This week on Queer News: Pulse’s 10th Anniversary, Trump’s trans military ban takes an L, and Durand links up with Kehlani for a world tour.
This week on the Queer News podcast, our top story remembers the 11 trans lives lost since March. In politics, Trump’s Trans Ban Blocked in D.C, and It’s the 10 Anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub Massacre. In culture and entertainment, Durand joins Kehlani on her world tour, and Level Up Sporting Club has opened up in Wrigleyville. Let’s get into it.
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00:26 Welcome to Queer News 02:48 Join the QCrew, https://queernewspod.substack.com/ 03:37 Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 05:02 Queer News Headlines 05:40 Six Trans People Were Murdered In May. 11 in total since March. Something’s Gotta Change. 09:45 Federal Judge Block Trump’s Trans Military Ban 14:29 Pulse Nightclub Remembers the 49 Lives Stolen As The 10th Anniversary Approaches 17:58 Chicago’s Pridefest is Back! Check out the lineup here https://northalsted.com/main-events/chicago-pride-fest/ 18:47 Join the QCrew! Subscribe & Support us on our new Substack https://queernewspod.substack.com 19:10 Durand Joins Kehlani On World Tour 20:49 Level Up Sporting Club Opens to the Public June 4th 23:11 Anna’s Got A Word
This week’s episode of Queer News is packed with historic milestones, urgent calls for justice, and accountability. Here is your social-media-ready breakdown of every story from Episode 341.
This Week’s Top Story
Six Trans People Were Murdered In May. 11 in total since March. Something’s Gotta Change.
Pride is a month of celebration, but it is also a month of activism, and remembrance. Since March, 11 of our trans siblings have had their lives violently taken from them. Shyyell-Diamond-Sanchez-McCray, Davonta Curtis, Lanessa Rodriguez, Aleanna Royal Belcher, Dannielle Spillman, Juniper Blessing, Murray Faust, Eryka Caldwell, Spot Singleton, Luca RedBeard Knapp, and Persia Amarra Conway. The later half of which were killed in just May alone. May they rest in piece.
This Week In Politics
Federal Judge Block Trump’s Trans Military Ban
The Trump administration catches another L and we love to see it. A D.C. Federal Appeals court came to the decision that Trump’s trans military ban was created with the sole intent to “harm a politically unpopular group: persons who identify as transgender.” The decision, slightly fractured, was around an injunction against the policy.
Judge Wilkins summed up his thoughts on the ruling perfectly with the following quote: “The government has not told us what legitimate interest it has in preventing a woman from joining (or remaining in) the military because she used he/him or they/them pronouns at some point during her lifetime, and I cannot think of one.” It’s important to note that the ruling only serves as a protection for trans and non-binary military personnel who are currently serving in the military, but still this is a major win!
Pulse Nightclub Remembers the 49 Lives Stolen As The 10th Anniversary Approaches
Back in March the Pulse Nightclub was demolished–the first time anyone has touched the nightclub since 2016. In it’s place are plans for a memorial dedicated to the 49 lives lost. Though many were sad to see the nightclub go, the designers had them in mind when working on the concepts for the memorial stating that “to preserve the emotional and psychological connection many individuals have with the original Pulse Nightclub and to ensure these symbolic attachments are never removed from the site, elements of the Pulse building are being incorporated into the design, including a portion of the dance floor, which will be preserved beneath the Reflecting Pool, the breach wall, salvaged in whole, to be preserved beneath the Memorial Obelisk and recycled concrete from the original building, to be utilized within elements of the overall memorial.”
This Week In Culture & Entertainment
Durand Joins Kehlani On World Tour
People are running faster than Durand did to get his grammy to purchase tickets for Kehlani’s would tour after it was announced that he would be joining her. The duo announced the news via social media promoting the tour and Durand’s new self-titled album Bernarr. The new album features 17 songs and is seemingly an ode to Durand at different stages in youth. Tickets for the tour currently range from $57 – $461 before taxes and fees and tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.com
Level Up Sporting Club Opens to the Public June 4th
Y’all I’ve been waiting for this one. Level Up Sporting Club is now open. Located in Wrigleyville, the sporting club is described as “a Chicago sports bar leveling the playing field through its dedication to showcasing women’s sports, paired with elevated bar food crafted by a bib gourmand–recognized chef.” The sporting club, Owned by Clarissa Flores and led by an all woman team including Jennifer King and Bracey, aims to uplift women’s sports on a level unseen by fans of women’s sports in the city.
Anna’s Word
“Find something where you can be together with people who see, love, and respect your humanity. It is only together that we’ll get through this.”
After delivering a particularly tough, heavy episode, Anna DeShawn drops a deeply comforting and urgent word for the family: Together. Sometimes the reality of the news we have to report doesn’t leave us feeling good about the world, and it’s easy to feel lonely, depressed, or like all of our progress is moving backward. But looking up and down the timeline, Anna highlights a beautiful truth—the queer community is gathering, organizing, eating, drinking, and finding ways to just be in community right now. If you are sitting at home feeling the weight of the world, this is your sign to log on, find a local event or organization, and get into a space with your people. Isolation is the enemy; choosing to show up for each other is how we heal and survive. Happy Pride, family—take care of each other until next week!
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About Queer News
An intersectional approach to a weekly news podcast where race & sexuality meet politics, entertainment and culture. Tune-in to reporting which centers & celebrates all of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & comrade communities. Hosted by Anna DeShawn. New pod every Monday by 7am CT.
Edited by Ryan Woodhall.
Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.
