Shows
Queerly PopularNicholas Galitizine and Handsome DevilWelcome to today's episode of Queerly Popular! Today, we are talking about the movie Handsome Devil. But before we talk about the movie, I spend some time talking about Nicholas Galitizine's other movies and tv shows and some basic thoughts about them. Handsome Devil is a 2016 film about Ned (Fionn O'Shea), a student who is out of place and bullied in the boarding school he attends and his new roommate Conor (Nicholas Galitizine). They end up becoming friends before they betray each other. It's a good movie, but not one I am going to watch over and o...2024-06-201h 03
Queer PoliFaithRedistrictingWelcome to today's episode of Queer PoliFaith. Today, we are talking about 2 redistricting cases: Cooper v Harris (2017) and Alexander v NAACP (2024). Although only a few years apart, these cases show how important Supreme Court nominations can be because a change of 3 seats allowed Alito to turn his 2017 dissent into a majority opinion in 2024. I also talk a little about corruption on the Supreme Court and a few justices who should be impeached due to their corruption and lack of judicial ethics. I know I called these "voting rights" cases in the episode, but I realized th...2024-06-1339 minQueerly PopularThe Idea of YouWelcome to Queerly Popular! This week, we will be talking about the 2024 film The Idea of You starring Nicholas Galitizine and Anne Hathaway. The movie is a cis-het romance about a 40-year old divorced mother who meets a 24-year old pop star and how their relationship develops. Before I talk about the film and characters, I explain why this is a queer film and included here. The episode clocks in at close to 70 minutes, so it is a bit longer than most episodes. Below are links to some great scenes and songs from the movie: H...2024-06-061h 08Queer PoliFaithIdeological Purity and VotingWelcome to Queer PoliFaith. Today, I am going to talk about ideological purity and voting. I was inspired by a friend's Twitter post (which I read without naming them) as well as my own feelings about the subject. I talk about how ideology has damaged the Republican party and why we cannot let it damage the Democratic party and the nation as a whole. We look at a little history and at Senate rules as well. There is strong language and if that upset you, too bad. I ain't gonna apologize, but I will warn...2024-05-3032 minQueerly PopularPlaying the PalaceWelcome to this week's episode of Queerly Popular! Today, we're talking about the 2021 book Playing the Palace. It is about an American Associate Event Architect (Carter Ogden) who meets the Crown Prince of England (Prince Edgar), their romance, and the issues they have. I did definitely enjoy the book, even though it suffered from 2 major issues. Most characters were stereotypes and not as fleshed out as they should have been and the romance between Carter and Edgar seemed to be super rushed and not as earned as it could have been. That being said, it was a fu...2024-05-2345 minQueer PoliFaithAbout My Voting ProcessToday's episode is on the shorter side. I decided to illuminate my process of choosing who I vote for in the primaries. I talk about how I winnow down my options, words or phrases I look out for, and how I make my final choice. I also talk about my vote in the presidential primary and why I made the choice I did. I also talk about anti-Semitism on the left and how it is somewhere where the far left and far right meet in absolutely disgusting ways. F bombs are dropped, so if that offends you...2024-05-1637 minQueerly PopularThe Feeling of Falling In LoveWelcome to this week's episode of Queerly Popular! This week we'll be talking about the 2022 book The Feeling of Falling In Love by Mason Deaver. It is their third book and is, in all honesty, a fairly typical romance. The main difference being that the main character is a trans guy and the love interest is a queer, non-binary individual. But other than that, it hits all the tropes you could want. And honestly, I don't mind. I start off by (again) explaining why tropes don't bother me, then talk about an odd difference between the book a...2024-05-0956 minQueer PoliFaithDignitas InfinitaWelcome to today's episode of Queer PoliFaith. Today we are talking about the recently released document Dignitas Infinita (On Infinite Dignity) which is about the Catholic Church's view on human dignity and some current threats to that dignity. I start off explaining why I talk about documents from the Catholic Church and then look at the document section by section. We spend a good amount of time talking about different types of dignity and how they are defined. And then we look at some of the things the Church views as threats to human dignity. If you w...2024-05-0250 minQueerly PopularDate Me, Bryson KellerWelcome to this week's episode of Queerly Popular. Today, we are talking about the 2020 book Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye. The book is about a high school boy who asks out the most popular guy in high school; who agreed to date the first person who asks him out each week; and how they come to realize that they really like each other. For the most part, I really enjoyed the book. I had a bit of an issue with Bryson being too perfect and with the ending leaving too many dangling threads, but I...2024-04-2550 minQueer PoliFaithChristian Hegemony and Political TacticsWelcome to today's episode of Queer PoliFaith. Today, we are going to talk about Christian hegemony and political tactics of the right using 2 recent pieces from Aaron Rupar's Substack, entitled Public Notice. The articles are from April 2nd and April 3rd. I've talked extensively in the past about how right-wing religion has affected the GOP and here we continue to look at that. We also look at how "white rage" has been used to get people to oppose policies that will help them, among other things. Here is a link to Project 2025, which is the topic of...2024-04-1851 minQueerly PopularYoung RoyalsWelcome to today's episode of Queerly Popular! Today we are going to talk about the Netflix show Young Royals which is about a Swedish prince who meets and falls in love with a commoner at an elite boarding school. The show premiered in 2021 and the finale aired on March 18, 2024. Warning, this is one of the longer episodes at almost 80 minutes, so be prepared for that. And if you haven't seen the third season, don't listen because I do talk about that season. I talk about the plot, keeping that part as simple as possible (you t...2024-04-111h 19Queerly PopularThe Charm OffensiveWelcome to today's episode of Queerly Popular! Today, we are going to talk about the 2021 book The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun. The book is about a contestant and a producer on a reality dating show who meet and fall in love. There is a lot of talk in the book about mental health issues including anxiety, OCD, and depression. There is also good representation of different sexualities. There are also a couple of characters who appear to be non-binary (both characters use "they" pronouns), but that is never specifically revealed. So I talk about the plot, t...2024-04-0456 minQueer PoliFaith14th Amendment and the 2024 ElectionIn today's episode, we are going to look at the 14th Amendment and how it is affecting the 2024 election via the case Trump v. Anderson. In addition to briefly looking at the 14th Amendment itself, we break down the decision with the help of Steve Vladeck, or more specifically, an article he published on his Substack page entitled: "70. The Shoddy Politics of Trump v. Anderson". In addition to examining the reasoning in the per curiam decision, we also look at how the Court's previous actions have caused it problems when it comes to this decision. I also e...2024-03-2144 minQueerly PopularSchedule Change!Due to Holy Week, our schedule has been slightly altered. Please listen to find out more.2024-03-2002 minQueerly PopularNever Been KissedWelcome to today's episode of Queerly Popular. Today, we're going to talk about the 2022 book Never Been Kissed by Timothy Janovsky. It's a lovely book about Wren Roland, a young man who has never been kissed, and his feelings for his friend (and almost kiss) Derick Haverford. The book is about their relationship and how they try and save a local landmark from Derick's dad. I love this book and highly recommend that you read it if you like queer romances like I do. I really appreciate the way Janovsky explores coming out in different ways. 2024-03-1458 minQueer PoliFaithIVF and SurrogacyWelcome to today's episode of Queer Polifaith! Today, we are looking at the Alabama Supreme Court decision saying that eggs which have been fertilized for IVF implantation are children even if not implanted in a woman's uterus and the pope's statement regarding surrogacy that was a part of a larger speech to ambassadors to the Holy See. I place these in the larger context of the right's restrictions on reproductive rights and the attacks on queer people. I am not a bioethicist, so these opinions are my own. I have not studied these things extensively and so...2024-03-0751 minQueerly PopularHidden KissesWelcome to today's episode of Queerly Popular. Today we will be talking about the film Hidden Kisses. Before I get into anything else, I made a mistake last episode. I thought this was a German language film, but it is a French film. Sorry about the error. Hidden Kisses is a movie about 2 boys who are caught kissing and what happens to them because of this. The film is basically evenly divided between Nathan's story and Louis' story. The stories parallel each other in certain ways and also massively diverge in others. The m...2024-02-2943 minQueer PoliFaithMy ThoughtsWelcome to today's episode of Queer PoliFaith. Today, I decided to just talk about some things I have seen that disturb me that we need to deal with, particularly on the political left. To sum it up, I make three points: Words mean things Obsession with ideological purity is a very bad thing We need to be willing to take what we can get now and come back for more later I reference the episodes with Billie about Facism and Christian Nationalism, so if you haven't listened to them, or if it's been a while, take the...2024-02-2242 minQueerly PopularBlaine for the WinOn today's episode of Queerly Popular, we are talking about the 2022 book Blaine for the Win by Robbie Couch, author of The Sky Blues which I previously talked about. Blaine for the Win is a book about a high school junior who is dumped by his boyfriend on their anniversary because he is not a Serious Guy (TM). So he decides to run for senior class president in order to get his ex-boyfriend back. In the process, he runs against his exes new boyfriend. Can we just say "Awkward!" I really love this book and Ro...2024-02-1548 minQueer PoliFaithElection 101Welcome back to season 3 of Queer PoliFaith! We start off with a discussion about the future of the podcast. Then we start talking about the theme of the season: elections. We discuss the differences between primary and general elections and types of primary elections (including correcting a couple of errors I made on my voting episode!). I then talk about the history of political parties in the US and why a 3rd party is unlikely and end with a discussion about the Electoral College. Our next episode will be some personal thoughts and reflections from me about t...2024-02-0847 minQueerly PopularThe Borrow A Boyfriend ClubWelcome back to season 3 of Queerly Popular! Today, we are going to talk about the 2023 book The Borrow A Boyfriend Club by Page Powars. The book is about a trans boy in high school who joins a club which he thinks is about cars and sports in order to prove to people that he is a "real boy". It ends up being a club where people can borrow the members as boyfriends and wacky hijinks ensue as Noah tries to join. The book is absolutely adorable and all sorts of fun. If you are trans, it is a...2024-02-0148 minQueer PoliFaithFiducia SupplicansWelcome to this episode of Queer PoliFaith. Today, we will be talking about the declaration Fiducia Supplicans put out by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith from the Roman Catholic Church. There have been a lot of articles and people saying that this is a massive and good thing or that it is the first step for the church to become fully welcoming for queer people. Unfortunately, these are overselling what the declaration gives us. In this episode I: a. Discuss my background and how it may affect my analysis of the declaration ...2023-12-2153 minQueerly PopularShared RoomsWelcome to the final episode of the second season about the 2016 film Shared Rooms. This is a short film (75 minutes) about a group of gay men in Los Angeles starting on Christmas and ending on New Year's Eve. There are 3 seemingly separate stories that end up coming together in the final few minutes of the film. It is a fun and cute film, but it is also very fluffy and shallow. There is not a lot of emotional depth or character development. Which is not inherently awful, but is something to keep in mind. I enjoy watching th...2023-12-0738 minQueerly PopularSomething Like..... SeriesWelcome to today's episode of Queerly Popular! Today we are talking about the Something Like..... book series. It is a series of 9 novels and 3 books of short stories about a group of gay friends (or rather people who become friends) centered in Austin, Texas. Each book is told from a different character's perspective and we often get to see the same event through multiple characters' eyes across multiple books. It is an absolutely fascinating, if flawed, series of books. We do also discuss some of the flaws near the end of the podcast. Check out the complicated relationships with t...2023-11-301h 00Queerly PopularAlways the AlmostWelcome to this week's episode. We're talking about Always the Almost, a book about a trans pianist and how music and friends help him discover who he is and why music matters to him. This is a lovely book filled with queer and trans joy, heartache, self-discovery, friendship, and all the stuff that being a teenager entails. I cannot recommend the book highly enough. I do also read the author's note at the end because it does a beautiful job explaining why I love this book and why I choose the things I choose to talk about here (I k...2023-11-1650 min
Queer PoliFaithFascism and Christian Nationalism with Billie Hoard, Part IIToday, we have Part 2 of my conversation with Billie Hoard about fascism and Christian Nationalism. We bring queerness into the conversation and talk about how queerness and fascism use each other, how fascism and fascistic ideas have roots in the early US (and even before), fascism in different countries, how the Weimar Republic was friendly to queer people, and there are pop culture references to Babylon 5 and Battlestar Galactica. It is a longer conversation (about 72 and a half minutes!) but I think it is well worth listening to, especially because we talk about the beyond scary similiarties between fascism...2023-11-091h 12Queerly PopularGeography ClubWelcome to this week's episode of Queerly Popular where we will be talking about the 2013 movie Geography Club. Geography Club is a fun (and relatively short) movie about a 16-year old boy, Russell, and his coming out of the closet. He finds acceptance and friends in a "geography club" that becomes a GSA. This is a fun and sweet movie, but is not outstanding in any particular way. I definitely enjoyed watching the movie, but I wouldn't rush out to watch it over and over. That said, I enjoyed that the movie had both Nikki Blonsky (Tracy Tu...2023-11-0241 min
Queer PoliFaithFascism and Christian Nationalism with Billie Hoard, Part IToday's episode is part 1 of an interview with Billie Hoard about fascism and Christian Nationalism in the United States. We talked about how and why they are intertwined, pick up on some threads from her first interview, and more. Our next episode will be part 2 of the interview. After that episode the podcast will be going on an indefinite hiatus until I figure out how to keep the podcast going. As always, please rate and review the podcast on whatever platform you listen to it on. You can follow the podcast on Instagram, Twitter, or...2023-10-2659 minQueerly PopularThe Sky BluesToday's episode is about the book The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch. Robbie has written a couple of other books and they are all delightful books and well worth reading. This book is abourt a boy in MIchigan who is openly gay and who decides to prompose to a popular straight guy. Things go off the rails before the promposal happens (read/listen for why). After everything goes sideways, Sky learns that he has an inner strength he doesn't know about and that he really can rely on his friends. He also inspires people because of his ac...2023-10-191h 07Queer PoliFaithVotingWelcome to today's episode of Queer PoliFaith. Today we are talking all about voting. We talk about why it's important to vote, some myths around voting, some ways votes are suppressed, the importance of being an informed voter, and more. This really is an important topic and I hope you get a lot out of this. Our next episode will be an interview with Billie about fascism and Christian Nationalism in the US and how they are intertwined. As always, please rate and review the podcast on whatever platform you listen to it on. You...2023-10-1255 minQueerly PopularI Wish You All the BestToday's episode is about the 2019 book I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver. The book is about an 18-year old non-binary person named Ben who is kicked out of their parents' house and ends up living with the sister who abandoned them 10 years before. The book follows them through the second half of their senior year of high school as they pick up the pieces of their life and create a new one where they are safe and loved. It is an absolutely beautiful book and I highly encourage you to go read it. In addition to...2023-10-051h 00Queer PoliFaithBonus Episode #5- Speaker DisasterToday history was made when Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives. The reason he was ousted was the Demorcats voted as a bloc for the motion. I think that this was a massive tactical blunder. In this episode, I talk about how we got here and why I think the Democrats vote was a mistake. Our next episode, on October 12, will be about the importance of voting and why you should vote. As always, please rate and review the podcast on whatever platform you listen to it o...2023-10-0425 minQueer PoliFaithGrabbagHello and welcome to this week's episode of Queer PoliFaith. I am calling this a Grabbag episode because I talk about a few different topics, all of which are important, but none of which would make a whole episode alone. So we are hitting a few things in one fell swoop. First up, we have a personal update followed by an update about the podcast and what will happen moving forward. Then we talk about a few topics: an update on anti-trans/anti-queer laws, ethics in the Supreme Court and in government in general, and erstwhile allies. ...2023-09-2848 minQueerly PopularAristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the UniverseWelcome to today's episode about the movie Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Couple of things. First, this is a shorter episode than normal. I loved the movie, but I realized after I started talking that most of what I wanted to say, I said last week. So rather than repeat it, I added a couple of topics to this episode. I start off with the movie and my thoughts about it. Then I talk about my newly discovered love of audio books and why I love them. I also read a selection from Aristotle and Da...2023-09-2139 min
Queer PoliFaithInterview with Billie HoardToday's episode is an interview with Billie Hoard. Billie is a trans woman, wife, and father. She is a high school teacher, an author, and something of an Anabaptist radical. A consummate generalist, she holds an MA in the liberal arts from St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland and she writes on topics ranging from fairy tales and C.S. Lewis to Evangelical deconstruction, queer theology, the alarming rise of American fascism, and the psychology of disgust. We discuss how someone can be both wife and father (loved this answer), what "eucontaminant" means, how queerness is a e...2023-09-1457 minQueerly PopularAristotle and Dante BooksToday's episode is about the books Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (2012) and Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World (2021). These two books tell the story of how Aristotle "Ari" Mendoza and Dante Quintana meet, fall in love, and navigate a relationship together in El Paso, Texas in the late 1980s. The books deal with their coming out, their Mexican-American identity and Mexican heritage, homophobia, transphobia, and changing family dynamics. I personally found I much preferred the second book to the first one, but that is purely my opinion. Our next epi...2023-09-0744 min
Queer PoliFaithInterview with Jeff P. CrimToday, I am very proud to share my conversation with Jeff P. Crim about how churches and cishet pastors can support and wirk with marginalized people. It is a companion to the interview I had with Jenny a few months ago. Jeff is a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the ELCA, a Hospital chaplain after 12 years as a pastor at the same parish (had been a pastor for 7 years before that), and has entered Doctor of Behavioral Health program at the Cummings Graduate Institute. In 2022, he ran for Hamilton County Education Board on a DEI platform. T...2023-08-311h 08Queerly PopularRed, White, & Royal Blue MovieWelcome to my review of Red, White, & Royal Blue (movie). I talked about the book in an earlier episode which you can listen to if you want. This episode is almost as long as the last episode about Heartstopper, but I am sure you will enjoy every minute of it. In this episode we talk about a couple things I needed to add to the Heartstopper episode, why we should love what we love, delve a little into the online drama of straight (or presumed straight) actors playing queer characters, differences between the movie and the book, how I wo...2023-08-241h 24Queer PoliFaithGroff v. DejoyIn today's episode, we will be talking about Groff v. DeJoy, a case decided in 2023 that dealt with the threshold for employers to achieve while providing accomadations for their employees' religion. Since this decision was short and not particularly meaty (29 pages in total), I also decided to talk about how the current court has damaged the separation of the wall between church and state which was set up to protect pluralism and individual's conscience. There is a great article by Ian Millhiser on vox.com that gave me the inspiration to talk about the issue. I also u...2023-08-1749 minQueerly PopularHeartstopper Season 2This week we are going to dive deep into Heartstopper Season 2. Two warnings: This is all spoilers. If you haven't seen the season and don't want to be spoiled, watch the season first and then come back and listen. This is a very long episode, almost 90 minutes. I try not to go over an hour if possible, but this one just had so much going on that I had to go longer. In this episode, we will dive deep into season 2. We examine the couples and their dynamics (particularly Nick and Charlie). I also talk a lot...2023-08-101h 26Queer PoliFaith303 Creative v. ElenisToday's episode is about the 2023 decision 303 Creative v. Elenis, a case out of Colorado where a website designer claimed that she wanted to branch out into wedding announcements but that the wanted to post a notice that she wouldn't work with same-sex couples since marriage is (according to her religion) "between one man and one woman". We talk about how the case itself is narrow, but the implications are vast. We also talk about some past cases, how the conservative majority limited itself to come to a particular conclusion, and how the dissent looked beyond just speech into conduct a...2023-08-0344 minQueerly PopularBoyfriend Material and Husband MaterialToday, we talk about Alexis Hall's books Boyfriend Material and Husband Material. They are a queer romances where two very different men pretend to date each other and it turns into something real and then they decide to get married and all the wacky hijinks that ensue. I really love these books and encourage you to go read them if you like romances. A lot of it is follows romantic tropes, but there are a few twists that I didn't see coming and quite enjoyed. Our next episode will be about Heartstopper Season 2 and will be on Aug...2023-07-2759 minQueer PoliFaithInterview Wrap-Up and Anti-Trans LawsWelcome to today's episode of Queer PoliFaith. Today we will talk about some technical aspects to the interviews, wrap-up the interviews in general, give some fun stats about the interviews (the most listened to episode blew the others out of the water in terms of numbers of downloads), and then I talk about the anti-trans laws that have been sweeping the country. Here is a link to the legislative tracker I refer to. I've linked to it before. Just a heads up, I do get pretty passionate and I do swear during the episode. I am not...2023-06-2254 minQueer PoliFaithSpecial Episode #4- Pride Prayer Service 2023This is a bonus episode of Queer PoliFaith. In this episode, I have decided to share the sermon I gave at my church for our Pride Prayer Service. In addition to the sermon, you will hear the reading the sermon was based on (Matthew 25: 31-46) as well as a letter that Bishop Leila Ortiz, the bishop of the Metro DC Synod of the ELCA, released regarding the wave of anti-transgender and anti-queer legislation that has been introduced this year. I note this in the introduction, but the sermon was recorded using my phone's sound recorder, so the...2023-06-1625 minQueerly PopularThe PromToday's episode is about the 2020 Netflix film The Prom which is based off of a musical, which is based off of a real life event. It's a lovely, lovely film that I really love and enjoy about the trauma a young lesbian undergoes at the hands of homophobes and "allies" who don't really care about the person they are trying to help. Except for one thing that I will go on a bit of a rant about (10-15 minute long, so longer than a bit, I guess). I have seen this movie several times and would really encourage you t...2023-06-151h 03
Queer PoliFaithInterview with JennyToday's episode is an interview with a friend of mine named Jenny. Jenny is an ELCA Seminarian, writer, public theologian, Awen of Stories (wait until you hear this one explained! it's fascinating!), Enneagram 2, Follower of the Way, and Nonbinary trans woman whose pronouns are She/Ella (pronounced eh-yah, Spanish for "she")/They. Jenny is a friend who I met through QueerTheology.com. We talk about a court case she was involved in and also what churches can and should be doing in the face of increasing violence and persecution of trans people and other minorities. I think you will f...2023-06-081h 03Queerly PopularDear Evan HansenToday we are doing something a little different and talking about Dear Evan Hansen the movie and the book. I talk about the book because the book has some added material that sheds some light on some of the events of the story. I talk about why I prefer certain things from the musical or the movie and why, a problem I have with the movie, a problem I have with a lot of fans of the show unfairly vilifying Evan, why this story resonates with me, the queer subtext of the story, and why I thought the movie h...2023-06-0155 minQueerly PopularDear Evan Hansen MIGHT Be DelayedHey all, I lost my voice over the weekend (sounded like someone who inhaled a ton of helium and was speaking very softly) and it is still rough. I'm gonna try and record my Dear Evan Hansen episode tonight or tomorrow, but there is no guarantee it will happen. Just depends on how my voice holds up. Thank you for your understanding.2023-05-3001 min
Queer PoliFaithInterview with Ross MurrayToday's episode is an interview with Ross Murray, a Vice President at the GLAAD Media Institute, which provides activist, spokesperson, and media engagement training and education for LGBTQ and allied community members, the media industry and advocacy organizations desiring to deepen their media impact. Ross uses the best practices perfected by GLAAD to train a new generation of advocates in order to accelerate acceptance for LGBTQ people, as well as other marginalized communities. Ross is also a founder and director of The Naming Project, a faith-based camp for LGBTQ youth and their allies. The Naming Project has al...2023-05-251h 00Queerly PopularPoseThis week, we'll be talking about Pose, a series in FX about ballroom culture in NYC in the 80s and 90s and the lives of queer and trans people who were a part of that culture. This episode is heavy on talk about characters because the characters are the backbone of the show and they have rich and interesting lives. I also talk about my favorite scenes (see the links below) and why having three main characters who were white in the first season was a mistake. Our next episode will be about Dear Evan Hansen (the mov...2023-05-1859 min
Queer PoliFaithInterview with Brian G. Murphy and Fr. Shannon TL KearnsToday's episode is the final episode in our series interviewing activists and how faith affects their activism. Today's guests are Brian G, Murphy and Fr. Shannon TL Kearns of queertheology.com and hosts of the Queer Theology podcast. Brian and Fr. Shay met in New York in one of those friend of a friend serendipitous moments. Through a couple years of Skype conversations, text messaging, and personal activism they realized that they could do a lot more if they worked together! Both have been changed and strengthened by their queer identities and wanted...2023-05-1157 minQueerly PopularInto the Lion's DenToday's episode is about the 2011 movie, Into the Lion's Den. It is an independent suspense/thriller movie about a trio of gay friends who end up at a redneck bar. By the time it is over, there is death, nudity (most of which it totally gratuitous), and some disturbing scenes. Warning, there is sexual assault in the movie. I talk about the sexual assaults and use the word "penis" many, many times in a short period of time. If either bothers or triggers you, please take care. I also talk about why so many queer movies have s...2023-05-0455 min
Queer PoliFaithInterview with Erin ReedToday, we have an interview with independent journalist and trans activist Erin Reed. Erin reports on legislation across the United States that affects queer and trans people. In this conversation we talk about her work, what keeps her grounded, and so much more. Her TikToks and tweets are very informative and well worth the follow. You can follow Erin on TikTok or Twitter (@erininthemorn) or on Instagram (@erininthemorning). She also has a Substack where you can keep updated on her work. I would also recommend bookmarking this spreadsheet which is updated about legislation which has been introduced a...2023-04-2754 minQueerly PopularLonghornsToday, we talk about the 2011 movie Longhorns. This is a shorter episode for a short (75 minutes) movie that was light on plot, but heavy on nudity. All 5 male main characters had full frontal shots during the movie and there was a good amount of sex. Just know that going in. If language or nudity bothers you, don't watch the movie. Want a hilarious synopsis? Here's a great one from IMDB: "Beers, steers...and a couple of queers. The Eighties come roaring back in this risqué and sexy comedy involving a group of Texas frat-boys, a remote cabin in...2023-04-2039 min
Queer PoliFaithInterview with Cynthia Vacca DavisToday, we have an interview with Cynthia Vacca Davis, author of Intersexion: A Story of Faith, Identity, and Authenticity. We talk about the book, why she wrote it, and how her faith journey has impacted and been impacted by the book and here experiences. This was a really fun interview and we both really enjoyed ourselves. I really hope that you'll enjoy it too. Cynthia is on Instagram (@cynthia_vacca_davis) and Twitter (@_CynthiaDavis). If you are enjoying the podcast, please rate, like, and review on whatever platform you listen to the podcast on. You can follow...2023-04-131h 02Queer PoliFaithSpecial Episode 3: Ignoring Illegitimate Court DecisionsTonight, we have a special epsiode about what President Biden should do when a court makes an illegitimate decision, as happened last week in Texas. I have been making this argument for some time (as have others) and it is nice to see more people realizing that something has to be done. We talk about how the courts get their power, why there is a legitimacy crisis, what the President should do, and answer the main objection to taking the steps that are needed. There are a lot of links here, but I wanted to...2023-04-1240 minQueerly PopularLast Herald-Mage and ValdemarIn today's episode, we are talking about the Valdemar books by Mercedes Lackey. This series consists of (as of this writing) 37 books, 17 anthologies, and 1 Companion (basically an encyclopedia) book that talk about the history of the world of Velgarth focusing mainly on the nation of Valdemar. There's obviously a whole lot to talk about in this episode, so I do my best to hit mostly high points. The Last Herald-Mage trilogy came out in 1989, 1990, and 1991 and has a gay main character, Vanyel Ashkevron. It is about his growing up, coming into his magical and mental powers, and...2023-04-061h 08
Queer PoliFaithInterview With Lee BlinderToday, we have an interview with Lee Blinder. Lee Blinder (they/them) is the executive director of Trans Maryland, and a co-founder of the Maryland Trans Resilience Conference. Lee is an Maryland State LGBTQ+ Commissioner, and they sit on LGBTQIA+ advisory boards around the state. They are an openly nonbinary transgender and queer Marylander. They facilitate transgender 101 and gender affirming workplace training for government, medical organizations, and private companies, in addition to leading Trans Maryland's peer to peer name and gender marker change program. Mx. Blinder is also a member of the Maryland Judiciary's LGBTQ+ workgroup. They have worked in servi...2023-03-3057 minQueerly PopularBeach RatsIn today's episode, we talk about the 2017 movie Beach Rats. Disclaimer going in: this is not one of my favorite movies. I don't dislike it, but I do have some not so great feelings about it particularly about the ending and how hyper realistic the movie is. I do think it is worth talking about (hence the episode), but I will not be returning to watch it over and over again. Beach Rats is a film about a young man from Brooklyn who grows up in a hyper-masculine environment, yet experiences sexual attraction to other men and h...2023-03-2344 min
Queer PoliFaithInterview with Robin LombardIn our seccond interview episode, we are talking with Robin Lombard about her work with youth, how we can help youth, the effect people coming out can have on youth (including people beiong thrown out of the closet), and much more. Robin (she/her) works with the MoCo Pride Center and Montgomery Country Public Schools. She visits GSAs in Montgomery County, helps run the Pride Prom, maintains a widely used LGBTQ glossary, and is a frequent guest speaker at local panels, workshops, and forums. She is also a close personal friend and I am honored to have her on...2023-03-1658 minQueerly PopularWere the World MineToday we are talking about the 2008 film Were the World Mine. It's a really cute romantic musical comedy based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. And it isn't at all subtle about it, after all a big part of the movie is the play being put on in a school. It's a fun movie, but there is a big problematic portion related to people's consent being taken away. Tune in to hear more. If you've been enjoying the podcast, please remember to rate and review on whatever platform you listen to the show on. I would also lo...2023-03-0945 min
Queer PoliFaithInterview with Mycroft MasadaToday we have the first interview in a series of interviews with activists about how their faith has influenced their activism. Today's guest is Mycroft Masada (they/them). Mycroft is a nonbinary trans and queer Jewish and interfaith leader with more than 30 years of experience, particularly called to pursue LGBTQ+, fat and illness/disability justice and liberation. Mycroft is a Fat Torah board member and a TransEpiscopal Steering Committee member, as well as a chapter author in the nonfiction anthologies “OtherWise Christian 2 : Stories Of Resistance” (2020) and “OtherWise Christian 3 : What Shall Prevent Me?” (2023). They created and run the Westminste...2023-03-021h 08Queerly PopularThe Thing About HarryToday's episode is about the 2020 film, "The Thing About Harry". It was made for the Freeform channel and is about 2 guys who circle in each other's orbits for years before finally dating. It's lots of fun and really cute. It stars Jake Borelli as Sam and Niko Terho as Harry. Like Love, Simon, I have seen this movie many, many times and love it dearly. However, it does have a big problem when it comes to defining pansexuality, particularly when comparing pansexuality and bisexuality. So in the episode, we tackle this issue and take a d...2023-02-2359 minQueer PoliFaithFaith and Politics, Part IIToday we talk more about how faith and politics affect each other, focusing mainly on the more progressive form of Christianity and left-wing politics. We do some compare and contrast with more conservative forms of Christianity and also talk about a few Biblical stories. I also explain why the podcast focuses more on Christianity than other religions. In two weeks, we'll start our series of interviews with activists about how their faith affects their politics. I think you'll find these conversations fun and fascinating. Our first episode with be with Mycroft Masada. Mycroft Masada (they/them) is...2023-02-1656 minQueerly PopularLove SimonToday we talk about the 2018 hit, Love Simon. The movie was based off of the book Simon vs. the Homo Sapien's Agenda by Becky Albertalli. I talk about seeing this movie 14 times in movie theaters and a total of almost 70 times since it came out. I also talk about why I love this movie, look at (and reenact) a few scenes (see the links below for those and more!), and some of the more problematic aspects of this movie. I also talk about how a very common criticism of this movie actually shows how well this movie did the jo...2023-02-091h 04Queer PoliFaithFaith and Politics, Part IWelcome back to season 2 of Queer PoliFaith! I am really excited to be back and hope you enjoy the show as it evolves. Today, I talk a little about how the show came to be and what to expect from Season 2 up until June. Then, we talk about how right-wing politics and faith have affected each other for centuries and how that has morphed into a merging of the two where they are inseparable from each other. We also talk about the effect this merging has on how people interact with the world and how they view...2023-02-021h 09Queerly PopularShelterWelcome to the final episode of the first season of Queerly Popular! Today, we are going to talk about the 2007 film Shelter, a film which won many awards at various festivals. This is in my top three queer movies of all time along with Love, Simon and The Thing About Harry. Although it is an independent film like Defying Gravity, the production values, acting, and dialogue are so much better (probably because they had more money too!). I cannot recommend this film highly enough. If you haven't seen it, you should see it as soon as you can. ...2022-12-2253 minQueerly PopularDefying GravityNo, not the song from Wicked! I am talking about the 1997 independent film of the same name. It was one of the first pieces of queer media that I ever watched and holds deep meaning for me because of that. The movie is low budget, the script isn't the best, and the actors are new, but for all that, it has a big heart and a lovely message about making things better if you really, really screw up. It's probably hard to find (I've owned the DVD for years!), but I do think it is worth watching if you h...2022-12-1552 minQueer PoliFaithMasterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, Anti-Queer Laws/Actions, and Season 2Today, we are looking at the 2018 case Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission as well as anti-queer laws and actions. We also talk about what is comung up for season 2 and how the show is going to be reimagined. I've been really excited to share everything with you. I hope you've been enjoying this journey with me and hope you'll continue to listen. If you've been enjoying the show, please share with your family and friends. Erin in the Morning Substack Masterpiece Cakeshop Blog Post You can send questions or comments to q...2022-12-0845 minQueerly PopularQueer as FolkToday, we are talking about the show Queer as Folk, which was on Showtime from 2000-2005. It was a groundbreaking show that also had many problematic aspects including a lack of representation in terms of race, gender identity, and socioeconomically; a relationship between an adult and an underage boy (he was 17, so not a child, but still!); and biphobia. Despite its problems, it truly was a groundbreaking show that many shows are indebted to. It showed that there is a market for shows with queer main characters and that queer characters on TV don't have to be sexless or t...2022-12-0151 minQueer PoliFaithRespect for Marriage ActToday we are talking about the Respect for Marriage Act, what it does/doesn't do, what cloture is, why the bill is important, and my thoughts about the bill. I definitely find myself agreeing with people who argue that the bill, though flawed in many respects, is worth working on and passing. What we cannot do, however, is give up after passing it because there is a lot more work that needs to be done. So please stay in the fight even after this bill passes (which looks very likely). I cited this article by Mark Joseph S...2022-11-2253 minQueer PoliFaithMistakes Happen2022-11-1703 minQueerly PopularRed, White, & Royal BlueToday, we are going to talk about the book Red, White, & Royal Blue, a 2019 romance novel which uses the enemies to lovers trope. It is a story about the First Son of the United States and and English Prince (not Crown Prince though) falling in love and the various travails and issues that follow. They have finished filming the movie for release on Amazon Prime in 2023 (summer, I believe). As always, if you enjoy this show, please rate and review on whatever platform you listen to it on. You can follow the podcast on either Instagram or T...2022-11-1053 minQueerly PopularHeartstopper ControversariesIn this special episode, I talk (ok, rant) about the bullying of Joe and Kit that has taken place recently that forced Kit to out himself as bisexual and that drove Joe to deactivate his Twitter account temporarily. Warning: I am really pissed off and use some definitely NSFW language (mainly f-bombs and using a euphemism for excrement). If that offends you, skip this episode because I ain't gonna censor myself, not about this. Next week, we'll be back to talk about Red, White, & Royal Blue. Please rate and review the podcast on w...2022-11-0335 minQueer PoliFaithSexual Harassment CasesToday, we look at 3 different cases: Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc, and Bostock v. Clayton County. We talk about what each of the cases established, what makes a work environment hostile, and how the law evolved to start protecting queer people based of the fact that they are queer. If you are enjoying the podcast, please rate and review on your podcast app. You can follow the podcast on Twitter or Instagram (@queerpolifaith) or email queerpolifaith@gmail.com if you have questions or comments. Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm...2022-11-0337 minQueerly PopularLatter DaysAnd here we go with what is one of my favorite movies. This movie was a huge part of my coming out story as a "there but for the grace of God go I" comparison. I love this 2003 movie because it gave me hope for my future when I was worried about what it meant to be queer and religious. This is a fairly heavy episode because I do talk about religious trauma and because suicide does come up as a part of the movie. If either of these are triggers for you, please listen with care...2022-10-2753 minQueer PoliFaithSame Sex Marriage CasesToday we will be discussing three cases which had an imoact on same-sex marriages: Hollingsworth v. Perry, United States v. Windsor, and Obergefell v. Hodges. The first two were decided in 2013 and the last in 2015. Please note that I do not talk about marriage equality. That is because there are people who cannot get married to those whom they might want to marry or cannot get married without being penalized in some way. True marriage equality is a distance off still. Next episode we will talk about Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc., a sexual ha...2022-10-2054 minQueerly PopularHeartstopper Interview with Special Guest ElvisI am so excited to have this for you! This is an interview I had with a singer/songwriter/Heartstopper fan named Elvis. I found out about him when he was releasing short versions of songs about each of the chartacters on Instagram and then discovered he had other songs on Spotify. We have a lot of fun talking about how he found out about Heartstopper, bonding over Elite (he is so coming back for another discussion!), talking about how he writes songs, what his favorite song that he's written, and so much more. This is almost 70 minutes, but...2022-10-131h 09Queer PoliFaithGriswold v. Connecticut and Romer v. EvansToday we are talking about 2 cases: Griswold v. Connecticut and Romer v. Evans. Griswold established the right to marital privacy that proved foundational to several other cases and Romer ruled that a Colorado constitutional amendment passed by the voters of Colorado (53% to 47%) was unconstiutional because it was based on animus. Both cases laid the groundwork for other cases we have already talked about. On the 20th, we will be talking about 3 cases related to same-sex marriage: United States v. Windsor, Hollingsworth v. Perry, and Obergefell v. Hodges. Hollingsworth was documented in the HBO documentary "The Case Against 8" and I wou...2022-10-0645 minQueerly PopularA Conversation About Heartstopper with Brian G. Murphy and Pastor Kari ParsonsWe have another special episode for you today! We have two guests with us to talk about the hit show Heartstopper. Our guests today are Brian G. Murphy and Pastor Kari Parsons; a pastor, wife, and mother of two teens. We take the oppirtunity to talk about the importance of Heartstopper, what it means to us, why we watch it, what impressed us, what character were our favorites, and so much more. You can follow Brian on Instagram or Twitter (@thisisbgm). If you are looking to hear more from him, listen to the Queer Theology podcast which...2022-09-2947 minQueerly PopularHeartstopperToday we have our first of three episodes about the Netflix show Heartstopper. Based off a graphic novel, it is the story of Nick and Charlie that tells how they meet and fall in love. Today I talk about what I love about the show (which is most of it!), what I don't love (how Tao ignores what Charlie needs and Elle's outing of Narlie), and some other thoughts. This really is my favorite show, so I hope you enjoy listening to this as much as I loved making it. Oh, and listen for the Princess Diaries reference.... 2022-09-221h 02Queer PoliFaithBowers v. Hardwick and Lawrence v. TexasToday we look at 2 cases, Bowers v. Hardwick and Lawrence v. Texas. This is a situation where one case directly overruled anothe case, in this case Lawrence overruled Bowers. We look at the cases, how Bowers almost had a different result, why Bowers was overruled, and more. Lawrence was one of the first cases to rely on a case we'll look at on October 6th, Romer v. Evans which was also used in the cases we'll look at the episode after that when we look at 3 marriage equality cases. Our next episode will come out on October 6th an...2022-09-1552 minQueer PoliFaithBoutilier v. INS and National Gay Task Force v. BOE, Ok CityToday we talk about 3 court cases: Boutilier v. Immigration and Naturalization Service, National Gay Task Force v. Board of Education, Oklahoma City, and Boy Scouts v. Dale. All three cases were blows to queer rights. We also discuss McCarthyism and its impact on queer people as well as parallels between Joseph McCarthy and a certain other modern politician. Remember, we will be back next week (9/15/2022) with an episode discussing Bowers v. Hardwick and Lawrence v. Texas. After that, there will be two weeks before the next new episode. As always, you can email any questions to q...2022-09-0848 minQueerly PopularA Conversation about Love Victor with Brian G. MurphyToday we have a special treat for you. Brian G. Murphy of the Queer Theology podcast is a guest on our show to talk about Love Victor! Brian is a relationship coach, the co-host of the Queer Theology podcast and the co-creator of the Queer Theology website. He also helped run one of the biggest Everwood fansites in the early 2000s. We talk about Victor's journey, Isabel's journey and some mistakes she makes, and some other topics. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to share this conversation with you. You can follow Brian on Instagram or...2022-09-0130 minQueer PoliFaithAbortion DecisionsToday we discuss the 3 major decisions regarding abortion: Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and Dobbs v. Jackson Whole Women's Health. I do also discuss my personal views about abortion as well as a couple of brief discussions of other abortion cases. Given that this is a very controversial topic, I wanted to make sure that my biases were perfectly clear, hence the discussion regarding my personal views. I do also think that the issue is more nuanced than many people allow for. As always, please rate and review the podcast on whatever platform you...2022-08-251h 00Queerly PopularLove VictorToday we talk about Love Victor, the Hulu show that takes place in the same high school as 2018s Love Simon. The show ran for three seasons on Hulu and is also on Disney+ now (in the US). I focus on Victor and his relationships with Benji, Rahim, and Isabel. I also talk a little about Lucy and Lake in the third season. If you want to see more in-depth reviews and more about other characters, as well as some other thoughts, please go to one of the following links: Some Thoughts About Love Victor [This is...2022-08-1856 minQueer PoliFaithJudicial BranchToday we will be talking about the judicial branch of the United States government: the courts. We will discuss the different types of courts, types of jurisdiction, the case Marbury v. Madison, how the Supreme Court decides to hear cases, and more. Starting next episode, we'll be talking about different Supreme Court decisions. Here's the schedule for the rest of the season: August 25- Roe v. Wade and other major abortion decisions September 8- Boutilier v. Immigration and Naturalization Service (1967) & National Gay Task Force v. Board of Education of the City of Oklahoma City (1984) 2022-08-1146 minQueerly PopularThe Importance of Having Queer Actors Play Queer CharactersConsider this part 2 of the discussion from the last episode. We talk about why it is important to have queer actors play queer characters, why having cis actors play trans characters is particularly problematic, and answer a few common objections to the idea. To see a schedule for the remainder of the season, follow us on Instagram or Twitter (@queerlypopular). Please remember to rate and review the podcast on whatever platform you listen to it on. And you can write us, queerlypopular@gmail.com. Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm. Learn how to start a...2022-08-0444 minQueer PoliFaithExecutive BranchToday we talk about the executive branch of government: the president, vice-president, and various executive departments. We talk about elections, presidential powers, the presidential succession, a few Constitutional amendments (including a doozy about what happens if the President cannot discharge their duties), what a President can do with laws Congress passes, and some other topics Please rate the episode on whatever platform you listen on. You can follow the podcast on Twitter or Instagram (@queerpolifaith) or you can contact us at queerpolifaith@gmail.com. In 2 weeks, we'll be back to talk about the judicial branch.2022-07-2848 minQueerly PopularImportance of RepresentationToday we are talking about why it is important to have people represented in the creative process: writing, directing, editing, acting, producing, etc. We also talk about some examples of representation (both good and not so good) and how it has changed over the years. The next episode will be about why it is important to have queer actors play queer characters. And yes, it really is important. If you like the podcast, please rate it on whatever platform you listen on and leave a comment. You can follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@queerlypopular...2022-07-2140 minQueer PoliFaithLegislative PowerIn today's episode, we'll look at Congress, the legislative powers, how each house operates, how a bill becomes law, and limits on governmental power. This is the first in a series of three episodes about the US government and the branches of government. Next episode, we will look at the exedcutive branch and after that we'll look at the judicial branch. If you are enjoying the podcast, please rate and comment on whatever platform you are on. You can also email queerpolifaith@gmail.com or contact us at @queerpolifaith on Twitter or Instagram. Podcast theme...2022-07-1456 minQueerly PopularWelcome to Queerly Popular!Welcome to Queerly Popular, a podcast about queerness in pop culture. This episode is an introduction to the podcast, a brief explanation of how it came into being, and about two pieces of media that I *WILL NOT* be talking about (and why). Our next episode will be in two weeks and will be about the importance of representation in pop culture. https://linktr.ee/mychelvandover- My Linktree Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm. Learn how to start a podcast here.2022-07-0716 minQueer PoliFaithSOGI, Part 2Today we talk about gender identity, gender expression, and some things to say or not say when talking to or about someone who is queer. We cover some basic vocabulary, descriptors around gender identity, why to *NEVER* use the phrase "preferred" pronouns or to *NEVER* add "-ed" to the end of transgender, among other things. Here are a couple of links I promised to include: Sex and gender. What's the difference? What's the difference between non binary vs. genderqueer? My Linktree- The various Powerpoints are listed on here as well as...2022-06-3059 minQueer PoliFaithSOGI, Part 1Today we talk about some basic terminology, different types of sexual orientation with a focus on asexual and aromantic terms, and some basics about being intersex. A couple of notes. First, I am not asexual or aromantic. All the information I got about asexuality is from https://taaap.org/learn/identity-terminology/. Second, I am also not intersex. All the intersex information is from https://interactadvocates.org/faq/intersex-lgbtqia/ and https://interactadvocates.org/faq/. To see the Powerpoints I used for these lessons, go to https://linktr.ee/mychelvandover and you will see links for the two Powerpoint p...2022-06-2355 minQueer PoliFaithSpecial Episode #2This episode discusses the Texas GOP party platform, how religion and politics mix to make something horrific, how "concern" for women and children is used as a cover for transphobia, and the transphobic new rules from FINA. Just a warning, there are a few curse words in here. Not a lot, but they are there, and no, I am not going to apologize. I feel very passionately about what I am talking about and it shows itself here. Click here to go to the CNN article I mention. Click here to see an...2022-06-2140 minQueer PoliFaithMy Post-College LifeThis week we talk about my post-college life including my coming out stories (particularly with my mom and dad), my shifting identiy labels, changing churches, and changing political parties. The LWBAT for this week is the same as the last couple of weeks: to understand how I developed over time which should help you understand how I view and understand the world. So our next episode will be out on June 23rd and will be episode 1 of our 2 episodes about terms around sexual orientation and gender identity. The second part will be out on June 30th so...2022-06-0954 minQueer PoliFaithThe College YearsToday we discuss my college years. Topics include my descent into traditional Catholicism, nearly falling into a second cult, a brief period of almost atheism coupled with a not great mental period. There is also discussion of my relationship with queerness and the only person I have dated to this point. Here are some links to Wikipedia articles about some of the topics discussed: Society of St. Pius X Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus Feenyism Father Leonard Feeney Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm. Learn how to start...2022-05-2648 minQueer PoliFaithMy Early LifeWelcome to the first full length episode of Queer PoliFaith! Here's what we cover today: What a LWBAT is and how we’ll be using it About my early life If you want to learn more about the Mother of God Community, click here to read the series from the Washington Post or here for the Wikipedia page. For more about the Catholic Charismatic movement, click here. Please subscribe to and rate the podcast on your podcast listening app. Please follow on Instagram or Twitter (@queerpolifaith on both). If you have any questions or comments, please contact qu...2022-05-1243 minQueer PoliFaithEpisode 2- The Leaked DraftWelcome to this special episode of Queer PoliFaith. Today we take a look at the hoopla surrounding the draft opinion that was leaked from the Supreme Court last night. What is discussed: - What a draft opinion is - The path a case takes after it is argued - What are enumerated and unenumerated rights - What does this all mean I made a mistake in the episode and misnamed the court case. It is Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization; not Dobbs v. Mississippi. I apologize for the error.2022-05-0315 minQueer PoliFaithIntro to Queer PoliFaithA shorter episode to introduce you to what to expect from the podcast, the schedule, and what topics will be coming up. To subscribe on another podcast platform, follow these links: Spotify Amazon iHeartRadio Deezer PlayerFM Stitcher Pocket Casts It is also on Apple and Google podcasts.2022-04-2809 min