This week on Queer News: Trans troops continue their fight against Trump, anti-trans drifters troll the WNBA, and grant applications for gender-affirming care are now open.
This week on the Queer News podcast, In politics, trans troops continue fighting for their right to serve in the military and Iowa teachers receive a settlement after being suspended for a drag show. In sports, Cleveland announces a new WNBA team and transphobes have entered the WNBA chat. And last but not least, In culture and entertainment, the thrive fund has opened grant applications for gender-affirming care and you might meet the criteria. Let’s get into it!
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00:26 Welcome to Queer News 02:50 Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew 03:37 Queer News Headlines 04:15 Trans Troops Continue Their Fight For Their Right To Serve In The Military 11:13 Iowa Teachers Receive Settlement After Being Suspended For Dragshow 15:28 Subscribe to our Newsletter 15:52 Send us your Queer News Tip 16:24 Cleveland Announces New WNBA Team: The Cleveland Sirens 20:42 Transphobia On The Rise In The WNBA? 25:04 The Gender-Affirming Fund, The Thrive Fund, Has Opened Applications For August 27:43 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 Episode 351.
This Week’s Top Story
Trans Troops Continue Their Fight For Their Right To Serve In The Military
Ever since Trump has (allegedly) cheated his way back into office, his administration has made it their personal vendetta to make life harder for trans people in America. From sports to the largest employer of lgbtq+ people the military, it’s feeling more and more these days like there are fewer places where trans people can simply exist. Even in the face of that, there are people and organizations who continue to fight back.
Federal claims judge Elaine D. Kaplan in D.C struck ruled to deny the US Justice Department’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit with 17 trans military members who are suing the justice department for “unlawfully stripping them of retirement pay and benefits after promising they could leave military service with early retirement.” We will continue to monitor this lawsuit and deliver any updates as they occur.
This Week In Politics
Iowa Teachers Receive Settlement After Being Suspended For Dragshow
Three teachers in Iowa have received a settlement after facing suspension for a drag show. The drag show was a collaborative effort between middle and high school students from local GSA’s (Gay Straight Alliances) as a way for students to get to know each other. The event was also an ice cream social and it was a private event only for GSA students. Footage and photos from the show made their way across the internet and ended up in some right-wing circles deeming the event inappropriate.
The school district couldn’t handle the heat from the right-wing, so the teachers were placed on suspension. The teachers filed a lawsuit against Iowa’s Ankeny school district for “basis of their sexual orientation, as well as association with others based on sexual orientation” and won $150,000!
This Week In Sports
Cleveland Announces New WNBA Team: The Cleveland Sirens
Family, have y’all heard the call? Cleveland’s new WNBA team, the Cleveland Sirens, have swum ashore. The team was announced on August 4th and they describe themselves as “sharp, unapologetic, fearless, and relentless”. The Cleveland Sirens are the 16th team in the league. Cleveland is no stranger to the WNBA. The Cleveland Rockers precedes the Sirens as a founding franchise, and they were active in the lead from 1997 – 2003 when the team couldn’t find a new buyer. Fun fact, former Cleveland Rocker Janice Braxton lends her vocal talents in a trailer announcing the Sirens.
The Cleveland Sirens are one of four teams announced as a part of the WNBA’s league expansion. We met the Golden State Valkyries last year and they are currently sitting at the number two spot in the league. Detroit is up next, announcing their return to the league in 2029, and Philadelphia will enter the league in 2030. The demand for the WNBA is growing, so It’s great to see the WNBA continue to expand the league! Family, where would you like to see the WNBA expand to next?
Transphobia On The Rise In The WNBA?
From Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham voicing her belief that trans kids don’t belong in sports to subpar former NBA Athletes Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White declared their eligibility for the WNBA draft, it’s evident that there’s a rise in bigotry and transphobia amongst players and fans of the WNBA. Heck I even saw it first hand at the Chicago Sky vs Indiana Fever game. But what is the league doing about it?
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association released a statement on their instagram page on Friday. They said, “We embrace justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion,” the players’ union said. “Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women’s sports while creating transformational change. Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns.” We will of course be following to see what the W does here but they better do right by our trans siblings because trans kids in sports is not a real issue. And stay close to the substack because I want to elaborate as to why it isn’t an issue.
This Week In Culture & Entertainment
The Gender-Affirming Fund, The Thrive Fund, Has Opened Applications For August
The Thrive Fund is now accepting applications for their 2026 grant season! The Thrive Fund is a fund that rewards grants up to $2,500 for gender-affirming care not covered by other programs. If you are seeking financial support for gender affirming care such as updating government ID’s, vocal therapy, certain legal services, and more then this fund is for you!
The application is open now until August 31st. Applicants who have been selected for the fund, or need to submit additional information for review will be contacted by the Point of Pride team 8-12 weeks after the application deadline. Recipients will have 6 months to utilize the funds for retail purchases and 18 months for services after receiving the grant.
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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.
