The Okra Project partners with BetterHelp, The Supreme Court sides with a trans student and Jason Collins is diagnosed with a brain tumor - September 22, 2025

Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In top news, The Okra Project Expands Nationwide with BetterHelp to Deliver Free Mental Health Care for Black Trans Communities. In politics, In a 6-3 vote the Supreme Court declined to immediately overrule a lower court’s block on South Carolina’s bathroom ban law, Texas A&M president steps down after upheaval over classroom video. In culture & entertainment, Jason Collins, the man who made history as the first openly gay player in the NBA, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and Se7en Bites owner Trina Gregory turned 49 parking spots outside her restaurant into a dazzling rainbow in direct protest to Florida crackdown on rainbow crosswalks. Let’s get into it. 

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02:54    Queer News Headlines        

03:33    U.S. Supreme Court sides with transgender student over bathroom use for now.     

06:30    Texas A&M president is stepping down after upheaval over classroom video. 

09:25    Parking spots used as colorful protest against Florida crackdown on rainbow crosswalks

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12:44    Your Mental Health Coverage Is Just As Important As Your Physical Health Coverage., https://getcovered.illinois.gov/resources/mental-health-parity.html     

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13:54    Jason Collins, who made history as the first openly gay player in the NBA. 

16:40    The Okra Project Expands Nationwide with BetterHelp to Deliver Free Mental Health Care for Black Trans Communities 

19:20    Anna's Got A Word 

 

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Top Story

 

The Okra Project Expands Nationwide with BetterHelp to Deliver Free Mental Health Care for Black Trans Communities

In a brand new partnership with BetterHelp, the Okra Project expands their free/low cost mental health care nationwide for Black trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive communities. The Okra Project is a mutual aid collective focused on supporting Black Trans people and alleviating the barriers that our community faces.

 

This Week In Politics

 

U.S. Supreme Court sides with transgender student over bathroom use for now.

In a 6-3 vote the Supreme Court declined to immediately overrule a lower court’s block on South Carolina’s bathroom ban law. The 3 justices that would have voted in favor of the state are Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch. The student at the center of the case was suspended for using the boys’ restroom prompting his parents to sue.

 

Texas A&M president is stepping down after upheaval over classroom video.

In an update to last week's story about the professor fired from Texas A&M, The president of the university has stepped down because of the upheaval this incident has caused. 

 

This Week In Culture & Entertainment

Jason Collins, who made history as the first openly gay player in the NBA.

Jason Collins, the man who made history as the first openly gay player in the NBA, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Collins made history in 2013 when he came out publicly while being an active player in the NBA. His NBA career spans 13 seasons across 6 different teams. Collins is currently undergoing treatment.

 

Parking spots used as colorful protest against Florida crackdown on rainbow crosswalks

Se7en Bites owner Trina Gregory turned 49 parking spots outside her restaurant into a dazzling rainbow in direct protest to Florida crackdown on rainbow crosswalks. She was inspired by the protestors who continue to color in the pulse crosswalk with chalk after it was painted black by the state in compliance with an executive order from the Trump Administration. 

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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. 

 

Edited by Ryan Woodhall. 

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