Ohio’s gone through some redistricting – and Susan Tebben is here to update us and share why this is an LGBTQ+ issue. LGBTQ+ organizations across the country are struggling to keep themselves afloat – just how bad is it getting? There are several efforts to restrict names and pronouns across the country, but we want to highlight one initiative that’s actually validating individuals. Oh, and the Supreme Court declined to revisit their decision on same-sex marriage.  Joining us for these stories and more: Reporter for The Ohio Capital Journal, Susan Tebben Training Director at Investigative Reporters and Editors, Adam Rhodes. Digital editor for Indiana Public Broadcasting, Lauren Chapman. Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

Many local municipalities are taking matters into their own hands to achieve the LGBTQ+ equality that is just not happening nationally. We cover how it’s working in Pennsylvania, look at Illinois’ Equality for Every Family Act, and answer if LGBTQ+ advocates should fully pivot to local approaches in states, like Ohio, with plenty of gerrymandering. And of course, we have to talk about marriage equality. How worried should we be as the Supreme Court decides whether to take Kim Davis’ case this week? Joining us for these stories and more: Editor-in-chief of the Ohio Capital Journal, David DeWitt Managing Editor for The Windy City Times, Jake Wittich Freelance editor and writer, and former editor of the Philadelphia Gay News, Jason Villemez Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

NBC News has fired a ton of journalists, including NBC OUT, their LGBTQ+ news vertical. What does that mean for our media ecosystem? And we dive into the experiences of LGBTQ+ elders, a topic far too infrequently discussed in the media.   Joining us for these stories and more: Senior Staff writer for The Buckeye Flame, H.L. Comeriato Managing editor for The Sero Project and Communications Lead for the US PLHIV Caucus, Juan Micheal Porter II Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

New research has been released on what the LGBTQ+ community thinks about the issues affecting our lives. Anti-trans policies continue to abound across the country – with consequences that you may not have considered. And despite attacks, there are folks creating safe spaces for our LGBTQ+ siblings – and we’ll be discussing their efforts. Joining us for these stories and more: Data and Technology reporter for the 19th, Jasmine Mithani Investigative Journalist at Uncloseted Media, Hope Pisoni Freelance journalist who has written for everyone from LGBTQ Nation to Pride Source Media and to the Detroit Free Press, Ellen Knoppow Hear some interesting loopholes about Kim Davis’ case in our Sept. 24th episode Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

This week, we’re setting aside dialogue on healthcare bans, conversion therapy, and cuts to crisis resources to talk about queer culture. How do we know it when we see it? How are we doing with representation – and where do we need more than a bit of work? Joining us for this discussion: Membership Director at GALECA and Coordinator of Out On Film, Jim Farmer Interviewer, film journalist, and radio host for POC Culture, Jorgie Rodriguez Professor and James Beard nominated writer, Rax Will Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

The cuts to gender-affirming care continue to leave families stranded amid growing uncertainty across the country – including Ohio’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital ending gender affirming care for all patients, including adults. There is so much LGBTQ+ news coming at journalists from every angle. How do they pick the stories they are going to cover? And, of course, where is our roundtable finding queer joy in this news lately? Joining us this week for these stories and more: LGBTQ+ Reporter for The 19th, Orion Rummler Religion and culture reporter at Fresnoland and corps member for Report for America, Gisselle Medina Investigative journalist and lead designer at Uncloseted Media, Sam Donndelinger Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

Anna DeShawn is a media visionary who creates unique spaces and places for black and indigenous people of color and for queer and trans people of color. In 2009, Anna founded E3 Radio, an online radio station that plays queer music and reports on queer news with a focus on intersectionality. In 2020, Anna co-founded The Qube, a podcast production company and curated platform to discover the best music and podcasts by BIPOC, queer, and trans creatives. Extra, Extra is an opportunity to hear more from the LGBTQ+ journalists who have helped define the field and continue to shape opportunities for LGBTQ+ journalists. Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

We’re seeing the effects of cutting LGBTQ+ specific services for callers to 988, the crisis hotline for queer youth. The absolute horror-show of issues faced by incarcerated trans folks are still getting coverage, but likely not as much as it should. Amidst this, there are stories of resilience and joy in small towns across the country. Plus, we’re somehow already talking about Pride 2026! Joining us for these stories and more: LGBTQ+ Beat Reporter at the 19th, Kate Sosin Training Director at Investigative Reporters and Editors, Adam Rhodes Digital editor for Indiana Public Broadcasting, Lauren Chapman.  Find “Indiana’s Legislative Trail” at https://ipbs.org/projects/civicallyindiana/gov.html  Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

It’s been an absolutely wild and dizzying news week. With LGBTQ-related  details around Charlie Kirk’s murder being proven and debunked and referenced again over and over and the LGBTQ+ community getting thrown into the mix – how do we manage the deluge? There is so much happening across the country, and today we’re going to dive into some of the latest. And in the midst of the chaos – where is our roundtable finding queer joy this week? Joining us this week for these stories and more: News and Rapid Response Coordinator for GLAAD, Jacob Reyes Managing Director for News is Out, Dana Piccoli Founder and Editor in Chief of Uncloseted Media, Spencer Macnaughton Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

The Supreme Court case around conversion therapy is coming up fast. What’s at stake for LGBTQ+ communities across the country? Black Gay Pride celebrations are coming up in cities all across the country. Why are those celebrations so very important? And where’s our roundtable finding queer joy lately? Joining us this week for these stories and more: Staff writer for The Buckeye Flame, a corps member of Report for America, Ben Jodway Executive Director of Queer Kentucky, Missy Spears Award-winning journalist, writer, preacher, co-host of the B4Nine podcast, Mashaun D. Simon Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

Extra, Extra is an opportunity to hear more from the LGBTQ+ journalists who have helped define  the field and continue to shape opportunities for LGBTQ+ journalists. Tracy Baim co-founded the Windy City Times in 1985. She’s the author of 14 books, including Gay Press, Gay Power: The Growth of LGBT Newspapers in America and has worked 41 years in local LGBTQ media, and has been inducted into the Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame as well as the Hall of Fame for the Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists.  Tracy currently serves as the executive director of Press Forward Chicago and helped spearhead the LGBTQ+ Media Mapping Project. Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

The Trump administration executive order on homelessness, “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets”,  is causing immense concern in the LGBTQ+ community. What are the latest restrictions surrounding queer public life in the United States? And tune in to hear where today’s panelists are finding queer joy in the world this week! Joining us to discuss these stories and more: Reporter for The 19th, Candice Norwood Director of local news for the U.S. South for GLAAD, Darian Aaron Freelance editor and writer and editor of Philadelphia Gay News, Jason Villemez Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

We have to talk about Kim Davis and marriage equality – how much should we be worried? Is the media coverage fearmongering – what does the data say about it? Yet another report from the Trump Administration appears to have scrubbed LGBTQ+ data – what’s missing? Native leaders are pushing back on gender-affirming care restrictions for tribal citizens – what does this pushback look like? Joining us to discuss these stories and more: Data and Technology Reporter for The 19th, Jasmine Mithani Communications Lead and Spokesperson for the U.S. PLHIV Caucus, host of the HIV Unmuted Podcast, and Managing Editor at The Sero Project, Juan Micheal Porter II. Senior staff writer for The Buckeye Flame, HL Comeriato Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

Conversion therapy is in the news all over the place – what’s the latest? A class action suit has been filed on behalf of incarcerated trans people who are being forced to detransition. What are they experiencing? And the homophobic sermon gone viral from the Sure Baptist Church in Indiana still has legs – why are we still talking about it? Joining us to discuss these stories and more: Reporter for The Ohio Capital Journal, Susan Tebben Training Director at Investigative Reporters and Editors, Adam Rhodes. Digital editor for Indiana Public Broadcasting, Lauren Chapman. Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

In an effort to preserve gender-affirming care, sixteen states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. A new report highlights the intersection of the LGBTQ+ community and immigration enforcement in Los Angeles County that has massive implications for policy effects nationwide. The latest memo out of Washington appears to be written solely to benefit white men; and we’ll be covering its contents and drill down on its local area effects. Joining us this week to discuss these stories and more: Reporter for HuffPost covering LGBTQ+ rights, Lil Kalish Religion and culture reporter at Fresnoland and a corps member for Report for America, Gisselle Medina Contributing editor for The New Republic, editorial board member at NY Daily News, and co-founder of the weekly immigration policy newsletter BORDER/LINES, Felipe De La Hoz Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

Amy Sherald cancelled her art exhibit at the Smithsonian after the Smithsonian tried to remove one of the paintings. According to a new report, an alarming number of trans people live in a state with a policy that restricts bathroom access and the Trump administration is actively taking action against states regarding it. On top of all that, Kim Davis is back in the news – why??? Joining us this week to discuss these topics and many more are: Staff writer for The Buckeye Flame, via Report for America, Ben Jodway Founder of Three Plus One Media, thought leader, advocate and curator of The Colored Section substack, Zackory Kirk Writer, travel expert, former CEO of Pride Media,  and currently the Executive director of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, Diane Anderson-Minshall Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

A New York Times op-ed from a conservative white gay commentator has stirred up some reactions – what is the fuss all about? The Trump administration’s LGBTQ+ related cuts just keep coming. What’s the latest and how might it affect you? California governor Gavin Newsom continues his right-wing media tour. What problematic thing has he said now?  And queer joy – why is it important and where are we finding it lately? Joining us this week to talk about those stories and more are: Co-founder and staff writer at The Athens County Independent, Dani Kington Editor-in-chief of The Advocate, Alex Cooper Founder and executive editor of the Los Angeles Center for Investigative Journalism, Albert Serna Jr. Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities. This News is So Gay is a production with Evergreen Podcasts.

LGBTQ+ college students might be on summer break, but how are their universities changing support services while they are gone? A pastor in Indiana recently gave a sermon that went all kinds of viral – just how far from “love thy neighbor” did his words stray? The WNBA has announced they’re expanding to three new cities – it’s a big deal for queer representation and fans! And legislation around trans athletes that didn’t go horribly… is that even possible? Joining us this week to talk about those stories and more are: Freelance editor and writer, and former editor of the Philadelphia Gay News, Jason Villemez Managing Editor of Windy City Times, Jake Wittich Digital Editor for Indiana Public Broadcasting, Lauren Chapman Play “Indiana’s Legislative Trail” at https://ipbs.org/projects/indianalegislativetrail/intro.html Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

President Trump may be calling it a “Big Beautiful Bill”, but LGBTQ+ advocates are saying the budget is anything but. What could this legislation mean for our community? The state of Virginia is rolling back protections against the discredited and harmful practice of conversion therapy. What does this mean for minors there? It looks like the Supreme Court will be wading into whether the handful of trans athletes in the country will still be able to compete. What can we expect judicially? Joining us this week to talk about those stories and so much more are: Managing director of News is Out, Dana Piccoli Editor-in-Chief of the Ohio Capital Journal, David DeWitt. Communications Lead and Spokesperson for the U.S. PLHIV Caucus and the host of the HIV Unmuted Podcast, Juan Micheal Porter II. Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.

The Supreme Court issued a slew of rulings last week, with some LGBTQ+-related decisions that experts believe will have far reaching effects for our community. So how is life going to change? Pride Month has officially come to a close and many LGBTQ+ advocates said that Pride 2025 needed to look different… but did it? Marriage equality is officially ten years old. But some LGBTQ+ folks say it is far from settled law. What’s on the horizon? And some recent White House press conferences definitely had some… strong language in them.  Joining us this week to talk about those stories and more are: LGBTQ+ Reporter for The 19th, Orion Rummler Executive Director of Queer Kentucky, Missy Spears Editor-in-chief and founder of LOOKOUT, Arizona’s statewide LGBTQ+ publication, Joseph Darius Jaafari Keep up with The Buckeye Flame online: Website: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuckeyeflame/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebuckeyeflame.com Support for This News is So Gay comes from the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, leveraging philanthropy to empower LGBTQ+ communities.