GSC Friday

For at least the last year Dean and John have been talking about when we would get cats after we moved in together, and that day finally arrived almost a week ago. We adopted 2 little ones, Trixie, a flame-tail Siamese and Katya, an incredibly intelligent short-hair mix with black fur like a scar across her right eye. Of course we had to name them after our 2 fave Drag Queens. Like any proud new parents we bore you with the details of how pretty they are, where they sleep, and how John sacrifices sleep and sniffles to be a loving parent. Next we delve into Beyonce's Black Parade, which while speaking to experiences we can't fully understand, is a very important moment in music and culture right now. It's a great single, and it is full of imagery and references that speak to where Beyonce finds herself. Something that seems to also be inspiring a new Visual CD to be released on streaming soon. But it also speaks to the issues that Black Performers face in either being "Black" or being mainstream. Something Beyonce faced with Formation. That is made even more clear in the Queer community as Shea Coulee and others in Boy's Town held a forum and inspired some first steps in reforming how the Chicago Drag scene books and treats black queens and queens of color. A similar movement has started in the Philly community where John and Dean live. Black people make up the largest percent of Philadelphia, yet represent hardly any of the regular hosts in the clubs and bars. It's time for us to help change by listening and then by acting. Where you put your money has power. Do you know how your home club/bar treated non-white Queens. Do you see your community reflected in the bookings and hosts? It's time to make changes.

For at least the last year Dean and John have been talking about when we would get cats after we moved in together, and that day finally arrived almost a week ago. We adopted 2 little ones, Trixie, a flame-tail Siamese and Katya, an incredibly intelligent short-hair mix with black fur like a scar across her right eye. Of course we had to name them after our 2 fave Drag Queens. Like any proud new parents we bore you with the details of how pretty they are, where they sleep, and how John sacrifices sleep and sniffles to be a loving parent. Next we delve into Beyonce's Black Parade, which while speaking to experiences we can't fully understand, is a very important moment in music and culture right now. It's a great single, and it is full of imagery and references that speak to where Beyonce finds herself. Something that seems to also be inspiring a new Visual CD to be released on streaming soon. But it also speaks to the issues that Black Performers face in either being "Black" or being mainstream. Something Beyonce faced with Formation. That is made even more clear in the Queer community as Shea Coulee and others in Boy's Town held a forum and inspired some first steps in reforming how the Chicago Drag scene books and treats black queens and queens of color. A similar movement has started in the Philly community where John and Dean live. Black people make up the largest percent of Philadelphia, yet represent hardly any of the regular hosts in the clubs and bars. It's time for us to help change by listening and then by acting. Where you put your money has power. Do you know how your home club/bar treated non-white Queens. Do you see your community reflected in the bookings and hosts? It's time to make changes.

It's our first week in our new home and our new studio. So of course we have a cocktail and break down the health advisory from NYC that says glory holes, voyeurism/exhibitionism and other great kinks are now the new normal for us to stay safe and still get off. A timely and appropriate turn around for the city that tried so hard to root out kinks and such. And a great way to spend our time in isolation, discovering new things that turn us on. John is disappointed/excited that now more people will discover the things that he thought only he was into. Janelle Monae is our featured artist this week, who aside from being an amazing songwriter/singer/performer is also gender non-binary and while they don't care what pronoun you use, they do want to help move the conversation forward about non-binary individuals and gender in general. Dean relates to this being pansexual but heavily homo-romantic. Sometimes there isn't a great way to have a nuanced conversation. John likes boobs, but highlights why there are and should be so many different ways to understand our sexuality, attraction and romantic inclinations. While he doesn't enjoy giving pleasure to women, he could take a pegging like a champ. Finally, we recount how we screwed up on our first Instagram Live and the importance of fully charged batteries in all your toys. Check out BlackQueerTownHall.org and ColorOfChange.org if you are looking for ways to help support BLM and the end of systemic racism, especially in policing. John has been getting their newsletter and it's really helping him to learn more and understand just how much the white history books leave out of our own story.

The move has happened, but we recorded this a week ahead of time to make sure it got out. We can't begin without recapping what has been happening with Black Lives Matter. The police officers who also participated in George Floyd's murder were charged, and we hope that justice is served in this case. But the movement goes on, and we talk about how important it is for allies to make sure they are contributing in ways that are productive and fit with the organizers and advocates they are there to support. We recap then end of Drag Race with saw a wonderful Black Queen be crowned, and the end of a very unique season. Which leads naturally into All Stars which has been diversity challenged so far with its winners. But like this podcast, we hope that All Stars will be a much needed diversion when people want to step away from the very important social changes that we need to keep supporting and enacting. Along those lines, John Patrick if finally releasing his EP which has been 5 years in the making. You'll hear parts of it as the intro and outdo music for the podcast. Dean and John met while shooting the cover for his first single as well as the cover you can now see on all major music services with "Top of the World." John gives us a peak into his creative process and what made him write a song about going all the way to the top!

We recorded this episode a week ago, and there have been many developments since then in regards to George Floyd and a host of other Black men and women who have been brutalized and killed by the police and the systemic racism that controls our every day lives. Thousands of people have risen up to speak, to protest. We have dedicated this Pride Month to future episodes that continue to engage with the Black Lives Matter narrative (hopefully with the voices of activists and black queer individuals.) Our podcast is a diversion and a moment of humor. That may serve you right now, and if so, we appreciate being allowed to speak to you and hopefully bring a little levity if you need that in the current moment. We hope that you support the cause of ending Systemic Racism and the senseless murder of Black Lives, however you are able to do so.

If you are looking for something to divert your attention for a few minutes, in this episode we begin with Lady Gaga and Britney Spears, both of whom released music today. For Gaga fans, John and Dean break down their initial reactions to the new album. It's back to the kind of pop that we are used to from Gaga, but is definitely capturing the evolution of an amazing artist. When it comes to true Britney Stans like John, the release of Mood Ring was not "new" but definitely a welcome addition to the re-release of Glory.

For our Black audience, and those of color, the central topic today is far form news. But we needed to take our voices and at least share both the disgust and also the on-going nature of yet another murder of a Black man in police custody. Since the recording, the voices of the Black Lives Matter movement have brought more action and further consequences for those officers that murdered George Floyd. But that is far from the end of this. Dean and John take a moment to reflect on the history of Gay rights and the privilege that they now enjoy due in large part to the actions of Black Queer activists and the Civil Rights Movement. If you are familiar with the AIDS crisis in the '80s then most of this will be old news to you, but some younger listeners may learn a few things as John did. We are far from being able to give a history of these movements, but in the coming weeks we will endeavor to speak more about the contributions of Black Queer men and women to our community and our lives.

In the last segment Dean and John take some joy in isolation with the recent advent of Cocktail to-go from major restaurants in our area. And tease a little bit about the music project they've been working on for almost 5 years now. We thank you for your time, and hope that it has been a moment of humor and fun. We ask that you look to do what you can locally to begin creating the change that is long overdue, and find ways to contribute to those who are seeking the end to Systemic Racism.

Last week we listened to the new singles that came out from Lady Gaga and Tove Lo, and it was a day for the gays. But before we get into that, Dean and John catch you up on life in a tiny, small, ever shrinking amount of quarantine space. Does John ever sleep? What day is it? Where are we? There's restaurants using mannequins to fill the empty space in order to keep guests socially distant, but how would that even work. And if that wasn't enough, smart AI sex robots are selling out so quickly that manufactures can't keep up with demand. Which leads Dean to try and explain how sex robots are the best new thing in the world. John doesn't take much convincing, a squirting, choking, powered Daddy is all he needs to spend his money on. But music is not far from our minds as we explore the new era that Lady Gaga is about to embark upon, as well as Tove Lo's ultimate relationship revenge fantasy, including a deep suspicion that Dean and John share about whether she may have had a Twincest moment herself.

We recorded this prior to watching tonight's episode, so hear how wrong our predictions were for the RuPaul Drag Race's Renuion episode were! Dean and John try to take on Wilam and Detox with a short trip down a Drag Race Stan podcast, before quickly and efficiently diverting into a rare "unedited" moment. See how the episodes' sausage is made. ;) John does a transition. Dean is a loss for word. John calls Dean old...again. We talk through whether "staning" is in fact a gay right of passage. Plus if we were teens now, which Pop Stars would we Stan? (Hint: John Patrick is pretty easy to guess.) At the end Dean and John try to decide if flip/flop scenes are hot, and then John tries to understand what Dean is saying about his favorite porn. Then the episode ends. This is what happens when you don't send in questions and comments. We love you, tweet us!

Dean and John have survived another week quarantined together. (No Couches were harmed in the making of this podcast.) And live from the South of France, a blast from the past, Devon Hunter joins in the fun. It was exciting this week to see J. August Richards, most familiar to Dean and John from the Buffy spin-off Angel, came out publicly. It's always nice to see "action" stars being able to be open and out, must like we saw with Colton Haynes a few years ago. That lead us to talk about our first experiences with "gay feeling" in relation to the screen and television. Find out why Devon was mad about underwear. How hot and steamy has HBO gotten lately? What happens when Queer creators make queer-coded shows? And how can Dean prove his age one more time by stumping even Devon on pop-culture icons from the 80s?