Trans servicemembers get a win, Laverne Cox's Clean Slate gets canceled and the LA Sparks will retire Candace Parker's jersey - April 21, 2025

This week on Queer News with Anna DeShawn — we're talking legal wins and loses, representation on-screen, and unmatched excellence on the basketball court. A U.S. federal appeals court deals a blow to Trump's anti-trans military ban, affirming the right of our trans siblings to serve with pride. But across the pond, the UK Supreme Court drops a devastating ruling stripping trans people of legal recognition.

In culture, we lift up the groundbreaking TLC show Jay & Pamela — a love story breaking barriers around disability, queerness, and visibility. We mourn the cancellation of Clean Slate, Laverne Cox's bold sitcom, and celebrate WNBA icon Candace Parker as the LA Sparks announce her jersey retirement this Pride Month. And to close, we honor Black lesbian poet Pat Parker for Lesbian Visibility Week with her searing classic, my lover is a woman. This episode is a ride through pain, pride, power — and the poetry that keeps us grounded. Let's get into it, family. 💜🏳️‍🌈

🏛️ Politics

9th Circuit Court Blocks Trump-Era Trans Military Ban
Federal appeals court upholds preliminary injunction, allowing trans servicemembers to serve while the legal battle continues.

UK Supreme Court Strips Trans People of Legal Recognition
A devastating ruling ties legal gender strictly to birth sex, nullifying Gender Recognition Certificates and setting back trans rights.

🎭 Culture & Entertainment

TLC's Jay & Pamela Shines Bright in Disability & LGBTQ+ Representation
A great new reality show follows a trans man and his fiancée as they navigate love, life, and layered identities.

Prime Video Cancels Clean Slate, Starring Laverne Cox & George Wallace
The heartfelt sitcom — Norman Lear's final show — gets cut after just one season.

LA Sparks to Retire Candace Parker's Jersey During Pride Month
The WNBA legend will be honored June 29th, solidifying her place in history as one of the game's greats.

✊🏽 Anna's Word

Honoring Pat Parker for Lesbian Visibility Week
Black lesbian poet and activist Pat Parker's legacy lives on through her revolutionary work, including her iconic poem "my lover is a woman."

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

00:00 - Welcome to Queer News

00:40 - Leave a Queer News Tip, Email info at e3radio.fm or leave a message here https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502

01:08 - Join the QCrew, https://bit.ly/JoinQCrew

01:38 - Queer News Headlines

02:14 - 9th Circuit Court Blocks Trump-Era Trans Military Ban

06:07 - UK Supreme Court Strips Trans People of Legal Recognition

13:30 - TLC's Jay & Pamela Shines Bright in Disability & LGBTQ+ Representation

16:41 - Prime Video Cancels Clean Slate, Starring Laverne Cox & George Wallace

19:25 - LA Sparks to Retire Candace Parker's Jersey During Pride Month

21:55 - Anna's Got A Word

📣 Stay Connected

• Subscribe for news & queer deals: Queer News Newsletter, https://bit.ly/QueerNews

• Follow Anna @annadeshawn on social for the latest queer news updates!

• Rate, review, and share this episode to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices.

📢 Queer News Tip Line: Got a story I should cover? Send it my way! https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/243669/19/rc6z5z67pp1op502 or email info at e3radio dot fm

🌈 Join the QCrew: If you believe LGBTQ stories need to be amplified, support the work we do. Join the QCrew today! https://bit.ly/3L3Ng66

🎧 We are Queer News Done Right.

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

Interested in advertising?
Email: info at e3radio.fm

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

https://youtube.com/@e3radio

🌈✊🏾🏳️‍⚧️✨

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.