Illinois fights back against Trump, Ron DeSantis Removes Pulse Crosswalk and Lil Nas X walks naked in Los Angeles – August 25, 2025

Illinois fights back against Trump, Ron DeSantis Removes Pulse Crosswalk and Lil Nas X walks naked in Los Angeles – August 25, 2025

This week on Queer News:  Anna discusses how Illinois fights back against Trump, Ron DeSantis Removes Pulse Crosswalk and Lil Nas X walks naked in Los Angeles.


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, offering a lifeline in the face of federal threats. Meanwhile, the Trump administration bans transgender healthcare for federal workers and promotes conversion therapy as an alternative. In Florida, officials erase the Pulse nightclub rainbow crosswalk in the middle of the night, sparking outrage and remembrance. On the culture front, Lil Nas X faces legal and health challenges, Billy Porter steps into beauty with Black Mona Lisa Beauty, and conservatives come for Cracker Barrel over a logo change. Let’s get into it. 

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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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This Week In Politics

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 every Monday by 7am CT. 

Edited by Ryan Woodhall. 

Brought to you by E3 Radio, and distributed on The Qube.


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Things for you to check out

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/

Buy an Ad on the Queer News podcast Email: info at e3radio.fm

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Sources

Gov. Pritzker Announces Launch of Legal Hotline and Resource Hub for LGBTQIA+ Community https://idhs.prezly.com/gov-pritzker-announces-launch-of-legal-hotline-and-resource-hub-for-lgbtqia-community

Trump Admin Bans Coverage For Trans Govt Employees, Mandates Conversion Therapy Coverage https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/trump-admin-bans-coverage-for-trans

Lambda Legal Condemns Trump Administration’s Illegal Exclusion of Gender-Affirming Care from Government Employee Health Benefits

Trump Admin to End Coverage of Gender-Affirming Care for Federal Workers https://www.them.us/story/trump-trans-gender-affirming-care-federal-workers

Outrage after Florida quietly paints over Orlando Pulse shooting memorial https://www.advocate.com/news/rainbow-crosswalk-pulse-florida

Pulse Memorial’s rainbow crosswalk removed overnight in Orlando, Florida https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/pulse-memorial-rainbow-crosswalk-removed-orlando-florida-rcna226335

Lil Nas X Roams L.A. Street In Tighty Whities … Hospitalized for Possible OD https://www.tmz.com/2025/08/21/lil-nas-x-hospitalized-possible-overdose

Lil Nas X Shared His ‘Last Few Years Have Been Pretty Difficult’ Months Before Arrest and Possible Overdose https://people.com/lil-nas-x-shared-his-last-few-years-have-been-pretty-difficult-months-before-arrest-11795681

Billy Porter Has Been ‘Manifesting’ His Debut Beauty Brand for Years: ‘Sometimes I Just Want to Wear Makeup’ (Exclusive) https://people.com/billy-porter-launches-black-mona-lisa-beauty-interview-exclusive-11781545

EXCLUSIVE: Billy Porter Launches Black Mona Lisa Beauty, a Makeup and Skin Care Brand for Beauty Explorers https://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/color-cosmetics/billy-porter-beauty-brand-black-mona-lisa-1237983922

Conservatives are now blaming LGBTQ+ people for Cracker Barrel’s new logo https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/08/conservatives-are-now-blaming-lgbtq-people-for-cracker-barrels-new-logo/

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