Isn't It Queer

Jonny And Danette, embrace Covfee and discuss the impacts of the proposed federal budget on LGBTQ communities, pulling out of the Paris agreement on Climate, keeping activism focused and avoiding burnout and cynicism, France demonstrating how to hold Russia accountable for human rights violations and election tampering, the commercialization of Pride and Civil Rights, and linking LGBTQ concerns to other social justice and environmental advocacy movements.

Jonny and Danette discuss fundraising opportunities for local LGBTQ Youth Groups, the American Family Association's claims that the Rainbow Flag is the new Confederate Flag (um, no!), a check-in on Chechnya and the persecution of LGBTQ people there, Canada's announced plan to apologize for its government's past polices and practices of LGBTQ discrimination, how shifts in the US Census Bureau affect LGBTQ people, and Nevada becoming the 10th state to ban Conversion Therapy

Jonny and Danette discuss The Russia Connection (thanks, Randy Rainbow!) that is plaguing our President, The release of Chelsea Manning from prison, the impacts of the Illinois budget crisis on SIU with a focus on cuts to LGBTQ and minority student support, the poor sales of Caitlyn Jenner's memoir, a Gallup poll that shows increased acceptance across the US for gay and lesbian relationships, lessons from Russia and Chechnya about queer visibility and the role of the State in protecting its most vulnerable citizens, and a couple of stories about queer visibility in popular culture.

Jonny and Danette discuss the LGBT and Trans-inclusive Girls Rock Carbondale summer camp, SIU's cancellation of its search for a Vice Chancellor of Institutional Diversity, Trump's Religious Freedom Executive Order and how it still impacts LGBTQ communities, our many frustrations with the House passing the American Health Care Act, the FCC investigation into Stephen Colbert over alleged obscene and homophobic statements about Trump, our outrage over a Project Pink activist facing a year in jail for laughing at Jeff Sessions, the nomination of Mark Green for Army Secretary withdrawn due to his anti-gay and anti-trans positions, four lesbian couples suing Tennessee over recent legislation limiting definition of gender, and MTV Movie and TV Awards' decision to have gender-neutral acting awards.

Jonny and Danette discuss surviving the ongoing Midwest floods, Lavender Graduation at SIU, the Trump Administration executive order on religious freedom expected to be signed on Thursday, Chechnya attacks on LGBT community that continue to get worse, a walkout of staff at Montreat College in NC over marriage equality discrimination, a Tennessee law that allows discrimination against LGBTQ people, an Alabama law that supports discrimination in adoption agencies, why straight men in Wyoming are wearing tutus to bars, the Equality Bill proposed in the US Senate, the Supreme Court decision to not take up a case objecting to California's ban on conversion therapy, a lawsuit against a HS trans wrestler in Texas dismissed, and a local leter to the editor encouraging reflexivity and engagement in addressing diversity issues on the SIU campus.

Jonny and Danette discuss upcoming local events in April, anti-LGBTQ legislation in North Carolina and Texas, a Minnesota lawsuit against a school districts trans-inclusive bathroom policy that has been dropped, a NYT opinion essay distinguishing "tomboy" from trans, the persecution of gay men in Chechnya, the so-called "trendiness" of trans and gay among contemporary youth, and the outing of a transgender contestant on "Survivor."

Jonny and Danette discuss the Carbondale Town Council's declaration of the city as a "safe and welcoming community," pro-LGBTQ rulings in appeals courts across the country in April, a check in on North Carolina concerning private sector responses to the "repeal" of HB2 and new legislation attempting to nullify marriage equality there, a court opinion released regarding the Gavin Grimm case comparing him to other civil rights leaders, questioning the Trump administration's reversal on military involvement in Syria due to human rights concerns, and a comparison of political sex scandals in Alabama and Seattle.

Danette and Jonny join the rest of WDBX in a weeklong party in the studio for its Spring Friendship Drive. If you are a regular listener to the show, please consider making a donation at http://wdbx.org/.

We also discuss results of the April 4 county and municipal elections, the 7th Circuit decision on Title VII that covers LGBTQ in workplace discrimination, recent anti-gay violence in the Netherlands and Russia, the problematic repeal of HB2 in North Carolina, and a discussion of the idea of radical forgiveness drawn from Dr. Amber Johnson's project "The Justice Fleet."

Jonny and Danette discuss upcoming visit by a Civil Right themed art installation "Justice Fleet", events in the 11 Days of Compassion (http://www.nonviolentcarbondale.org/11-days-for-compassion-schedule.html), a local student protest for LGBT visibility, LGBT erasure in recent Trump executive orders, the large number of Trump appointees who are avowedly anti-LGBT,and the demise of AHCA.

Jonny is joined by AB and Alex to discuss their upcoming performance, "Grayscale: Perfoming Across Difference" -- a performance at the intersection of identity, environment, art and activism. We talk about themes and tactics in the show, including the material challenges of drag and reference to proposed cuts to the NEA and the importance of art in mobilizing publics and building community.