Isn't It Queer

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 Liberty Theatre in Murphysboro on October 28th.

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