Isn't It Queer

Jonny and Danette are joined by Colin Whitworth and Alex Davenport to discuss the upcoming presentation of "The Factory" in the Kleinau Theatre (April 26-28, 8 pm. second floor of SIU Communications Building). The original show explores a conversation between Truman Capote and Andy Warhol about representation and the challenges of art and writing. The group also discusses the IL Inclusive Curriculum bill being debates in the state Senate as well as local protest of mandating the inclusion of LGBTQ figures in secondary and high school history curriculum.

Jonny and Danette discuss upcoming events in the Carbondale area as well as contemplate at length the recent immolation of Lambda Legal lawyer David Buckel.

Jonny and Danette interview Vincent Rhomberg and Jodie Salazar about the upcoming Carbondale Stage Co. production of Vince's play, "Almost Identical." Along the way we also discuss the value of community theater, LGBTQ inclusive curriculum, queer visibility in media, and the failure of so-called "bathroom bills" to pass lately in very red states.

Jonny flies solo, sharing a segment from Ky and Zach for their YouTube channel "Dabblin' and Babblin'" (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeayvLydabc0yjGSWBpvYfA). Jonny also discusses the dangers of media consolidation, How FOSTA/SESTA will negatively impact LGBTQ community, and some thoughts on the Rosanne reboot.

Jonny and Cici are joined by Tre and Chip. Tre is the youth representative on the Rainbow Cafe Board of Directors. Together, we discuss the Rainbow Cafe, being a queer youth in Southern Illinois, the Southern Illinois AIDS Walk, the March for Our Lives, and the upcoming Carbondale Pride Festival.

Jonny and Danette start off with a brief comment about impending diplomatic talks with N. Korea and a report of TC Mueller's responses to LGBTQ community questions from IL Dist. 115, and then engage in a detailed dismantling of the charge of "reverse racism," with connections to systemic transphobia, sexism, and homophobia.

Jonny, Danette, and CiCi are joined by Anthony Galloway of Equality Illinois to talk about Equality Illinois's various initiatives, the local District 115 forum between representative candidates and the LGBTQ community, and how to get more involved in mobilizing for LGBTQ rights.

Jonny, Danette, and Cici are joined by Tara Bell, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Rainbow Cafe. We discuss the upcoming LGBTQ forum for state representative candidates from District 115, information about new programs at the Rainbow Cafe, planning for Carbondale Pride Festival this coming June, the SIU Tunnel of Oppression event, the romantic memorializing of Billy Graham, and several times the NRA has recently attacked the LGBTQ community.

Jonny, Cici, and Danette free associate about the weather, politics, the Olympics, soul food in Omaha, NE,and the importance of staying politically engaged in these stressful times. Yeah, it was that sort of a week.

Jonny starts of the show solo with a contemplation of the rainbow as a metaphor for systems and systems theory,linking this issue to early evidence of the "blue wave" and further signs that the Trump administration is not supporting LGBTQ concerns, nationally or internationally. At the half hour he is joined by Cici and they discuss nuancing power and privilege, the first openly trans teen elected to the USY board,studies showing more teens are refusing traditional gender labels, and the backlash against Dumbledore not being visibly queer in the "Fantastic Beasts" sequel.