A KBIA News Series exploring what needs to change to sustain agriculture. Reported and produced by Jana Rose Schleis.
![Trent Rash sits at his piano on Monday, April 7, 2025, at his home in Columbia. “[My partner David Hall and I] were at this event for Planned Parenthood, raising money, and it's kind of a desert around here, right? We're so lucky to have it here in Columbia. And I said, ‘Anytime we get together like this in a room, and we are with each other, and we're united and we're laughing, that's what queer joy is.’ And it's so important now because it makes people so upset, which is funny to me, that they — but guess what? Guess who's really unhappy? They are. It's not us. They're just unhappy because they see what we have and they can't. I wish they'd find it for themselves because I think they'd back off,” Rash said. “Queer joy is the fact that people have fully embraced and accepted their authentic self. And that is such a burdenless place that you can't do anything but be joyful, you know? … I see trans people. I see non-binary people. I see bisexual people. I see gays, lesbians. They're just exuding who they are. And so, if you're doing that, that's queer joy. It's the intersection of your authenticity and how you're showing up in the world. And I think when those things align, you're going to be joyful, for anyone.”](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1d5a391/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1750x987+0+0/resize/1220x688!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2b%2F95%2F418b4ac54824a63216062dfd1db2%2F20250407-bas-queer-joy-trent-rash-0282.jpg)
Bailey Stover/KBIA
Trent Rash is a gay man who spent many years trying to convince himself that he wasn't gay. He spoke about coming out in midlife and how he had that conversation with his kids.
Brian Consiglio
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Courtesy: School of Medicine, University of Missouri
Nora Crutcher-McGowan
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KBIA
MISSOURI NEWS
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The City of Columbia has until Nov. 15 to submit a more specific stormwater plan to the state agency. -
The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation published a draft of a proposed amendment to allow curbside pickup at dispensaries on Tuesday and is asking for public feedback until Oct. 28. -
The U.S. Women's National Team coach named forwards Michelle Cooper and Ally Sentnor and midfielder Claire Hutton to her roster for three October games, including the Oct. 29 match against New Zealand to be held in Kansas City. -
As the shutdown of the federal government stretches into its third week, employees are starting to feel the financial strain of being furloughed or working without pay. Many federal workers live paycheck to paycheck, and food assistance programs in the region are starting to prepare for an influx of need. -
The lawsuit is part of the fallout stemming from a controversy over former Police Chief Gabe Edwards' resignation in 2023. -
Missouri Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said any signatures gathered before Wednesday to place a new congressional map up for a vote won't count. Proponents of the redistricting referendum say that's an unlawful attempt to shorten the signature gathering window.
NPR TOP STORIES
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OpenAI is preventing people from making AI videos of King on its Sora app after the estate of the civil rights leader complained about the spread of offensive and vulgar portrayals. -
Glover fought to build a life in music. From Portland, Ore., to New York City, her story traces resilience, creativity and the strength she found through sincerity. -
Several hundred volunteers are patrolling the streets of Chicago and its suburbs warning migrants of ICE's presence. This is part of a growing resistance to ICE's operations in Illinois.
MORE FROM KBIA and the Missouri News Network
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Creating Space offers comprehensive home organizing services, including packing and unpacking, for projects of any size, from single pantries to entire houses. Owner Lindsay Tagai says she operates on a "judgement-free philosophy," noting that it can be "...an emotional process. We are very patient. Sometimes there's tears, we have hugs." October 17, 2025 -
Former Sgt. Andrew Worrall filed the lawsuit Tuesday.
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The council members said that homelessness and violent crime require different solutions, noting police work is not enough. -
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more and more a part of our daily lives, ITCOMO owner Robert Ricketts wants it to be known that, "it has no empathy, no sentience... All it can do is reply based on its training model, which is just a bunch of words. There's nothing behind it." October 16, 2025 -
On today's show, Kyla Dunn tells us all about the 16 highly diverse events scheduled for the 118th University Concert Series, now underway! (One such event will see the stage inside Jesse Hall become an ice rink.) October 15, 2025 -
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Office of Childhood began transitioning from subsidy reimbursements based on attendance to prospective enrollment-based payments at the start of fiscal year 2026, which began on July 1. Child care providers are still receiving payments based on attendance while the department works through technical changes.
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In this episode, hosts Eric Fey and Brianna Lennon speak with Lisa Marie Manning Bridges, the Registrar of Voters in the Parish of Orleans in Louisiana.
They spoke about the unique nature of Louisiana elections, how the work is divvied up by different parish offices and how the parish works alongside the Louisiana Secretary of State to serve their voters.
They spoke about the unique nature of Louisiana elections, how the work is divvied up by different parish offices and how the parish works alongside the Louisiana Secretary of State to serve their voters.
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Missouri Health Talks
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