The Air Force betrays trans service members, Chicago mourns Lori Cannon, and the WNBA green sex toy prankers face charges - August 11, 2025

Family, this week on Queer News we start with good news from around the world where LGBTQ rights are being affirmed. Here in the U.S., the Air Force's betrays trans service members by promising benefits and now denying them. We also honor the legacy of Chicago activist Lori Cannon and spotlight New York City's groundbreaking homeless shelter for transgender adults. Plus, we unpack the bizarre crypto prank disrupting WNBA games nationwide. Join Anna DeShawn for Queer News Done Right.Let's get into it.

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00:26 Welcome to Queer News

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02:03 Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew

02:30 Queer News Headlines

03:28 We Celebrate Global LGBTQ+ Wins

06:20 The Air Force Betrays U.S. Military Transgender Service Members

10:20 Lori Cannon

13:26 Queer News is on Vinyl - Order Yours Today! Ordering closes on August 31st.

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13:58 Your Mental Health Coverage Is Just As Important As Your Physical Health Coverage., https://getcovered.illinois.gov/resources/mental-health-parity.html

14:13 City Services Are Coming to Your Neighborhood, Learn more at www.chicityclerk.com/MCH

14:50 NYC Opens First Trans Shelter

16:55 Corey Antonio is Back to talk Whitney Houston with M. Mick Powell, author of Dead Girl Cameo: A Love Song in Poems

20:42 WNBA Green Sex Toy Saga Was a Crypto Prank

22:59 Anna's Got A Word

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This Week In Politics

We Celebrate Global LGBTQ+ Wins: Cuba passes a groundbreaking law allowing transgender people to legally change their gender marker without surgery; Saint Lucia's High Court decriminalizes same-sex activity after years of struggle; the Church in Wales elects Cherry Vann, its first openly lesbian Archbishop.

The Air Force Betrays U.S. Military Transgender Service Members: The Air Force reverses approved early retirement benefits for transgender personnel, forcing them out without full benefits, a move many call a betrayal of those who served honorably.

Lori Cannon: The community mourns Lori Cannon, co-founder of ACT UP Chicago and Open Hand Chicago, a tireless advocate during the AIDS crisis and beyond.

This Week In Culture & Entertainment

NYC Opens First Trans Shelter: Ace's Place, the nation's first publicly funded homeless shelter for transgender and gender-nonconforming adults, opens its doors offering housing and critical support services.

Corey Antonio is Back to talk Whitney Houston: We're shining a spotlight on some powerful storytelling this week with Corey Antonio of NPR, who chats with M. Mick Powell, author of Dead Girl Cameo: A Love Song in Poems. Powell honors the Black women we've lost in music and entertainment, mixing deep research with personal stories. On Whitney Houston's birthday, they dive into her legacy in a beautiful tribute.

WNBA Green Sex Toy Saga Was a Crypto Prank: The strange saga of the "green dildo coin" — crypto bros' viral stunt disrupting WNBA games to boost a meme coin's value, sparking legal consequences and plenty of disbelief.

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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 9am CT.

Edited by Ryan Woodhall.

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