Isnt It Queer

Jonny interviews author Taylor Brorby about his memoir, "Boys and Oil," which explores his life growing up gay on the plains of North Dakota and becoming, among other things, an environmental advocate for those fragile ecosystems. In the back half of the show, Jonny reviews some of the ways the SCOTUS Dobbs decision is already being mobilized in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and calls for language and gestures of unity rather than division in how we push back. On notice: the biological-determinism rhetoric of celebrities like Macy Gray and Bette Midler this week. Jonny also shares information about upcoming events of interest to the LGBTQ Community in Southern Illinois.Note: Apologies to Taylor Brorby for mispronouncing his name in the intro and not catching it until the show was uploaded for broadcast. I do better in the interview. (It's Brorby, not Brobry!)

Jonny interviews Jen Pepper, President and CEO of the Memphis CHOICES sexual health clinic, about the branch opening soon in Carbondale. In addition to pregnancy services including abortion, the clinic also provides gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy. Although the interview was recorded just before the Supreme Court released its Dobb's decision overturning Roe v Wade, Jen and Jonny discuss that likely outcome and how best to respond to it. In the back half of the show, Jonny interviews Jeff Keasler-Bird and Tara Bell about the upcoming production of "The Laramie Project, Ten Years Later" by The Stage Co. at The Varsity Theater in Carbondale, IL.

Jonny talks with Crane from the Southern Illinois University Saluki Rainbow Network about an upcoming rally in support of queer visibility and protesting legislation that limits acknowledging LGBTQ+ people exist. In the back half of the show, he shows the tensions of Pride Month as represented by the Texas GOP Convention and an Executive Order signed by Joe Biden this week. He ends with announcement of several Pride events this week, including a Pride Social on the 22, details about a Carbondale Pride March/Cruise on June 25 at 10am, and the on-campus "We Say Gay" rally on June 30.

Jonny goes over many of the Pride festivities in and around Southern Illinois in June. He also notes that Pride is not restricted to June in the state, the nation, nor the world. Sister Mothra Stewart offers some thoughts on Pride 2022. Jonny then reviews assaults and attempted assaults on Pride events over the weekend perpetrated by far right militant groups, called to action by conservative media outlets. In the back half of the show, Jonny reviews some Pride good news that should give us hope and joy in this season of celebration and queer advocacy.

Jonny is on the road this week and so rebroadcasts an interview with Mackie Obando from December 2021. Current information about upcoming Pride events in Southern Illinois is also included in this broadcast.

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.