Isnt It Queer

Jonny delves into emergent and wholly made-up conspiracy theories that the shooter in Uvalde TX was a trans woman. He notes this happens a lot lately as a way to deflect our attention from meaningfully addressing gun violence while perpetuating stigmas and scapegoats. He then reviews mixed-bag efforts to stall homophobic and transphobic legislation from advancing. He concludes by sharing two stories of high school graduations where students pushed back. The end of the show shares local Pride events and opportunities in Southern Illinois.

Jonny celebrates Harvey Milk's birthday (May 22) with a tribute to him by Sr Jewnita Hug and a performance of one of his more famous speeches, "The Hope Speech," by Sir Ian McKellen. He offers some reflections on Milk's sense of "hope" and "recruitment," with a heavy emphasis on involvement and visibility in our local communities. In the back half of the show, he reviews information about Monkeypox, the threat it poses, the ways it is being tied to LGBTQ community, and some of the problems with that media framing.

In the wake of evidence the SCOTUS will be overturning Roe v Wade and federal protections for access to abortions, Jonny reviews why reproductive justice and access to safe and affordable medical termination of a pregnancy is an important LGBTQ+ Issue. He then reviews the questionable science behind other legislation that challenges bodily autonomy and LGBTQ rights.

Jonny shares a recent experience moderating an LGBTQ Town Hall meeting with candidates for School Superintendent as an introduction to the challenges of restricting or banning books. He looks at the history of book burning as a strategy of oppressing vulnerable groups. He also reports on efforts of some local school districts to ban "Safe Space" designations as a related phenomenon. In the back half of the show, he examines the conundrum of the political scandals plaguing Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC). How are we supposed to feel when homophobia and transphobia are used to take down a homophobic and transphobic politician?Jonny also shares information about Southern Illinois's Pride celebration plans being moved to October while other events like Picnic in the Park, Pride Edition (May 15 -- https://fb.me/e/2lJZd9vpr) and SI Pride Prom (May 21 -- https://fb.me/e/4EpRWYY4c)

Jonny reviews recent rhetoric from JK Rowling and explains why her actions are transphobic and not merely "pro biological women" (taking exception to that concept, of course!). He outlines how trans affirmation is in support of feminism and Women's Rights while Gender Critical and Biological Essentialist positions ultimately support the basic tenets of oppressive patriarchal systems. In the back half of the show he reviews several bad decisions from Florida in the wake of the "Don't Say Gay" law, with a nod to how this sort of policy is more in keeping with the state-sanctioned anti-LGBTQ policies of China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, so recently on display in the news.

Jonny promotes local upcoming Earth Day events and explains Queer Ecology and Intersectional Environmentalism. Along the way, he explores why LGBTQ folks have a set of very specific stakes in sustainability and environmental advocacy. Topics range from social justice concerns to queer theology.

Jonny takes seriously Senator Marsha Blackburn's (R-TN) question to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, "What is a Woman?" noting the failure of GOP Gender Critics in Congress to answer the question very well, and then reviews a more detailed answer to the question than Justice Jackson could or should offer in a Senate Confirmation Hearing. In the back half of the show, Jonny reviews the rapid developments in the UK, including the cancellation of the (not very well) planned summer conference on LGBT+ rights, protests outside Downing Street, and the lack of support in the Tory Party for PM Johnson's failure to include trans in the ban on conversion therapy. Jonny also speaks back to those aligned with trans-exclusive LGB Coalition ideology who challenged his reporting on the UK last week.

Jonny checks in on the ever-escalating kerfuffle in Florida as the state government doubles down on its war with Disney, as law suits against HB 1557 are filed, and as teachers begin to push back in creative ways. He then recaps the weekend's Trans Day of Visibility, noting the increased importance of trans affirming demonstrations in Texas and how meaningful they were in Carbondale and Southern Illinois. In the back half of the show, he links several stories from the UK where attempts to pare off the T from LGBT aren't working out so well. Included: PM Boris Johnson's flip flopping on banning conversion therapy, the demise of the Gender Critical Lesbian and Gay News site, the petulant impotence of the LGB Coalition, and flailing preparations for the Johnson administration's planned summer summit on LGBT Rights.

Jonny talks with Benito Goff about the upcoming Trans Day of Visibility Rally (5iish-7:30, Thursday March 31, Carbondale Town Square Pavilion). He then reviews Gov. Desantis's signing of HB 1557, the "Don't Say Gay" law as well as reviewing some of the even more txic variants of the bill progressing through other states' legislatures. In the back half of the show he analyzes what the Judiciary Committee's questions for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson reveal about the Rights anti-LGBTQ agenda. We also check in on the legal proceedings against Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who refused to authorize marriage licenses seven years ago.

Jonny reviews the "controversy" over Lia Thomas's historic win in NCAA swim competitions. He points out how proposed NCAA regulations (not yet implemented) monitoring trans competitors would run afoul of Texas-like legislation that refuses trans healthcare to teenagers. He then threads the needle about how the assault on trans rights is related to and a permutation of anti-abortion initiatives on the Right. Finally, he reviews the Governor of Idaho's veto of that state's trans-ban for athletes, including the arguments and rationale that accompanied the veto. Jonny reminds all local Southern Illinoisan's that the Trans Day of Visibility rally will be Thursday, March 31st at the Town Square Pavilion--tabling begins at 5, speeches begin at 6, marching down the strip begins at 7. We would love to see you there!

Jonny recaps the Disney vs. DeSantis showdown in Florida as the governor's petulant rhetoric helps push the House of Mouse to a stronger and more substantive advocacy for basic human rights. He then takes a look at two polls that confirm DeSantis and Abbott, in addition to being on the wrong side of history, are at odds with public opinion. He briefly reviews a recent election in a Florida city where an LGBTQ Asian-American won handily, despite the bigoted homophobic and racist rhetoric of his opponent. Finally, he looks at how Governor Abbott in TX is facing significant push-back from the courts, big business, religious organizations, and the federal government--turns out Abbott's letter is carrying a pretty high price tag.

Jonny covers reporting on Disney's financial backing of the Florida legislator's responsible for the "Don't Say Gay" bill, noting to problematic alibis and explanations offered for the support fro the House of the Mouse. He then turns to the ways Governor Abbott's letter redefining trans youth healthcare as child abuse is so far faring in the courts. In the back half of the show, we rebroadcast a set of stories from 2022-01-19 showing how hypocritical the Right's anti-trans legislation is in comparison to their otherwise fevered support of medical freedom and government non-involvement in healthcare.

Jonny reviews the LGBTQ+ "angle" on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He then examines the implications of Gov. Abbott's directive against trans youth in Texas.

Jonny interviews Angela Towne, the new director of the Southern Illinois University LGBTQ+ Resource Center. Picking up on her love of nature in Carbondale, I reviews an article in Outside Magazine detailing the experiences of a trans through-hiker on the Appalachian Trail. He then check's in on the even more toxic developments in Florida's "Don't Say Gay" legislation.

Jonny contemplates representation of LGBTQ folks in media, with a big initial nod to representing queers in the Star Trek franchise. He checks in on China's efforts to erase LGBTQ people from media, lately including the US sitcom Friends. He reviews what LGBTQ actors, portrayals, topics and directors got an Oscar nomination nod. He ends the show with a commentary about the paucity of asexual representation in media, especially for people of color.

Jonny reviews a story of Nevada indigenous protestors of a lithium mine on sacred land rejecting representation by the organization, Deep Green Resistance, because of their anti-trans positions. He reviews why and how Two-Spirit identity is necessary in environmental advocacy and other social movements. He then reviews how legislative assaults on LGBTQ+ and Trans rights are colonialism at its worst, using hate and divisiveness to distract us from bigger issues requiring collective action. In the back half of the show her reviews data that LGBTQ+ and particularly Gay and Lesbian folks are getting vaccinated against CoVid at a higher rate than heterosexuals, and why that might be. He ends with an obituary for Arnie Kantrowitz, co-founder of GLAAD, who died from complications due to CoVid.

Jonny puts into dialogue examples of state sanctioned censorship and examples of so-called "Cancel Culture." He reviews a School Board banning the teaching of Art Spiegelman's Maus, Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill, a Mississippi mayor withholding library funds until the public library removes LGBTQ content, and a Georgia elementary school where the principal removed rainbow-themed art created by a student proclaiming "Gay is Okay" by comparing it to the Nazi Flag. He then contrasts these stories with artists leaving the Spotify platform in protest of the Joe Rogan podcast and the ways it spreads false information about CoVid as well as transphobic content.

Jonny talks with O.J. Duncan about the Rainbow Cafe's accomplishments in 2021 and what is on their horizon in 2022. He then provides a "highlight reel" of some stories covered and people interviewed on IIQ in 2021.

Jonny interviews Wally Paynter of the Tri-State Alliance and the Southern Illinois AIDS Coalition about how to donate to efforts to provide holiday cheer for underprivileged families living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Illinois. He then does the IIQ annual review of queer themed and created holiday music.

Jonny talks with Benito Goff of the Rainbow Cafe about an upcoming Queermas extravaganza (12/18). He then reviews new survey data on the prevalence of LGBTQIA+ identifying people in the U.S. He spends time unpacking the verdict in the Jussie Smollett case and what it should really tell us about hate crime legislation. He ends out the show with a collection of brief stories that put a clearer face on what the "gay agenda" actually is.