Plastic Head, Equal Something Something, and William Eyelash (Friday 506)
You know the patriarchy is on it's last leg when it can't handle the decision to make highly gendered, gender-normative, heteronormative toys taking a look around themselves and deciding that potatoes probably don't need highly gendered performance when children play with them. But you know, that's what happened when Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head transitioned to just be Potato Head. You would think they would get tired at some point, or break their pearls off from clutching them for so hard...or maybe that's just our naive hope. It's not the representation we deserve, but it is a step down the right path, or as much as global capitalist organization can be counted upon to enact. From there we cover the amazing prospect of an Equality Act passing Congress sometime in the next...sometime. And why these small steps really are important to the day-to-day lives of Queer individuals in this country, and hopefully all others. Finally John and Dean talk about the new Billie Eilish documentary. They are strictly divided along artist/producer lines. Dean identified way too much with Finneas, except for the incredible difference in ability to produce number one tracks and albums. More the annoyed at the artist for being too picky and not wanting to actually record the music, for their music album. John disagrees, but he's not writing these show notes. It's a great watch that only took us three tries to get through. But it brought up major Britney vibes from the still present need of record labels and even fans to posses pop stars, sometime bodily. Go watch it!
Highs and Lows of Being Gay in Bars (Friday 505)
Trigger Warning: In this episode John and Dean talk about John's battle with addiction and his journey through recovery. Please listen if you can, but if you will be triggered to use by descriptions of drug use and their effects, please keep yourself safe.
John and Dean are sad to see one of their beloved Gay Bars, The Toasted Walnut, close due to the pandemic. It was one of the best spots in the Gayborhood for Dean, and a place of some really great memories, including a Karaoke night that John and Dean loved. We're sad to see it go, and we hope that after the pandemic has eased its grip on public spaces, something else will take its place as Lesbian bars are being hit the hardest. After that, John shares a very hard story, his story with addiction. It started almost too easily, but then grew into a life altering battle that nearly claimed his own life twice. Dean share his own experience with substance use, both in his family and for himself. This is an important story to tell, as it may help others who are struggling seek help, and maybe keep others from repeating some of the same, naive and sex-focused mistakes that John underwent. If you need help, it's always there, but asking is the hardest part.
Free Britney, Free B-Jobs and Buy John Waters (Friday 504)
The new Britney documentary dropped, and John was awake at the exact moment to watch it! (Actually we spend a nice weekend afternoon, but blood-shot and bleary-eyed John makes a better story.) What happened was appalling, but to see it played back to us all over gain, especially for Dean who can now look back at just what kind of world the 2000s was, it's even more infuriating. The way that women are treated and the lengths that the media goes to create sensation, while still happening today, seems to have been a fever pitch then. But we don't stay on that horrible realization the whole time. Come, hear the story of how John got kicked out of a leather bar for being on top. Dean, his Ex, and dance floor fuckery. And how you can buy a personal nightmare tour with John Watters himself!
To support the Philadelphia Bike Stop, you can find their GoFundMe here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/27k6evwj40
Boyshitting, Trans Representation, and Squirrels (Friday 503)
John and Dean return, finally, again. Instead of trying to plan a show, they just sat down and recorded one. It went about as well you might expect. But they covered the (now not so recent) attack on the US Capital as well as how the Biden Administration is doing a lot of good things to increase the representation of LBGTQ+ individuals in government, including several transgender individuals. But they don't get everything right. Pronouns, like sexual identity, are not 'preferred,' they just are. Dean may or may not launch into a diatribe about what he does with boys in the bedroom. And John, predictably, talks about music. We think it went pretty well, all things considered.
Updates from the edge, Trans-Bills and More Drag Race (Friday 502)
We're really enjoying the new season of Drag Race and Gottmik has won in our hearts at least. It's amazing to see this kind of representation in a queer space on national television. And she turns looks, is a fashion designer, and a fierce competitor all rolled into one. But when there is one thing that is good, there will continue to be old white men trying to make things worse. Another round of Trans-aggressive legislation is working its way through various locales. Apparently they want to check the no-nos of children before they can go run around and miss the ball on a sports field. Beside's ridiculous, it's the natural evolution of checking who can use which bathroom. And yet again feeds the misogyny and patriarchal angst that we find ourselves in. Girls are inferior and need to be protected, and if she happened to be assigned male at birth, well naturally she must be better than all the other poor girls. We cannot with this, and we hope that you will continue to talk to your elected officials to stop these bills in their tracks. Lastly, we prepare for our eventually move and try to figure out what it is that we do when we don't podcast. Dean got a new position, John gets to work from home, and it turns out that Dean may have actually sold a few books a few years ago. (Wink, wink. We would love you to buy our art. John's is actually good!)
Those Damn Queers! (Friday 501)
We're back from our depression nap, with a new spin on some old hosts. (John is in charge now, you can blame him.) The queer report for Hollywood came out, and John and Dean wanted to talk about the improvements and the loses that were made. Better diversity, but less inclusion overall. Plus the new Drag Race has begun so we're always ready for some new queens and Gay TV.