Durand Bernarr Is Loud And Proud On NPR’s ‘Tiny Desk’

https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/durand-bernarr-wanderlust-npr-tiny-desk-concert-1234746263/