This week on Queer News: Anna discusses Honoring the Legacy of Andrea Jenkins, Remembering Renee Good & Las Culturistas Apologizes
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 entertainment, Drag Queen Pattie Gonia raises over 1 million dollars for a more equitable outdoors, and gamers combat trans bans in E-Sports. Let’s get into it.
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00:26 Welcome to Queer News 02:18 Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew 03:00 Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 03:17 Queer News Headlines 04:00 Honoring the Historic Legacy of Andrea Jenkins 08:12 Renee Good Should Still Be Here 13:19 Trans Youth Sports Take the Stand at the Supreme Court 18:10 Book an ad today! Email info @ e3radio.fm 18:40 The Queer Family Podcast 19:40 Subscribe to the Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews 20:12 Las Culturistas Catch the Smoke After Jasmine Crockett Comments 24:21 Gospel Legend Donnie McClurkin Faces SA Lawsuit 28:50 Anna’s Word
This week’s episode of Queer News is packed with historic milestones, urgent calls for justice, and accountability. Here is your social-media-ready breakdown of every story from the Season 5 premiere.
This Week’s Top Story
Honoring the Historic Legacy of Andrea Jenkins
In a move that marks the end of an era, Andrea Jenkins, the first openly Black transgender woman elected to public office in the U.S., has announced her retirement from the Minneapolis City Council. Since her historic 2017 win, Andrea has led through “tumultuous” times, serving as Council President, navigating the 2020 uprisings, a pandemic and managing an MS diagnosis with grace. Now, she is returning to her first loves, poetry and family. We honor her as a possibility model who didn’t just break the glass ceiling, she held the door open for everyone behind her.
This Week In Politics
Renee Good Should Still Be Here
The Minneapolis community is reeling following the killing of Renee Nicole Macklin Good by an ICE officer, less than a mile from where George Floyd was murdered. Despite federal attempts to characterize Renee as a “domestic terrorist,” eyewitnesses and local officials are disputing the claims. Renee’s wife, Becca, describes her as a woman who “literally sparkled.” In a historic show of community support, a GoFundMe for the family amassed $1.5 million in days, which the family has moved into a trust. We continue to demand accountability for this federally sanctioned violence.
Trans Youth Sports Take the Stand at the Supreme Court
Tomorrow, January 13th, the Supreme Court will hear arguments for Hecox v. Idaho and B.P.J. v. West Virginia. At the center of the storm is 15-year-old Becky Pepper-Jackson, who just wants to play middle school track and field. Despite having no “biological advantage” and having transitioned in the 6th grade, Becky is fighting state laws that aim to ban trans girls from sports. With a 6-3 conservative lean, the stakes for trans inclusion in public life have never been higher.
This Week In Culture & Entertainment
Las Culturistas Catch the Smoke After Jasmine Crockett Comments
The award-winning podcast Las Culturistas found itself in hot water this week. Hosts Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang faced major backlash after Matt suggested on-air that listeners shouldn’t give their money to Jasmine Crockett, the Black congresswoman known for standing up to MAGA extremism. Following a justified social media firestorm, both hosts issued apologies. It’s a reminder that once your voice hits the internet, accountability is the only way forward.
Gospel Legend Donnie McClurkin Faces SA Lawsuit
Gospel icon and “reformed homosexual” Donnie McClurkin is facing a lawsuit from a former assistant alleging years of sexual abuse. The plaintiff, Giuseppe Corletto, claims the abuse began during “pray the gay away” sessions after he sought McClurkin’s help to overcome what the pastor calls the “curse of homosexuality.” While McClurkin denies the claims, the lawsuit highlights the deep trauma and manipulation often found in conversion therapy spaces. As Anna says: “You can’t pray away something that was God-given.”
Anna’s Word
The Bears’ BIG win over the Packers (against a 4% chance!) is a reminder: What God has for you, is for you. No matter the odds or what seem like insurmountable odds, keep your head up and stay on purpose.
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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.