Illinois Education under DOJ investigation, The Trevor Project Receives 1 Million Dollar Donation Form NFL Owner, and Chicago Queer Wedding Show is on May 12th

This week on the Queer News podcast, for our top story, The DOJ investigates 36 Illinois schools over alleged Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) education. In politics, The Acceptance Academy Community school opens in South Florida this August, and the Trevor Project receives a 1 million dollar donation from NFL owner Arthur Blank. In sports, a lesbian engagement during a women's hockey game goes viral. In culture and entertainment, the Chicago Queer Wedding Show is on May 12th. Let's get into it.

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04:41 Queer News Headlines

05:25 DOJ Launches investigation in Illinois schools for violations of civil rights

11:00 South Florida To Open A School For LGBTQ+ Students In August

14:10 Trevor Project Receives A 1 Million Dollar Donation From NFL Owner Arthur Blank

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17:46 This Lesbian Couple's Engagement went viral in the Hockey World

20:34 Chicago's Queer Wedding Show Returns May 12th

23:08 Anna's Got A 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 337.

This Week's Top Story

DOJ Launches investigation in Illinois schools for violations of civil rights

The DOJ has launched an investigation into 36 Illinois schools via their civil rights department. Most of the schools on the list are suburban schools. They claim that they're investigating if the schools have been teaching SOGI-related content otherwise known as sexual orientation and gender ideology in grades pre-K through 12th grade.

In a statement released by the DOJ they said "If they are teaching SOGI-related content, the investigations will examine whether the schools have notified parents of their right to opt their children out of such instruction. The investigation will also assess whether the Illinois School Districts limit access to single-sex intimate spaces (such as bathrooms and locker rooms) and girls' sports teams based on biological sex." There's currently no hard timeline for the DOJ investigation, but we will continue to keep an eye on this story as it develops.

This Week In Politics

South Florida To Open A School For LGBTQ+ Students In August

The Acceptance Academy Community school is described as a "private, nonprofit middle school serving LGBTQ+ students, bullied youth, and those who struggle to thrive in traditional school environments." The school is a part of the Step Up For Students scholarship program, a program that assists Florida families and students with tuition, transportation, and educational resources. Applications for the school and scholarships within the Step Up For Students scholarship program are now open. Tuition to attend is $20,000 a year. Families with a $8,000 state voucher, would pay about $12,000.

In an era where there's been a crackdown on school simply for queer students existing, it's nice to see a school that is striving to be a safe space for lgbtq+ students. The school will operate with smaller class sizes, ensuring a more personalized learning experience. When asked by local news about the security of the students, school president Gaskill shared that "we have significant security and the building is secure and I just want to leave it that." Classes will be in session starting August 10th.

Trevor Project Receives A 1 Million Dollar Donation From NFL Owner Arthur Blank

The Trevor Project received a million dollar donation from NFL Owner Arthur Blank via the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. The now retired first gay NFL player to be out while actively playing in the league Vegas Raiders player Carl Nassib uplifted the donation on his LinkedIn page saying "This donation helps fund counselor training, enhance volunteer services and ensure our critical programs reach LGBTQ+ youth in their most vulnerable moments. Thank you again to the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, this gift will save lives."

This Week In Sports

This Lesbian Couple's Engagement went viral in the Hockey World

Proposals during sports games are a tale as old as…the invention of the jumbotron circa 1980s, but Canadian lesbian couple Megan and Nina put a creative spin on their engagement. The Toronto Sceptres game began like any other against the New York Sirens. During a break in the game play the couple was tasked with solving a Wheel-of-Fortune esc puzzle that contained a personal message.

Footage posted by the Toronto Sceptres showed the moment the proposal unfolded. Megan solved the first part of the word puzzle, giving Nina just enough clues to solve the rest of the puzzle which spelled out the phrase "Will you marry me?" Nina turned to find Megan on one knee with a ring in her hand and words of love flowing from her heart. Nina said yes and the couple sealed their engagement with a kiss on the jumbotron.

This Week In Culture & Entertainment

Chicago's Queer Wedding Show Returns May 12th

Hosted by Mei Lin Barral Photography, Something Profound Weddings, and Replogle Studios, "The Chicago Queer Wedding Show gathers LGBTQ+ owned + operated wedding vendors for queer marriers to easily meet and learn about vendors who are not just queer "friendly" but queer lead. This is the perfect place for queer folks to support people within their community and be supported by them on one of the most significant days of their lives."

The Chicago Queer Wedding Show is on May 12th from 6pm - 9pm at the Vinery in Logan Square. In addition to shopping the vendors, guests can cuddle puppies, get their fortunes read through cheese, and even get married right on the spot thanks to an ordained officiant who will be officiating weddings all night! The event is a celebration of queer love, and crafting a wedding tailored to one's personal interests according to co-founder Rebecca Pope from Something Profound Weddings.

Anna's Word

This week, Anna DeShawn is getting real about what it takes to scale Queer News Done Right. After a transformative meeting with a revenue strategist that left her feeling "uncomfortable the whole time," Anna is sharing a word for anyone who feels like they've been getting in their own way: Get Uncomfortable. Through the discomfort comes the pivot. Anna reflects on the shift from surviving to thriving and why staying in your "comfort box" is the fastest way to stay stagnant. In that spirit of activation and focus, Anna is leading by example—announcing a bold move to Substack and a major fundraising campaign for the month of June. It's time to take this work to the next notch, get serious about sustainability, and move together toward a future where independent Black queer media doesn't just exist, but flourishes.

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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 drops every Monday by 9am CT.

Edited by Ryan Woodhall for Public Sound.

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