GAY USA: The Queer News Show That Refuses to Look Away

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Published Jan 10, 2026

Gay Usa

Why Andy Humm and Ann Northrop’s fearless, deeply informed program matters more than ever

In a world drowning in hot takes, clickbait, and half-baked Twitter outrage, GAY USA is the calm, fierce, and brilliant voice you didn’t know you desperately needed. This isn’t just a TV show — it’s a queer institution, one of the longest-running news programs dedicated to LGBTQ+ issues in the country. And with Andy Humm and Ann Northrop at the helm, it’s as sharp, smart, and fearless as it gets.

Week after week, Andy and Ann don’t just tell you what’s happening — they explain it, break it down, and hold it up to the light. Trans legislation? Check. Supreme Court rulings? Check. School book bans, international crackdowns, political hypocrisy? Triple check. But here’s the thing: they do it without panic, without melodrama, and without ever talking down to their audience. This is news with teeth, intelligence, and heart — the kind of reporting that makes you nod, furrow your brow, and sometimes cheer all at once.

Andy Humm is the ultimate queer historian — part activist, part encyclopedia, and all truth-teller. He remembers the fights we’ve lost, the victories we’ve savored, and the compromises that got us here. His insight? Razor-sharp, grounded, and occasionally devastating — in the best possible way. Ann Northrop is his perfect counterpoint: wry, incisive, and fearless. She slices through legalese and political doublespeak like a hot knife through butter, making complex stories crystal clear without ever dumbing them down. Together, they are the dream team of queer journalism — serious, funny, passionate, and unapologetically human.

But don’t think GAY USA is all doom and gloom. This is a show that celebrates joy as fiercely as it fights injustice. Pride parades, queer art, cultural breakthroughs, hard-won victories — they cover it all, reminding viewers that life isn’t just about surviving the headlines, it’s about thriving in spite of them.

And here’s what really sets the show apart: Andy and Ann refuse neutrality when neutrality would be complicity. They call out hypocrisy, track the money, and hold politicians — even so-called allies — accountable. They are activists in the best sense: informed, principled, and unflinching. Yet they never forget the human side of the story, which is why watching GAY USA feels less like a lecture and more like a conversation you can’t afford to miss.

In a time when queer voices are under attack, representation without resistance is meaningless. GAY USA is proof that visibility alone isn’t enough. It’s journalism with backbone, courage with clarity, and truth with a side of sass.

Put simply, if you want to understand the state of LGBTQ+ rights today, you watch GAY USA. If you want to watch people who actually give a damn about justice, fairness, and community — and do it with intelligence, humor, and heart — you watch GAY USA.

Andy Humm and Ann Northrop aren’t just reporting history; they’re shaping it. And thank God for that, because the world could use a little more brains, bravery, and bite.


Rob’s latest exclusives and insider reporting can be found at robshuter.substack.com

His forthcoming novel, It Started With A Whisper, is now available for pre-order

4 thoughts on “GAY USA: The Queer News Show That Refuses to Look Away”

  1. Dear Dear Rob,

    YES, to every word of this. I could not have said it better or more clearly. GAY USA is a lifeline for me. I am proud to have Ann and Andy as good friends and fellow activists. Their wise commentary and calm analysis and delivery keep me sane during these totally INsane times. And may I add that you too are a gift who adds sparkle when you occasionally fill in as co-host. It’s a dream team all around for which I am truly grateful. Cheers, all around! – Jackie

    Reply
  2. Okay, but where the heck can you watch it?! I’ve never heard of the program before so I don’t have any idea where to see it .

    Reply
    • Hi, Marko. Dear Rob–to whom we are most grateful–linked to our last two shows. We have a website where a new show and podcast is posted every week at http://www.gayusatv.org

      On TV we originate on MNN-1 in NY on Thursday nights at 11 PM. We’re distributed nationally by Free Speech TV which telecasts us five times weekly on the Dish Network and DIRECTV. But the easiest way to find us is by going to YouTube and searching for Gay USA with the latest Wednesday date. This week’s show would be “Gay USA 1/7/2025”.

      You can also go to our website and get on our email list for a once-a-week email with a rundown of the week’s show and a link to it. Thanks for asking! Ann and I have been together doing this for 30 years now (and me on it for 40). As Rob notes, there’s a lot of bad news for us these days but we do our best to bring viewers positive and uplifting news from our communities as well.

      Reply

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