Isnt It Queer

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.

Jonny and Danette discuss recent tensions on the SIU Carbondale campus and the upcoming May 2 Student Strike, the growing backlash against NC's HB2 and similar legislation in other states, and homophobic violence in Bangladesh and Indonesia.

Jonny and Danette discuss the intersection of environmental and LGBTQ activism, LGBTQ activism's reliance on corporate capitalism, successful appeals court response to to state bans on trans* use of public restrooms, and the place of empathy/perspective-taking in contemporary politics. Please note: "Isn't It Queer" is registered with the 11th Annual People's Podcast Awards. If you would like to nominate or otherwise support the show for such a recognition, you can do so at: http://podcastawards.com/ Thank you for your kind support.

Jonny and Danette discuss Radical Faeries in Austin TX, anti-racist protests on the SIU campus, the predicted transformation of NC's HB2 after significant backlash, and Pope Francis's failure to shift Catholic dogma on LGB relationships and Trans-recognition (let alone rights).

Jonny and Danette discuss upcoming queer-themed and queer-friendly events in Southern Illinois, check in on the creativity of the protestors in North Carolina and Mississippi over recent RFRA legislation signed into law, and check in on similar legislation in neighboring states of Missouri, Arkansas, and Kentucky.

Jonny and Danette discuss Georgia and North Carolina RFRAs, Alabama and Kentucky legislation about marriage licenses, and Catholic bishops in Malawi advocating for the re-criminalization of homosexuality.

Jonny flies solo while Danette is out with n illness. He discusses links between environmental and LGBTQ commitments, HRC's endorsement of Illinois GOP Senator Mark Kirk, LGBT participation in the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade, the possibility that recent discrimination legislation in Georgia may cost them the Super Bowl, Colorado legislation banning conversion therapy, and a check in on backlash legislation in Kansas.

Danette takes over controlling the soundboard and is in the driver's seat, sort of in homage to International Women's Day, but also in preparation for Jonny being out of town next week. Together they discuss autoethnography, Caitlyn Jenner's endorsement of Ted Cruz, the Wachowskis, and a check-in on the backlash against LGBT rights in nearby states.

Jonny and Danette are joined by local artist AB to discuss her queer themed, one-woman performance, "Slant." We also discuss the governor of South Dakota vetoing transphobic legislation, KFC standing up for its transgender employees, and a check in on queer visibility at the Academy Awards.

Jonny and Danette discuss the ever increasing number of backlash LGBT bills in state legislatures across the country, the excessive incarceration rates for LGBT people in the US, President Obama's defunding of grants supporting abstinence only sex education, and a check in on Nike dropping Manny Pacquiao for making homophobic remarks. We also encourage listeners to support WDBX by making a pledge (we are only asking for $20) at WDBX.org or by calling in at 618-457-3691.