From Hospice to Hope: Reneka Evans' Extraordinary Story

From Hospice to Hope: Reneka Evans' Extraordinary Story

After being admitted to hospice with AIDS in 1996, Reneka Evans transformed her life into one of service and advocacy. On Tell Your Pride, host Shimmer brings honest conversations with LGBTQIA2S+ leaders, advocates, and changemakers to the airwaves on WFNU Frogtown Community Radio. In this episode, Shimmer sits down with humanitarian and community leader Renika Evans, who shares how being admitted to hospice with AIDS in 1996—and surviving against the odds—inspired a lifetime of advocacy and service. Together, they discuss HIV awareness, prevention, healthcare equity, and why conversations about PrEP, PEP, stigma, and allyship remain critical today. Renika also highlights local organizations providing HIV education, testing, and support, and reflects on what Pride means as a Black trans woman committed to building healthier, more inclusive communities. Tell Your Pride airs Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. on WFNU 94.1 FM in Saint Paul and streams worldwide at WFNU.org.

Raspberry Runway: Von-Taylor’s Winning Look at the Prince Fashion Show

On Tell Your Pride (WFNU 94.1 FM and wfnu.org), host Shimmer welcomes designer and barber Von-Taylor, first-place winner of the 2022 Prince Purple 1s Season 6 fashion competition with a Raspberry Beret–inspired look. He shares how he’s been making clothes for years, began teaching himself more seriously after his shop shut down in 2020, and how Shimmer encouraged him to compete after an earlier year’s garment was destroyed. They discuss his cosmetology background and focus on menswear, the Prince details in his winning bomber-and-joggers set (including digitized embroidery, paisley, and the love symbol), and what the trophy symbolizes. They reflect on Prince’s impact, Von-Taylor's experience at Paisley Park, and showing the look at Minneapolis’ Prince Celebration of Life, with upcoming Dayton’s window displays and future Purple 1s plans. Learn more at tellyourpride.com

The Beautiful Ones: Fashion, Freedom & Finding Yourself Through Prince

On WFNU Radio’s Tell Your Pride, host Shimmer (she/her) celebrates Minnesota’s Prince Rogers Nelson, reflecting on how his music, fashion, philanthropy, and fearless gender and self-expression influenced her identity. Shimmer and Katey discuss Shimmer’s Prince-inspired fashion competition, The Purple Ones, which began in 2016 after Prince’s death and invited Twin Cities designers to create original looks inspired by a Prince song; Shimmer highlights standout winning designs and discuss the upcoming four-day downtown Minneapolis Prince celebration, including a free June 6 block party (2–10 PM) and singalong (4:30–6:30 PM) near the Prince mural, featuring seven designers on a large stage. TUNE IN! Nothing Compares 2 This Broadcast Broadcasting Like It’s 1999 Let’s Go Crazy on the Frogtown Radio Dial

Pride Beyond June: Andi Otto's Mission

Host Shimmer (she/her lady women glitter pronouns) welcomes Andi Otto (he/him), executive director of Twin Cities Pride since October 2022 after 16 years as a volunteer. Andi shares how he fell into the role, why he chose to be openly trans in leadership, and the ongoing challenge of representing a diverse LGBTQIA2S+ community while making space for more voices. He highlights expanding Twin Cities Pride beyond June, including creating the Pride Cultural Art Center and the Rainbow Wardrobe, which provides free clothing, personal care items, wigs, makeup, and gender-affirming undergarments; serving over 3,000 people annually. Andi also discusses ending Fall Fest due to cost and impact, previews Pride season June 27–29 at Loring Park, and mentions expanded small business and queer authors tents plus a newly relocated “recovery backyard.” You don't want to miss this episode!

Building Safety with Heart: Kimmy Hull of Sequeerity

Host Shimmer welcomes Kimmy Hull, the founder of Sequeerity, a queer and POC-owned deescalation company dedicated to creating safer spaces for POCs and marginalized communities through physical presence, training, education, and community involvement. Kimmy shares how Sequeerity began as a liaison helping queer events navigate cis/hetero venues amid misgendering and misunderstandings, then expanded after George Floyd’s murder into community defense, permit-to-carry instruction, and deescalation and situational awareness training. She explains Sequeerity’s hiring and training approach, including vibe checking, shadow shifts, ongoing refreshers, and staff support. Kimmy contrasts Sequeerity with traditional security by prioritizing people’s physical, emotional, and mental safety without intimidation, discusses limited but necessary event coordination with police, and Shimmer shares a personal story of Sequeerity's supportive presence at TC Pride. This episode is an inspiring and educational conversation about reclaiming safety, investing in each other, and creating spaces where everyone can show up fully and feel protected, because true safety is something we build together!