GSC Friday

It's been a minute since we had an episode. But John and Dean are trying to get back at it. And what better way then to explore both queer bating as well as the "Over 30 Curse" in the same episode we talk about K-Pop! John has a theory that when a female artist hits 30 they are either excluded or cast out of popularity. Whether it's by the actions of stations, labels, or critics, or just some social force that we all somehow cling to, we've seen it time and time again. Christina, Britney, and now Katy Perry. Who's album John and Dean absolutely loved, and yet was somehow both too much like the old Katy and somehow also not as good as the old Katy. And therein lies our problem. As much as John and Dean loved Katy's album, there were some very interesting moments where she is either expressing unstated bisexual desires, or is queer bating us because that's a thing that money people do to get more gay dollars. In two videos there are definite references to either Katy being queer, or Katy being in a relationship with someone queer. And while we love to see it, we also hate to see it. Dean muses on what Shawn Mendes was or was not saying in his latest song/video, and then launches into a rant about queer bating and queer representation in both old Hollywood and new. (John says yes a lot.) Finally we end on a great note, the rise of K-Pop in popular culture and the amazing (almost) new Mini-Album from one of our favorite groups, Blackpink. While they disagree on "Ice Cream" (and whether not liking is the same as disliking,) they overall love the the new release and can't wait to hear more! Don't forget to catch John on Live Stream celebrating the release of Immortal Dreams, and stay tuned for upcoming karaoke nights.

We are so excited that the new EP is out and people all over the world are getting the chance to listen to it. (Special shout out to the one fan in UK who listens to Shadow every day!) John doesn't like to produce a project unless there is a clear story behind it. You won't hear an EP or an album that doesn't tell something that's a mix of personal and art. Immortal Dreams is the first of these stories he has shared with us, and Dean gets a chance to walk through just how that story emerged and what the meaning behind the tracks are. John suggests you listen to the story and then play the EP to really get a sense of the world he has tried to create. It's unfortunately based on many different true stories, especially in the case of straight-washing icons or at the very least, forcing them to stay in the closet in order to sell things. We reference Colton Haynes, but it goes back even further. Major Hollywood stars in the golden era were kept in the closet, forced to project an outside straight appearance. This modern take follows that same idea and speaks to how these things still happen. It also touches on themes of addiction and mental health issues, which both Dean and John have been dealing with in their own lives as well. If you need help, please reach out and get it. Which is what brought us to Dolly Parton, who despite herself facing many different types of obstacles still continues to support others through theirs. And she's just an amazing artist as well. Lastly, don't forget that John Patrick is a guest entertainer for the 2020 Pride Network Live event, hosted on YouTube. You can watch live 8/27/2020 at 8pm EST. Or catch it anytime after on YouTube.

John had a rough day at work, Dean couldn't figure out how to record a podcast. Overall, it's kind of lucky we got this out at all. We start off looking at how representation matters in children's entertainment. (And we don't mean the classic "Guess What?" from she who must not be named. AKA J. K. Trolling.) Velma, according to the creators of the most recent Scooby Doo cartoon, was meant to be explicitly gay, and even have a coming out experience as she realizes that boys are not her thing. It's not surprising to anyone who watched the live action movies where there was just a tiny hint of gay undertones. But that's the real point here, we need to not have to do Queer Readings in order to find people like us in the media we consume. From there we move on to a Tale of Two Gay Cities...or at least gay neighborhoods in Chicago (Boystown) and Philadelphia (The Gayborhood.) In the first a petition has been circulating to update the name, as the entire LGBTQ+ community served by this area of Chicago, but only a small group of gay men seem to be 'allowed' to fit in there. This was especially poignant to members of the Trans community, who after years of being ostracized finally got a single crosswalk. But we're observing from afar here, and welcome those who live in this community to reach out and share their stories and perspectives. For us, our hometown is going through the opposite. Rather than trying to make The Gayborhood more inclusive, Philly wants to erase it entirely. First with a name change, and second by buying up gay businesses and turning them into overpriced housing. This is more than just a night-life problem. Gentrification has driven people of color out of their homes and cities and isn't stopping soon. Red-Lining exists, and what we are observing is just a small piece of the issues affecting members of our community, especially black men and women.

It was a hell of a week for trying to not be around people who weren't wearing masks, or who were wearing them improperly enough that it didn't matter. There's no "A" for effort here. From the Gym to food prep, we've seen too many people just not doing what we all need to do to keep each other safe, and it it's showing. So of course our eyes turned to Fire Island. We love naked men as much as the next gay but it's important that in our debauchery we also maintain the safety of others. There were some bad examples, and some good ones. Run around naked, just remember to wear your mask. After complaining about that, Dean and John try to figure out how Dean can have sex without infecting the whole house. His plan includes mandatory showers, and trade staying naked the whole time. (So far we're into it.) Finally we explore the next feature Queer Artists, Rina Sawayama. She has a mix of styles and a really cool rock edge that John appreciates. For a future episode we really want to get Black Rose Photography on the show, so check him out @blackrosephotog and send his work some love!