This week on the Queer News podcast, our top story contains a round up of anti-trans laws states are attempting to pass this year. In politics, We remember Jay Lee, and stand with California as they fight for trans youth. In culture and entertainment, The National Rainbow College Fund Launches Their 2026–27 Scholarship Program and Magic: The Gathering players raise more than $600,000 for Trans Lives.

 

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05:02     Queer News Headlines        

05:34     Anti-Trans Law Roundup: A Brief Summary Of the New Anti-Trans Laws States Are Attempting To Pass     

12:12     Remembering Jay Lee     

15:00     The State of California Takes Legal Action After the Termination of Trans Youth Care     

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21:06     The National Rainbow College Fund is Accepting Applications     

23:28     Magic: The Gathering Players Raise Over $600,000 For Trans Lifeline     

26:21     Anna's Got A Word     

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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 323.

This Week's Top Story

 

Anti-Trans Law Roundup: A Brief Summary Of the New Anti-Trans Laws States Are Attempting To Pass

For our top story this week, in this day and age it's important to stay up to date on the laws in this country as they seem to change almost everyday. We've rounded up four anti-trans laws that states are trying to pass in 2026. 

 

In Kansas, bills SB 244 and HB2426 are making big strides towards the senate. Those bills would allow private citizens to act as bounty hunters, encouraging them to search for trans people utilizing private business restrooms and sue them for as much money as possible. Nebraska is also trying to implement a whole slew of anti trans laws including bathroom bans for state owned buildings such as colleges, restrictions in gender-affirming care, and the possible ban of HRT for youth under 19 years old. As if Minnesota hasn't already been through enough, the Trump administration is targeting Trans athletes in the state. And Indiana is targeting incarcerated trans people with the bill SB 182.

 

This Week In Politics

 

Remembering Jay Lee

Back in 2022, cherished member of the LGBTQ+ community in Oxford Jay Lee vanished without a trace. His remains were found last year. For years his family searched for answers, and now all has been revealed. Dateline released a 2 hour episode detailing Lee,s disappearance and two trials that led to the conviction of Sheldon "Timothy" Herrington Jr, Lee's murderer. 

 

The State of California Takes Legal Action After the Termination of Trans Youth Care

One of the largest hospitals that offered gender affirming care to youth in the state of California, Rady Children's Hospital, announced last month that they'd no longer be offering those services. This was a devastating blow to trans youth in California as the hospital served over 1,900 patients seeking gender-affirming care with approximately 1,450 of those patients under 19 for the past 14 years. The state of California is now suing them. California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading the lawsuit against the Rady Children's Hospital. Bonta's leading complaint aims to "address Rady Children's Health's (RCH) unlawful refusal to fulfill its legal obligations to the Attorney General to the detriment of its patients."

 

This Week In Culture & Entertainment

 

The National Rainbow College Fund is Accepting Applications

The National Rainbow College Fund has launched their 2026–2027 Scholarship Program! "National Rainbow College Fund is powered by San Diego Foundation, one of the largest community foundations in the U.S. and a leading scholarship provider in California. The fund supports efforts to reduce educational disparities for students who have faced barriers related to sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, and is open to all applicants and allies who support these principles." The fund will award 200 selected California students a combined total of five-hundred-thousand dollars which averages out to two-thousand-five-hundred per student. Applications close on March 4th and those interested in applying can do so at RainbowCollegeFund.org/apply. 

 

Magic: The Gathering Players Raise Over $600,000 For Trans Lifeline

This card game is gathering more than magic, it's gathering funds that will benefit trans lives! Brian Lewis aka "The Professor" organized the fundraiser on his youtube channel Tolarian Community College. From February 4th to February 7th, the team at the Tolarian Community College youtube channel collected donations on behalf of the organization Trans Lifeline. As of Saturday morning, the fundraiser raised over $600,000 dollars for Trans Lifeline, breaking their record from last year! What a cool way to fundraise money that saves lives. While the giveaways are now closed, you can still donate to Trans Lifeline by visiting their website: https://give.translifeline.org/campaign/765774/donate

 

Anna's Word

 

The word this week comes from one of Anna's favorite Kirk Franklin songs "Road Trip". 

 

Pack a smile, cause this road won't be easy

Doubt will come, believe me

Sometimes you'll wonder if it's alright

Hold on tight, it's about to be amazing

When you see what God is making

I can't wait for you to tell me that (it's alright)

 

Travel light and leave room for tomorrow, expect delays

And sorrow, avoid left turns, don't forget what's right

Pray always, listen to that voice above you

Only let folk ride that love you, see you've come too far

You've gotta wrap on tight

 

But every time that you've been through

For His glory God is using you

See it's only in the darkest night

That you really see the stars shine bright

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 drops every Monday by 9am CT. 

 

Edited by Ryan Woodhall. 

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