Isn't It Queer

Jonny interviews David W. Jones, author of _I Say Yes to Life: The Affirmation Project._ David speaks about transforming his recovery from trauma and addiction into a collection of meaningful affirmations and meditations for everyone, especially those on similar paths of recovery. The interview takes up most of the episode, but in the final portion Jonny share facts and figures about why substance...

Jonny interviews Carrie Vine, executive director of Rainbow Cafe, about the organizations considerable commtiments to community health outreach and education. Theya also discuss the move into new facilities and recent and upcoming fundraising events. In the back half of the show, Jonny reviews recently passed legislation in IL protecting healthcare providers of gender affriming care and pregnancy...

Jonny reviews some local preparations for Queer advocacy, reporting on the amazing turnout for the first Rainbow Cafe work day, as they prepare for their new residence in downtown Carbondale. He then covers the excting planning meeting for Southern Illinpois Pride Fest, scheduled for June 9-11 with the main event on June 10 occuring in Turley Park. He also shares a call to action from Tri-State Al...

Jonny reviews the renewed attacks on LGBTQ rights as state legilatures and US House open fr business in the spring legislative sessions. He reviews some of the recent impacts of the Don't Say Gay law in Florida as the state extends its purview (despite arguments in court that it would not). In the back half of the show, he turns to more positive stories of positive legislative and judicial acts su...

Jonny kicks off 2023 with local legend and superstar, STreveous Graham (a.k.a. Sister Toggaf Tuls Reeuq) about their plans for the new year and the role local activism plays in their lives. In the back half of the show, Jonny reviews evidence that groups like "Libs of Tik Tok" and "Gays Against Groomers" are front groups for other organizations, and where the dark money that supports them likely c...

Jonny offers a review of some of the people who have been on IIIQ in 2022 and a sampling of the kinds of stories we've covered. It's the annual year-in-review show--not an exhaustive list, but one that shows themes and trends across the year. And what a year it has been!

Jonny summarizes and discusses the HBO Max documentary "Santa Camp" and the importance of diverse representation in the Santa Industry. He provides a list of queer inclusive holiday content available for streaming. He celebrates the "I'll Be Home for Christmas" Brittney Griner story. And he revews the linguistic gift of trans inclusive definitions of "man" and "woman" from the Cambridge Dictionary...

Jonny celebrates the signing of the Respect For Marriage Act into law. He reviews what it is, what it protects, and how it isn't full on marriage equality. He then reviews the SCOTUS arguments in the 303 Creative LLC v Elenis case, where conservative justices seem poised to legalze discrimination against same sex marriage. In the back half of the show, he reviews the downfal of DOE politico Sam Br...

In the wake of Department of Homeland Security warnings of escalations in domestic terrorism targeting LGBTQ+ and other minorities and a weekend of assaults on queer spaces, Jonny talks with local drag performer Korey Klausing (a.k.a. Korra Devil) and backup support Aaron Wells about their experiences in local venues and responses to the rising threats. Included is a call to action for the communi...

Jonny reviews recent accomplishments in the worldwide struggle to end HIV/AIDS. He then discusses the "OneLove" armband kerfuffle at the World Cup in Qatar. Finally, he weaves several stories together in a response to defense attorney claims that that the alleged Club Q shooter is nonbinary.

Jonny comments on his Trans Day of Remembrance experience, linking it to the emotional fallout of the shooting in Colorado Springs. He details what we currently know of the ClubQ shooting and how it is one in a long line recently of assaults on LGBTQ+ institutions. In the back half of the show, Craig Gingrich Philbrook shares a brief meditation on safety in public spaces. Jonny folllows this with...

Jonny talks with Carrie Vine, newly appointed executive director of the Rainbow Cafe. They discuss the organizations new organizational structure as well as the upcoming events it is sponsoring. In the back half of the show, Jonny reviews some of the powerful outcomes of the 2022 midterm elections for the LGBTQ community.

Jonny reviews IL bail reform and the conservative narrative of high crime in Democrat-held cities and states to show how the same kind of outright lying and fear tactics used against the LGBTQ community is the standard playbook for the GOP. In the back half of the show, he looks at Elon Musk's first days as owner of Twitter, the rise in transphobic and racist Tweets on the site, and the thorny iss...

Jonny previews the showing of the documentary "Two Spirit" as part of the SIU LGBTQ+ History Month celebration, including director Lydia Nibley's campus visit. He then profiles eight active 2S artists/healers/content makers advancing (among others) the cause and awareness of queer indigeneity. He then reviews two bits of legislation (one national, one state level) that deliberately target public e...

Jonny announces an upcoming Furry Dance Party on the SU campus and uses it as an opportunity to explore an urban legend popular among conservatives that public schools are putting litter boxes in bathrooms to cater to students who identify as cats (they are not!). He then turns to an unfortunate outcome in a court case in Texas meant to further curtail LGBTQ rights. Finally, he reviews current fie...

Jonny continues to to cover events for SIU's LGBTQ+ History Month, including a focus on Sonalee Rashatwar's contributions. Our Flipboard site is full of articles and podcasts if you would like to know more about Rashatwar's important work! Building on her work, Jonny offers a caution to queer advocates and progressives who use the term "woke" as a pejorative or derisively. He then discusses the pr...

Jonny talks with Bennett Schneider about Sister Unity's Carbondale visit and performance, "Drag Nun Ruins Story Time" (Thursday October 13, 8 pm, Kleinau Theatre, Carbondale IL), and his workshop "Entering Not Knowing" on opening up the intuitive imagination (Friday October 14, 4-6 pm, Kleinau Theatre). In the back half of the show, he talks with Dr. Angela Towne, Coordinator of the SIU LGBTQ Reso...

Jonny talks with OJ Duncan (a.k.a. Sister Fagatha Hardness) about the events planned for the upcoming Southern Illinois LGBTQ+ Festival: A Pride Celebration (September 30-October 2) in Carbondale. Its an amazing line up! In the back half of the show, he reviews the protests in Iran and the lessons we can take from the unifying slogan "Woman Life Freedom." Community announcements at the end of the...

Jonny interviews Sister Gay B!tc# Milkshake of the SOIL Sisters about her former career as a defense attorney, her work with the Rainbow Cafe, the Bawdy Wenches, and a burgeoning local film career. In the back half of the show he reviews Yeshiva University's attempts to ban an LGBTQ student group, the surprising SCOTUS decision about that, and other recent legal decisions in support of LGBTQ right...

Jonny leans into the arrival of fall with an analysis of the Senate's anticipated vote of the Respect for Marriage Act and the political game being played as part of the midterm elections. He reviews Judge O'Connor's decision supporting a religious exemption for insurance covering PrEP and other preventative medication. In the back half of the show, he reviews the queer content in TV and film anti...

Jonny backs up to cover harassment by anti-LGBTQ activists of Children's Hospitals and sites around the Internet that help such harassers organize. He then covers the recent, considerable efforts at deplatforming these harassers. In the back half of the show, he reviews how anti-LGBTQ initiatives world-wide are part of the anti-democratic push for authoritarian regimes

Jonny digs into the archive to share a 2019 interview with Jesus Valles about his show (Un)Documents and an interview from earlier this summer with Jen Pepper, President and CEO of CHOICES Clinic. Jesus will be performing (Un)Documents this afternoon (8/31) at 4 pm in the SIU Student Center Auditorium, free and open to the public. Jen will be the keynote speaker at next Tuesday's (9/6) 6 pm event,...

Jonny reviews new information that strongly supports Monkey Pox is sexually transmitted and that it is harder to transmit merely by skin on skin contact. He reviews how public health officials are now targeting MSM for vaccination and education about the disease's spread. In the back half of the show, Jonny celebrates recent advances for LGBTQ rights in Singapore and Vietnam. He reviews the status...

Jonny checks back in on the efforts to ban LGBTQ+ books and curricula around the country. He focuses on examples of communities, librarians, and teachers pushing back against the efforts to challenge representations of LGBTQ+ people and racial minority figures. Across the stories covered, he notes that these efforts do not effectively keep children and young adults from knowing about LGBTQ+ folks,...

Jonny reviews recent evidence of how the trans bans in Florida and elsewhere are based on misrepresented or made-up science. He also reviews a study of media coverage of trans athletes that shows how media framing is contributing to the proliferation of trans bans. In the back half of the show, he reviews good news and bad news for queer representation in recent (popular) arts, including memoriali...