Queer Kid, Straight Mom

Now that right wing backlash and the Trump administration have made this country a much more hostile place for LGBTQ+ people and their supporters, some brands are stepping away from their Pride sponsorships and DEI commitments. We'll walk you through who's fleeing and who's staying.

Queerness in the Hunger Games series: it's subtle, and, early on, evoked in ways we don't think Suzanne Collins intended. We dig in to those early representations, plus what has changed in the two latest novels.

As the Democrats regroup and strategize for the future, they all - from party leaders to concerned community members - need to remember to include marginalized groups in the conversation. In this episode, we talk to Trudy Poux and Sam Smalls from the Future Perfect Project about the concerns of young queer people and how allies can best help them and bring their voices to every room.

A look at some of the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that's out there: what has passed, what has been voted down, and what's still on the table.

A movie about Cardinals electing a new Pope and a movie musical about a transgender cartel boss... which would you guess represents gender diversity in a more dignified and authentic way? Here are our reviews of Conclave and Emilia Perez.

Let's talk about these anti-trans executive orders - what do they actually say, and what do they mean legally for trans people?

With the recent drama over Tik Tok, we decided it's time to talk about social media and how, while it can come with risks to our safety - and maybe our democracy - it remains a place of alliance and belonging for the queer community.

Holiday family gatherings can leave LGBTQ+ people reeling from interactions ranging from uncomfortable to fully traumatic. We talk to psychologist Dr. Michele McKinnie about how to recover from these interactions, and how to navigate these kinds of family dynamics in the future.

Siena says. "Gay people love 'Wicked.'" Sure, the film has singing, dancing, and an LGBTQ+ representative cast, but its resonance with and meaning to the queer community go much deeper.

A couple of episodes ago, we discussed how ridiculous it was for Republicans to pour so much money into anti-trans campaign ads when it was such an unpopular issue. Now some say Democrats should have distanced themselves from transgender issues because those ads WERE successful. Is this true? Did those ads make a difference?

Gender affirming care is widely mischaracterized, often as a scare tactic. We think it's important that people know what it really involves, especially concerning young people. Siena shares some of their journey with hormone treatment as we encourage our listeners to learn, understand, and discourage others from spreading misinformation.

Even if you say you don't care about politics, a lot of what you do affects and is influenced by the political system. And when you don't vote, or you refuse to endorse a candidate, because you're "not politcal," that is a political choice. Here's why.

The Republican party has gone all in on anti-trans advertising this campaign season. Why have they chosen this issue, and why do they think it will work this time around?

The previews intrigued us, but we also had to watch Agatha All Along because conservative media deemed it inappropriate (often an indicator of something fresh, diverse, and creative.) We found that while this show is not perfect, it's highly entertaining and the best work we've seen from Marvel in a long time - so here's our analysis!

Horror movies have long carried ties with the queer community, as early filmmakers used monsters to embody the isolation and fear that exist when living outside society's norms.

Spoiler alert: LGBTQ+ people, especially young people, are strikingly overrepresented in at-risk populations. Today we look at three problems we can all agree need solutions - homelessness, substance abuse, and human trafficking - and explain why, if you care about these issues, you should care about LGBTQ+ rights.

Some countries (mostly European) are not only more accepting of LGBTQ people socially, but have robust laws protecting their rights. Others, not so much. We break down some of the best and worst, and discuss the complications of measuring queer friendliness.

The 2024 Summer Olympics feature some uplifting and inspiring storylines involving LGBTQ+ athletes. Sadly, they've also become a hotbed focus for some of the world's most discouraging anti-LGBTQ+ storylines - and we're not even talking about the Opening Ceremony here.

Multiple studies have indicated that autistic people are more likely to be gender diverse than the neurotypical population. Why does this link exist, and what does it mean? (Hint: it doesn't mean autistic people are confused and being exploited.)

No - there is not an "epidemic" of shootings by transgender people, but some sources spread this myth far and wide. These accusations are not only dangerous to transgender people; they are based on no real data. Let's talk about the real statistics and facts.

As LGBTQ+ people experience increased attacks and businesses face boycotts over supporting them, Pride Month has taken a lower key presence in marketing campaigns. Is this fine - since pride campaigns don't always come with actual support - or does it indicate a backslide in willingness to vocally support the LGBTQ+ community?

What is pinkwashing, and what does it have to do with war? Gaza is a difficult topic, but we think it's important to talk about this phenomena as it relates to the situation in the Middle East.

The proportion of Gen Z identifying as LGBTQ+ is higher than any previous generation. Are more young people identifying as queer because it's a fad - or because they're being indoctrinated by schools with rainbow flags? We think there are other causes.

Fan culture is an important part of the LGBTQ+ community. Today we sit down for a quick primer on what fan culture is, why it's important, and some of the key terminology -- plus discuss its value for the storytelling industry and culture at large.

We discuss some ideas for how kids can ask families to use chosen names, and provide some perspective to help parents navigate these requests.