Isnt It Queer

Danette interviews Tara Bell of the Rainbow Cafe Gala on October 1. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at RainbowCafe.org or by calling Greg Elkins at 618/529-2348. Danette and Tara also discuss the Chelsea bombing in NYC, a showdown in NC over the potential repeal of HB2, local Southern Illinois school districts reviewing their bathroom policies, and the ACLU lawsuit against Kim Davis for legal fees.

Jonny and Danette are joined by Terry and Suzie of the Church of the Good Shepherd to preview the upcoming 8th Annual Carbondale Pride Picnic. Please remember that WDBX is still in its Fall Friendship Drive; you can make a contribution to the the station at WDBX.org or by calling 618-457-3691

Jonny, flying solo, discusses the death of Phyllis Schlafly, recent LGBTQ hate crimes in Missouri and Indiana, the first out gay contestant in the Miss America Contest (Ms. Missouri), and a report of last week's Southern Illinois University vigil for the victims of the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting. WDBX is currently in the midst of its Fall Friendship Drive. If you like this podcast, please consider supporting the community radio station that makes it possible. You can call in your pledge at 1-618-4537-3691 or contribute on-line at WDBX.org.

Jonny and Danette discuss LGBTQ+ representations in recent popular culture as well as review upcoming Southern Illinois community events. WDBX is currently in the midst of its Fall Friendship Drive. If you like this podcast, please consider supporting the community radio station that makes it possible. You can call in your pledge at 1-618-4537-3691 or contribute on-line at WDBX.org.

Jonny and Danette are joined by Travis Tucker, the new coordinator of the SIU LGBTQ Resource Center. We also conduct an interview with Brian Johnson, the new CEO of Equality Illinois about future directions for LGBTQ advocacy in Illinois. Note: there was a recording snafu with Danette's mic in this podcast; we are aware of the problem and have tried to fix it as much as possible in post-production.

Jonny and Danette discuss two recent murders of trans women of color, Texas anti-trans rulings, a shortage of inject-able estrogen in the US, A NJ lesbian couple's difficulties getting fertility treatments covered by insurance, resistance to anti-conversion therapy legislation in IL and IA, and recent actions by Gays Against Guns.

Danette and Jonny are joined by Paul and Chris to discuss the second organization meeting of a new LGBTQIA social/advocacy group in Southern Illinois. The meeting is Thursday August 11 at 6:30 pm in the Carbondale Civic Center. Queer visibility in the Olympics and recent legal and political developments affecting the LGBTQIA community are also discussed.

Jonny and Danette share delicious tomatoes from Danette's garden before diving into some discussion of both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. We also discuss some local and national stories about the embattled rights of trans youth and end with some discussion about queer representation in the latest Star Trek film.

Jonny and Danette discuss briefly the 2016 Republican National Convention and its anti-LGBTQ platform and rhetoric. We then turn to discuss two local examples of violence against trans people before listening to Danette's extended interview with Charlotte, NC Mayor Jennifer Roberts and an HRC trans activist, Elijah.

Danette interviews Cathy Field of the Racial Justice Coalition of Carbondale. She also shares music from and an interview with Lara Americo (http://laraamerico.com/), a trans woman of color activist from Charlotte, NC.

Jonny and Danette interview Paul Bradley about upcoming organizational meeting for an new LGBTQ group catering to LGBTQ adults. The first meeting of this group will be Thursday, 7/14 at 6:30 in the Gaia House Interfaith Center. Danette shares an interview with Ashley Williams, a QTPOC activist in Charlotte, NC fighting against HB2. Other upcoming events of note: Carbondale Pride Picnic planning on Thursday 7/7 at 6:30 at the UCC Church of the Good Shepherd; Rainbow Cafe's Saturday Activists Summer School, Saturday 7/9 from 10am to 3 pm.To find out more about the now SoIL LGBTQ group, go here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1294933573850027/To find out more about planning for the 8th Annual Carbondale Pride Picnic, go here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1558792734424627/To find out more about the Rainbow Cafe's Saturday Activism Summer School, go here: https://www.facebook.com/RainbowCafeLGBTYouthCenter/posts/1026498470739422

Danette returns to the show and we unpack her June adventures in North Carolina. We discuss the local NC efforts to repeal HB2, the challenges of finding LGBTQ-supportive retirement communities, the continued problem of whitewashing LGBTQ activism and history, links between gun regulation and LGBTQ activism, and the IL budget crisis impacts on LGBTQ (and other's) access to mental health and social services.

Jonny interviews Will Bowling and Chris Kaminstein of Goat in the Road Productions about their SIU residency, their two-man performance of "Our Man," and the challenges and joys of doing original theater work in New Orleans.

Jonny is joined by Kody to discuss various aspects of the weekend's mass shooting at Latinx Night at the LGBTQ nightclub, Pulse, in Orlando FL.

Jonny is joined by Craig Gingrich-Philbrook to discuss the nuances of legislation like Tennessee's HB1840 that allows mental health counselors to opt out of treating LGBT clients and the challenges of ever more letters in the alphabet soup of gender and sexual identity, especially in the wake of NYC's move to include 31 gender options on municipal forms. Please note: the voting is still open for the People's Choice Podcast Awards, and you can vote once per day. If you would like to support the show, you can find us in the GLBT listing here: http://podcastawards.com/ (Voting ends Sunday, June 12.)

Jonny and Danette discuss "adultism" in queer youth spaces, parsing connections and differences between LGBT Rights and Civil Rights, continued fallout over North Carolina's HB2 and similar legislation around the country, and GOP attempts to squelch LGBT Rights in the US Congress. Don't forget, you can vote once daily for "Isn't It Queer" for a People's Choice Podcast Award in the GLBT category. You can vote over at http://podcastawards.com .

Jonny and Danette discuss a review of upcoming Pride festivities in and adjacent to So IL, an uptick in anti-trans fake news stories, a split in the Methodist Church over LGBT support, an LGBT rights legislative kerfuffle on the floor of the House of Representatives last week, and findings from a Match.com survey of LGBT singles. We are also happy to note that "Isn't It Queer" is a finalist for a People's Choice podcast award in the GLBT category; you can check out the other podcasts up for consideration and, if so inclined, vote for this show over at http://podcastawards.com/.

Jonny and Danette discuss Alan Grayson's (D, FL) speech on the floor of the US House about the "Great American Bathroom Controversy." They also discuss how the inclusion of gender expression in sex discrimination has legal precedent and goes beyond but includes Trans Rights. They end with LGBTQ political news from around the nation and a check in on the murder of Bangladeshi LGBT activists. Due to technical difficulties, the first half of the broadcast did not record. We offer here the Grayson speech in its entirety (from CSPAN) followed by the second half of the show.

Jonny and Danette mourn the passing of out blues musician Candye Kane. Although we can't share the music we played on air, you can hear some of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTBblfRsxWk. We then discussed the Department of Justice Monday press conference regarding HB2 in NC, The Obama Administration plan to make the Stonewall Inn a national monument, and backlash against the TN bill allowing therapists to refuse to treat LGBT patients.

Jonny and Danette discuss the May 2nd Student Strike on Southern Illinois University Campus, continued backlash against anti-trans bathroom bills, and the GLAAD annual report on LGBTQ visibility in mainstream film.