Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

This News is So Gay (8/13/25): Conversion Therapy Headlines & the Queer Loss of Public Broadcasting

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Aug 13

*slaps podcasting app*

THIS EPISODE CAN FIT SO MUCH QUEER JOY IN IT!

(Seriously, you'll learn important things about the world, hear about amazing journalism and giggle at The Rainbow Beast)

Ken Schneck @kenschneck.bsky.social · Aug 13

This News is So Gay (8/13/25): Conversion Therapy Headlines & the Queer Loss of Public Broadcasting.

Featuring: @susantebben.bsky.social (@ohiocapitaljournal.com), @byadamrhodes.bsky.social (@ire.org) & @laurenechapman.bsky.social (Indiana Public Broadcasting).

thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/08/13/t...

Featuring: Susan Tebben (The Ohio Capital Journal), Adam Rhodes (Investigative Reporters and Editors) and Lauren Chapman (Indiana Public Broadcasting).

thebuckeyeflame.com

2 5

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Jul 19

In a rare New Year's resolution, I promised myself that I would say yes to more things with my friends.

Today's adventure: Seeing the Scissor Sisters and Kesha in concert.

Shedding tears to "This Place About To Blow" wasn't on the bingo card. But it's 2008 and we're partying.

A group of nerds takes a selfie at the Kesha concert in golden light.

The crowd raises their hands as Kesha takes the stage.

3

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Jul 17

It's me!

This was truly so much fun to do. I love "This News Is So Gay" and being a panelist (and the unofficial Sportsball reporter) was an absolute delight.

Go listen! I accidentally wrote an "it's complicated" love letter to Indiana in the middle of the podcast.

The Buckeye Flame @thebuckeyeflame.com · Jul 16

This News is So Gay: A Shift in LGBTQ+ College Support, An Unhinged Sermon and WNBA Expansion Excitement.

Featuring: Jason Villemez (@phillygaynews.bsky.social), @jakewittich.bsky.social (@windycitytimes.com) & @laurenechapman.bsky.social (Indiana Public Broadcasting).

LISTEN, SUBSCRIBE & SHARE!

This News is So Gay: A Shift in LGBTQ+ College Support, An Unhinged Sermon and WNBA Expansion Excitement

Featuring: Jason Villemez (Philadelphia Gay News), Jake Wittich (Windy City Times) and Lauren Chapman (Indiana Public Broadcasting)

thebuckeyeflame.com

4 8

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Jul 12

Being a reasonably devout Catholic prepared me for a number of things.

Receiving genuine, heartfelt praise for my last decade of work was not one of them.

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Jul 10

(Because humor is the only coping mechanism available to me at the moment)

Damn. The worst bit is that I haven't updated my portfolio site since 2019.

What are the differences between traditional public schools, charter schools and private schools?

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Jul 9

And 16 days later, I was informed that the @ipbnews.bsky.social team (including myself) would be laid off at the end of this year.

It's heartbreaking. But there's still a lot to be proud of.

I'm going to have some self-indulgent grieving and then get to the business of figuring out what's next.

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Jun 22

It's impossible to imagine: But 10 years ago ON THIS VERY DAY, I started my full-time journalism career.

I wish I could tell that fresh-faced 22-year-old half of the things we would do. I think she'd be pretty proud 💜

22-year-old Lauren. Her curls are looser and she's slightly less traumatized.

32-year-old Lauren cackles during a presentation. To the left is Representatives Ed Clere and Wendy Dant Chesser.

1 1

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Jun 22

It's impossible to imagine: But 10 years ago ON THIS VERY DAY, I started my full-time journalism career.

I wish I could tell that fresh-faced 22-year-old half of the things we would do. I think she'd be pretty proud 💜

1 4

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Jun 6

What happens when someone asks the @ipbnews.bsky.social text group a question that I also wanted to know?

I write a big ol' web story and make everyone else learn.

indianapublicradio.org/news/2025/06...

What are the differences between traditional public schools, charter schools and private schools? Several audience members asked us questions about how these different school types are funded, enroll ...

indianapublicradio.org

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · May 8

First American pope and the Catholics on my team are being Very Normal.

... what's the over-under that Pope Leo XIV has been to Riot Fest?

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · May 3

Oh my gosh! Thank you for the shout out!

You can follow my reporting from @ipbnews.bsky.social !

Braun signs series of executive orders taking aim at Indiana Economic Development Corporation

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Apr 9

The IEDC has been highly criticized — most of the controversy traces back to the LEAP district and concerns over water use.

news.wnin.org/2025-04-08/b...

Gov. Mike Braun signed three executive orders Tuesday targeting the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and looking to reshape the executive branch’s approach to economic development.

news.wnin.org

1 1

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Apr 2

Opening Day at Victory Field!! 💜

According to my dad, we've attended 30 out of the last 32 Opening Days together.

Lauren (the account owner) and my dad take our obligatory selfie. I look adorable. My dad is making a crazy face because he looked cuter in the original selfie.

A wide view of Victory Field from the upper deck of the third base line.

GOP kills amendment to prohibit genital inspections under collegiate transgender sports ban

Reposted by Lauren Chapman

IPB News @ipbnews.bsky.social · Mar 27

The bill makes no requirements for what a determination of an athlete’s gender is. But the amendment would have prohibited invasive inspections of genitalia.

A Senate committee passed a measure to ban transgender women from competing in collegiate athletics. Democrats proposed several amendments to pull back or clarify the measure — all failed along party…

Indiana's 2025 budget-writing session begins Jan. 8. Here's how the process works

3 1

Reposted by Lauren Chapman

IPB News @ipbnews.bsky.social · Mar 23

As lawmakers plow through the second half of the legislative session, here's our guide to how the budget writing process works:

The 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly, which will last about four months and include a new state budget, begins Wednesday.

IDOH halts gender change requests on birth records to comply with Braun executive order

2 1

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Mar 19

All it took was calling and emailing a dozen county and local health departments in Indiana to get a handful to confirm the validity of an email I was sent.

IPB News @ipbnews.bsky.social · Mar 18

Requests made after the governor’s March 4 executive order will no longer be accepted by health departments.

The Indiana Department of Health issued new guidance to local and county health departments to stop accepting gender change requests for Indiana birth records.

2025 Indiana legislative session bill tracker

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Mar 11

The little engine that could has surpassed 100 bills!

Find the bills the Indiana Public Broadcasting News team is covering, with links to our reporting, the bill page and status update as each bill moves through the Statehouse.

ipbs.org

Women’s groups call Braun transgender sports executive orders 'morally wrong and irresponsible'

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Mar 8

"We want to be very clear: Governor Braun, we don’t need or want that kind of protection.”

IPB News @ipbnews.bsky.social · Mar 7

Nearly a dozen groups "dedicated to the rights and safety of women" signed the letter, condemning Braun's executive orders and asking him to rescind them.

A group of women’s advocacy organizations sent a letter to Gov. Mike Braun Friday to condemn his recent executive orders to ban transgender women and girls from sports. The groups called the…

Advocates say Braun executive orders tell transgender Hoosiers: 'You don't belong here'

2

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Mar 6

“Trans and nonbinary people are not a threat. They’re not an enemy. They’re not a villain. They’re your neighbors,” she said. “They’re the people in your churches and synagogues. They are part of this community, of society. They are Hoosiers as well.”

IPB News @ipbnews.bsky.social · Mar 5

One of Gov. Mike Braun's two executive orders directs executive branch agencies to “enforce the biological binary” of gender.

Gov. Mike Braun signed an executive order Tuesday to align with federal moves to ban transgender women and girls from playing sports. Advocates say the orders are products of a nationwide campaign of…

IPB News: The Indiana Two-Way

2

Lauren Chapman @laurenechapman.bsky.social · Feb 28

You'll get a text specifically from me!

Be warned: If you have a weird, complicated voting question, you will get a response from an extremely excitable digital editor.

IPB News @ipbnews.bsky.social · Feb 28

It's the midpoint of Indiana's legislative session and there's still a whole lot of session left.

Trying to keep up on statewide news? Join our text group, the Indiana Two-Way! We'll text you every Thursday morning with headlines and you send us questions to inform our reporting.

The Indiana Two-Way is a Thursday morning text service from Indiana Public Broadcasting News. It shares the latest statewide news updates from the week straight to your phone. We also want you to…