We remember Juniper Blessing, Alderperson Fuentes continues her fight against ICE, and BET honors LGBTQ+ leaders at the fourth annual Black+ Iconic Soirée

This week on the Queer News podcast, our top story remembers Juniper Blessing, a trans student at UW who was brutally murdered earlier this month. In Colorado, the Supreme Court just voted to reinstate gender affirming care to the youth. In Chicago, we have an update regarding Alderperson Fuentes' fight against ICE. In culture and entertainment, The Black LGBTQ+ vertical dramedy Unrequited has been acquired by Slay Media, and we talk about the BET Black+ Iconic Soirée honorees.

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05:58 Queer News Headlines

06:52 A Trans Student At UW Was Found Fatally Stabbed To Death

09:30 Colorado Supreme Court Decision Requires Hospitals To Resume Gender Affirming Care

13:38 Alderperson Fuentes Files Lawsuit Against ICE Agents Due To Midway Blitz Altercation

17:24 First Black LGBTQ+ Vertical "Unrequited" Acquired By Slay Media Group

19:54 Meet The Black Queer Icons Honored at BET's Black + Iconic Soirée

22:30 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 339.

This Week's Top Story

A Trans Student At UW Was Found Fatally Stabbed To Death

Today we remember Juniper Blessing, a trans student attending the University of Washington who was brutally murdered on campus earlier this month. Juniper was found stabbed to death around 10pm in an off-campus housing laundry room on May 10th. Juniper's death is the 7th known death of a trans person in 2026.

Juniper is remembered by her family as " the most amazing human being we have ever known — highly intelligent, extremely talented, and deeply sensitive to the needs of others…Juniper's loss not only devastates us but diminishes the world."

This Week In Politics

Colorado Supreme Court Decision Requires Hospitals To Resume Gender Affirming Care

Coloradans Rejoice! Hospitals are once again required to provide gender affirming care thanks to a new Supreme Court Decision. The Colorado Supreme Court voted 5-2 [five to two] in a ruling that determined that the Children's Hospital of Colorado participated in discrimination by essentially phasing out of providing gender affirming care to minors in the face of the trump administration's crackdown on hospitals providing gender affirming care nationwide. Justice Brian Boatright and Justice Carlos Samour are the two dissenters in that vote.

This decision sets a wonderful precedent for local (state) governments to take a stand against trump's tyranny and simply say no, we're going to do what's right and not deny care for those in need.

Alderperson Fuentes Files Lawsuit Against ICE Agents Due To Midway Blitz Altercation

Family, we have an update on Alderperson Fuentes legal battle against ICE agents in the aftermath of her conflict during Operation Midway blitz. Alderperson Fuentes has moved forward with suing the ICE Agents who brutally handcuffed her while she was responding to a call from a man who was injured in a different encounter with ICE and was in need of assistance at Humboldt Park Health hospital.

According to the Windy City Times, Alderperson Fuentes' team hopes to gain compensation for damages, and accountability on the ICE agents part for the use of unnecessary escalation tactics, disruption to the peace and safety of the public, and the physical and emotional distress they caused Alderperson Fuentes as a result of the arrest they carried out that day. We'll continue to keep you updated should this story develop.

This Week In Culture & Entertainment

First Black LGBTQ+ Vertical "Unrequited" Acquired By Slay Media Group

The First Black LGBTQ+ Vertical is coming to a phone screen near you! The Vertical titled Unrequited follows the story of "an introvert on a mental health journey that starts blurring the lines of reality & fantasy." Verticals are on the come up, so to have a Black Queer Vertical thrive in the way Unrequited has is inspiring.

Season one consisted of 18 episodes, and Season two was announced back in February alongside a Seed&Spark campaign raising funds to support the production of the vertical. You can watch all episodes of season one now on TikTok by searching Unrequited The Series on the app.

Meet The Black Queer Icons Honored at BET's Black + Iconic Soirée

B.E.T's fourth annual Black+ Iconic Soirée was this past Saturday and it truly was Iconic! The Black+ Iconic Soirée is an annual event that "celebrates the brilliance and impact of the Black LGBTQ+ and ally community", and this year's soirée was hosted by the Emmy award nominated Laverne Cox.

Actress TS Madison received the prestigious Miss Major's Pioneer of the Year Award, an award that earned its name from the beloved Black transgender activist, stonewall veteran, and friend, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy. What's also special is that TS Madison received the award on TS Madison day in Washington DC. In a brief message to her supporters on instagram TS Madison said "Thank you to all who have been with me on this journey all these years." Congratulations to all the honorees of this year's Black+ Iconic Soirée.

Anna's Word

Life is Heavy, Go Find the Fun!

"Finding fun—even that fleeting happiness—is so critical. It is mandatory."

Recording and dropping this week's episode on Memorial Day, Anna DeShawn reflects on the profound irony of honoring those who died for freedom at a time when the country is stripping citizens' rights away every single day. Because this work can get heavy, Anna delivers a vital, mandatory reminder for the family: You have got to find the fun. True resistance isn't just about fighting; it's about choosing joy. Anna shares a behind-the-scenes look at the absolute joy, laughter, and pure fun the team has experienced over the last two weekends filming content for the upcoming Pride Month Substack activation. Our queerness is a celebration, and finding space to experience that happiness is how we sustain ourselves for the long haul.

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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.

Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.