The Queer Caucus is celebrating our 2nd birthday! Cassidy and Jill reflect on the conception of the podcast and establish some goals for the future.

Cassidy and Jill celebrate Pride season with reverance to its history and acknowledge its flaws. As always, we remind our listeners that the first Pride celebration was a riot, led by trans women of color.

We celebrate the resignation of Eric Greitens, former governor of Missouri, and lament over the absence of true justice in the cases against him. For our Acisting Others segment, we answer a listener question: "What is femme identity?" Hear our answer and all of our hot takes on this episode. 

As always, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes!

A bonus episode featuring an interview with Jessica Ryan, founder of Broadway Unlocked, and organizer of the #raiseyourvoice Giveback concert benefiting the Crime Victims Treatment Center in NYC.

In this episode, Jill and Cassidy review the hit new gay teen romcom, "Love, Simon." This discussion of the movie protagonist's coming out story prompts a discussion of our own personal journeys out of the closet, and our relative thoughts and feelings on these experiences. Finally, we introduce a noteworthy organization - Gays Against Guns - and discuss the LGBTQ teens involved with the March for Our Lives movement to ponder the question: "Is gun control an LGBTQ issue?"Many thanks to Frankie Simone, for our music, and Batsheba Castro-Martinez, for our artwork and logo.Relevant Links:https://www.them.us/story/ethan-is-the-real-hero-of-love-simon

https://www.gq.com/story/nick-robinson-found-the-role-of-a-lifetimehttps://www.refinery29.com/2018/03/193890/nick-robinson-brother-love-simon-coming-out-story?bucketed=truehttp://www.gaysagainstguns.net/abouthttp://www.gaysagainstguns.net/single-post/2017/06/11/Frequently-Asked-Questions-An-Update-Courtesy-of-GAG-Uhttp://www.losangelesblade.com/2018/03/22/gays-guns-joins-march-lives-la/

Jill and Cassidy discuss Adam Rippon, the first openly gay Olympian to represent the U.S.A. team in the Winter Olympic games, also known as America's Sweetheart. Cassidy reads a short narrative piece he composed after an incredible meeting with two LGBT pioneers for the state of Missouri, incredible circumstances that certainly defied all odds of likelihood. Finally, we answer a listener question for our ACISting Others segment - "Can a person identify as both nonbinary and gay?"Hear our answer, and much more on this episode. Many thanks to Frankie Simone, for our music, and Batsheba Castro-Martinez, for our artwork and logo.Relevant Links:https://www.outsports.com/2018/2/6/16924846/2018-winter-olympics-pyeongchang-out-gay-lesbian-bisexual-athleteshttp://ktla.com/2018/02/12/u-s-figure-skater-adam-rippon-becomes-first-openly-gay-man-to-medal-in-olympic-games/

In honor of MLK Day, we discuss Bayard Rustin, one of the unsung queer heroes of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's. Rustin was responsible for organizing the March on Washington, but his significant impact on the Civil Rights movement is not well known, largely due to the erasure that occured because of his identity as a gay man. We also discuss Kiyoshi Kuromiya, a Japanese American author and civil rights activist who fought for the rights of individuals living with HIV and AIDS until his death in 2000.

Jill and Cassidy also discuss the recent deaths of several black lesbian women in the U.S. We refuse to let their deaths go unnoticed, and their identities erased. Say their names: 

Kaladaa Crowell and her daughter Kyra Inglett

Kerrice Lewis

Shanta Myers and Brandi Mells and their children, Shanise and Jeremiah

We wrap up by discussing the gay erasure of the upcoming NBC scripted show, Rise. Once again, we are screaming at the top of our lungs for Hollywood to DO BETTER.Relevant Links:https://www.bustle.com/p/4-black-lesbians-were-murdered-in-a-week-lgbtq-groups-are-condemning-the-silence-7865374/amp?utm_content=buffer0b6fe&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=bufferhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/steventhrasher/walter-naegle-partner-of-the-late-bayard-rustin-talks-about?utm_term=.sskP2L632#.gaOmkqo7k

Jill and Cassidy discuss the holidays, new year, gendered language, netty pots and normal pot. They also discuss a terrific piece by Seamus Kirst on the latest independent "Gay for Pay" film "Call Me By Your Name." Check out the link below to read Seamus' piece. Listen, subscribe, share, and review! https://www.them.us/story/call-me-by-your-name-gay-for-pay-oscar-bait

CW: sexual assault, rape, violence, transphobia Introducing - a new episode format structure, including Our Qs, Our Big Gay Agenda, and ACISting Others! In this episode, Cassidy and Jill discuss the controversy surrounding Kevin Spacey and his history of sexual assault and misconduct. We reject the idea that being in the closet is an excuse for sexual assault, and are baffled by the prevalence of gag orders, non-disclosure agreements, and arbitration clauses that cover up this kind of insidious behavior. Next we observe Transgender Day of Remembrance by reading the names of the lives lost in 2016 to anti-transgender violence. We encourage all our listeners to consider what they might do to encourage education on transgender issues and decrease anti-trans violence. Next we talk about Stranger Things (or should we say Gayer Things?), our favorite show with a serious lack of gay people. Jill hashes out an in-depth conspiracy theory about Billy’s closeted homosexuality. We once again discuss the lack of queer representation in Hollywood and pop culture media. Finally we wrap up with a question about bisexuality from a listener for our ACISting Others segment! Mentioned in this episode: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2017/11/07/kevin-spacey-scandal-complete-list-13-accusers/835739001/ https://tdor.info/

In this episode, Cassidy and Jill honor the late great Edie Windsor, and all of her activism and accomplishments that benefited the LGBTQIA+ community. We also draw parallels to the recent Stockley verdict in St. Louis to some of the lesser-known LGBTQ riots in history, including the Black Cat Tavern Riot, the Compton Cafe Riot, and the Cooper Donuts Riot, all predating Stonewall. To celebrate our one-year anniversary of production, Jill and Cassidy go over some of our favorite moments of The Queer Caucus, as well as a personal recap of the triumphs and struggles of our year.

Cassidy and Jill do a quick summer recap, and briefly freak out about aging. Jill shamelessly reveals their identity as a La Croix Boi, and we take a moment to gush about fashion, jean jackets, and enamel pins. Cassidy and Jill also share their current queer television obsessions, including The Bold Type and Ru Paul's Drag Race. We also discuss Aaron Carter's recent coming out as bisexual, and take some time to support our bi community. Along with our obsessions for good queer media, we discuss comic Cameron Esposito's new podcast, Queery! Finally, we wrap up with a question from an anonymous listener for our ACISting Others segment.