Isnt It Queer

Jonny offers a review of some of the people who have been on IIIQ in 2022 and a sampling of the kinds of stories we've covered. It's the annual year-in-review show--not an exhaustive list, but one that shows themes and trends across the year. And what a year it has been!

Jonny summarizes and discusses the HBO Max documentary "Santa Camp" and the importance of diverse representation in the Santa Industry. He provides a list of queer inclusive holiday content available for streaming. He celebrates the "I'll Be Home for Christmas" Brittney Griner story. And he revews the linguistic gift of trans inclusive definitions of "man" and "woman" from the Cambridge Dictionary and Dictionary.com. He provides a bit of holiday caution to the community about the impending plunge in temperatures and the need to be compassionate and helpful with each other to get through the cold and dark.

Jonny celebrates the signing of the Respect For Marriage Act into law. He reviews what it is, what it protects, and how it isn't full on marriage equality. He then reviews the SCOTUS arguments in the 303 Creative LLC v Elenis case, where conservative justices seem poised to legalze discrimination against same sex marriage. In the back half of the show, he reviews the downfal of DOE politico Sam Brinton and some criticism of him as a viable spokesperson for ending conversion therapy. Finally, Jonny interviews Benito Goff of the Rainbow Cafe about upcoming events, including Queermas celebrations in Carbondale.

In the wake of Department of Homeland Security warnings of escalations in domestic terrorism targeting LGBTQ+ and other minorities and a weekend of assaults on queer spaces, Jonny talks with local drag performer Korey Klausing (a.k.a.Korra Devil) and backup support Aaron Wells about their experiences in local venues and responses to the rising threats. Included is a call to action for the community and a call to protect ourselves. In the back half of the show, Jonny talks with Billy Rogers about Golden Rainbows of Illinois South (GRIS), their recent accomplishments, goals, and an upcoming Holiday Party on December 11th

Jonny reviews recent accomplishments in the worldwide struggle to end HIV/AIDS. He then discusses the "OneLove" armband kerfuffle at the World Cup in Qatar. Finally, he weaves several stories together in a response to defense attorney claims that that the alleged Club Q shooter is nonbinary.

Jonny comments on his Trans Day of Remembrance experience, linking it to the emotional fallout of the shooting in Colorado Springs. He details what we currently know of the ClubQ shooting and how it is one in a long line recently of assaults on LGBTQ+ institutions. In the back half of the show, Craig Gingrich Philbrook shares a brief meditation on safety in public spaces. Jonny folllows this with some legislative and political developments we can be thankful for. CORRECTION: In the first segment, Jonny incorrectly names Benito Goff "Benton," a name he no longer uses.

Jonny talks with Carrie Vine, newly appointed executive director of the Rainbow Cafe. They discuss the organizations new organizational structure as well as the upcoming events it is sponsoring. In the back half of the show, Jonny reviews some of the powerful outcomes of the 2022 midterm elections for the LGBTQ community.

Jonny reviews IL bail reform and the conservative narrative of high crime in Democrat-held cities and states to show how the same kind of outright lying and fear tactics used against the LGBTQ community is the standard playbook for the GOP. In the back half of the show, he looks at Elon Musk's first days as owner of Twitter, the rise in transphobic and racist Tweets on the site, and the thorny issue of making any social media site a haven for "free speech." Throughout, he reminds you to GO VOTE!!!

Jonny previews the showing of the documentary "Two Spirit" as part of the SIU LGBTQ+ History Month celebration, including director Lydia Nibley's campus visit. He then profiles eight active 2S artists/healers/content makers advancing (among others) the cause and awareness of queer indigeneity. He then reviews two bits of legislation (one national, one state level) that deliberately target public expression of queerness. He profiles 10 historic LGBTQ candidates of the over 600 running for public office in the 2022 midterms. Finally, he ends with a preview of the upcoming premier of "Sound Story" in the Kleinau Theatre on the SIU Campus.

Jonny announces an upcoming Furry Dance Party on the SU campus and uses it as an opportunity to explore an urban legend popular among conservatives that public schools are putting litter boxes in bathrooms to cater to students who identify as cats (they are not!). He then turns to an unfortunate outcome in a court case in Texas meant to further curtail LGBTQ rights. Finally, he reviews current fieldwork in primate studies that confirms gender variance in chimpanzees.

Jonny continues to to cover events for SIU's LGBTQ+ History Month, including a focus on Sonalee Rashatwar's contributions. Our Flipboard site is full of articles and podcasts if you would like to know more about Rashatwar's important work! Building on her work, Jonny offers a caution to queer advocates and progressives who use the term "woke" as a pejorative or derisively. He then discusses the premier episode of the second season of Jon Stewart's "The Problem With" that focuses on gender affirming healthcare for trans youth. He covers a district court judge's decision in Texas pushing back against Biden Administration policy protecting LGBTQ people from work place discrimination. In the back third of the show, he highlights examples of conservative hypocrisy, highlighting GA Senate candidate Herschel Walker's abortion scandal and Awake Illinois's legal actions against their critics. He closes the show with an opportunity to receive free tickets to "Mort," a locally made horror short film premiering at The Li

Jonny talks with Bennett Schneider about Sister Unity's Carbondale visit and performance, "Drag Nun Ruins Story Time" (Thursday October 13, 8 pm, Kleinau Theatre, Carbondale IL), and his workshop "Entering Not Knowing" on opening up the intuitive imagination (Friday October 14, 4-6 pm, Kleinau Theatre). In the back half of the show, he talks with Dr. Angela Towne, Coordinator of the SIU LGBTQ Resource Center about the many events planned for LGBTQ History Month. The show ends with a community announcement about an organizational meeting for Pride in Action in Southern Illinois (meeting at the Community Center in Carterville IL, October 5, 5:30-7:30 pm).

Jonny talks with OJ Duncan (a.k.a. Sister Fagatha Hardness) about the events planned for the upcoming Southern Illinois LGBTQ+ Festival: A Pride Celebration (September 30-October 2) in Carbondale. Its an amazing line up! In the back half of the show, he reviews the protests in Iran and the lessons we can take from the unifying slogan "Woman Life Freedom." Community announcements at the end of the episode.

Jonny interviews Sister Gay B!tc# Milkshake of the SOIL Sisters about her former career as a defense attorney, her work with the Rainbow Cafe, the Bawdy Wenches, and a burgeoning local film career. In the back half of the show he reviews Yeshiva University's attempts to ban an LGBTQ student group, the surprising SCOTUS decision about that, and other recent legal decisions in support of LGBTQ rights.

Jonny leans into the arrival of fall with an analysis of the Senate's anticipated vote of the Respect for Marriage Act and the political game being played as part of the midterm elections. He reviews Judge O'Connor's decision supporting a religious exemption for insurance covering PrEP and other preventative medication. In the back half of the show, he reviews the queer content in TV and film anticipated in the next three months.

Jonny backs up to cover harassment by anti-LGBTQ activists of Children's Hospitals and sites around the Internet that help such harassers organize. He then covers the recent, considerable efforts at deplatforming these harassers. In the back half of the show, he reviews how anti-LGBTQ initiatives world-wide are part of the anti-democratic push for authoritarian regimes

Jonny digs into the archive to share a 2019 interview with Jesus Valles about his show (Un)Documents and an interview from earlier this summer with Jen Pepper, President and CEO of CHOICES Clinic. Jesus will be performing (Un)Documents this afternoon (8/31) at 4 pm in the SIU Student Center Auditorium, free and open to the public. Jen will be the keynote speaker at next Tuesday's (9/6) 6 pm event, Visions of a Post Roe Carbondale, in Guyan Auditorium in Morris Library on the SIU Campus.

Jonny reviews new information that strongly supports Monkey Pox is sexually transmitted and that it is harder to transmit merely by skin on skin contact. He reviews how public health officials are now targeting MSM for vaccination and education about the disease's spread. In the back half of the show, Jonny celebrates recent advances for LGBTQ rights in Singapore and Vietnam. He reviews the status of LGBTQ rights across Asia-Pacific nations. He then celebrates an Appeals Court decision affirming that gender dysphoria should be covered under the ADA.

Jonny checks back in on the efforts to ban LGBTQ+ books and curricula around the country. He focuses on examples of communities, librarians, and teachers pushing back against the efforts to challenge representations of LGBTQ+ people and racial minority figures. Across the stories covered, he notes that these efforts do not effectively keep children and young adults from knowing about LGBTQ+ folks, but do serve a bullying function in subjugating and casting shame on minority identities.

Jonny reviews recent evidence of how the trans bans in Florida and elsewhere are based on misrepresented or made-up science. He also reviews a study of media coverage of trans athletes that shows how media framing is contributing to the proliferation of trans bans. In the back half of the show, he reviews good news and bad news for queer representation in recent (popular) arts, including memorializing Olivia Newton John and reviewing Beyonce's recent shout-outs to queer Black artists in "Renaissance."