Isnt It Queer

Jonny and Danette discuss recent SCOTUS decisions, protests at Pride festivities and how we deal with them, when it is okay to kick people you disagree with out of your place of business, and confronting queer versions of respectability politics.

Jonny and Danette play a clip of voices from SI Pride, discuss how challenging the norms of decorum and civil discourse is sometimes necessary, respond to the excuse acrobatics of those supporting current Trump Administration immigration policy, and search for hope in a political landscape that feels increasingly dystopian.

Jonny and Danette review Southern Illinois Pride Fest and check in on Pride festivities around the country. They also discuss the status of the IL Inclusive Curriculum bill, the SCOTUS decision on Masterpiece Cake Company v. Oregon Civil Rights Commission, an Australian study showing a correlation between low intelligence and homophobia, more conservative pastors challenging LGBTQ people and events, and how our current immigration policies demonstrate the lie of "family values" on the right.

Jonny and Danette are joined in the studio by Tara Bell, Julie (a.k.a. "Family Jewels"), and Dane, Jake & Tyler of the band "Sleeping Tapes" to discuss and share information about the incredibly line up of entertainment for this weekend's Southern Illinois Pride Fest, June 1-3. Danette also conducts a phone interview with Jodie Santara, the emcee for the Saturday night benefit drag show. A complete schedule for the festivities can be found at http://rainbowcafe.org/

Jonny and Danette are joined by Vince and Beth to talk about the upcoming Southern Illinois Pride Fest on June 2 (technically, June 1-3, though the bulk of activities are on June 2). Vince covers youth activities and entertainment. Beth offers a glimpse at the political side of the festviities. We also check in on the status of SB 3249, the LGBTQ Inclusive Curriculum, that *might* pass the IL House in time to be awaiting the Governor's signature by the time we gather for Pride. For more information on S.I.Pride, check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SouthernIllinoisPride/

Jonny and Danette celebrate the arrival of summer and the end of the Spring semester with a call out to resist State Totalitarianism by not being complicit with with prejudice and clear systemic bias against certain people. In the process, we remind folks about the upcoming Carbondale Pride festivities, celebrate the arrival of transgender civil rights in Pakistan, lament President Trump rolling back protections for trans inmates in prison, and remind everyone about the importance of using preferred pronouns. WDBX is in the midst of its spring pledge drive. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting the community radio that makes it possible at http://wdbx.org/

Jonny and Danette are joined by Colin Whitworth and Alex Davenport to discuss the upcoming presentation of "The Factory" in the Kleinau Theatre (April 26-28, 8 pm. second floor of SIU Communications Building). The original show explores a conversation between Truman Capote and Andy Warhol about representation and the challenges of art and writing. The group also discusses the IL Inclusive Curriculum bill being debates in the state Senate as well as local protest of mandating the inclusion of LGBTQ figures in secondary and high school history curriculum.

Jonny and Danette discuss upcoming events in the Carbondale area as well as contemplate at length the recent immolation of Lambda Legal lawyer David Buckel.

Jonny and Danette interview Vincent Rhomberg and Jodie Salazar about the upcoming Carbondale Stage Co. production of Vince's play, "Almost Identical." Along the way we also discuss the value of community theater, LGBTQ inclusive curriculum, queer visibility in media, and the failure of so-called "bathroom bills" to pass lately in very red states.

Jonny flies solo, sharing a segment from Ky and Zach for their YouTube channel "Dabblin' and Babblin'" (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeayvLydabc0yjGSWBpvYfA). Jonny also discusses the dangers of media consolidation, How FOSTA/SESTA will negatively impact LGBTQ community, and some thoughts on the Rosanne reboot.

Jonny and Cici are joined by Tre and Chip. Tre is the youth representative on the Rainbow Cafe Board of Directors. Together, we discuss the Rainbow Cafe, being a queer youth in Southern Illinois, the Southern Illinois AIDS Walk, the March for Our Lives, and the upcoming Carbondale Pride Festival.

Jonny and Danette start off with a brief comment about impending diplomatic talks with N. Korea and a report of TC Mueller's responses to LGBTQ community questions from IL Dist. 115, and then engage in a detailed dismantling of the charge of "reverse racism," with connections to systemic transphobia, sexism, and homophobia.

Jonny, Danette, and CiCi are joined by Anthony Galloway of Equality Illinois to talk about Equality Illinois's various initiatives, the local District 115 forum between representative candidates and the LGBTQ community, and how to get more involved in mobilizing for LGBTQ rights.

Jonny, Danette, and Cici are joined by Tara Bell, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Rainbow Cafe. We discuss the upcoming LGBTQ forum for state representative candidates from District 115, information about new programs at the Rainbow Cafe, planning for Carbondale Pride Festival this coming June, the SIU Tunnel of Oppression event, the romantic memorializing of Billy Graham, and several times the NRA has recently attacked the LGBTQ community.

Jonny, Cici, and Danette free associate about the weather, politics, the Olympics, soul food in Omaha, NE,and the importance of staying politically engaged in these stressful times. Yeah, it was that sort of a week.

Jonny starts of the show solo with a contemplation of the rainbow as a metaphor for systems and systems theory,linking this issue to early evidence of the "blue wave" and further signs that the Trump administration is not supporting LGBTQ concerns, nationally or internationally. At the half hour he is joined by Cici and they discuss nuancing power and privilege, the first openly trans teen elected to the USY board,studies showing more teens are refusing traditional gender labels, and the backlash against Dumbledore not being visibly queer in the "Fantastic Beasts" sequel.

Jonny and Danette are joined by Cici, student president of the Saluki Rainbow Network, to discuss the State of the Union Address (which none of us listened to), the IL Democratic Governor's forum (which none of us attended), how Indiana lost Amazon HQ2 over the states discrimination policies, two LGBTQ cases going to the Missouri Supreme Court, a national survey showing decrease in support for LGBTQ people in 2017, an Illinois court decision ruling against trans teen, Nova Maday, and her suit to use the girl's locker room at her school, a brief check in on the Grammy's, and a brief celebration (and some shade) about the local kick off to Black History Month.

Jonny and Danette discuss local controversy over a GSA in a High School, the impact of local university reorganization on LGBTQ students, Trumps mixed messages to LGBTQ communities, the new high in 2017 of anti-LGBTQ crimes, revisiting the pussyhat and both black and trans response to it, and a review of queer visibility in the new CW TV show "Black Lightning" and in the just announced Oscar nominees.

Jonny and Danette struggle through the snow and ice to tell you about the Gay Spirit Visions winter retreat, respond to Fire and Fury and other Trump shenanigans, look at several folks considering runs for office, examine several under reported deaths/murders of QTPOCs, memorialize AIDS activist Dr. Mathilde Krim, and note the "bury your gays" trope rearing its head on Star Trek: Discovery

Jonny and Craig welcome in the new year, looking for warmth in the midst of the bitter cold. They find it in three new pro-LGBTQ laws going into effect in Illinois, hopeful election possibilities in the 2018 midterm elections, and charities and organizations doing work for LGBTQ communities in 2018.