Great news! Multiple Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislations Fail to Pass, Chicago's Lesbian Bar Dorothy Gains A Sibling, and Poet Laureate Avery R. Young Debuts at the Lyric Opera

This week on the Queer News podcast Anna DeShawn reports, in politics politicians fail to pass multiple pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislations in Georgia, Wisconsin, and Kentucky. In culture and entertainment, Chicago's Lesbian Bar Dorothy Gains A Sibling Named Fathom, and Poet Laureate avery r. young Debuts safronia at the Lyric Opera. Let's get into it.

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02:54 Queer News Headlines
03:36 No new anti-lgbtq legislation passed in Georgia this year
05:50 Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers Vetos multiple anti-trans bills
08:27 Republicans Fail To Ban Trans Teachers In Kentucky
12:10 Amnesty April is back from Chicago's City Clerk Anna Valencia
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14:35 Subscribe to the Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews
15:09 The Lesbian Bar Dorothy Gains A Sibling Bar In Lakeview
17:46 avery r. young To Debut At the Lyric Opera
22:08 Anna's Word

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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 333.

This Week's Top Story

No new anti-lgbtq legislation passed in Georgia this year

Family, great news coming from Georgia. No new anti-lgbtq legislation passed in Georgia this legislative year. Georgia Equality celebrated the news on blueskyy, writing "After a late night at the Capitol to finish out the 2026 legislative session, we could not be more excited to share that WE DID IT! We successfully defeated ALL of the nearly 15 pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation!"

The Georgia governing body cannot convene for a new legislative season until 2027 thanks to local state laws. Governor Brian Kemp can call an emergency special session, and the move has been done by previous governors, but right now Kemp has 40 days to veto or pass all 2026 legislation so that should keep him occupied for some time.

This Week In Politics

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers Vetos multiple anti-trans bills

Wisconsin Democratic Governor Tony Evers was handing vetoes out left and right on Trans Day of Visibility. In total he vetoed five anti-trans bills in a small ceremony surrounded by the lgbtq+ community.

Evers has stood on business since 2023, vetoing any and all anti-lgbtq legislation that hits his desk. He tweeted back in 2024 that "Republicans' anti-LGBTQ bills targeting trans kids will never become law as long as I'm governor. I'll keep my promise to veto any bill making Wisconsin less safe, less inclusive, and less welcoming for LGBTQ people and kids—including this one. And I'll be damn proud to do it."

Republicans Fail To Ban Trans Teachers In Kentucky

In a sea of anti-lgbt+ legislation being passed left and right, it's nice to hear about some failures, like the failure by Kentucky Republicans to pass HB 759. The bill was so poorly constructed that it didn't even receive the attention of the senate who were scheduled to vote on it this month. The bill was designed by GOP lawmaker State Sen. Gex Williams as an amendment to HB 759 and teaching certifications but aimed to attack trans teachers.

To add more salt to Kentucky Republicans wounds, the failure to pass HB 759 means that for the first time in many years, no new anti-lgbtq+ legislation was passed in Kentucky during this legislative season! Now, we should still be vigilant for any bills sneaking their way into the next legislative season, but it's nice to celebrate wins when we can.

This Week In Culture & Entertainment

The Lesbian Bar Dorothy Gains A Sibling Bar In Lakeview

The cherished lesbian bar Dorothy has been a staple for the queer community since it's opening in 2020 in Ukaranian village. Known for their curated events such as dj spotlight nights, bartender mix offs, silent book clubs, and so much more, Dorothy offers a place of respite and community for any and everyone, but especially lesbians. Now the owners Whitney Lamora and Zoe Schor are expanding to Lakeview with their new bar Fathom.

The bar has a kitchen, a patio area, and patrons can expect events such as karaoke and trivia. Fathom opened on April 9th and rapidly hit capacity which is a testament to how excited the Chicago queer community was to support Whitney and Zoe. Fathom opens at 5pm daily with the hours aiming to expand in the coming months. Dorothy opens daily at 6pm.

avery r. young To Debut At the Lyric Opera

The Lyric Opera is poised to present the world premiere of "safronia" this month. Chicago's Inaugural poet laureate, author, and interdisciplinary artist avery r. young is credited as the Composer and Librettist of safronia. In addition, he will play the Booker family's patriarch baar booker marking this as his mainstage debut at the Lyric Opera. avery also has credits in art pieces featured at The Hip Hop Theatre Festival, The Museum of Contemporary Art, and American Jazz Museum.

avery took inspiration from his own life in the creation of this story, describing the world of safronia as if "You're walking down Chicago Avenue and you stumble upon a church where Curtis Mayfield is conducting Parliament-Funkadelic, but Mavis [Staples] and her sisters and daddy are singing. That's what I wanted to make the world." safronia runs for April 18th and 19th at the Lyric Opera House.

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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.

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