Isn't It Queer

Jonny reviews the current status of the Monkeypox outbreak and epidemiologists' frustration over characterizations of it as a "gay disease." He then distracts us from the bad news with good news from the Michigan Supreme Court, which decided LGB (and T, but that was already established) are protected from discrimination under Michigan's Civil Rights law. In the back half of the show, Jonny returns...

Jonny digs deep into the Respect For Marriage Act--what it is, who voted for it in the House, how it will fair in the Senate, what folks for and against it are saying about it. He reviews local Illinois Representatives' votes against it and offers Information about a new local LGBTQ advocacy group, Pride in Action Southern Illinois. Finally, he reviews new court cases working their way toward the...

Jonny interviews Bennett Schneider (a.k.a. Sister Unity of the L.A. Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence) about what attracts them to performance and storytelling. They also discuss the increasing challenges of performing in Drag Story Time events. Jonny also reviews some LGBTQ news stories touched on in the interview, with a particular focus on the challenges of fighting where you live and getting out...

Jonny reviews some data and scientific understanding about abortions that was disregarded or misrepresented in the SCOTUS Dobbs decision, with an assist from the podcast "Science Vs" (and a recommendation to check that podcast out!). In the back half of the show that shows many USAmericans are "cross-pressured" (holding seemingly contradictory beliefs) about LGBTQ nondiscrimination and trans right...

Jonny interviews author Taylor Brorby about his memoir, "Boys and Oil," which explores his life growing up gay on the plains of North Dakota and becoming, among other things, an environmental advocate for those fragile ecosystems. In the back half of the show, Jonny reviews some of the ways the SCOTUS Dobbs decision is already being mobilized in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and calls for language and g...

Jonny interviews Jen Pepper, President and CEO of the Memphis CHOICES sexual health clinic, about the branch opening soon in Carbondale. In addition to pregnancy services including abortion, the clinic also provides gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy. Although the interview was recorded just before the Supreme Court released its Dobb's decision overturning Roe v Wade, Jen and Jonny discu...

Jonny talks with Crane from the Southern Illinois University Saluki Rainbow Network about an upcoming rally in support of queer visibility and protesting legislation that limits acknowledging LGBTQ+ people exist. In the back half of the show, he shows the tensions of Pride Month as represented by the Texas GOP Convention and an Executive Order signed by Joe Biden this week. He ends with announceme...

Jonny goes over many of the Pride festivities in and around Southern Illinois in June. He also notes that Pride is not restricted to June in the state, the nation, nor the world. Sister Mothra Stewart offers some thoughts on Pride 2022. Jonny then reviews assaults and attempted assaults on Pride events over the weekend perpetrated by far right militant groups, called to action by conservative medi...

Jonny is on the road this week and so rebroadcasts an interview with Mackie Obando from December 2021. Current information about upcoming Pride events in Southern Illinois is also included in this broadcast.

Jonny delves into emergent and wholly made-up conspiracy theories that the shooter in Uvalde TX was a trans woman. He notes this happens a lot lately as a way to deflect our attention from meaningfully addressing gun violence while perpetuating stigmas and scapegoats. He then reviews mixed-bag efforts to stall homophobic and transphobic legislation from advancing. He concludes by sharing two stori...

Jonny celebrates Harvey Milk's birthday (May 22) with a tribute to him by Sr Jewnita Hug and a performance of one of his more famous speeches, "The Hope Speech," by Sir Ian McKellen. He offers some reflections on Milk's sense of "hope" and "recruitment," with a heavy emphasis on involvement and visibility in our local communities. In the back half of the show, he reviews information about Monkeypo...

In the wake of evidence the SCOTUS will be overturning Roe v Wade and federal protections for access to abortions, Jonny reviews why reproductive justice and access to safe and affordable medical termination of a pregnancy is an important LGBTQ+ Issue. He then reviews the questionable science behind other legislation that challenges bodily autonomy and LGBTQ rights.

Jonny shares a recent experience moderating an LGBTQ Town Hall meeting with candidates for School Superintendent as an introduction to the challenges of restricting or banning books. He looks at the history of book burning as a strategy of oppressing vulnerable groups. He also reports on efforts of some local school districts to ban "Safe Space" designations as a related phenomenon. In the back ha...

Jonny reviews recent rhetoric from JK Rowling and explains why her actions are transphobic and not merely "pro biological women" (taking exception to that concept, of course!). He outlines how trans affirmation is in support of feminism and Women's Rights while Gender Critical and Biological Essentialist positions ultimately support the basic tenets of oppressive patriarchal systems. In the back h...

Jonny promotes local upcoming Earth Day events and explains Queer Ecology and Intersectional Environmentalism. Along the way, he explores why LGBTQ folks have a set of very specific stakes in sustainability and environmental advocacy. Topics range from social justice concerns to queer theology.

Jonny takes seriously Senator Marsha Blackburn's (R-TN) question to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, "What is a Woman?" noting the failure of GOP Gender Critics in Congress to answer the question very well, and then reviews a more detailed answer to the question than Justice Jackson could or should offer in a Senate Confirmation Hearing. In the back half of the show, Jonny reviews the rapid developm...

Jonny checks in on the ever-escalating kerfuffle in Florida as the state government doubles down on its war with Disney, as law suits against HB 1557 are filed, and as teachers begin to push back in creative ways. He then recaps the weekend's Trans Day of Visibility, noting the increased importance of trans affirming demonstrations in Texas and how meaningful they were in Carbondale and Southern I...

Jonny talks with Benito Goff about the upcoming Trans Day of Visibility Rally (5iish-7:30, Thursday March 31, Carbondale Town Square Pavilion). He then reviews Gov. Desantis's signing of HB 1557, the "Don't Say Gay" law as well as reviewing some of the even more txic variants of the bill progressing through other states' legislatures. In the back half of the show he analyzes what the Judiciary Com...

Jonny reviews the "controversy" over Lia Thomas's historic win in NCAA swim competitions. He points out how proposed NCAA regulations (not yet implemented) monitoring trans competitors would run afoul of Texas-like legislation that refuses trans healthcare to teenagers. He then threads the needle about how the assault on trans rights is related to and a permutation of anti-abortion initiatives on...

Jonny recaps the Disney vs. DeSantis showdown in Florida as the governor's petulant rhetoric helps push the House of Mouse to a stronger and more substantive advocacy for basic human rights. He then takes a look at two polls that confirm DeSantis and Abbott, in addition to being on the wrong side of history, are at odds with public opinion. He briefly reviews a recent election in a Florida city wh...

Jonny covers reporting on Disney's financial backing of the Florida legislator's responsible for the "Don't Say Gay" bill, noting to problematic alibis and explanations offered for the support fro the House of the Mouse. He then turns to the ways Governor Abbott's letter redefining trans youth healthcare as child abuse is so far faring in the courts. In the back half of the show, we rebroadcast a...

Jonny reviews the LGBTQ+ "angle" on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He then examines the implications of Gov. Abbott's directive against trans youth in Texas.

Jonny interviews Angela Towne, the new director of the Southern Illinois University LGBTQ+ Resource Center. Picking up on her love of nature in Carbondale, I reviews an article in Outside Magazine detailing the experiences of a trans through-hiker on the Appalachian Trail. He then check's in on the even more toxic developments in Florida's "Don't Say Gay" legislation.

Jonny contemplates representation of LGBTQ folks in media, with a big initial nod to representing queers in the Star Trek franchise. He checks in on China's efforts to erase LGBTQ people from media, lately including the US sitcom Friends. He reviews what LGBTQ actors, portrayals, topics and directors got an Oscar nomination nod. He ends the show with a commentary about the paucity of asexual repre...

Jonny reviews a story of Nevada indigenous protestors of a lithium mine on sacred land rejecting representation by the organization, Deep Green Resistance, because of their anti-trans positions. He reviews why and how Two-Spirit identity is necessary in environmental advocacy and other social movements. He then reviews how legislative assaults on LGBTQ+ and Trans rights are colonialism at its wors...