Isn't It Queer

Jonny and Danette are joined by Cici, student president of the Saluki Rainbow Network, to discuss the State of the Union Address (which none of us listened to), the IL Democratic Governor's forum (which none of us attended), how Indiana lost Amazon HQ2 over the states discrimination policies, two LGBTQ cases going to the Missouri Supreme Court, a national survey showing decrease in support for LGBTQ people in 2017, an Illinois court decision ruling against trans teen, Nova Maday, and her suit to use the girl's locker room at her school, a brief check in on the Grammy's, and a brief celebration (and some shade) about the local kick off to Black History Month.

Jonny and Danette discuss local controversy over a GSA in a High School, the impact of local university reorganization on LGBTQ students, Trumps mixed messages to LGBTQ communities, the new high in 2017 of anti-LGBTQ crimes, revisiting the pussyhat and both black and trans response to it, and a review of queer visibility in the new CW TV show "Black Lightning" and in the just announced Oscar nominees.

Jonny and Danette struggle through the snow and ice to tell you about the Gay Spirit Visions winter retreat, respond to Fire and Fury and other Trump shenanigans, look at several folks considering runs for office, examine several under reported deaths/murders of QTPOCs, memorialize AIDS activist Dr. Mathilde Krim, and note the "bury your gays" trope rearing its head on Star Trek: Discovery

Jonny and Craig welcome in the new year, looking for warmth in the midst of the bitter cold. They find it in three new pro-LGBTQ laws going into effect in Illinois, hopeful election possibilities in the 2018 midterm elections, and charities and organizations doing work for LGBTQ communities in 2018.

Jonny, flying solo this week, offers an eclectic review of 2017 in LGBTQ news.

Jonny and Danette are joined by John to mourn the death of Net Neutraility, Jonny conducts and interview with IL Senator Daniel Biss who is running for governor, and we end with a discussion of how to push past #resist in political actions going forward.

Jonny and Danette discuss the fresh election results of the Alabama special election for Senator, check in on the arrival of marriage equality to Australia, and take a closer look at the impact (and sometimes, unfortunately, the lack of impact) of sexual harassment and assault charges on political and media figures.

Jonny and Danette discuss holiday deserts and how a current Supreme Court case is addressing cake as freedom of speech and freedom to discriminate. We also extend concerns for preserving Net Neutrality to concerns about recent moves to consolidate news and media outlets and how this can negatively impact LGBTQ+ community.

Jonny and Danette are joined by Tara Bell, the newly elected Chair of the Board of Directors for the Rainbow Cafe, to discuss partnerships, upcoming events, and plans for the organization. You can find out more information about the Rainbow Cafe here: http://rainbowcafe.org/ Jonny and Danette also discuss the pending vote on the tax reform bill that will significantly impact (among so many others) graduate students.

Jonny and Danette return from a brief hiatus to acknowledge the troubling history of Thanksgiving, talk about the challenges of teaching about racism (with an acknowledgement of the usefulness of Muted Group Theory), offer a warning about the consequences of losing Net Neutrality, and count down their top ten gratitudes.