This week on Queer News: New York makes queer history appointing Taylor Brown as the first trans woman to lead a city office.
This week on the Queer News podcast, New York makes queer history appointing Taylor Brown as the first trans woman to lead a city office. St. Petersburg paints the sky rainbow, and Katie Couric sits down with California Governor Gavin Newsom. In culture and entertainment, TS Madison was granted court protections against the DL Whisperer, LGBTQIA Business Week returns, and Sisters in Cinema celebrates their second anniversary. Let’s get into it.
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00:26 Welcome to Queer News
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02:33 Queer News Headlines
03:26 New York makes queer history appointing Taylor Brown as the first trans woman to lead a city office
07:46 You can’t remove crosswalks from the sky. Florida’s rebellion against rainbow crosswalk demolition.
09:54 Katie Couric and Governor Newsom have a One on One
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16:32 Subscribe to the Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews
17:06 TS Madison granted court protection from stalker Naquan Palmer
20:24 LGBTQIA Business Week returns in 2026
22:18 Sisters in Cinema Celebrates Their Second Anniversary
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 Episode 328.
This Week’s Top Story
New York makes queer history appointing Taylor Brown as the first trans woman to lead a city office
Mayor Zohran Mamdani made a historic announcement on Friday, March 13th at the Brooklyn Community Pride Center in Crown Heights. He was there to sign an executive order establishing a mayor’s office on LGBTQIA+ affairs. As part of the order he appointed civil rights attorney Taylor Brown who was currently serving as the Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Bureau as its first director. Taylor becomes the first trans woman to lead any city office or agency in New York City.
New York Attorney General Letitia James had this to say about Taylor, “In her time at the Office of the Attorney General, Taylor has been a tireless champion for fairness, dignity, and equal justice under the law. New Yorkers will be well served by her leadership, and I look forward to her continued service ensuring every LGBTQ+ New Yorker is protected and celebrated.”
This Week In Politics
You can’t remove crosswalks from the sky. Florida’s rebellion against rainbow crosswalk demolition.
As you know Florida has constantly been removing and painting over rainbow crosswalks as a part of Ron Desantis’ order for the department of transportation to remove pavement surfaces that don’t “comply with the national standard.” Well, The city of St. Petersburg Florida found a creative way to combat the state’s crackdown on Rainbow crosswalks and all you have to do to see it is look up! During this year’s winter pride fest, the city of St. Petersburg illuminated the night sky with an array of colorful lasers that formed a rainbow. The lights could be seen for 60 miles and local residents took to the streets to photograph the beautiful display. The rainbow crosswalk in the sky shone for all three days of St. Petersburg’s Winter Festival. The Rainbow laser installation,titled “Global Rainbow”, was created by Yvette Mattern, who originally debuted the installation back in 2009.
Katie Couric and Governor Newsom have a One on One
Katie Couric opens up about her one on one interview with California Governor Newsom who had a lot to say about the upcoming primaries, his new memoir, and trans people in sports. Take a listen to this snippet of their interview and let’s discuss it when you come back.
This Week In Culture & Entertainment
TS Madison granted court protection from stalker Naquan Palmer
TS Madison was granted temporary court protection from internet famous stalker DL Whisperer otherwise known as Naquan Palmer. The dispute between the two has been building for quite some time, but arguably this all began when Naquan Palmer posted a video reacting to TS Madison interviewing NeNe Leakes. Naquan’s commentary misgenders TS Madison and was overall transphobic. Things escalated when Naquan accused TS Madison of doxxing his location which she denied. TS Madison took legal action after Naquan posted death threats and videos of him driving past her home. There currently is no set date for a hearing, but we’ll continue to follow this case as it develops.
LGBTQIA Business Week returns in 2026
Family, rejoice! LGBTQIA Business Week returns in 2026. LGBTQIA Business Week began in 2022 as a “national digital marketing campaign engaging consumers to not only shop local, but also shop LGBTQ+ during the holiday season” and has grown into “a 7 day celebration of queer-owned small businesses expanding into in=person events, forums, and networking mixers to further empower LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.”
Those interested in learning more about the programming for LGBTQIA Business Week, or how to get involved should attend the virtual info session this Wednesday, March 18th at 12PM EST. During the info session organizers LGBTQ+ Business Week Founder Travers Johnson & National Contributor Ricardo Sebastián will also share details about their new 2026 business incubator, Pride Month programming, local organizing how-to’s, LGBTQIA Business Week logo usage, and potential sponsorship opportunities! More information can be found @lgbtqbusinessweek on instagram.
Sisters in Cinema Celebrates Their Second Anniversary
The Sisters in Cinema Media Art Center turned two this Saturday, and the organization celebrated their second anniversary in a big way by uplifting Chicago’s own award-winning Black women & gender-expansive filmmakers with multiple film screenings and a donor reception.
Throughout the day Sisters in Cinema screened, Sisters In Cinema, Directed by CEO and Founder Yvonne Welbon, Folded Map Project, Directed by Tonika Lewis Johnson, Plenum Directed by Charlene Carrthers and Produced by Sisters in Cinema’s own Building Manager Ahsha Davis, and House Music: A Cultural Celebration Directed by Barbara Allen Associate Produced by Keisha Chavers, and Featuring DJ Lori Branch. Some of the filmmakers were in attendance and audience members had a chance to ask them questions during a Q&A session. Tonika Lewis Johnson and Barbara Allen were honored with the inaugural Sisters in Cinema Honors award.
Anna’s Word
This week during Anna’s Got a Word she reminds us to breathe. To breathe through the tough times and to do our best remembering what we should be grateful for. So for this week, remember to breathe.
Follow Anna @annadeshawn on social for the latest queer news updates!
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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.
