Isn't It Queer Isnt It Queer

Jonny and Heather discuss some good legislative and judicial news for LGBTQ+ folks, including Biden EOs that explicitly include LGBTQ+ folks in Title IX and the Affordable Care Act. We also look at a good decision on trans health coverage from the fourth district court of appeals and great news about Maine becoming a transgender and reproductive health sanctuary state. Across all of these stories, we recognize the benefit of waiting and the patience to get the legislation right, even at a time when we want immediate action. We end the show with some exciting news about returing drag queens--one excellent, one quite quite sketchy.

Jonny, on his own this week, reflects on Earth Day and the queer leadership behind the All Species Puppet Parade as an entry into a broader consideration of Queer Ecology. Queer and trans folks, as it turns out, have a lot to offer to environmental advocacy and policy.

Jonny and Heather, in the wake of Tax Day, discuss a variety of current events including the start of the Trump trial in New York, Arizona's new/old abortion law from the 19th Century, and the latest excuses from JK Rowling. In the back half of the show they discuss the difference in how the major Presidential campaigns are appealing to LGBTQ+ voters. They also cover new drivers license policy in Illinois as well as end of the school year LGBTQ+ events in Southern Illinois.

Jonny and Heather recover from the spiritual and scientific celebration of a total eclipse of the sun. They share their experiences of it as well as the Trans Easter Service Heather helped create at the Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship, They go off on the hypocrisy of conservative so-called "Christians" who use theur alleged faith to justify hate, discrimination, and prejudice, In the back half of the show, they lean into championing diversity and wind up full circle, back at the eclipse,

Jonny talks with Morgan Robertson of the Gender Affirming Voice Clinic at the SIU Clinical Center about transgender vocal therapy. They also recap the Rainbow Cafe's Transgender Resource fair this last weekend and weigh in on the the Rightwing outrage over the Biden acknowledgement of both TDOV and Easter happening on the same day. 

If you are interested in the Gender Affirming Voice Clinic, you can reach the clinic at 618-453-2361 or contact Morgan at morgan.robertson@siu.edu

Jonny and Heather pair the good news with the bad news while setting up announcements of various observations of Trans Day of Visibility in Southern Illinois. There is much in the day and in the news to celebrate while also keeping our eyes on the ways it is hard out here for the LGBTQ+ community.