An article framing so-called "reparative therapy" for queer people as an expression of self-determination finds Benjamin and Simon confronting some deeply held beliefs, and asking what options there really are when being queer is an impossible choice.

The article discussed in the episode can be found here: http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2016/04/16625/

A discussion of Adrienne Rich's classic 1980 essay on "compulsory heterosexuality" leads Simon and Benjamin into the politics of sexual essentialism, from "born this way" to "no Asians" on Grindr profiles.

You can read Adrienne's essay here: http://people.terry.uga.edu/dawndba/4500compulsoryhet.htm

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A discussion of Adrienne Rich's classic 1980 essay on "compulsory heterosexuality" leads Simon and Benjamin into the politics of sexual essentialism, from "born this way" to "no Asians" on Grindr profiles.

You can read Adrienne's essay here: http://people.terry.uga.edu/dawndba/4500compulsoryhet.htm

Mardi Gras is upon us, and this year it has prompted apologies (with varying degrees of sincerity) from institutions with a history of violence against queer people. Watching the reactions play out, Benjamin and Simon think about how queer communities remember past violence in the face of a violent present.

Note: following the recording of this podcast news broke that Mardi Gras threatened the organisers of the float "No Pride in Borders" that they would be banned from the parade due to them protesting against ALP leader Bill Shorten.

Links to that story can be found here: http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/mar/07/mardi-gras-parade-threatened-to-ban-refugee-advocates-if-they-harassed-bill-shorten 
And Simon's take on the matter here: http://www.starobserver.com.au/opinion/mardi-gras-shameful-moment/147319

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mardi Gras is upon us, and this year it has prompted apologies (with varying degrees of sincerity) from institutions with a history of violence against queer people. Watching the reactions play out, Benjamin and Simon think about how queer communities remember past violence in the face of a violent present.

Note: following the recording of this podcast news broke that Mardi Gras threatened the organisers of the float "No Pride in Borders" that they would be banned from the parade due to them protesting against ALP leader Bill Shorten.

Links to that story can be found here: http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/mar/07/mardi-gras-parade-threatened-to-ban-refugee-advocates-if-they-harassed-bill-shorten

And Simon's take on the matter here: http://www.starobserver.com.au/opinion/mardi-gras-shameful-moment/147319

Valentine's Day gets Simon and Benjamin thinking about love, but questions about how queer politics became all about love quickly spin out into a discussion of what it means to be queer when you take love and relationships out of the picture.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Valentine's Day gets Simon and Benjamin thinking about love, but questions about how queer politics became all about love quickly spin out into a discussion of what it means to be queer when you take love and relationships out of the picture.

A peaceful protest at Melbourne’s Pride March ending in violence exposes some deep ideological divisions within queer communities, leaving Benjamin and Simon to grapple with the question at the heart of the conflict: who exactly are pride events for?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A peaceful protest at Melbourne’s Pride March ending in violence exposes some deep ideological divisions within queer communities, leaving Benjamin and Simon to grapple with the question at the heart of the conflict: who exactly are pride events for?

In the wake of the sad news of David Bowie's death, Bowie superfan Simon shares his own experience of the ways the iconic musician influenced his sexuality, while Benjamin wonders what makes—or doesn't make—someone a gay icon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.