Illinois fights back against Trump, Ron DeSantis Removes Pulse Crosswalk and Lil Nas X walks naked in Los Angeles - August 25, 2025
Release Date: 08/25/2025
Pt. 1 - 2025 Year in Review: The Niecy Nash Year x Bad Queers Crossover
Queer News on E3 Radio
Family, while the Queer News Podcast is on holiday break, we’re bringing you a special gift: Part 1 of our annual end-of-year crossover with our favorite duo, Kris and Shana of the Bad Queers Podcast. 🏳️🌈 2025 was a "dumpster fire" of a year politically, but culturally? It belonged to the icons. We’re calling it The Niecy Nash Year and in this first half of our recap, we’re breaking down the top stories from January through June. In Part 1, we dive into: Queer Urban Dictionary: Decoding "Pomo Sexuality" and the bizarre conservative "Berry Sexuality" trend. 🍓 The...
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Interview: I’m Alive and I’m Winning: Living Beyond Red with Marvin Anderson
Queer News on E3 Radio
Family, we are in holiday mode here at the Queer News podcast which means it’s time for rest and some interviews. This week we’re bringing some inspiring holiday voicemails to help you get through this season and an interview centering purpose to help us get our lives right together as we enter 2026. As Marvin says, “Purpose is a vehicle, and purpose has the ability to take you in the right direction if you would just follow.” Let's get into it. Want to support this podcast? 🏳️🌈 Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to be amplified, support the work we do....
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Lady Gaga’s Foundation Supports Two LGBTQ Orgs in Chicago, Jason Collins Speaks on Terminal Diagnosis & Cynthia Erivo Makes History Again
Queer News on E3 Radio
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In top news, Trans Up Front Illinois received a big grant from Lady Gaga’s foundation. In politics, we have a disappointing update on the U.S military ban. In culture and entertainment, Jason Collins shares that he has been diagnosed with stage four brain cancer, Cynthia Erivo makes Golden Globe history, and the Teen Vogue X GLAAD 20 under 20 list is out! Let's get into it. Want to support this podcast? 🏳️🌈 Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to...
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President Joe Biden Speaks at the Victory Institute, The U.S. Gets an “F” in LGBTQ+ quality of life and Pattie Gonia’s 100 Mile Trek For One Million Dollars
Queer News on E3 Radio
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In top news, the Victory Institute held its 41st gathering of LGBTQ+ politicians from around the world and I was there. I’m going to tell you all about it. In politics, the USA received an ‘F’ on the 2025 Franklin & Marshall Global Barometers Report. The Girl Scouts of the UK, GirlGuiding, bans trans girls from joining the organization. Gender-affirming care for Georgia inmates is protected after a law aiming to cut it is struck down. In culture and...
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We mourn the loss of Girlalala, Honor World AIDS day, and uplift the queer artist who shined at Camp Flog Gnaw.
Queer News on E3 Radio
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In top news,we mourn the loss of viral trans Tiktoker Girlalala. In politics, a Philadelphia judge blocks Trump’s subpoena targeting trans kids' medical records, and we honor world AIDS day while the Trump administration refuses to acknowledge it. In culture and entertainment, We uplift the queer musicians who took center stage at Camp Flog Gnaw and TLC’s T-Boz gives the group’s 1994 classic “Creep” a remix. Let's get into it. Want to support this podcast? ...
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Miss Major’s New York City Memorial Ends Abruptly, 17 Trans Air Force Members Are Suing Trump and Cathy Renna talks Creating Change 2026
Queer News on E3 Radio
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In top news, the community gathered to celebrate the life of Miss Major in New York City at Riverside Church then the church decided to abruptly end the services an hour early. In politics, 17 trans Air Force members are suing Trump for their retirement benefits. In culture and entertainment, Anna has a special interview with Cathy Renna about the 2026 Creating Change convening taking place in DC. Let's get into it. Want to support this podcast? 🏳️🌈 Join the...
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Marriage Equality is Safe For Now, It’s Trans Awareness Week & the Queers are Represented in this Year’s Grammy Nominations
Queer News on E3 Radio
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In top news, we have an update on the Supreme Court’s decision to toss out Kim Davis’s appeal on marriage equality and Anna takes a look at future Supreme Court cases. In politics, Texas issued a partial drag performance ban because they can’t stop thinking about us. In culture & entertainment, we recognize Transgender Awareness Week by highlighting some great work. The director of Balmain steps down and some of our favorite queer artists are nominated for...
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Pentatonix's Scott Hoying & Husband Mark Manio Celebrate Love, Life, and Fa La La Family with Benjamin Coy
Queer News on E3 Radio
Family, this week on Queer News we welcome our contributor Benjamin Coy for a beautiful celebration of love and family! Benjamin sits down for an exclusive, cozy chat with Scott Hoying of Pentatonix and his husband Mark Manio. They break down their exciting new chapter: marriage, becoming dads, and why they wrote their holiday children's book, Fa La La Family. Learn how this couple is championing authentic queer representation and showing their future child, and the world, that "family is love" in every beautiful, unique form. They also talk about their new holiday album and Scott's time on...
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BREAKING NEWS: The Supreme Court Declines to Hear Same-Sex Marriage Case 🎉, Trump’s Triflin’ Commutation of George Santos & Snoop Dogg joines GLAAD at Jackson State University
Queer News on E3 Radio
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. Our top story breaks down the victories across the board after November 4th’s election day. Continuing in politics, Anna revisit’s the topic of George Santos in light of his recent commutation granted by Trump and discuss the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on a case that could effect gay marriage for all. In culture and entertainment, we take a look abroad at the first elected, openly-gay Prime minister of the Netherlands, GLAAD’s Darian Aaron talks about featuring...
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Power Through Unity: HRC Leaders on How To Join The Fight For Equality
Queer News on E3 Radio
Family, this week on Queer News, Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community, and this one is all about power through unity! We have an exclusive interview with national and local leaders from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC): Nik (VP of Strategic Initiatives) and Stephen (Chicago Steering Committee). They break down the organization's essential work, led by the first Black queer woman, Kelly Robinson. Learn how HRC is fighting legislative attacks, supporting pro-equality candidates, and changing hearts and minds across the country through the American...
info_outlineFamily, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In politics, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker launches IL Pride Connect, the nation’s first statewide LGBTQIA+ resource hub and legal hotline. Meanwhile, the Trump administration plans to ban transgender healthcare for federal workers in 2026 and promotes conversion therapy as an alternative. In Florida, officials erase the Pulse nightclub rainbow crosswalk in the middle of the night. On the culture front, Lil Nas X faces legal and health challenges, Billy Porter steps into beauty with Black Mona Lisa Beauty, and conservatives blame LGBTQ folks over the Cracker Barrel logo change. Let’s get into it.
Want to support this podcast? 🏳️🌈 Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to be amplified, support the work we do. Join the QCrew for as low as $5 a month, https://bit.ly/3L3Ng66
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00:26 Welcome to Queer News
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03:38 Queer News Headlines
04:44 Illinois is the nation’s first statewide LGBTQIA+ resource hub and legal hotline
08:55 Trump Plans to Ban Trans Healthcare for Federal Employees in 2026
14:10 Ron DeSantis Removes Pulse Crosswalk
19:10 Queer News is on Vinyl - Order Yours Today! Ordering closes on August 31st.
https://certifiedcrucial.com/product/podcast_salon_lp_2025
19:32 City Services Are Coming to Your Neighborhood, Learn more at www.chicityclerk.com/MCH
20:08 Your Mental Health Coverage Is Just As Important As Your Physical Health Coverage., https://getcovered.illinois.gov/resources/mental-health-parity.html
20:24 Focal Point Coaching Program: Turn Clarity into Cash, https://focalpoint4u.com
21:16 Lil Nas X Hospitalized After Walking LA Naked
25:00 Billy Porter Launches Beauty Line
26:59 Cracker Barrel Logo Controversy
30:27 Anna's Got A Word
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Important Episode Links
IL Pride Connect Resource Hub
https://www.ilprideconnect.org
Billy Porter’s Beauty Line: Black Mona Lisa Beauty
https://www.blackmonalisabeauty.com
Queer News is on Vinyl - Order Yours Today! Ordering closes on August 31st.
https://certifiedcrucial.com/product/podcast_salon_lp_2025/
Listen to Jim Verraro's New Album “Explicit”
https://www.jimverrarosmusic.com/
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This Week In Politics
Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In politics, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker launches IL Pride Connect, the nation’s first statewide LGBTQIA+ resource hub and legal hotline. Meanwhile, the Trump administration plans to ban transgender healthcare for federal workers in 2026 and promotes conversion therapy as an alternative. In Florida, officials erase the Pulse nightclub rainbow crosswalk in the middle of the night. On the culture front, Lil Nas X faces legal and health challenges, Billy Porter steps into beauty with Black Mona Lisa Beauty, and conservatives blame LGBTQ folks over the Cracker Barrel logo change. Let’s get into it.
Illinois is the nation’s first statewide LGBTQIA+ resource hub and legal hotline: Illinois takes a bold step forward as Governor JB Pritzker launches IL Pride Connect, the first statewide LGBTQIA+ resource hub and legal hotline. At a time when federal rights are under attack, Illinois is showing what true allyship looks like. Visit https://www.ilprideconnect.org.
Trump Plans to Ban Trans Healthcare for Federal Employees in 2026:The Trump administration delivers a devastating blow by planning to ban gender-affirming healthcare coverage for 10 million federal employees. To make matters worse, they’re promoting conversion therapy as the alternative, a move widely condemned by medical and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
Ron DeSantis Removes Pulse Crosswalk: In the middle of the night, Florida officials painted over the rainbow crosswalk honoring Pulse nightclub victims. The quiet erasure is being called a hateful act that disrespects the lives lost and the community that still mourns.
This Week In Culture & Entertainment
Lil Nas X Hospitalized After Walking LA Naked: Lil Nas X, the groundbreaking artist who has carried queer visibility into hip hop, is now facing both legal and health challenges. His struggles remind us of the immense pressure that comes with fame, especially as a young, openly queer Black artist.
Billy Porter Launches Beauty Line: Billy Porter continues to break barriers with the launch of Black Mona Lisa Beauty. More than makeup, it’s a declaration of joy, artistry, and unapologetic Black queer brilliance.
Cracker Barrel Logo Controversy: Conservatives have turned their outrage toward Cracker Barrel over something as small as a new logo. Somehow, they’ve managed to twist it into another attack on the LGBTQ+ community because of course they did.
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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 drops every Monday by 9am CT.
Editing by Ryan Woodhall.
Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.