Isn't It Queer

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.