Iowa & University of Pennsylvania remove protections for our trans siblings, Artis Restaurant needs our support and Noah's Arc makes history - July 7, 2025

This week on Queer News, Anna DeShawn is holding space for the hard and the hopeful as Iowa becomes the first state to strip gender identity from civil rights protections, and UPenn caves to Trump's threats, erasing Lia Thomas' NCAA wins. We hear about the family of Chyna Long, a Black trans woman, finally getting some justice in court. Then there's resilience too: nearly 100,000 march for Pride in Budapest despite a government ban, Noah's Arc: The Movie makes Black queer history on Paramount+, and Chicago's Artis restaurant fights to stay open after tragedy. From heartbreak to historic wins, let's get into it.

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02:50 Queer News Headlines

03:35 Iowa is First to Remove Gender Identity from Civil Rights Code

05:50 Chyna Long's Murdered is Sentenced in Milwaukee

08:32 UPenn Erases Lia Thomas' NCAA Titles Under Trump Pressure

12:40 RSVP for Black Sex Series, https://events.eventnoire.com/e/black-sex-series

13:20 Your Mental Health Coverage Is Just As Important As Your Physical Health Coverage., https://getcovered.illinois.gov/resources/mental-health-parity.html

13:36 Howard Brown is on the South Side too, https://howardbrown.org/service/community-testing-sites-outreach-services/

14:16 100,000 March in Budapest Pride, Defying Government Ban

16:13 Chicago's Artis Restaurant Faces Closure After Mass Shooting

19:30 Noah's Arc: The Movie Makes Streaming History

21:26 Anna's Got A Word

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Politics

⚖️ Iowa is First to Remove Gender Identity from Civil Rights Code
After nearly two decades, Iowa lawmakers reversed protections, making it legal to fire, evict, or deny service to trans people. Medicaid will no longer cover gender-affirming care, and birth certificates must match sex assigned at birth erasing visibility and safety for trans Iowans.

🩺 UPenn Erases Lia Thomas' NCAA Titles Under Trump Pressure
Facing threats to freeze $175 million in research funding, UPenn caved, stripping Lia Thomas' titles and banning trans women athletes from women's spaces. Advocates say this isn't about fairness, but about erasure.

🕊️ Chyna Long's Murdered is Sentenced in Milwaukee
Two years after she was murdered, the man responsible has been sentenced to 50 years. Chyna's family remembers her joy and truth, knowing nothing will bring her back but hoping this stops future violence.

Culture & Entertainment

🏳️‍🌈 100,000 March in Budapest Pride, Defying Government Ban
Despite threats, surveillance, and fines, LGBTQ+ Hungarians and allies marched in their largest Pride ever reminding the world that Pride began as resistance.

🍽️ Chicago's Artis Restaurant Faces Closure After Mass Shooting
After tragedy struck outside this Black lesbian-owned safe space, city officials push to close it down. The community is rallying to keep Artis' doors open and protect what it stands for.

🎬 Noah's Arc: The Movie Makes Streaming History
The first all-Black gay film to break into Paramount+'s Top 10, proving again the hunger and need for authentic Black queer stories.

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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 9am CT.

Edited by Ryan Woodhall.

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