Queer Quarks: Recent Episodes
101.5 UMFM
Queer Quarks is a talk and music show which examines news, history, culture and current events through a queer lens. Hosted by Ley Fraser (they/them). The goals of the show include showcasing artists and creators who are part of minoritized genders and/or sexualities ('2SLGBTQIA+ people') and discussing how events around the world affect queer communities. Often the latter topic includes mistreatment and violence; trigger warnings are provided but listen with care. This is an accessible show, where academic topics will be broken down into plain language intended to be practically useful. Think critically about the issues, check out source materials, listen to marginalized groups about their own experiences and respect the everyone around you. Email the show at queerquarks@gmail.com. Be nice.
I am often angry when I see Pride Month works with passive “happy pride!” posts from the same entertainers who work with Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais, the same legislators and representatives who like to show off a rainbow in June but don’t make any active change. I have loved Pride in the past and I am so happy it is there today for the wonderful young people who are able to celebrate themselves. But I am irate at seeing corporations profit off us while platforming transphobic hate. I am angry to see cisgender heterosexual people show up to the party and refuse to call out their relatives, partners, and friends who affirm and advance the hate that endangers us.
Naturally, Lynda Carter and Laura Dern provide a palate cleanser for anyone feeling similar frustration. Wonder Woman is not for homophobes, or for humorless hateful babies who hate glitter (I guess? What else could Lauren Boebert possible hate about drag, its basically the pope with music).
Show Links:
https://www.thestar.com/news/c…
https://www.them.us/story/rebe…
https://www.indiewire.com/2022…
https://variety.com/2022/tv/né…
https://www.them.us/story/rebe…
https://www.them.us/story/lynd…
https://www.advocate.com/film/…
Are you in love with Laci Mosley? If not, you’re probably going to be. Today features a discussion of artists MUNA and Phoebe Bridgers, and a breakdown of some excellent entertainment and information sources.
Show Links:
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/202…
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm65…
https://www.theverge.com/21540…
https://www.instagram.com/diva…
https://www.earwolf.com/show/s…
https://floodmagazine.com/5794…
Grammar can be interesting and fun, and like every part of language it can and does change over time. If you are offended and upset by evolving language and contemporary living languages, then I have very bad news for you about the world and how it is not going to simplify itself for you just because you don’t want to understand (that it is not incredibly simple).
A lot of us stopped learning about grammar in grade school, and/or actively forgot the information because we did not want it. But today is a brand new day, and a good day to learn that just like math, physics and basically everything else- there is more to grammar and gender than you learned in grade school.
Show Links:
https://www.merriam-webster.co…
https://www.grammarly.com/blog…
https://egale.ca/wp-content/up…
https://cfsontario.ca/wp-conte…
There continues to be enormous misinformation and stereotyping around HIV transmission and what it means to live with a positive diagnosis. Increasingly, people are speaking out and new media is being created highlighting the impact on the 2SLGBTQIA+ community now and in the past, as well as the way forward for everyomne living with HIV.
Show Links:
https://www.theguardian.com/mu…
https://queerasianproject.com/…
https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/lif…
https://www.canada.ca/en/publi…
https://www.theguardian.com/tv…
Will I ever be finished talking about gender, conversations about pronouns, and mocking the tiny selfish baby monsters who hate learning respect for other peoples’ human rights? The history of my life suggests no, that is not likely. So let’s continue the conversation. Or if you just wanted some white noise, turn this on low in the background and let challenges to the cishetero patriarchal system just seep into your brain subliminal messaging style. You won’t quit smoking, but you might pick up a craving for dogs and/or coffee. #sorrynotsorry
Show Links:
https://www.mypronouns.org/wha…
https://egale.ca/wp-content/up…
https://lgbtlifecenter.org/pro…
https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support…
Things that actually make me feel Pride/give me warm feelings of connection to the queer community:
-platonic friend love and affection
-shows which get it right about 2SLGBTQIA+ characters and storylines
-young men being able to express love to their friends without hedging the expressions within toxic masculinity expressions like ‘no homo’
-gloriously gay songs about women falling for their dear friends
-people buying Pride merch from the queer community
-allies/friends/relatives voicing their interest in holding organizations and businesses accountable for their treatment of
To soothe myself before talking about Chappelle, I tell you how much I like Nicole Byer and how she makes dating women as well as men (and who knows who else) just a normal part of her fabulous personality. Then let’s talk about Chappelle, and let Michael Crawford from nbc.com (link below) take centre stage here as he says it better than I can: “Chappelle is playing one targeted community against another. He talks about what he sees as a difference in how America treats Black people and the gay community. “In our country,” he said, “you can shoot and kill” a Black man, “but you better not hurt a gay person’s feelings.” He’s living in a binary where all Blacks are straight and all gays are white and ignoring the existence of people like me who are both.”
For Cher’s sake, watch someone decent perform comedy until Chappelle can get it together and stop making our humanity a punchline. There are plenty of funnier options; and even people who don’t necessarily (sadly) care about the damage Chappelle is doing are starting to recognize that homophobic and transphobic jokes are tired, lazy, and not fucking funny.
Show Links:
https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/nicole-byer-interview-sexuality-rupaul-drag-race-nailed-it/
https://www.stitcher.com/show/…
https://www.earwolf.com/show/b…
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/dave-chappelle-s-closer-neflix-special-no-laughing-matter-lgbtq-ncna1281280?fbclid=IwAR1F_lS4U6B6jojCB44ZyVPT9EhSYtHJMjlmWVB8QeKYZfHm9ZJ8g9GjCmY
https://lifehacker.com/11-trans-comedians-to-watch-if-youre-tired-of-dave-chap-1847829184/slides/3
I am often angry when I see Pride Month works with passive “happy pride!” posts from the same entertainers who work with Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais, the same legislators and representatives who like to show off a rainbow in June but don’t make any active change. I have loved Pride in the past and I am so happy it is there today for the wonderful young people who are able to celebrate themselves. But I am irate at seeing corporations profit off us while platforming transphobic hate. I am angry to see cisgender heterosexual people show up to the party and refuse to call out their relatives, partners, and friends who affirm and advance the hate that endangers us.
Naturally, Lynda Carter and Laura Dern provide a palate cleanser for anyone feeling similar frustration. Wonder Woman is not for homophobes, or for humorless hateful babies who hate glitter (I guess? What else could Lauren Boebert possible hate about drag, its basically the pope with music).
Show Links:
https://www.thestar.com/news/c…
https://www.them.us/story/rebe…
https://www.indiewire.com/2022…
https://variety.com/2022/tv/né…
https://www.them.us/story/rebe…
https://www.them.us/story/lynd…
https://www.advocate.com/film/…
Pride is coming up, but there is a lot of nuance to consider!
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/u…
Juno Nominee Shawnee Kish shines and also represents one of the many accomplished Two Spirit people living and working in what we call Canada. I encourage you to check out her work at her website (below) and follow her already illustrious music career. Also, follow her cute as hell instagram so you can bask in the queer joy she and her wife radiate every time they are in the frame together. ADORABLE. WONDERFUL. NECESSARY.
In this episode, I also briefly discuss where to find more information on Two Spirit folks in their own words, and I talk about two professionals I encountered through my personal interests (critical perspectives on statistics, and Health at Every Size) who just happened to be gender minorities. How wonderful!
Show Links:
https://www.shawneekish.com/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indige…
https://globalnews.ca/news/793…
https://thereviewsarein.com/20…
https://lindobacon.com/about‑l…
https://www.deirdremccloskey.c…
There continues to be enormous misinformation and stereotyping around HIV transmission and what it means to live with a positive diagnosis. Increasingly, people are speaking out and new media is being created highlighting the impact on the 2SLGBTQIA+ community now and in the past, as well as the way forward for everyomne living with HIV.
Show Links:
https://www.theguardian.com/mu…
https://queerasianproject.com/…
https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/lif…
https://www.canada.ca/en/publi…
https://www.theguardian.com/tv…
Will I ever be finished talking about gender, conversations about pronouns, and mocking the tiny selfish baby monsters who hate learning respect for other peoples’ human rights? The history of my life suggests no, that is not likely. So let’s continue the conversation. Or if you just wanted some white noise, turn this on low in the background and let challenges to the cishetero patriarchal system just seep into your brain subliminal messaging style. You won’t quit smoking, but you might pick up a craving for dogs and/or coffee. #sorrynotsorry
Show Links:
https://www.mypronouns.org/wha…
https://egale.ca/wp-content/up…
https://lgbtlifecenter.org/pro…
https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support…
Things are changing, but it still has an impact on an artist’s career if they are openly part of a minoritized gender or sexual orientation. Everyone has their reasons for coming out or not, and while we are not necessarily entitled to that information some artists do share it.
Show Links:
https://www.glaad.org/blog/exc…
https://wongderland.home.blog/…
https://re-website.com/blogs/j…
https://xanaofficial.com/
https://www.anrfactory.com/stu…
There are a lot of things that people may be missing in the world, because the characteristics we have affect our view of it. How other people (whether peers, family, or those in positions of authority) treat you is not the same as how someone of a different gender, sexuality, race, religion, and so on is treated.
But equally, we don’t see the joy and silliness and fun shared by people who are part of a marginalized community, or we miss out on the ways that the truth, seen from below, can show how absolutely ridiculous the behaviour and justifications of those in power are.
Show links:
https://www.pride.com/music/20…
https://www.out.com/popnograph…
Gender exploration and discovery is fun, and transgressive and disruptive; it reminds of all of the other contrived systems which we do not have to accept blindly.
Show Links:
https://www.instagram.com/kuma…
https://www.themarysue.com/jap…
https://uk.style.yahoo.com/hik…
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/202…
Will I ever be finished talking about gender, conversations about pronouns, and mocking the tiny selfish baby monsters who hate learning respect for other peoples’ human rights? The history of my life suggests no, that is not likely. So let’s continue the conversation. Or if you just wanted some white noise, turn this on low in the background and let challenges to the cishetero patriarchal system just seep into your brain subliminal messaging style. You won’t quit smoking, but you might pick up a craving for dogs and/or coffee. #sorrynotsorry
Show Links:
https://www.mypronouns.org/wha…
https://egale.ca/wp-content/up…
https://lgbtlifecenter.org/pro…
https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support…
I am exploring Queer Quarks as a longer conversation, so if you are listening online after this show airs you might enjoy it more if you listen to the March 28 show first.
If you’re not inclined to do that (or you think “I know enough about coffee and pronouns on my own, thanks!” Maybe you do. I’m not the one to judge that. ) jump right in for some more talk about gender and what the beliefs of society at large about small changes (e.g., asking for pronouns) can mean about the way we perceive personhood and who we extend it to. There are fewer coffee metaphors in this show, so if you were very into that part of the last show, grab your very own personal coffee beforehand to balance it out.
Show Links:
https://www.mypronouns.org/wha…
https://egale.ca/wp-content/up…
https://lgbtlifecenter.org/pro…
https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support…
Do you like metaphors? Are you a habitual drinker of coffee? If you said yes to both of those, you might be among the select group of people who benefit from this conversation about pronouns that uses the metaphor of people assuming they know your coffee order. Which I think we can all agree is rude.
In a world full of diverse coffee drinkers, it isn’t weird to ask someone how they like their coffee. It’s practical. You might sometimes be right if you just assume there is say, only two ways to make coffee and you can always tell who wants cream and who wants sugar, but it is lazy, relies on visual cues that might not always be consistent, and could be a waste of a whole lot of perfectly good coffee.
Is that last statement about coffee, or pronouns, or is a fun mash-up of the two for learning purposes? Yes <3
Show links:
http://www.oystermag.com/2019/…
https://www.mypronouns.org/wha…
https://egale.ca/wp-content/up…
https://lgbtlifecenter.org/pro…
https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support…
Grammar can be interesting and fun, and like every part of language it can and does change over time. If you are offended and upset by evolving language and contemporary living languages, then I have very bad news for you about the world and how it is not going to simplify itself for you just because you don’t want to understand (that it is not incredibly simple).
A lot of us stopped learning about grammar in grade school, and/or actively forgot the information because we did not want it. But today is a brand new day, and a good day to learn that just like math, physics and basically everything else- there is more to grammar and gender than you learned in grade school.
Show Links:
https://www.merriam-webster.co…
https://www.grammarly.com/blog…
https://egale.ca/wp-content/up…
https://cfsontario.ca/wp-conte…
Are you in love with Laci Mosley? If not, you’re probably going to be. Today features a discussion of artists MUNA and Phoebe Bridgers, and a breakdown of some excellent entertainment and information sources.
Show Links:
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/202…
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm65…
https://www.theverge.com/21540…
https://www.instagram.com/diva…
https://www.earwolf.com/show/s…
https://floodmagazine.com/5794…
There continues to be enormous misinformation and stereotyping around HIV transmission and what it means to live with a positive diagnosis. Increasingly, people are speaking out and new media is being created highlighting the impact on the 2SLGBTQIA+ community now and in the past, as well as the way forward for everyomne living with HIV.
Show Links:
https://www.theguardian.com/mu…
https://queerasianproject.com/…
https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/lif…
https://www.canada.ca/en/publi…
https://www.theguardian.com/tv…
This week was meant to be a news roundup but guess what, a lot of the news I’m into is nerdy AF. So enjoy some talk on comics/superhero representation, and coming out. Spoilers included for The Boys Seasons 1 & 2.
Show Links:
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/202…
https://www.dccomics.com/characters/vixen
https://screenrant.com/vixen-better-lover-catwoman-batman-harley-quinn/
https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2020/08/11/the-importance-of-harley-and-ivys-queer-animated-romance
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/12/09/wonder-woman-queer-romance-dark-knights-steel/
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/08/10/batman-tim-drake-robin-bisexual/
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/202…
https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/life/walk-the-moon-singer-nick-petricca-comes-out-as-bisexual/
https://the-boys.fandom.com/wiki/Queen_Maeve
https://www.buzzfeed.com/laure…
What are some useful and important takeaways from the contributions of students to the Schoole Climate Surveys on Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia? Here is a limited discussion on how the contents of these surveys might be used in terms of the relative power of students and those who create and administer their environments.
Show Links:
https://egale.ca/awareness/sti…
www.courtneywolfemusic.com
www.instagram.com/_courtneywolfe
www.facebook.com/courtneywolfemusic
www.tiktok.com/@courtneywolfe_
http://bit.ly/CW-Spotify
Let’s contextualize some of the findings, good and bad, from the Second School Climate Survey.
Show Links:
http://www.t‑thomason.com/abou…
https://ktc469.wixsite.com/kat…
https://egale.ca/awareness/sti…,safety%2C%20and%20support%20at%20school.
https://www.youtube.com/channe…
Let’s talk about the School Climate Surveys of Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia in Canadian Schools. There have been two of these groundbreaking surveys so far evaluating the way Canadian secondary schools treat, teach and support gender and sexuality minorities. I know this comes from an academic source, but the results of these major works are both available online in an accessible report that everyone can use. And SHOULD use. This work is incredibly important, and it is only the start.
https://egale.ca/awareness/sti…
Shop Canadian, and shop queer! Some holiday clothing and book suggestions to help make your yuletide gay, and your allyship visible and practical.
Show Links:
https://www.cbc.ca/arts/gaynadian-apparel-this-pop-and-pop-shop-turns-canadian-lgbt-history-into-must-have-shirts‑1.5244486
https://soap-shop.ca/collections/shop
https://www.queergeekery.ca/collections/all
https://onipress.com/products/gender-queer-a-memoir?pr_prod_strat=copurchase&pr_rec_pid=4476721725551&pr_ref_pid=1296550723704&pr_seq=uniform
https://www.cbc.ca/books/laura-dean-keeps-breaking-up-with-me‑1.5160470
https://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/9781549304002/maia-kobabe/gender-queer-a-memoir?blnBKM=1
https://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/9781773063638/mariko-tamaki/laura-dean-keeps-breaking-up-w-me?blnBKM=1
https://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/9781728222707/jennet-alexander/i‑kissed-a-girl?blnBKM=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMbL-q9hDcY&ab_channel=CharisCircle
https://motiomassagetherapy.ca…
If you are planning to buy gifts for friends and family (hopefully because you want to, and not because you feel obligated!) then there are a variety of options out there that can do double duty and also support the queer community and/or educate! So here are my thoughts and suggestions on how to make your yuletide gay, and your allyship visible and practical.
Show Links:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thewolfpack/the-wolf-pack-everyone-can-play
https://onipress.com/products/a‑quick-easy-guide-to-they-them-pronouns
https://www.mcnallyrobinson.co…
https://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/9781632173133/stuart-getty/ht-they-them?blnBKM=1
The Transgender Day of Remembrance is always a difficult time, and there is a trigger warning for this show as I discuss the death of Rita Hester and other violence against the transgender community. Other topics are good allyship practices, transgender creators and artists to buy from, and STOP KILLING US.
Show Links:
https://www.queerevents.ca/tdor
https://www.queerevents.ca/education/transgender
https://www.queerevents.ca/education/transgender/trans-rights
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/transgender-day-of-remebrance-winnipeg-2021 – 1.6256902
https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/her-death-sparked-transgender-day-remembrance-22-years-later-still-n1233809
https://www.bustle.com/p/13-transgender-authors-to-read-on-trans-day-of-remembrance-every-day-19360982
https://transfigureprintco.com/fundraising
There is so much more out there in entertainment than tired transphobic jokes, so here’s some intel on two of my favorites: Jes Tom and Dahlia Belle. I also want to talk about the incidentally queer hosts of my favorite new podcast Maintenance Phase. There are tons of reasons to listen, but I listen mainly because I’m in love with Aubrey Gordon and like to pretend we’re hanging out.
Show Links:
https://www.alextheastronaut.com/about
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/aug/19/alex-the-astronaut-i-didnt-want-to-tell-anyone-that-i-was-gay-let-alone-millions-of-strangers
https://www.out.com/celebs/2021/10/19/11-trans-comedians-we-love-who-are-way-funnier-dave-chappelle#media-gallery-media‑8
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rosaescandon/2019/09/29/28-year-old-jes-tom-doesnt-need-to-explain-themselves/?sh=718641f308db
https://www.wweek.com/culture/2021/06/02/how-portlands-queer-culture-scene-got-through-the-pandemicand-where-it-goes-now/
https://www.wweek.com/arts/comedy/2021/10/10/portland-comedian-dahlia-belle-responds-to-dave-chapelles-new-stand-up-show-the-closer/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaL8yjAG9ACYg-Kr_1aT-ng/about
https://www.instagram.com/mx.dahliabelle/?hl=en
MOST IMPORTANT READ: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/oct/09/dave-chappelle-letter-trans-comedian-netflix
http://maintenancephase.com/
https://www.self.com/story/your-fat-friend-becoming-un-anonymous
https://www.yourfatfriend.com/about
https://rottenindenmark.org/essays/
To soothe myself before talking about Chappelle, I tell you how much I like Nicole Byer and how she makes dating women as well as men (and who knows who else) just a normal part of her fabulous personality. Then let’s talk about Chappelle, and let Michael Crawford from nbc.com (link below) take centre stage here as he says it better than I can: “Chappelle is playing one targeted community against another. He talks about what he sees as a difference in how America treats Black people and the gay community. “In our country,” he said, “you can shoot and kill” a Black man, “but you better not hurt a gay person’s feelings.” He’s living in a binary where all Blacks are straight and all gays are white and ignoring the existence of people like me who are both.”
For Cher’s sake, watch someone decent perform comedy until Chappelle can get it together and stop making our humanity a punchline. There are plenty of funnier options; and even people who don’t necessarily (sadly) care about the damage Chappelle is doing are starting to recognize that homophobic and transphobic jokes are tired, lazy, and not fucking funny.
Show Links:
https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/nicole-byer-interview-sexuality-rupaul-drag-race-nailed-it/
https://www.stitcher.com/show/…
https://www.earwolf.com/show/b…
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/dave-chappelle-s-closer-neflix-special-no-laughing-matter-lgbtq-ncna1281280?fbclid=IwAR1F_lS4U6B6jojCB44ZyVPT9EhSYtHJMjlmWVB8QeKYZfHm9ZJ8g9GjCmY
https://lifehacker.com/11-trans-comedians-to-watch-if-youre-tired-of-dave-chap-1847829184/slides/3
To soothe myself before talking about Chappelle, I tell you how much I like Nicole Byer and how she makes dating women as well as men (and who knows who else) just a normal part of her fabulous personality. Then let’s talk about Chappelle, and let Michael Crawford from nbc.com (link below) take centre stage here as he says it better than I can: “Chappelle is playing one targeted community against another. He talks about what he sees as a difference in how America treats Black people and the gay community. “In our country,” he said, “you can shoot and kill” a Black man, “but you better not hurt a gay person’s feelings.” He’s living in a binary where all Blacks are straight and all gays are white and ignoring the existence of people like me who are both.”
For Cher’s sake, watch someone decent perform comedy until Chappelle can get it together and stop making our humanity a punchline. There are plenty of funnier options; and even people who don’t necessarily (sadly) care about the damage Chappelle is doing are starting to recognize that homophobic and transphobic jokes are tired, lazy, and not fucking funny.
Show Links:
https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/nicole-byer-interview-sexuality-rupaul-drag-race-nailed-it/
https://www.stitcher.com/show/…
https://www.earwolf.com/show/b…
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/dave-chappelle-s-closer-neflix-special-no-laughing-matter-lgbtq-ncna1281280?fbclid=IwAR1F_lS4U6B6jojCB44ZyVPT9EhSYtHJMjlmWVB8QeKYZfHm9ZJ8g9GjCmY
https://lifehacker.com/11-trans-comedians-to-watch-if-youre-tired-of-dave-chap-1847829184/slides/3
Often we hear sad news about the queer community- and while it is important to know about the discrimination and pain we face, let’s not forget about the joy and accomplishments! A sweet gay single dad cheers on his son at the Olympics and shares the happiness of his adoption; and Billy Porter and others show how living with HIV and stigma has evolved.
Show links:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVDzOXMjm2v/
https://www.outsports.com/2021/6/15/22534216/olympics-diving-jordan-windle-gay-father-jerry-tokyo
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/billy-porter-hiv-positive-diagnosis-1234954742/
There are so many ways to be a good ally, and also a lot of ways to fail at it. I think the most important standard to meet is whether the community you claim to be an ally to considers you an ally; because ‘ally’ should not be a word we bestow on ourselves. Personally, I love Wil Wheaton’s sweet message to queer fans and think his pride in being part of many young gay men’s journeys could qualify him as a good ally- assuming that view carries over to his actions in other parts of his life. However, I am more skeptical about John Barrowman and his repeated failure to take action on the feedback from trans and queer fans who have warned him about his behaviour harming the trans community.
Show Links:
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/06/12/star-trek-wil-wheaton-wesley-crusher-gay-boys-crush-pride/?fbclid=IwAR2ltfxPiNNxcHabHVJpbgoPUsLMj97fQ4xwSahRa5e2W04dBqhffDpUBJM
https://www.themarysue.com/joh…
https://www.independent.co.uk/…
https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/john-barrowman-transgender-doctor-who/
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/10/04/little-mix-the-transgender-issue-shon-faye/
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/05/21/little-mix-jade-thirlwall-trans-rights-transphobia-lgbt-ally/
There are so many ways to be a good ally, and also a lot of ways to fail at it. I think the most important standard to meet is whether the community you claim to be an ally to considers you an ally; because ‘ally’ should not be a word we bestow on ourselves. Personally, I love Wil Wheaton’s sweet message to queer fans and think his pride in being part of many young gay men’s journeys could qualify him as a good ally- assuming that view carries over to his actions in other parts of his life. However, I am more skeptical about John Barrowman and his repeated failure to take action on the feedback from trans and queer fans who have warned him about his behaviour harming the trans community.
Show Links:
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/06/12/star-trek-wil-wheaton-wesley-crusher-gay-boys-crush-pride/?fbclid=IwAR2ltfxPiNNxcHabHVJpbgoPUsLMj97fQ4xwSahRa5e2W04dBqhffDpUBJM
https://www.themarysue.com/joh…
https://www.independent.co.uk/…
https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/john-barrowman-transgender-doctor-who/
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/10/04/little-mix-the-transgender-issue-shon-faye/
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/05/21/little-mix-jade-thirlwall-trans-rights-transphobia-lgbt-ally/
There are bisexuals EVERYWHERE!! We are a proud and surprisingly large proportion of the queer community. There are a number of bisexual public figures who go relatively unnoticed by the media ‑particularly if they are in so-called ‘straight-passing’ relationships- or unfairly have their identities erased and written over as ‘gay’. But guess what? There is more and more awareness that it is not uncommon to love more than one gender; though bisexual awareness ostensibly refers to only those who identify that way in particular, I take this occasion to celebrate all identities that love 2+ genders because there is such a diverse and amazing community. If you are out there, closeted or open, with or without a specific label you prefer, I am so glad you are part of our community and I think you’re great!
Show Links:
https://www.glaad.org/bisexual
https://www.glaad.org/blog/13-things-you-didn%E2%80%99t-know-about-being-bisexual
https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/…
https://www.pride.com/comingout/2020/9/23/13-celebrities-who-came-out-bisexual-2020#media-gallery-media‑7
https://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/g33957466/bisexual-celebrities/
https://www.cbc.ca/books/tombo…
Lately, I am obsessed with the complex, at times problematic but undeniably powerful Gallavich relationship in Shameless. In particular, I was fascinated by how unchanged Mickey’s class behaviour is after he comes out. Often poor/blue-collar men who love men are either shown hiding their identity in TV, or change to become more stereotypically gay (which is to say, more associated with middle-class, Liberal ideals that are often the representative gays on TV). Mickey retains his whole self after coming out; while he does change naturally over time, emotionally maturing and so on, he doesn’t have to be someone different just because he isn’t closeted. It’s a portrayal that feels authentic, of the many less visible queers out there that don’t fit the social ideas of what they should be.
What is the missing history of Canadian queer people? The Queers Were Here is one book of essays which talks about the influential queer people in each authors’ life, many of whom are gone now. One of the influential queer people in my life has been Leslie Feinberg, a powerful gender activist.
In this episode, I also review the book Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy. Highly recommend!
Show Links:
https://www.cbc.ca/music/queer…
https://witchprophet.bandcamp.…
http://www.imjuliemurphy.com/r…
https://www.offthebeatenshelf.…
https://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2017/05/ramona-blue-sweet-novel-sexual-fluidity/
https://www.facebook.com/Casey…
Focusing on the positive this year, a number of people have come out, including some younger members of families in the public eye, as well as writers, creators and athletes. It’s always good news to see another person willing to share who they really are, and it can help us to model our own coming out stories and learn some family lessons for how to support others.
https://www.out.com/celebs/2020/12/23/7‑celebs-who-came-out-trans-or-nonbinary-2020?fbclid=IwAR3w9MLdZ0P3XAbRzS0-ua6xMi8M1eNl6_mkF78WWpyRrlYPCS3N1Ss8zfk#media-gallery-media‑4
https://www.out.com/celebs/2019/12/19/dwayne-wade-refers-his-12-year-old-child-sheher-pronouns
https://www.out.com/celebs/2020/3/08/zaya-wade-just-walked-her-first-red-carpet-and-it-was-glorious
https://www.out.com/sports/2020/9/10/olympian-soccer-player-comes-out-trans-gives-tips-allyship
https://gumroad.com/l/tJzTV
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/01/actor-busy-philipps-says-12-year-old-gay-prefers-pronouns/?fbclid=IwAR3AOE04Doc5UzCGF7QjL_5lOFpdJP-_NOxMCpcbzanBdP3_jUXjjLpqL‑0
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/12/29/elliot-page-coming-out-trans-grandmother-maryann-durmer-granddaughter-thanks/?fbclid=IwAR1ilfQ20FmH0mFY67KS1dDnJn1VDQddcvkcX12Xz4obnuR5wSPbFAKzSaY
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elliot-page-trans-grandchild-grandparent_n_5fde3753c5b607e6348b12f3
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/12/29/elliot-page-coming-out-trans-grandmother-maryann-durmer-granddaughter-thanks/?fbclid=IwAR1ilfQ20FmH0mFY67KS1dDnJn1VDQddcvkcX12Xz4obnuR5wSPbFAKzSaY
Today, I had the good fortune to speak with Travis Crown, a prolific musician as well as advocate for homelessness faced by queer and trans youth. I want to encourage you to check out all of Travis’ music- not just because he has a phenomenal sound, but also because of the grounded and genuine person that shines through in his sound. As someone who is still in his twenties, Travis has experienced a lot more in his life than most, including experiences that may surprise his audience. He’s a confident, colorful fashion icon and also works in his community with the youth who share his experiences. He’s a successful musician who you can see in the comments chatting with fans on his videos. He takes his cat on hikes. He’s such a lovely person and I can’t wait to see where he goes from here. Find more of Travis Crown’s work in the links below:
https://www.traviscrown.com/
https://www.instagram.com/trav…
http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-travis-crown-travis-crown-k-town/
https://www.thehypemagazine.co…
https://lalgbtcenter.org
And here is my favorite song of his: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHm1WvPqFZE
I was lucky enough to catch Emmet Michael for an interview! The Edmonton singer/songwriter has a powerful, soulful sound that catches and overwhelms you with emotion. His openness about the challenges he’s faced shape compelling lyrics that will resonate with many different communities who have struggled with their religion, their society, and themselves. Check out his website (https://emmetmichaelmusic.com/) and social media below to keep tabs on this musical journey.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmet…
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emme…
Twitter: @emmet_michael
Today I interviewed B. Elise, a prolific artist heavily grounded in her home borough of Queens NY- an area with a long history of producing talented performers. You might be most familiar with her work from her smash single Boomin’, but at the same time B. has been working to shape visuals, appear in reality TV and gain experience directing as well. There is no space or project in which she has not looked to gain new skills and add to her ability to shape her career in multiple entertainment formats. On top of this she’s a goddamn delight to talk to and seems almost unaware of her own impact on the music scene- she’s always looking forward and on to new projects. New or aspiring artists could learn a lot from B. Elise as she is open about her journey and collaborators, and the work it has taken her to get to this point.
Show links:
https://itsbelise.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channe…
https://www.instagram.com/itsb…
In a new sense of place, today I talk to Ratel C who has evolved her career and art over many years, many languages, and many places. Her life has also been shaped by bearing long term disability, and she refuses to be your inspiring example. Her works showcases the daily life of disability and facing ableism and the raw tearing needs in the self and relationships that this occasions. Her nickname (‘ratel’) means ‘honey badger’ as she takes in and embodies this badass animal in the survival and creation of every day. Author, performer, composer and producer, Ratel C has clawed her way out of adverse circumstances over and over and has reintroduced her talents, voice and experiences as they transform richly over time. I so enjoyed talking with her that we went overtime, so look for a further part of this interview, discussing accessibility in music, that I will bring in a future episode.
Show links:
https://www.canva.com/design/D…
https://soundcloud.com/ratel‑c
https://www.instagram.com/this…
https://www.facebook.com/PageO…
https://groover.co/en/band/pro…
https://www.youtube.com/channe…
Let’s talk some more about non-binary gender and what value that can hold for all of us in setting us free from the categories and restrictions we’ve so carefully constructed.
Show Links:
https://nonbinary.wiki/wiki/Ky…
https://www.instagram.com/loam…
https://www.hrc.org/news/inter…
https://www.verywellmind.com/w…
http://www.jeffreymarsh.com/
https://www.hrc.org/resources/…
https://www.them.us/story/how-…
https://www.them.us/story/25‑p…
https://www.them.us/story/stud…
Happy International Non-binary Peoples Day, and welcome to some groundbreaking data about non-binary folks in North America. I also encourage you to check out the hard working activists who are willing to talk about what it means to them to be non-binary and the many, many voices of the community out there who are open about their history, existence and needs.
Show Links:
https://www.hrc.org/news/inter…
https://www.verywellmind.com/w…
http://www.jeffreymarsh.com/
https://www.hrc.org/resources/…
https://www.them.us/story/how-…
https://www.them.us/story/25‑p…
https://www.them.us/story/stud…
Joseph C. Krause is a multimedia wizard, an artist prolific in so many forms that I hesitate to box him in with terms like ‘artist’ or ‘musician’. Visual artist may come closest (though he does audio as well) because of the stunning and creative visuals he has made either himself or in partnership with other artists. Deeply rooted in his Detroit community, Joe has also created and maintained an archive of his work centralized on his website. This benefits the other artists and makers who have collaborated with him on projects, as well as his audience. During the pandemic, this eclectic archive is a goldmine for those of us pining for artistic engagement while stuck at home.
Show Links (General):
http://www.josephckrause.com
http://www.mixcloud.com/wflr/
https://www.facebook.com/Josep…
https://www.instagram.com/jose…
My favorite, Itzac:
Streaming:
bit.ly/iztac-streaming
Liner notes:
bit.ly/iztac-linernotes
Download:
bit.ly/iztac-download
Today, I had the good fortune to speak with Travis Crown, a prolific musician as well as advocate for homelessness faced by queer and trans youth. I want to encourage you to check out all of Travis’ music- not just because he has a phenomenal sound, but also because of the grounded and genuine person that shines through in his sound. As someone who is still in his twenties, Travis has experienced a lot more in his life than most, including experiences that may surprise his audience. He’s a confident, colorful fashion icon and also works in his community with the youth who share his experiences. He’s a successful musician who you can see in the comments chatting with fans on his videos. He takes his cat on hikes. He’s such a lovely person and I can’t wait to see where he goes from here. Find more of Travis Crown’s work in the links below:
https://www.traviscrown.com/
https://www.instagram.com/trav…
http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-travis-crown-travis-crown-k-town/
https://www.thehypemagazine.co…
https://lalgbtcenter.org
And here is my favorite song of his: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHm1WvPqFZE
Pride Month is a difficult time for me this year, and I am reflecting on what is important about it and what I want to bring to future Pride celebrations. I encourage you to listen and think about decolonization and anti-racism work in our Prides after the pandemic, and to explore why Pride is important and so fiercely valued by the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. As well, consider the perspectives of those who don’t enjoy Pride, those who have felt unwelcome, and those we need to shift our movement to centre and include. I’ve interspersed these heavy thoughts with some dance mixes and powerful songs that capture the Pride feelings I’m missing.
This is an unusual year for Pride, and we’re all a little more isolated than we would like to be. To combat isolation, I’ve made it a priority to connect personally with 2SLGBTQIA+ musicians. In addition, this allows me to meet with some wonderful humans and be reminded of all the little moments of connection and fun the 2SLGBTQIA+ community has brought me over the years. It helps me get through this year, and look forward to the time when our community can come together in person again.
As you’ll know from part 1, interviewing The Divys was a lovely throwback to the days of in-person conversations as William and Kliffee are extraordinarily easy to talk to about everything from music to TV. This talented new wave duo is literally everywhere, winning contests and featuring in TV shows and movies, but this doesn’t stop them from being understated and modest about their musical stylings. If you’re looking for a band to hit you with some nostalgia while providing new favorites The Divys are the ideal fit for you. Take a listen and put The Divys on your list of artists to track for a show post-quarantine. Fingers crossed we will see them in Canada one day! When they get here, hide your asshole friends and show your best side to uphold that beautiful Canadian impression of politeness and friendly faces.
This is an unusual year for Pride, and we’re all a little more isolated than we would like to be. To combat isolation, I’ve made it a priority to connect personally with 2SLGBTQIA+ musicians to remind myself of the wonderful community that is out there, as well as provide insight into what 2SLGBTQIA+ musicians are doing during this time.
An interview with The Divys was a perfect mesh between these two goals, as William and Kliffee are extraordinarily easy to talk to about everything from music to TV. This modern new wave duo is literally everywhere, winning contests and featuring in TV shows and movies, but this doesn’t stop them from being understated and modest about their musical stylings. If you’re looking for a band to hit you with some nostalgia while providing new favorites The Divys are the ideal fit for you. From their well-organized website to their ability to rock a pair of overalls in a photoshoot, the duo is fun and engaging, like the friends we all wish we could hang out with during this time of social distancing.
Find more on The Divys with the links below:
https://www.thedivys.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artis…
https://www.facebook.com/TheDi…
https://www.instagram.com/the_…
https://thedivys.bandcamp.com/…
https://www.youtube.com/channe…
https://twitter.com/TheDivysDu…
Tune in to hear me say redundant phrases like “today I want to talk about some current events that have been happening recently”! This is the effect of long months primarily in my own company. So today I play songs from artists I have been lucky enough to chat with in person, to give myself some comfort in quarantine. In addition, let’s talk about switching pronouns and how to practice and ensure you don’t make things difficult for anyone who is potentially already managing a complex transition.
Show Links:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9614175/Transgender-actor-Elliot-Page-shows-abs-pair-swim-trunks.html
https://www.instagram.com/amai…
https://awylde.com/gender-tag
https://letsqueerthingsup.com/2014/09/15/what-youre-actually-saying-when-you-ignore-someones-preferred-gender-pronouns/
https://byrslf.co/i‑wasnt-annoyed-at-your-misgendering-me-b13cd9480b2c
As I’ve spent the last couple of weeks getting to talk one on one with artists, today’s show is all about showing off their music. Enjoy!
Today, I had the good fortune to speak with Travis Crown, a prolific musician as well as advocate for homelessness faced by queer and trans youth. I want to encourage you to check out all of Travis’ music- not just because he has a phenomenal sound, but also because of the grounded and genuine person that shines through in his sound. As someone who is still in his twenties, Travis has experienced a lot more in his life than most, including experiences that may surprise his audience. He’s a confident, colorful fashion icon and also works in his community with the youth who share his experiences. He’s a successful musician who you can see in the comments chatting with fans on his videos. He takes his cat on hikes. He’s such a lovely person and I can’t wait to see where he goes from here. Find more of Travis Crown’s work in the links below:
https://www.traviscrown.com/
https://www.instagram.com/trav…
http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-travis-crown-travis-crown-k-town/
https://www.thehypemagazine.co…
https://lalgbtcenter.org
And here is my favorite song of his: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHm1WvPqFZE
In a new sense of place, today I talk to Ratel C who has evolved her career and art over many years, many languages, and many places. Her life has also been shaped by bearing long term disability, and she refuses to be your inspiring example. Her works showcases the daily life of disability and facing ableism and the raw tearing needs in the self and relationships that this occasions. Her nickname (‘ratel’) means ‘honey badger’ as she takes in and embodies this badass animal in the survival and creation of every day. Author, performer, composer and producer, Ratel C has clawed her way out of adverse circumstances over and over and has reintroduced her talents, voice and experiences as they transform richly over time. I so enjoyed talking with her that we went overtime, so look for a further part of this interview, discussing accessibility in music, that I will bring in a future episode.
Show links:
https://www.canva.com/design/D…
https://soundcloud.com/ratel‑c
https://www.instagram.com/this…
https://www.facebook.com/PageO…
https://groover.co/en/band/pro…
https://www.youtube.com/channe…
Today I interviewed B. Elise, a prolific artist heavily grounded in her home borough of Queens NY- an area with a long history of producing talented performers. You might be most familiar with her work from her smash single Boomin’, but at the same time B. has been working to shape visuals, appear in reality TV and gain experience directing as well. There is no space or project in which she has not looked to gain new skills and add to her ability to shape her career in multiple entertainment formats. On top of this she’s a goddamn delight to talk to and seems almost unaware of her own impact on the music scene- she’s always looking forward and on to new projects. New or aspiring artists could learn a lot from B. Elise as she is open about her journey and collaborators, and the work it has taken her to get to this point.
Show links:
https://itsbelise.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channe…
https://www.instagram.com/itsb…
Joseph C. Krause is a multimedia wizard, an artist prolific in so many forms that I hesitate to box him in with terms like ‘artist’ or ‘musician’. Visual artist may come closest (though he does audio as well) because of the stunning and creative visuals he has made either himself or in partnership with other artists. Deeply rooted in his Detroit community, Joe has also created and maintained an archive of his work centralized on his website. This benefits the other artists and makers who have collaborated with him on projects, as well as his audience. During the pandemic, this eclectic archive is a goldmine for those of us pining for artistic engagement while stuck at home.
Show Links (General):
http://www.josephckrause.com
http://www.mixcloud.com/wflr/
https://www.facebook.com/Josep…
https://www.instagram.com/jose…
My favorite, Itzac:
Streaming:
bit.ly/iztac-streaming
Liner notes:
bit.ly/iztac-linernotes
Download:
bit.ly/iztac-download
I was lucky enough to catch Emmet Michael for an interview! The Edmonton singer/songwriter has a powerful, soulful sound that catches and overwhelms you with emotion. His openness about the challenges he’s faced shape compelling lyrics that will resonate with many different communities who have struggled with their religion, their society, and themselves. Check out his website (https://emmetmichaelmusic.com/) and social media below to keep tabs on this musical journey.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmet…
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emme…
Twitter: @emmet_michael
Is country inherently queer? Orville Peck thinks so, and he’s the classic gay masked cowboy we’ve all been waiting for. Queer country artists may not sit on many mainstream exclusively country labels, but they are shaking up the genre and because of their unique perspective, recreating what it means to be country.
Show Links:
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/27/diplo-orville-peck-grammys-2020-lil-nas-x-date-red-carpet-instagram/
https://attitude.co.uk/article/orville-peck-and-diplo-on-why-country-music-is-inherently-queer‑1/23102/
https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/02/orville-peck-queen-of-the-rodeo-music-video-watch/
https://www.cbs.com/shows/academy_of_country_music/news/1006890/who-are-brothers-osborne-5-things-you-need-to-know/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cameron-hawthorn-dancing-in-the-living-room_n_5c854c67e4b08d5b7862cb7b
https://www.thecountrynote.com/getting-to-know-artist-features/exclusive-getting-to-know-cameron-hawthorn/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/country-music-cameron-hawthorn-mustang-ep_n_5f810bcec5b6e5c31ffe8c2a
https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/02/orville-peck-queen-of-the-rodeo-music-video-watch/
Increasingly, artists like Lil Nas X are breaking down barriers and exploding into the country music scene with overt queerness. But while these challenges to traditional country music are eye catching and embedded in the colorful evolution of music as a whole, there are quieter more traditional artists making waves as well. Note though that most of these artists are white; it may still be difficult for queer black artists to come out in country, but Lil Nas X is setting a powerful precedent.
Show Links:
https://www.out.com/gay-countr…
https://people.com/country/bro…
https://time.com/5935439/tj-os…
https://www.latimes.com/entert…
https://www.bbc.com/culture/ar…
Part two! There is always so much to discuss with sex; the human sexual experience is so rich and diverse. And while I am primarily talking about and reviewing resources for respectful sex with gender minority folks, these resources are incredibly useful for all people to learn more about bodies, gender and sex.
Links:
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/transgender-sex-tips-intercourse
https://www.allure.com/story/g…
https://rainbowresourcecentre.org/files/GetReal-RRC.pdf
https://www.the519.org/educati…
https://www.catie.ca/en/resour…
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/a19862300/transgender-men-answer-questions/
Let’s talk about how to have sex with someone who is a gender minority! Spoiler: it isn’t really that different than having respectful, enjoyable sex with anyone else. This is such a nuanced topic that I couldn’t fit it all into one episode, and I strongly suggest you check out the articles I reference:
https://www.bustle.com/wellness/how-give-partner-space-when-stressed-therapists
https://everydayfeminism.com/2014/12/8‑tips-on-respectfully-talking-pleasure-sex-and-bodies-with-your-trans-lover/
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/transgender-sex-tips-intercourse
It’s a pandemic, you’re bored, and what better time to explore new forms of entertainment? Locate local and independent creators you want to support? And as discussed last week, if you have any questions about your sexuality you could use this time to explore that. One suggestion from last week was to look at porn, but in my opinion it is useful to go broader than that and look at 2SLGBTQIA+ stories and perspectives in general; especially those that are authentic and 2SLGBTQIA+ created. Today, I talk about ethical 2SLGBTQIA+porn, erotical and comics and profile some of the diverse independent creators who are bringing new content to those communities.
Show Links:
http://indiepornrevolution.com/indie-porn/welcome-to-indie-porn-revolution-subversive-smut-made-by-ladies-artists-and-queers/
https://shinelouisehouston.com/
https://pinklabel.tv/on-demand/about/
https://www.bustle.com/articles/84112-the-best-feminist-porn-directors-to-check-out-if-you-like-your-smut-served-with‑a
https://daddythememoir.wordpress.com/author/
https://ironcircus.com/
https://thehiveworks.com/team.php
https://www.namesakecomic.com/
https://thehiveworks.com/team.php
https://www.orgymania.net/faq/
https://www.dailydot.com/nsfw/reviews/pink-label-tv/
https://www.manitobamusic.com/aaronkowal
https://www.canadacomicsol.org/2019/06/23/lgbtq-comics/
http://queercomicsdatabase.com/?s=slipshine&post_type=qcdb_series
https://sktchd.com/interview/spike-trotman-interview/
https://ironcircus.com/
https://daddythememoir.wordpress.com/author/
https://www.bustle.com/profile/madison-young-1911320
It can be hard sometimes to acknowledge to yourself that you are attracted to people of your own gender; and the suggestions in the media that paint bisexuality as a “phase” on the way to gay or straight certainly don’t help. But guess what, there are tons of happy bisexual people of all ages. Bisexuality is a real identity and its pretty common. And you know what else is common? Wanting to explore the possibility that you may be bisexual (or any other 2SLGBTQIA+ identity). Exploring that possibility doesn’t force you into any category; and listening to how bisexual people identify themselves, live, and date might help educate you no matter how things turn out.
Show Links:
https://www.advocate.com/bisexuality/2018/9/26/15-bisexual-men-who-prove-its-not-just-phase#media-gallery-media‑6
https://www.menshealth.com/author/15962/zachary-zane/
https://bi.org/en/articles/5‑dating-tips-for-bi-men
https://www.advocate.com/bisexual/2020/7/21/male-bisexuality-real-new-study-confirms-once-and-all
https://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/a29501611/bicurious-men-tips/
https://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/g33957466/bisexual-celebrities/
https://www.cbrc.net/blood_policy_futures_for_queer_trans_and_black_communities_a_facilitated_discussion?fbclid=IwAR06qaWGEOMrw5iixVaxW5Pm2piy5A8LyLcV1sRjb8dwk9Lcb30Z6eQhUME
It may shock you how many well-known celebrities and public figures are bisexual. It isn’t even that they’ve kept quiet about it; many people who proudly proclaim their bisexuality are dismissed, ignored or treated like someone who is saying this for “show” to gain attention. But bisexuality is here and as stable (or unstable) as any other sexual identitiy. And guess what? A lot of talented, hot people are bisexual so there’s one more good reason to ditch biphobia (if you needed one)
Show Links:
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/02/224981/miley-cyrus-queer-relationship-liam-hemsworth
https://unicornzine.com/issue-004/where-are-all-the-bisexual-men/
https://bi.org/en/authors/zachary-zane
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/frank-ocean-gq-magazine-interview-coming-out-bisexuality-_n_2171321
https://www.advocate.com/bisexual/2020/7/21/male-bisexuality-real-new-study-confirms-once-and-all
https://www.pride.com/comingout/2020/9/17/5‑tips-those-struggling-come-out-bisexual
Today I talk about the fabulous 2016 film The Handmaiden, and queer eroticism- how its hidden, who it applies to and the difficulties of conceiving queer eroticism as a consumable composed of sterotypical white bodies
https://www.vice.com/en/articl…
https://www.autostraddle.com/w…
https://www.rottentomatoes.com…
https://www.npr.org/2019/06/05…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNTYcGN3WaY&ab_channel=ItsJoJoSiwa
What do these other flags mean?? I thought it was just the rainbow, and everyone was harmoniously united under it?? NOPE.
The rainbow has a long history of neglecting the more marginalized and smaller communities within that overarching rainbow. There are numerous reasons to familiarize yourself with different flags- they all have meaning, AND you should know enough to know you support ALL of them before ever showing your face at Pride. I profiled the Trans flag, the bisexual flag, and the aromantic and asexual flags. I’ll COVER a few more next week or you can check out the article at Bustle.com if you’re in a hurry.
Also, let’s talk about LGBTQ+ creators! Check out this interview of Sophie Labelle (Assigned Male Comics) by Ash Barkley (FakerGamerGirl.com) to appreciate two different and amazing comic creators.
Spoiler Alert: There’s a lot that I don’t like about Clea DuVall’s 2020 queer comedy-romance-drama The Happiest Season. And yes, I know that it’s meant to be a light holiday movie and we aren’t supposed to take it that seriously anyway; but there aren’t that many queer movies, so there is always more pressure to see them handled in a good way. Despite some good moments, the overall plot and ending left a bad impression on me. But it’s got Dany Levy and Kristen Stewart and its honestly more than worth watching just for Aubrey Plaza’s every scene. Also, huge bonus points for starring a lot of actors who are actually gay. Negative points for allowing everyone to bash Jane.
https://variety.com/2020/film/…
https://slate.com/culture/2020…
https://www.cinemablend.com/né…
Focusing on the positive this year, a number of people have come out, including some younger members of families in the public eye, as well as writers, creators and athletes. It’s always good news to see another person willing to share who they really are, and it can help us to model our own coming out stories and learn some family lessons for how to support others.
https://www.out.com/celebs/2020/12/23/7‑celebs-who-came-out-trans-or-nonbinary-2020?fbclid=IwAR3w9MLdZ0P3XAbRzS0-ua6xMi8M1eNl6_mkF78WWpyRrlYPCS3N1Ss8zfk#media-gallery-media‑4
https://www.out.com/celebs/2019/12/19/dwayne-wade-refers-his-12-year-old-child-sheher-pronouns
https://www.out.com/celebs/2020/3/08/zaya-wade-just-walked-her-first-red-carpet-and-it-was-glorious
https://www.out.com/sports/2020/9/10/olympian-soccer-player-comes-out-trans-gives-tips-allyship
https://gumroad.com/l/tJzTV
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/01/actor-busy-philipps-says-12-year-old-gay-prefers-pronouns/?fbclid=IwAR3AOE04Doc5UzCGF7QjL_5lOFpdJP-_NOxMCpcbzanBdP3_jUXjjLpqL‑0
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/12/29/elliot-page-coming-out-trans-grandmother-maryann-durmer-granddaughter-thanks/?fbclid=IwAR1ilfQ20FmH0mFY67KS1dDnJn1VDQddcvkcX12Xz4obnuR5wSPbFAKzSaY
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elliot-page-trans-grandchild-grandparent_n_5fde3753c5b607e6348b12f3
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/12/29/elliot-page-coming-out-trans-grandmother-maryann-durmer-granddaughter-thanks/?fbclid=IwAR1ilfQ20FmH0mFY67KS1dDnJn1VDQddcvkcX12Xz4obnuR5wSPbFAKzSaY
Hey, guess what: there’s very few queer people on TV, even fewer who aren’t white, and we frequently have tiny parts or get just f*cking murdered. Come on. Its 2017, and queer people are part of the world so why are we invisible in media? Maybe because there aren’t as many queer writers and producers as there should be? Regardless, everyone should be asking for more queers in their media. Other topics: Taiwan and equal marriage Abby Wambach’s previously straight Christian wife (straight until she met Abby Wambach HEYOOOOO)
You can find the links to the articles I reference here:
https://www.cheatsheet.com/ent…
https://www.theguardian.com/fi…
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/202…
https://www.instagram.com/p/CH…
https://www.penguinrandomhouse…
https://www.facebook.com/callm…
You can find the links to the articles I reference here:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/trans-day-remembrance-nl‑1.5809647
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85 – 002‑x/2020001/article/00009-eng.htm
https://www.elle.com/culture/a34660519/transgender-day-of-remembrance-2020/
https://www.them.us/story/ah-mer-ah-su-star
https://www.queerevents.ca/queer-corner/blog/trans-poc-activists
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1787639875636
https://www.uvic.ca/transgenderarchives/collections/maracle/index.php
https://canadianart.ca/essays/trancestry-arielle-twist-on-aiiyanna-maracle/
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-sex-worker-jamie-lee-hamilton-sounded-the-alarm-about-vancouvers/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/jamie-lee-hamilton-vancouver-activist-dies‑1.5407075
You can find the links to the articles I reference here:
https://www.facebook.com/ourbodilyautonomy/posts/318891752800591
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/by-us-and-for-us-ottawas-first-ever-trans-festival-is-ready-for-launch?fbclid=IwAR34gY0gfZKOw-mqdSYQAiRkSkekctia4xxSRbmJa1jBVe0yqvQDV9D5MOQ
https://byrslf.co/i‑wasnt-annoyed-at-your-misgendering-me-b13cd9480b2c
https://thequeerreview.com/2020/10/01/jayse-vegas-latest-music-video-trap-pop-single-energy/
Hey, did you know that at one point during the cold war, the Canadian government decided that LGBTQ people were a security risk and must be purged from government agencies? So they proceeded to harass, terrorize and push out LGBTQ Canadians who were serving in the armed forces and civil services?
And why did they think LGBTQ people were a security risk? It’s because Canadian society was still so intolerant and hateful that the government thought LGBTQ people would be vulnerable to blackmail, and turn over their nation’s secrets rather than be outed. Because of the threat hanging over LGBTQ Canadians’ heads of their own society treating them with hate and harassment, the Canadian government decided to pre-emptively hate and harass them.
Other topics:
LGBTQ Chechen men find sanctuary in Canada
Canada plans to apologize for the LGBTQ purge
Queer rights and history is often about attempts to legistlate our sexual activities. Why is this the focus, and why does it matter that we stop sexualizing LGBTQ people?
Other topics:
The Bathhouse Raids
Charter protections and why specific protections are needed
The history of Canada criminalizing sex between anyone who was not heterosexual, for the same sex acts heterosexuals can and do engage in (and are not punished for). Want to find out when we stopped killing (1861) or indefinitely incarcerating (1961) people for just having sex like normal adults? It was not that long ago, and you should definitely be interested in why “homosexual acts” were so harshly punished when queer people did them since they involve (spoilers) just your run of the mill variety of sexual acts, but with gay people instead of straight people. So, a note for you: Canada didn’t hate queer sex acts. It hated queer people. I draw heavily from this article, which I highly recommend: www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-rights-in-canada/ ALSO:
The wonderful Ghanaian activists who have been working to gather signatures to petition Canada to pressure Ghana to improve their treatment of LGBTQ people have received some comments from a Ghana MP who is frankly a bit self-contradictory for a member of government. Discussion of Pride Uganda being shut down this year and the need for a clear international message, from Canada and other countries, that persecuting LGBTQ people is not going to be tolerated, and the international community will act to enforce human rights for all people. Other topics: Memorial University has a trans crosswalk! Why is that important? Homophobic Edmonton man running for board of trustees thinks its simply not relevant that he’s homophobic, and doesn’t appear to think the people of Edmonton will sanction him for his jackssery. MAKE HIM SORRY EDMONTON. PUNISH THIS. Don’t call homophobia (or transphobia, or any kind of hate) “insensitive” that’s WEAK. If you think its simply a dash of insensitivity and not really serious to mock a community that has had to fight for the right to simply have basic human rights, I have bad news for you and it is that you are homophobic and also lazy and a bad person probably. It’s not too late to change though- for you or for Canada. We can do better, and we can build a world where homophobes are shamed more harshly than gays have ever been. Build this world with me. Burn your homophobic friends. Take their shtty comments seriously and don’t let them slime their way out with “I’m joking” or “don’t be so sensitive”. Make them afraid.
Guess what? Canada only legalized equal marriage rights in 2005, so we are not that cool as a country. Also, LGBTQ+ rights are always the first to go if there are political changes, so let’s talk about why your queer friends will never be as safe as you, why we will never live in a post homophobia paradise and why we only have rights because many aults had to fight for many years for their f*cking right to marry and sleep with who they wanted to, like the hetero population had always been able to.
Did you know that just TONS of those pretty rainbow Pride crosswalks have been vandalized? Sometimes within a day or two of when they were painted? Who is SO obsessed with homophobia that they cannot abide the idea of a rainbow on the ground? Probably people like the guy who crashed Pride dressed as a “gay zombie” to hand out hate literature.
See below:
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/man-accused-of-handing-out-homophobic-pamphlets-at-2016-pride-charged‑1.3987092
He’s been charged before, but hopefully the latest one will put a stop to the spewings of his sick little mind.
On a lighter note: STEPHANIE BEATRIZ IS A BISEXUAL PRIDE ANGEL
I missed out on Pride this year (tragically), but I hope you didn’t. Here are some of the ways to check your behaviour as an ally before you step into that space.
Pride is not a once a year party- what are some easy ways to contribute to local LGBTQ communities during the year? Buy things from local LGTBQ musicians and artisans. Attend local events, not just if they are right in your face but by looking for them and finding out ways to contribute or show up.
Intersex people may have very different experiences in some ways, but they can have the same kind of gender identities and orientations as everyone else. It is simpler than it seems, and the best way is to listen to people about theuir experiences.
ALSO: My long-time lady crush Janelle Monae is PANSEXUAL. Hurray!!
Intersex issues are diverse and complex. The take-away message? People within this very small minority have had a difficult to be recognized as healthy, ordinary people who deserve medical autonomy and the right to not alter their bodies to fit social ideas.
Trigger warning for discussion of the poreviously used term h*rmaphrodite.
In the interests of starting the new semester off right, I’m going to cover some basics about what is meant by each letter in the initialism “LGBTQIIA” over the next couple of shows.
Let’s talk about pride history. Where did the rainbow pride flag originate? What do all the letters in LGBTQIIA+ mean? Guess what, NONE MEAN ALLY. If you’re an ally, you support the community- you’re not part of it.
What is the difference between Asexuality and Aromanticism? And how does society and/or the research community view them, compared to how they view themselves? I start an exploration of these terms and the people who are speaking out on them. More to come next week!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMhix4nr_0g
https://www.healthline.com/health/aromantic-asexual
https://www.glaad.org/amp/ace-guide-finding-your-community
https://thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/5‑ways-your-erasing-asexual-aromantic-people-and-what-to-say-instead/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/living-single/201710/s‑so-aromantic
https://www.asexuality.org/
https://i‑d.vice.com/en_us/article/kzj4xz/moses-sumney-on-aromanticsm-the-lack-of-romantic-attraction-to-others
https://www.thefader.com/2017/09/04/moses-sumney-aromanticism-interview
https://www.papermag.com/yasmin-benoit-asexual-model-2641410290.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1
A survey of some recent positive news including trans representation in fashion, LGBTQIA2S+ families and acceptance in schools, and pronoun sticker use by the Ecological Society of America! We should all be more like the ESA
I was lucky enough to interview Anna Gutmanis, and Award-winning Canadian singer, songwriter and keyboardist whose illustrious career has also been shaped by a passion for social justice activism.
Find out more about Anna here: https://www.annagutmanis.com/
Listen to her music on Bandcamp: https://annagutmanis.bandcamp.…
I missed out on Pride this year (tragically), but I hope you didn’t. Here are some of the ways to check your behaviour as an ally before you step into that space.
Black LGBTQIA+ history month continues- for as long as I want it to, because February is far too short a period of appreciation. This week, learn about some more amazing Canadian activists, including yoga instructors who create safe spaces for black people hurt by gendered or sexual violence, and the first non-binary author nominated for the Women’s Prize.
More Black LGBTQIIA+ History, focusing in on the work of iconic elders in the community such as Miss Majors.
Black LGBTQIA+ history continued, following the death of Jackie Shane, and a medial fundraiser for the amazingly supportive mother of young activist Trinity
In the first show for Black History Month, I talk about the new rainbow flag designs, racism in the LGBTQIA+ community, and talented black trans women activists who are shaping our history present and past. In my live show for this I was a bit disorganized and didn’t do the topic justice, so I’ve re-recorded the show to be broadcast again on February 11.
Rebroadcast of August 14 2017, LGBTQ+ Isn’t an Acronym
Let’s talk about pride history. Where did the rainbow pride flag originate? What do all the letters in LGBTQIIA+ mean? Guess what, NONE MEAN ALLY. If you’re an ally, you support the community- you’re not part of it.
I was able to interview Shaun Brodie of the Queer Songbook Orchestra (http://www.queersongbook.com/a…). Shaun graciously walked me through the history of the QSO and the local stories and flavor they carry with them on their travels. Get your tickets to the QSO’s Winnipeg Show on October 6th here: https://www.wecc.ca/blog/2018/…
I continue with the LGBTQIIA+ breakdown, and interview non binary musician Rae Spoon, who performed at the Good Will in Winnipeg on September 20
In the interests of starting the new semester off right, I’m going to cover some basics about what is meant by each letter in the initialism “LGBTQIIA” over the next couple of shows.
Rebroadcast of August 14 2017, LGBTQ+ Isn’t an Acronym
Let’s talk about pride history. Where did the rainbow pride flag originate? What do all the letters in LGBTQIIA+ mean? Guess what, NONE MEAN ALLY. If you’re an ally, you support the community- you’re not part of it.
I was able to interview musician and songwriter Larissa Tandy, who passed through Winnipeg recently as a part of her tour of Western Canada with Zach Kleisinger.
Check out Larissa’s work on her website or bandcamp:
http://www.larissatandy.com/tour
https://larissatandy.bandcamp.com/
Scarlett Johansson has no shortage of roles, but after appropriating an Asian role (Ghost in the Shell) she couldn’t seem to help herself, and tried to take on the role of trans man Dante “Tex” Gill in the film ‘Rub ‘n Tug’. At first she reacted to the enormous public outcry by dismissively directing criticism toward other cis actors who played trans roles (and were also criticized, and one of whom ‑Jeffrey Tambor- was fired for harassing a trans women on set). After even more public outcry, she issued an apology and withdrew.
However, the big question here is, would she have done the role, and appropriated again, if there had been no consequence? Seems likely, and I won’t be supporting her work until I see a more genuine commitment to not taking from marginalized groups.
Other topics:
London activists reject TERFs, embrace trans positivity
non-binary terms: ‘nb’ versus ‘enby’
Did you know that just TONS of those pretty rainbow Pride crosswalks have been vandalized? Sometimes within a day or two of when they were painted? Who is SO obsessed with homophobia that they cannot abide the idea of a rainbow on the ground? Probably people like the guy who crashed Pride dressed as a “gay zombie” to hand out hate literature.
See below:
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/man-accused-of-handing-out-homophobic-pamphlets-at-2016-pride-charged‑1.3987092
He’s been charged before, but hopefully the latest one will put a stop to the spewings of his sick little mind.
On a lighter note: STEPHANIE BEATRIZ IS A BISEXUAL PRIDE ANGEL
Did you know that the non-gendered honorific ‘Mx.’ (pronounced ‘mix’ or ‘mux’) is in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary? It sure is. Just like the word ‘Ms.”, it might take some time to catch on but I think it is here to stay. You don’t have to be non-binary to use it, either. But if you’re looking for an example, Soiuth African rapper Mx. Blouse talks about their gender and how they work different gender-nonconforming looks in interviews about their new single Is’phukphuku (a beautifully visualized mix of style and topical commentary on the treatment of npon-male people in the club scene).
What do these other flags mean?? I thought it was just the rainbow, and everyone was harmoniously united under it?? NOPE.
The rainbow has a long history of neglecting the more marginalized and smaller communities within that overarching rainbow. There are numerous reasons to familiarize yourself with different flags- they all have meaning, AND you should know enough to know you support ALL of them before ever showing your face at Pride. I profiled the Trans flag, the bisexual flag, and the aromantic and asexual flags. I’ll COVER a few more next week or you can check out the article at Bustle.com if you’re in a hurry.
Also, let’s talk about LGBTQ+ creators! Check out this interview of Sophie Labelle (Assigned Male Comics) by Ash Barkley (FakerGamerGirl.com) to appreciate two different and amazing comic creators.
Pride is not a once a year party- what are some easy ways to contribute to local LGBTQ communities during the year? Buy things from local LGTBQ musicians and artisans. Attend local events, not just if they are right in your face but by looking for them and finding out ways to contribute or show up.
Time to think about how we support the minority and marginalized LGBTQ+ community members, especially in terms of making sure that they have the spaces they want and need at Pride. This means to feel safe, comfortable and respected. If you don’t prioritize their right to these spaces, DON’T COME TO PRIDE.
Law enforcement has a long and discriminatory history of dealing with the LGBTQ community, particularly its more marginalized and vulnerable members (like queer youth, sex workers, people of color). When the police apply to be able to march in Pride parades (in uniform), it means we’ve come a long way, right? Progress?
NOPE. To me (and many others) it means that instead of making meaningful strides toward addressing their past and current intolerance (and particularly transphobia) the police want to have the right to come to the party, to impose themseles on one of the few places that is supposed to be an open and free celebration of oft-discriminated against identities. That they want to make a public ploy to be seen as supportive, while misgendering and mistreating our most vulnerable. The police are our allies now right? If you meet the standards of respectability politics, maybe. if you’re a clean-cut, affluent queer, maybe they might seem friendly to you. What if you’re a homesless queer youth? A sex worker? An indigenous person? ANY non-white person, or member of group that has historically and currently been mistreated by police. These people can be queer too, and its more important that they feel safe at pride than that police get an ally cookie.
Honestly, if the police had years of not mistreating any LGBTQ folks under their belt I would still be skeptical of them wanting the right to march IN UNIFORM in a celebration that began as a response to discriminatory policing. No one is saying the police and other law enforcement can’t show up and enjoy pride- we certainly can’t stop you. But this isn’t your day, and if you make even one of us feel unsafe it behooves you to respectfully stay out of it.
Gaybashing still happens, and trans violence isn’t specifically measured. A brief overview of how hate crimes are defined and measured, and some of the issues
ALSO: How hate crimes affect people differently than individual crimes
Intersex people may have very different experiences in some ways, but they can have the same kind of gender identities and orientations as everyone else. It is simpler than it seems, and the best way is to listen to people about theuir experiences.
ALSO: My long-time lady crush Janelle Monae is PANSEXUAL. Hurray!!
Intersex issues are diverse and complex. The take-away message? People within this very small minority have had a difficult to be recognized as healthy, ordinary people who deserve medical autonomy and the right to not alter their bodies to fit social ideas.
Trigger warning for discussion of the poreviously used term h*rmaphrodite.
I lost my voice (mosly) today, which has been a wonderful opportunity to focus on just the myusic for once. This show showcases three wonderful two-spirit artists I have been listening to lately; Tony Enos (Cherokee), IsKwe (aka Wasekwan Iskwew; Cree), and Shawnee (Mohawk).
I finish up part three of the discussion of passing, covering “passing privilege” and the intersectional factors that can influence this- including income, family, and the desire to transition medically in a way that leaves you better able to “pass” (be perceived as a member of your gender, usually because you are also assumed to be a cisgender person of that gender).
Trans youth are able to transition earlier and earlier, and if they do they are more likely to have passing privilege than people who do not. This is leading to a divide among the trans community of people who have or do not have privileges.
What are the pros and cons of “passing” (being viewed by the majority as) your gender- especially when for trans people, this often means “passing” as cisgender (not trans) as well? I disuss some of the difficulties with [passing, the privilege inherent in it, and the differences good or bad in passing or not passing. it’s complicated- feel free to send me questions! I’m still learning every day about the myriad implications of passing in a world that frequently marginalizes certain people’s identities.
“Passing” is a complex concept, fraught with difficulties. Sometimes it means being seen and treated as you are, sometimes it can be used for just how people see you, sometimes it means having to be seen a certain way (e.g., as a cisgender man, even if you are not cis) to be treated as who you are (e.g., a trans man). Passing often carries privilege, but can also contribute to invisibility. What does it all mean? It’s too much for one show, but I cover the basics here of the interaction between who you are and how yuo are seen, mediated by how your presentation aligns with the general ideas of what binary genders (mean and woman) should be
I interview Eun-Bi Kang, who is running for LGBTTQ* representative in the upcoming UMSU election. Word of the day today is “trap”, though in discussion of it I also break down the word “passing”. Trigger warning for discussion of defamatory language and negative stereotypes of trans people; you may have some trouble listening to how the concept of transwomen as a “trap” is used and how negative and devaluing conceptions of trans women contribute to it. The real trap is how people online want us to believe this awful slur is a harmess joke, when it corresponds to a very real threat of violence faced by trans women due to cis people (often men) believing that if they cannot tell someone is trans there was an intentional effort to “trick” them involved.
TRANS WOMEN OWE YOU NOTHING. YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO KNOW THIR IDENTITIY UNLESS THEY CHOOSE TO TELL YOU.
Topic takeways: It is not the fault of trans women that you may not know they are trans, due to your own 1) limited and stereotyped ideas of what trans people look like and 2) cis-centric ideas that everyone is cis, particularly pretty ladies you are attracted to.
Trans women do not intentionally “entrap: the cis-hetero men who show interest in them, but they are often subjected to violence when these men discover they are trans/hold the trans woman accountable for the way society shames men for their attraction to trans women.
Trans women ARE WOMEN, they do not “pass” as women and so they are not “tricking” you by “passing” as something they are not. If you think all the women you see are cisgender then it is YOUR problem for being dumb. If you think a woman is trying to “pass” as cisgender (which often just means she may not want you to know she is trans/make an issue of her trans identity/harass her for being trans/pass as cis for other reasons of her own or simply to get the respect to which she is entitled) look up how trans women are treated, and tell me if you still can’t think of some good, even life-or-death reasons why it is not your business whether a woman is cis or trans and why a trans woman may not want strangers to know she is trans.
Also discussed: Queer Eye reboot, and trans Oscars nominees/winners
A continuation of Feb 12th’s episode, I discuss queer sexuality and the many ways in which people avoid, erase and rewrite it in contemporary sci fi. Spoilers for Star Trek Discovery. ALSO: Janelle Monae’s new supergay video, music, career and actions
A discussion of the erasure of LGBTQ identities in the Trill species, specifially in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Host” and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “Rejoining”.
Rebroadcast of November 6 2017 episode:
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Interview with Josée Caron and Lucy Niles, the gay (but not for each other) Canadian talents who brought us the unique lesbian-barista-informed sound of the band Partner ™.
**Its a thing, queer people and coffee. My gf works at a Starbucks. Visit your local coffeehouse and tell me I’m wrong. I don’t know why. We didn’t make the gay coffee rules.
What are the pros of coming out? Often people may be aware of the disadvantages of being “out”, but there are many reasons to publically identify yourself as LGBTQ.
Also discussed:
Gillian Anderson likes women!
What does cisgender mean, and why use it?
Qhat does it mean to be bisexual and face biphobia? People often question the legitimacy of your identity. But what about people who are legitimately questioning, tha is to say- they aren’t sure about their gender or orientation? How can we respect and include both of these without leaving anyone out of the community they are entitled to?
Also discussed: bisexuality in the TV show Grown-ish; bisexuality and masculinity
Let’s talk about the additional complications of being an LGBTQ person speaking out about their experience of sexual harassment or assault. Homophobia, outing, and losing your supports are some of the additional context for LGBTQ victims of harassment or assult who may want to talk about their experiences or find support.
Also: word of the day: ‘passing’, and some basic being queer questions
Interview with Josée Caron and Lucy Niles, the gay (but not for each other) Canadian talents who brought us the unique lesbian-barista-informed sound of the band Partner ™.
**Its a thing, queer people and coffee. My gf works at a Starbucks. Visit your local coffeehouse and tell me I’m wrong. I don’t know why. We didn’t make the gay coffee rules.
Queer history is important! Queer people are not born into queer families (usually) so we have to locate each other as well as our predecessors throughout history. This is important to show who we are, who we can be, and that we are important and contributing members of society. LGBTQ+ people have been erased and suppressed historically, so it can be hard to find them but it is extremely important that we try. Sites like ourqueerhistory.com and apps like Quist can help with this.
Today, my friends, I have reached PEAK GAY. I did this live show while wearing a vintage 70’s floral hipster shirt my girlfriend picked out for me, with an accidentally gayer haircut (I was like “Just a trim? and the barber was somehow like “a GAY trim?”), I played music by Canadian Lesbian duo ‘Partner’ and spoke about activism by iconic trans women of color. I REPEATEDLY reminded you of the importance of not killing or ignoring your local queer people, and the role of this fabulous show on this wonderful station in contributing to that worthy goal.
I’m joking, I peaked when I walked into UMFM to host a radio show about queer issues while wearing that shirt. The haircut and topics were just accidental gay icing on the queer cupcake.
PLEDGE ‑O-RAMA!!!!!!!!
Support UMFM. Support ME. They let me do this show every week, plus Jared and Michael of UMFM have repeatedly connected me with local queer artists, passed on music, and continued to look out for interesting and diverse shows to add to the station’s repertoire. These guys have been incredible, and I can’t thank them enough for giving me the opportunity to have a platform like Queer Quarks. So please pledge, and talk to other people about pledging. Whether you do it because you love campus and community radio, or you love queer issues, or just because you want a cool shirt, now is the time to step up and show that you’ve been with us all along the way.
PLEDGE-O-RAMA!!!!!!!
Other topics:
Erasure and privilege
Representation
Partner (the band)
Marsha P. Johnson and the unpaid labour of trans women of color
Reel Pride Film Festival
Worldwide news and connections to Canada: I try to keep the news items balanced, for example by talking about this racist, homophobic lady in Calgary (who is running for school trustee) as well as this adorable pair of Kates in Saskatoon who are making gay greeting cards. I NEED BALANCE, OK. And so do we all, since we live in a world where the U.S. is trying to make it legal to fire people for being gay again, and Germany’s chancellor had to meet a two saintly lesbian foster parents before she would even allow a vote on equal marriage rights (which she voted against). The world is a vast and confusing place, and so is this episode of QQ.
Other topics:
Heather Bishop
People who are activists can still be problematic
‘Man Time’ comic is the best depiction of masculinity and just really great overall
Finishing up the brief history of LGBTQ rights I have covered this month, I recap the 80s raids, cover HIV/AIDS crisis in a real angry way, and discuss some landmark dates that occurred since I was born
Do you want to start off your year right? Start it off by learning all the reasons you should make a specific effort to respectfully use accurate pronouns for EVERYONE, not just the cisgender people that you meet. Also, learn how exhausting it is for trans and non binary folks to constantly deal with your cisgender foolishness.
I’m cisgender, and I work hard at not being the kind of fool who is too sensitive to grow up and learn new language. Be a great person this year; stand out from the crap crowd of people making tired little adolescent jokes about gender, and boldly and meanly tell them how pathetically lacking in humor they are. Makre it hurt to be a transphobe. Make it embarassing and messy and something they won’t want to do.
Other topics: Portage la Prairie Pride parade faces religious protesters invoking suicide imagery
Sub-topic: your conservative MLAs are being hypocritical; they want rainbow photo ops but not GSAs in our schools. Tell them how much you care about them becoming better people
Hey, did you know that at one point during the cold war, the Canadian government decided that LGBTQ people were a security risk and must be purged from government agencies? So they proceeded to harass, terrorize and push out LGBTQ Canadians who were serving in the armed forces and civil services?
And why did they think LGBTQ people were a security risk? It’s because Canadian society was still so intolerant and hateful that the government thought LGBTQ people would be vulnerable to blackmail, and turn over their nation’s secrets rather than be outed. Because of the threat hanging over LGBTQ Canadians’ heads of their own society treating them with hate and harassment, the Canadian government decided to pre-emptively hate and harass them.
Other topics:
LGBTQ Chechen men find sanctuary in Canada
Canada plans to apologize for the LGBTQ purge
Queer rights and history is often about attempts to legistlate our sexual activities. Why is this the focus, and why does it matter that we stop sexualizing LGBTQ people?
Other topics:
The Bathhouse Raids
Charter protections and why specific protections are needed
The history of Canada criminalizing sex between anyone who was not heterosexual, for the same sex acts heterosexuals can and do engage in (and are not punished for). Want to find out when we stopped killing (1861) or indefinitely incarcerating (1961) people for just having sex like normal adults? It was not that long ago, and you should definitely be interested in why “homosexual acts” were so harshly punished when queer people did them since they involve (spoilers) just your run of the mill variety of sexual acts, but with gay people instead of straight people. So, a note for you: Canada didn’t hate queer sex acts. It hated queer people. I draw heavily from this article, which I highly recommend: www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-rights-in-canada/ ALSO:
The wonderful Ghanaian activists who have been working to gather signatures to petition Canada to pressure Ghana to improve their treatment of LGBTQ people have received some comments from a Ghana MP who is frankly a bit self-contradictory for a member of government. Discussion of Pride Uganda being shut down this year and the need for a clear international message, from Canada and other countries, that persecuting LGBTQ people is not going to be tolerated, and the international community will act to enforce human rights for all people. Other topics: Memorial University has a trans crosswalk! Why is that important? Homophobic Edmonton man running for board of trustees thinks its simply not relevant that he’s homophobic, and doesn’t appear to think the people of Edmonton will sanction him for his jackssery. MAKE HIM SORRY EDMONTON. PUNISH THIS. Don’t call homophobia (or transphobia, or any kind of hate) “insensitive” that’s WEAK. If you think its simply a dash of insensitivity and not really serious to mock a community that has had to fight for the right to simply have basic human rights, I have bad news for you and it is that you are homophobic and also lazy and a bad person probably. It’s not too late to change though- for you or for Canada. We can do better, and we can build a world where homophobes are shamed more harshly than gays have ever been. Build this world with me. Burn your homophobic friends. Take their shtty comments seriously and don’t let them slime their way out with “I’m joking” or “don’t be so sensitive”. Make them afraid.
Guess what? Canada only legalized equal marriage rights in 2005, so we are not that cool as a country. Also, LGBTQ+ rights are always the first to go if there are political changes, so let’s talk about why your queer friends will never be as safe as you, why we will never live in a post homophobia paradise and why we only have rights because many aults had to fight for many years for their f*cking right to marry and sleep with who they wanted to, like the hetero population had always been able to.
Let’s talk about pride history. Where did the rainbow pride flag originate? What do all the letters in LGBTQIIA+ mean? Guess what, NONE MEAN ALLY. If you’re an ally, you support the community- you’re not part of it.
The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce asked a lawyer how to support trans and nb staff!! Cool. Let’s talk some more about feminine people with masculine gender identities. How can you support them? How can you be them? How cool are they? Very.
Boys can wear cute things, and pink things, and be soft, sweet, feminine. Guess what queering gender is? Also: J.Lo is cool and used gender neutral terms respectfully for her young relative John Barrowman is trash, a blight on the good name of gay man, and needs to stop being transphobic and also a moron.
Wow, people on the internet are so MAD that the constantly regenerating, alien, 900+ Timelord who is the title character of Dr Who is played by a lady now. HAHAHA poor white men, they only had 12/12 of previous actors. Get over it, the Doctor is super obviously gender fluid, or genderless, or has a relationship to gender that we humans cannot understand but you know what the doctor isn’t? Bound by your tiny minded hetero-cis-normative crap. Other topics: Dating someone who transitions-suggestions on how to support and handle yourself Questioning your sexuality? Question away
Despite the straight cis community having it out for all of us, the LGBTQ+ community routinely excludes and belittles certain of its own members. An example of this is deriding people who are “less gay” if they’ve had sex with someone of the opposite gender, or certain genitals. Want to find out why this is transphobic garbage????
REBROADCAST OF MARCH 20 2017 Discussion of the recent Youtube controversy where the site has removed access to a number of LGBTQ+ videos (including G rated content, and channels specifically aimed at education for children) under their ‘restricted mode’ setting which is supposed to remove content users might find inappropriate. LGBTQ+ content is often labelled as inherently inappropriate (e.g., when the words ‘lesbian’ and ‘bisexual’ were blocked from providing commonly searched results on Google Instant-the autocomplete feature- in 2010, despite retaining the feature for slurs like ‘f*ggot’ which brought up offensive search options- in reference on the live show I was not sure about the context in which the content was blocked and thought it might have been blocked from searching- which does not appear to be the case in the 2010 incident) and the implications of seeing LGBTQ+ as overtly sexual, inappropriate and as something children should be restricted from our discussed, especially in the context of users (e.g., queer youth) who might need to find that content. Also discussed is some Toronto music history, and advances (current and proposed) in Canadian legal protections of gender and gender expression.
Gueeeeeess what? Law enforcement have just an AWFUL history with the LGBTQ+ community. Shocking, right? (If you’re actually shocked, look up the bathhouse raids). RCMP still regularly harass and misgender our most vulnerable members, so they should NEVER BE AT PRIDE, and they definitely shouldn’t be there in uniform or any other identification. If you want to argue about this or you need help to argue with someone else about it, Ley is here for that. Also guess what? Some straight cis people are SO FRAGILE they hate the idea of a Canadian flag having pride colors on it. You can get those, they’re a fun tribute to gay communities in Canada and some places apparently hang them during pride month to honor tolerance and not literally killing queers any more hopefully. But guess what, Andrea on Ley’s Facebook is SO MAD about this, because guys that flag does NOT represent her. She do not want to be associated with “those people”, thank god, because can you imagine any queer person voluntarily wanting to be anywhere near Andrea. HAHA no. Andrea is not my friend- she’s some rando who was so mad about my pic of a Canadian flag with pride colors she literally chose to argue with me about it. The picture said “Share to make a homophobe mad” on it and I was actually like “how sad, i don’t know any homophobes, at least not any dumb enough to argue with ME about it”. So Andrea swooped in to save that. I do have a friend named Andrea, she’s a lovely woman who makes her own yogurt and has two malamutes. She is also not a homophobe. She’s obviously a million times better than this homophobic Andrea
Hey, guess what: there’s very few queer people on TV, even fewer who aren’t white, and we frequently have tiny parts or get just f*cking murdered. Come on. Its 2017, and queer people are part of the world so why are we invisible in media? Maybe because there aren’t as many queer writers and producers as there should be? Regardless, everyone should be asking for more queers in their media. Other topics: Taiwan and equal marriage Abby Wambach’s previously straight Christian wife (straight until she met Abby Wambach HEYOOOOO)
Ley discusses trans children’s comic author and artist Sophie Labelle, whose book launch was cancelled due to threats and harassment. Ley also discusses the coming out episode on Master of None that was informed by actress Lena Waithe’s personal experiences as a black lesbian facing specific issues and expectations. Allyship, in the episode and life is discussed- and the responsibility of hetero cis people to take queer issues into straight spaces.
Guess how Ley came out? By forgetting to tell some of her family, and thoroughly underwhelming others. Let her tell you about some of the things she’s learned, including the importance of queer role models, how allies can help, and which people should be allowed to reclaim which slurs (IF ITS NOT PRIMARILY USED TO HURT YOU AND YOURS, DON’T USE IT NOT SO HARD I GUESS EH RUPAUL.…??) Trigger warning: trans slurs are discussed, and a clip is played of Laura Jane Grace talking about the slur she titled her book with
There are a lot of reasons for straight cisgender people to attend Pride: fun, allyship, learning, etc. HOWEVER there are a lot of things to consider about how to conduct yourself there. Don’t be overwhelmed or put off- most of them are just logical, respectful ways to act. Straight cis people are often accustomed to spaces being designed for them, and it can feel difficult to have to be in someone else’s space for a change. Embrace this! That’s how LGBTQ people feel every day. So rather than come in and trample on the Pride community’s occasion to celebrate, be conscious, respectful and a good ally, and come out to enjoy Pride!!
What are some Pride Events and why should you go to them? Winnipeg Pride is coming up from May 26 to June 4 and I have many thoughts on how you should behave if you go! Pride etiquette is discussed, and pansexuality defined.
Discussion of the recent episode of Survivor where one contestant (Jeff Venner) outed another contestant (Zeke Smith); Venner characterized Smith’s decision to keep the fact he was trans private as deceptive, so I discussed when, why and how trans people might come out and mostly how it is always, ALWAYS, their decision only. Concern trolling around “medical” reasons to out trans people or insist they should out themselves are also discussed. Second half of the show featured a discussion of Shura, a UK artist who identifies as a lesbian and makes the most awesome videos.
What is the difference between non binary, gender fluid and genderqueer? To really know, you can ask different people who have these identities- but if you don’t have close non-binary friends who you can respectfully ask to elaborate, check out the people in the public eye who have talked about their identity and what it means to them. I discussed Ruby Rose and Asia Kate Dillion’s interviews on this topic. Also discussed: the advantages/disadvantages of personal appearance being feminine, masculine or androgynous in articulating and conveying to others a non-binary identity.
Ley has a cold, and so tries (kind of successfully) to minimize the “talk” part of the show for once. Because the show highlights a lot of feminine and non binary voices, today featured specifically male voices in queer music of which there are actually a LOT. Due to her lazy habit of listening primarily to playlists she made in her undergrad and whatever her partner sends her, Ley is woefully under acquainted with music and the fact there is a lot of amazing stuff out there. Matt Fishel, A Great Big World, and Ben J Pierce are featured. Ley semi-coherently explains what a TERF (trans exclusionary radical feminist) is, while realizing belatedly that this is too complex a concept for a day when she is losing her voice. This article might be a better conversation starter (http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/03/trans-people-gender-essentialism/) and Ley will attempt to cover this complex topic again at a later date, hopefully in a calm way (but it makes her super mad, because the exclusion of trans people based on an ideology which suggests biology is destiny and somehow dictates your future social roles is complete and utter garbage to every thinking person, and should be especially so to people within a movement identified with liberating women from these bullshit ideas that their identity is dictated by how a doctor perceived their genitals at birth).
Lesbian Power couples throughout (U.S.) History- discussion of an Autostraddle article (authored by Riese) detailing 16 Lesbian Power Couples (lesbian being the relationship and not necessarily the orientation). Couples included are mainly white- Ley discusses the issues around recording and identifying queer relationships in history, why it is important to do so, and the role of privilege in determining who leaves a record. Other topics include China’s latest ‘boy band’, Acrush- a band made up of five androgynous women- and trans women who are coming out later in life (Xin Yue from Beijing, age 72, and Patricia Davies, Leicestershire, age 90) and what it means for the trans (and queer/LGBTQ) community to have older members to look to.
Music by Lesley Gore (1946−2015) and a discussion of her life and being gay in relation to her very heterosexual early music. Update on the Youtube Restricted mode issues (where restricted mode blocks most LGBTQ+ content, including educational videos for children)- Youtube has issued a statement which tries to minimize the situation as applying only to a small amount of users. Obviously Ley doesn’t agree- rant and recap ensues! Discussion of LGBTQ weddings and the terms ‘gay marriage’ ‘same sex marriage’ and ‘equal marriage’ as they refer to and erase different LGBTQ identities. Review of respectability politics and the erasure of LGBTQ icons like Silvia Rivera; discussion of bathroom rights within Canada and the harassment faced by trans and non binary people in using bathrooms even when their rights are technically supposed to be protected there. (Discussion may seem a little disrupted near the end of the show- someone was knocking on the window behind the recording room, which looks into Degrees café).
Discussion of the recent Youtube controversy where the site has removed access to a number of LGBTQ+ videos (including G rated content, and channels specifically aimed at education for children) under their ‘restricted mode’ setting which is supposed to remove content users might find inappropriate. LGBTQ+ content is often labelled as inherently inappropriate (e.g., when the words ‘lesbian’ and ‘bisexual’ were blocked from providing commonly searched results on Google Instant-the autocomplete feature- in 2010, despite retaining the feature for slurs like ‘f*ggot’ which brought up offensive search options- in reference on the live show I was not sure about the context in which the content was blocked and thought it might have been blocked from searching- which does not appear to be the case in the 2010 incident) and the implications of seeing LGBTQ+ as overtly sexual, inappropriate and as something children should be restricted from our discussed, especially in the context of users (e.g., queer youth) who might need to find that content. Also discussed is some Toronto music history, and advances (current and proposed) in Canadian legal protections of gender and gender expression.
Discussion of Trans issues, including the misgendering of trans women in the media after their deaths and misgendering as a daily aggression directed at trans (and non binary) people. Discussion of the band The Internet, and openly gay member (and amazing singer) Syd tha Kyd. Reminders and calls to action over the frequent and tragic assaults on the trans community which have already in 2017 resulted in many deaths.
Interview with Angie St Mars (comedienne/and Anjali Sandhu, comediennes (among their other varied talents) who both are performing in Empow(HER)ment: BAE NATION at the Park Theatre at 7pm. Interview highlights include: Angie seamlessly plugging local comedy shows with grace and eloquence, Anjali once trained her mother to perform comedy, Angie’s dad is an unstoppable icon as a local comedy fan, Anjali plans 60-second pitches around topics including a movie about Sarah Paulson’s hair. Ley contributed by trying to keep her laughter unobtrusively in the background and using the word ‘stalk’ multiple times without a good reason (e.g., as a verb and for actions which are not stalking)- she is sorry and does not mean to minimize the impact of actual stalking. Please feel free to email with other verbs she could use in future to avoid kind of looking like a tool.
Brief discussion of allyship (especially in media that may profit off of queer anthems) prompted by Sarah Bareilles’ song ‘I choose you’ (featuring two couples, one of which is queer and one is straight). Perspectives on relationships and being queer on Valentine’s day (discussion of an article on being bi on Valentine’s Day); different relationship styles on valentine’s day; and a discussion and general condemnation and rant on the ’50 Shades of Gray’ franchise. Don’t see these movies- they suck for so many reasons, but give this a listen to have Ley personally tell you why!!
Happy Boxing Day! Implications of holidays for queer people; promo for local comedian Chantel Marostica’s show/elective top surgery fundraiser called ‘Tell Em Boobs Bye!’ (spoiler, it was great). Discussion of cis actors playing trans roles and the implications that has for the trans community, both in the continued representation of trans people in a way which does not reflect them and in the lack of roles for trans actors. Super queer Christmas Music is played, including the ‘Christmas Medley’ by Bearforce One and ‘Coming Out at Christmas’ by the London Gay Men’s Choir.