GSC Friday

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!

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.

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

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.

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!)

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.

It's been a minute since we had an episode. But John and Dean are trying to get back at it. And what better way then to explore both queer bating as well as the "Over 30 Curse" in the same episode we talk about K-Pop! John has a theory that when a female artist hits 30 they are either excluded or cast out of popularity. Whether it's by the actions of stations, labels, or critics, or just some social force that we all somehow cling to, we've seen it time and time again. Christina, Britney, and now Katy Perry. Who's album John and Dean absolutely loved, and yet was somehow both too much like the old Katy and somehow also not as good as the old Katy. And therein lies our problem. As much as John and Dean loved Katy's album, there were some very interesting moments where she is either expressing unstated bisexual desires, or is queer bating us because that's a thing that money people do to get more gay dollars. In two videos there are definite references to either Katy being queer, or Katy being in a relationship with someone queer. And while we love to see it, we also hate to see it. Dean muses on what Shawn Mendes was or was not saying in his latest song/video, and then launches into a rant about queer bating and queer representation in both old Hollywood and new. (John says yes a lot.) Finally we end on a great note, the rise of K-Pop in popular culture and the amazing (almost) new Mini-Album from one of our favorite groups, Blackpink. While they disagree on "Ice Cream" (and whether not liking is the same as disliking,) they overall love the the new release and can't wait to hear more! Don't forget to catch John on Live Stream celebrating the release of Immortal Dreams, and stay tuned for upcoming karaoke nights.

John had a rough day at work, Dean couldn't figure out how to record a podcast. Overall, it's kind of lucky we got this out at all. We start off looking at how representation matters in children's entertainment. (And we don't mean the classic "Guess What?" from she who must not be named. AKA J. K. Trolling.) Velma, according to the creators of the most recent Scooby Doo cartoon, was meant to be explicitly gay, and even have a coming out experience as she realizes that boys are not her thing. It's not surprising to anyone who watched the live action movies where there was just a tiny hint of gay undertones. But that's the real point here, we need to not have to do Queer Readings in order to find people like us in the media we consume. From there we move on to a Tale of Two Gay Cities...or at least gay neighborhoods in Chicago (Boystown) and Philadelphia (The Gayborhood.) In the first a petition has been circulating to update the name, as the entire LGBTQ+ community served by this area of Chicago, but only a small group of gay men seem to be 'allowed' to fit in there. This was especially poignant to members of the Trans community, who after years of being ostracized finally got a single crosswalk. But we're observing from afar here, and welcome those who live in this community to reach out and share their stories and perspectives. For us, our hometown is going through the opposite. Rather than trying to make The Gayborhood more inclusive, Philly wants to erase it entirely. First with a name change, and second by buying up gay businesses and turning them into overpriced housing. This is more than just a night-life problem. Gentrification has driven people of color out of their homes and cities and isn't stopping soon. Red-Lining exists, and what we are observing is just a small piece of the issues affecting members of our community, especially black men and women.

It was a hell of a week for trying to not be around people who weren't wearing masks, or who were wearing them improperly enough that it didn't matter. There's no "A" for effort here. From the Gym to food prep, we've seen too many people just not doing what we all need to do to keep each other safe, and it it's showing. So of course our eyes turned to Fire Island. We love naked men as much as the next gay but it's important that in our debauchery we also maintain the safety of others. There were some bad examples, and some good ones. Run around naked, just remember to wear your mask. After complaining about that, Dean and John try to figure out how Dean can have sex without infecting the whole house. His plan includes mandatory showers, and trade staying naked the whole time. (So far we're into it.) Finally we explore the next feature Queer Artists, Rina Sawayama. She has a mix of styles and a really cool rock edge that John appreciates. For a future episode we really want to get Black Rose Photography on the show, so check him out @blackrosephotog and send his work some love!

For at least the last year Dean and John have been talking about when we would get cats after we moved in together, and that day finally arrived almost a week ago. We adopted 2 little ones, Trixie, a flame-tail Siamese and Katya, an incredibly intelligent short-hair mix with black fur like a scar across her right eye. Of course we had to name them after our 2 fave Drag Queens. Like any proud new parents we bore you with the details of how pretty they are, where they sleep, and how John sacrifices sleep and sniffles to be a loving parent. Next we delve into Beyonce's Black Parade, which while speaking to experiences we can't fully understand, is a very important moment in music and culture right now. It's a great single, and it is full of imagery and references that speak to where Beyonce finds herself. Something that seems to also be inspiring a new Visual CD to be released on streaming soon. But it also speaks to the issues that Black Performers face in either being "Black" or being mainstream. Something Beyonce faced with Formation. That is made even more clear in the Queer community as Shea Coulee and others in Boy's Town held a forum and inspired some first steps in reforming how the Chicago Drag scene books and treats black queens and queens of color. A similar movement has started in the Philly community where John and Dean live. Black people make up the largest percent of Philadelphia, yet represent hardly any of the regular hosts in the clubs and bars. It's time for us to help change by listening and then by acting. Where you put your money has power. Do you know how your home club/bar treated non-white Queens. Do you see your community reflected in the bookings and hosts? It's time to make changes.

It's our first week in our new home and our new studio. So of course we have a cocktail and break down the health advisory from NYC that says glory holes, voyeurism/exhibitionism and other great kinks are now the new normal for us to stay safe and still get off. A timely and appropriate turn around for the city that tried so hard to root out kinks and such. And a great way to spend our time in isolation, discovering new things that turn us on. John is disappointed/excited that now more people will discover the things that he thought only he was into. Janelle Monae is our featured artist this week, who aside from being an amazing songwriter/singer/performer is also gender non-binary and while they don't care what pronoun you use, they do want to help move the conversation forward about non-binary individuals and gender in general. Dean relates to this being pansexual but heavily homo-romantic. Sometimes there isn't a great way to have a nuanced conversation. John likes boobs, but highlights why there are and should be so many different ways to understand our sexuality, attraction and romantic inclinations. While he doesn't enjoy giving pleasure to women, he could take a pegging like a champ. Finally, we recount how we screwed up on our first Instagram Live and the importance of fully charged batteries in all your toys. Check out BlackQueerTownHall.org and ColorOfChange.org if you are looking for ways to help support BLM and the end of systemic racism, especially in policing. John has been getting their newsletter and it's really helping him to learn more and understand just how much the white history books leave out of our own story.

The move has happened, but we recorded this a week ahead of time to make sure it got out. We can't begin without recapping what has been happening with Black Lives Matter. The police officers who also participated in George Floyd's murder were charged, and we hope that justice is served in this case. But the movement goes on, and we talk about how important it is for allies to make sure they are contributing in ways that are productive and fit with the organizers and advocates they are there to support. We recap then end of Drag Race with saw a wonderful Black Queen be crowned, and the end of a very unique season. Which leads naturally into All Stars which has been diversity challenged so far with its winners. But like this podcast, we hope that All Stars will be a much needed diversion when people want to step away from the very important social changes that we need to keep supporting and enacting. Along those lines, John Patrick if finally releasing his EP which has been 5 years in the making. You'll hear parts of it as the intro and outdo music for the podcast. Dean and John met while shooting the cover for his first single as well as the cover you can now see on all major music services with "Top of the World." John gives us a peak into his creative process and what made him write a song about going all the way to the top!

We recorded this episode a week ago, and there have been many developments since then in regards to George Floyd and a host of other Black men and women who have been brutalized and killed by the police and the systemic racism that controls our every day lives. Thousands of people have risen up to speak, to protest. We have dedicated this Pride Month to future episodes that continue to engage with the Black Lives Matter narrative (hopefully with the voices of activists and black queer individuals.) Our podcast is a diversion and a moment of humor. That may serve you right now, and if so, we appreciate being allowed to speak to you and hopefully bring a little levity if you need that in the current moment. We hope that you support the cause of ending Systemic Racism and the senseless murder of Black Lives, however you are able to do so. If you are looking for something to divert your attention for a few minutes, in this episode we begin with Lady Gaga and Britney Spears, both of whom released music today. For Gaga fans, John and Dean break down their initial reactions to the new album. It's back to the kind of pop that we are used to from Gaga, but is definitely capturing the evolution of an amazing artist. When it comes to true Britney Stans like John, the release of Mood Ring was not "new" but definitely a welcome addition to the re-release of Glory. For our Black audience, and those of color, the central topic today is far form news. But we needed to take our voices and at least share both the disgust and also the on-going nature of yet another murder of a Black man in police custody. Since the recording, the voices of the Black Lives Matter movement have brought more action and further consequences for those officers that murdered George Floyd. But that is far from the end of this. Dean and John take a moment to reflect on the history of Gay rights and the privilege that they now enjoy due in large part to the actions of Black Queer activists and the Civil Rights Movement. If you are familiar with the AIDS crisis in the '80s then most of this will be old news to you, but some younger listeners may learn a few things as John did. We are far from being able to give a history of these movements, but in the coming weeks we will endeavor to speak more about the contributions of Black Queer men and women to our community and our lives. In the last segment Dean and John take some joy in isolation with the recent advent of Cocktail to-go from major restaurants in our area. And tease a little bit about the music project they've been working on for almost 5 years now. We thank you for your time, and hope that it has been a moment of humor and fun. We ask that you look to do what you can locally to begin creating the change that is long overdue, and find ways to contribute to those who are seeking the end to Systemic Racism.

Last week we listened to the new singles that came out from Lady Gaga and Tove Lo, and it was a day for the gays. But before we get into that, Dean and John catch you up on life in a tiny, small, ever shrinking amount of quarantine space. Does John ever sleep? What day is it? Where are we? There's restaurants using mannequins to fill the empty space in order to keep guests socially distant, but how would that even work. And if that wasn't enough, smart AI sex robots are selling out so quickly that manufactures can't keep up with demand. Which leads Dean to try and explain how sex robots are the best new thing in the world. John doesn't take much convincing, a squirting, choking, powered Daddy is all he needs to spend his money on. But music is not far from our minds as we explore the new era that Lady Gaga is about to embark upon, as well as Tove Lo's ultimate relationship revenge fantasy, including a deep suspicion that Dean and John share about whether she may have had a Twincest moment herself.

We recorded this prior to watching tonight's episode, so hear how wrong our predictions were for the RuPaul Drag Race's Renuion episode were! Dean and John try to take on Wilam and Detox with a short trip down a Drag Race Stan podcast, before quickly and efficiently diverting into a rare "unedited" moment. See how the episodes' sausage is made. ;) John does a transition. Dean is a loss for word. John calls Dean old...again. We talk through whether "staning" is in fact a gay right of passage. Plus if we were teens now, which Pop Stars would we Stan? (Hint: John Patrick is pretty easy to guess.) At the end Dean and John try to decide if flip/flop scenes are hot, and then John tries to understand what Dean is saying about his favorite porn. Then the episode ends. This is what happens when you don't send in questions and comments. We love you, tweet us!

Dean and John have survived another week quarantined together. (No Couches were harmed in the making of this podcast.) And live from the South of France, a blast from the past, Devon Hunter joins in the fun. It was exciting this week to see J. August Richards, most familiar to Dean and John from the Buffy spin-off Angel, came out publicly. It's always nice to see "action" stars being able to be open and out, must like we saw with Colton Haynes a few years ago. That lead us to talk about our first experiences with "gay feeling" in relation to the screen and television. Find out why Devon was mad about underwear. How hot and steamy has HBO gotten lately? What happens when Queer creators make queer-coded shows? And how can Dean prove his age one more time by stumping even Devon on pop-culture icons from the 80s?

Dean and John are back to talk about sex songs or songs about sex, depending on how you define it. What songs make Dean want to get down? Which songs did John add to his Sex playlist? Does John call Dean old, yet again? And how do you jack off to porn whe

The show is back? We're alone, together, for weeks on end...it's not going well. John hates Dean's couches. Dean fell out of bed. And the only friend they have left is the TV filled with old episodes! But that's a lot of laughter and fun for you as Dean and John have decided to isolate, together, in a 600 sqft. apartment for the duration of this Quarantine. Enjoy the evolving metal breakdown with the same old humor and sass as ever!

Dean and Brendan take a road trip! Deep in the urban jungle they sit down with Betty Swallows, a new, but quickly rising, Drag performer to talk about the important things. Heels. Sex. And cute boys. Sadly there’s negativity surrounding drag,

It’s just Dean today! Brendan John is taking the week off after finishing his single and getting ready to promote it. Dean starts off by sharing why the podcasts started in the first place as he looks back on the previous 3 years.