This week on the Queer News podcast, we begin with breaking news out of Berlin after a white van ran into a crowd on Saturday during Berlin Pride. For our top story, 200 million dollars in HIV prevention federal grants are at risk because of Trump administration budget cuts. In politics, rugby team the Baltimore Ferals won't comply with Trump's trans sports ban. In culture and entertainment, Meshell Ndegeocello debuts a new album of cover songs, Raven Symone is to be honored on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, and Chicago's Esteem Awards uplifts courageous queers in the city. Let's get into it! Want to support this podcast? 🏳️🌈 Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to be amplified, support the work we do. Join the QCrew for as low as $5 a month, https://queernewspod.substack.com 🎧 We are Queer News Done Right. 00:26 Welcome to Queer News 03:05 Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew 03:50 Berlin Attack 06:30 Queer News Headlines 07:19 200 Million in HIV Prevention Federal Grants At Risk 10:46 Rugby Team The Baltimore Ferals Wont Comply With Trumps Trans Sports Ban 13:43 Subscribe to our Newsletter 14:06 Send us your Queer News Tip 14:26 Meshell Ndegeocello Debuts New Cover Album 16:34 Raven Symone To Be Honored On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame 18:57 Chicago's Esteem Awards Uplifts Courageous Queers In The City 21:30 Anna's Word 🌈✊🏾🏳️⚧️✨ Important Episode Links Check out Pride on Full Display at the Obama Presidential Center Check out the Chicagoland Lesbian Business Directory Join the QCrew! Giving starts as low as $5/month Send In a Queer News Tip or email info at e3radio dot fm 🌈✊🏾🏳️⚧️✨ Interested in advertising? Email: info at e3radio.fm Subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/@e3radio 📣 Stay Connected Subscribe for news & queer deals: Queer News Newsletter Follow Anna @annadeshawn on social for the latest queer news updates! Rate, review, and share this episode to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices. 🌈✊🏾🏳️⚧️✨ 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 349. This Week's Top Story 200 Million in HIV Prevention Federal Grants At Risk 200 million dollars in federal funding towards HIV prevention are at risk after the CDC allegedly declined to renew the grant program. The current grant runs through September, thanks to an extension passed earlier this year. Some speculate that the CDC will announce a new program and/or funding opportunity in place of the current grant, but with no guarantees, 96 organizations may be left without crucial funding. What's interesting is this grant has been in circulation for more than 30 years, so to cut it now with no alternative in sign is alarming. Organizations need this funding to continue providing free/low cost HIV prevention services to the general public. The lack of funding could also lead to the closing of even more HIV treatment sites. We've already seen a decrease in them since last year due to Trump's increased cuts to funding. According to the human rights campaign, a study by amfAR found that over 1,700 HIV testing sites have already shuttered their doors since Trump took over. This Week In Politics Rugby Team The Baltimore Ferals Wont Comply With Trumps Trans Sports Ban Rugby team the Baltimore Ferals refuse to comply with Trump's Trans Sports ban. Back in February, USA rugby crumbled to Trump's whims and made a policy stating that only people "assigned female at birth" could play on the women's team. A statement released by the team states "Trans women are women and belong in women's sports…We are proud that so many of our opponents have shown us that they share these values and we hope that clubs around the nation continue to recruit and uplift trans players, especially in the face of transphobic policies." The Guardian reported that "While most trans-exclusionary policies in sports face opposition, advocates say that no sport has seen the immediate, collective cry of resistance that US women's rugby has in the aftermath of its ban." This Week In Culture & Entertainment Meshell Ndegeocello Debuts New Cover Album Poet, singer, and songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello returns to the musical world with a brand new cover album. Tilted Synonym, Meshell describes the album as a collection of "classic songs that…have diverse tones, representing various genres and intentional grooves." In addition to diverse tones, this album is stacked with star studded features and collaborations. Celebrities like "Cat Power, Chaka Khan, Brandi Carlile, Bill Callahan, Chris Thile, Nick Hakim, Robert Glasper, Lianne La Havas, Moses Sumney, ANOHNI, and Willow" all make appearances on the album. Synonym releases on October 2, but is currently available for preorder wherever you buy music. Raven Symone To Be Honored On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame Beloved cheetah Sistah and pop icon Raven Symone will be honored with a star on the Hollywood walk of fame. From the cosby show, to thats so raven, to the cheetah girls, The actress, singer, writer, director etc has graced our screens for so long, so it's about time she received a star. Raven thanked her supporters in a heartwarming video on her instagram. "Thers a lot of feelings, There's a lot of feelings and um I'm still processing them just because it's been a long journey. Thank you guys for supporting me for the last…imma say it forty years…I love you guys, and back to work!" Chicago's Esteem Awards Uplifts Courageous Queers In The City Chicago's Annual Esteem Awards was held last week at Sidetrack, and a handful of courageous Chicagoans received high honors.The Esteem Awards honors and celebrates "the changemakers, trailblazers, and community champions who are making a real difference in the lives of African American, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ communities and our allies." Since the creation of the awards in 2007, more than 300 Chicagoans have received an esteem award. Award recipients for the 2026 ceremony include: "chef Dominique Leach (Outstanding Female Service to the Community); Travis Gayles, MD (Outstanding Male Service to the Community); Darrius Caffey (Future Leader); Myah Brown (Outstanding Service, Transgender); Peter Gaona (Artistic Expression); Brandynicole Brooks (Outstanding Female Service National); with a special recognition for Jerry Jones, UB the Cure (Institutional Award); and the Chicago Women's AIDS Project (Service Organization)." Anna's Word 🌈✊🏾🏳️⚧️✨ 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 drops every Monday by 9am CT. Edited by Ryan Woodhall for Public Sound. Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.
