A Conversation With a Gay Activist

In this episode, Blake Wilkinson, co-founder of Queer Liberaction, traces the origins of his own personal activism, and both he and Rick discuss the imperatives of such endeavors. Amidst a public that, by and large, considers itself already encumbered by enough daily worries, are activist demonstrations reduced to stunts that fall on deaf ears? Beyond an examination of how activism shapes the personality or, dare say, future of our community, this conversation explores the limitations of activism’s impact. Is the significance solely in the message or is it ultimately judged according to its reception? And how able or willing is our community to receive?

Recorded by Rick Vanderslice in Dallas on March 30th, 2009.

Queer Liberaction

Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance

Human Rights Campaign

Day of Decision (a national organization reacting to the California court decision on Propostion

Stonewall Democrats of Dallas

Wikipedia entry on Larry Kramer

His Cooper Union speech

And an edited transcript of an interview conducted with him on Jan. 22, 2005

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Misc.: Rubbing Mother’s Feet

While R.J. Jackson was working on the screenplay for his short film, Ice Cold Bitches, a strange thing occured to him.

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Dialog: Excess, JFK, Progress, Gated Communities, and So Forth

Starting with a book on the family through history, the conversation ends up mainly being about excess and progress, gated communities, the on-line social scene, overpopulation, as well as some assassinated president banter. Rick is kind enough to allow R.J. to drink the Guiness Extra Stout and bite the bullet with the shitty Old Milwaukee’s Best that R.J. brought over.

Recorded by Rick Vanderslice and R.J. Jackson in Dallas on February 28th, 2009. It’s Saturday…

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Salon: Sex and Marriage

Here we discuss relationships and marriage, as well as the standards and parameters that are set by our society and by ourselves. Can love exist successfully outside of personal exclusivity and how is happiness and power maintained within the roles that partners play?

In a nation under debate as to what qualifies as valid in terms of matrimony and sexuality, much of our social mores concerning these things have been openly challenged within recent history, at times defied. Aside from being due to what some see as a moral decline, the rest may be inclined to view the results as positive due to a supposed increase of what is still lacking to this day: honesty and communication.

Much of this episode revolves around openness between partners and between peers. Ultimately, what is there to hide? What lies between honest behavior and dishonest misbehavior? Yet, also, where and how does love, loyalty, and sexuality exist in the midst of institution and tradition?

Journalist, columnist, and author of Open: Love, Sex, and Life in an Open Marriage Jenny Block joins us with regular member, social/political observer Roy Calhoun, and writer/poet R.J. Jackson. Hosted by Rick Vanderslice in Dallas on February 22nd, 2009.

Jenny Block’s website

Sex Talk with Jenny Block

We briefly mention Fox News and its talent at simultaneously adhering to the tits-and-ass and moral indignation crowds. Not that gratuitious sex is hard to find on television, yet when paired with admonitions of sexual conservatism, it has an odd effect:

This video points it out well.

Local pastor Ed Young, promoter of the 7 Day Sex Challenge, not to be confused with Relevant Church’s 30 Day Sex Challenge:

His interview with Stephen Colbert.

Stonewall

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Salon: What Role Does Art Play in America’s Present and Future?

With today’s passing of a stimulus package already well under scrutiny for frivolous expenses contained therein, the rebuilding of our nation’s infrastructure is one of its most prominent intentions.

But, where will art exist within the course of this? How much will be devoted to sheer construction and energy efficiency? In our public consciousness, are the arts to be considered a frivolous expense?

Here, we discuss the average attitude toward the arts in the United States. Beyond the average, are there classes of art and do they belong strictly to classes of people? Where is our common ground and what must we do to realize that we are already there?

Featuring jill-of-all-trades and Executive Director of La Reunion Sarah Jane Semrad, and social entrepreneur and Executive Director of Dallas Social Venture Partners Stacy Caldwell.

Recorded by Rick Vanderslice and R.J. Jackson in Dallas on February 10th, 2009.

Sarah Jane Semrad:

http://lareuniontx.org/People.aspx

Stacy Caldwell’s organization:

http://www.dsvp.org/

Art Conspiracy:

http://www.artconspiracy.org/

The article about the need to stop making art so special:

http://lareuniontx.blogspot.com/2008/07/where-life-and-art-unite.html

Dave Hickey’s book about art, Air Guitar:

http://www.amazon.com/Air-Guitar-Essays-Art-Democracy/dp/0963726455/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234363594&sr=8-1

Resolana:

http://www.resolana.info/

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Salon: Is There Too Much Noise In Our Lives?

Featuring: full time freelance photographer and mother Carissa Byers and self-employed commercial photographer/visual artist/organizer of people and things Erica Felicella

In this episode, we discuss noise and excess. In a world where things unnecessarily beep and chime, what are the limits and purposes?
Garbage trucks blaring in reverse.
Instant messaging.
Feedback off of microphones.
We ponder what Erica mentions: the rate of acceleration. Where do we find our simplicity within the complicated world that we have made for ourselves? How do we regulate the obnoxious noises apart from the meaningful sounds?

Recorded in Dallas on February 1st, 2009, as the Super Bowl rages on somewhere far away. Hosted by writer Rick Vanderslice with writer/poet R.J. Jackson.

Carissa Byers:
http://www.carissabyers.com/
Erica Felicella:
http://www.cellaarts.com/

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Salon: What Does the Gaza Strip Conflict Mean?

One of the more truthful and applicable lines spoken within recent memory was ironically from a Law & Order episode, regarding a man that had been put to death for a heinous crime:

“It’s too much and it’s not enough.”

With the current war on terrorism, it is our duty to defend ourselves, yet we are obligated to realize where we fit in. As we are supplying arms and funds to Israel more than any other nation through the course of this particular conflict (among others), we cannot help but consider where our conflicts end and the others begin.

What we try to decipher in this episode is what the current Gaza strip crisis means to America. Is it a sound byte? Is it more of the same? Where did all of this begin and why is it still happening? Also, what constitutes defense?

Conducted by Rick Vanderslice in Dallas on January 17th, 2009 with writer/podcaster John Selig and writer/poet R.J. Jackson.

Outside articles mentioned or otherwise related:

A handful of essays on Gaza

Contradictions between Israeli estimates of the dead and those of outside sources

Full explanation of the Geneva Conventions

The ethical doctrine of the Israel Defense Forces

A legal brief by Al-Haq, a Palestinian human-rights group, on the war on Gaza

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Interview: Sayjal Joshi and Shad Kunkle of The Second City

Shad Kunkle and Sayjal Joshi, two members of North American improv comedy bastion The Second City, were able to speak with us before heading over to the Majestic for The Second City on Tour’s final in-town performance to discuss none other than comedy.

Recorded at the Buli Salon in Dallas Texas with Rick Vanderslice and R.J. Jackson on November 16th, 2008

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Dialog: Ages

Rick Vanderslice and R.J. Jackson discuss the discrepancies between ages, namely theirs, and what events or time constraints separate them. Is it determined by the decade? Moments when “everything changed”? As we approach what by all outward appearances is a new age for our government, society, as well as for the individual, how much of this is the dawning of a new day for us and how much of it is less than surprising.

“So few things are fulfilled; what are most lives but a series of uncompleted episodes? Our doubt is our passion and our passion is our task. It is wanting to know the end that makes us believe in God, or witchcraft…to believe, at least, in something.”

Truman Capote
Other Voices, Other Rooms

Recorded January 4th in Dallas, Texas.

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Apart of Generations

Between R.J. Jackson, a perfectly reasonable gay person, and Phil Johnson, the leading gay historian of Dallas, Texas.
This was a conversation between these two men, in the hopes of reconciling the broad differences between a certain gay man at the age of vacuous importance and a gay man of classic esteem. And it is his classic esteem that commands this recording. It is by no means intended to be an interview, although Phil’s perspective cannot help but have a heavier bearing. But what this has been about is a gay man in his twenties and a gay man in his eighties coming to terms with each other and theirselves, as explanatory as is possible. Gays in the military, gays on Broadway, gays of the status quo. Where are we seperate? Why are we the same? What of the others, including us…
“We could not fully succeed because there is too much to be said, but this was a positive move. Given a period of chances, Philip and I had found glimpses of the congruous delightful sameness that lays in wait for the both of us. I’ll personally be better therefore, given time, because and with him. Nevertheless, we are friends and history.”
This was between Johnson and Jackson on November 2nd, 2008. Recorded at R.J.’s home in Lakewood (Dallas, Texas).
Camp and scream.

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