This week on Queer News: Exclusive Interview: HIV Is Not a Crime: Surviving Prosecution & Fighting for Justice with Robert Suttle
Welcome back to our Interview series! This week on Queer News, Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community! Anna has a couple Queer News headlines to share, then later, join Anna for an exclusive interview with advocate, and chair of the council of justice leaders with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, Robert Suttle!
Robert’s work is rooted in combating the criminalization of HIV through consultations, and education on the stigmas and harmful legislation surrounding HIV. His passion has personal ties, as he himself experienced felony charges and jail time as a result of the existing laws related to HIV.
Through The Sero Project, a program Robert co-founded, he uplifts voices directly impacted by HIV criminalization and strongly advocates for policy reform across the globe.
On this episode of Queer News, Anna and Robert discuss the criminalization of HIV, Robert’s personal story, states with laws actively criminalizing HIV, and ways people can support the HIV is not a crime movement and the true not crime series.
You can find Robert Suttle on instagram @suttlevision. Let’s get into it!
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00:26 Welcome to Queer News 02:50 Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew 03:50 Queer News Headlines 10:50 Interview with Robert Suttle 23:13 Get your tickets to the 12th annual Purple Tie Affair Today 24:32 Interview with Robert Suttle (continued)
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 359.
This Week’s Queer News Headlines
Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame is the only city-sanctioned LGBT Hall of Fame in the world, has announced its slate of 2026 inductees: 13 LGBT-identified individuals, two LGBT-identified organizations and three friends of the community, or allies. The 2026 inductees represent a wide cross-section of the diverse Chicago community.
This year there are five Black LGBTQ individuals and one organization that will be inducted into the hall! (in alpha order) Adodi Chicago, David Dodd, Coquie Hughes, Saundra DeAnne Johnson, Alderman Lamont J. Robinson, and Marshall Titus. Wow! This cohort spans politics, culture and entertainment. We are also sending special congratulations to our friends Brad Balof and Simone Koehlinger who we love dearly here. Congratulations to them all 🎉
A Different World Reboot
A Different World is back with a brand new look. The reboot launched on Netflix September 24th, 39 years after the original premiere back in 1987, and many have already binged the season, myself included. New and familiar faces return to Hillman College for a semester filled with comedy, drama, and a whole lot of heart.
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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.