Deep Dive with Shawn

Is the spirit of bipartisanship gasping its last breath? Today's conversation with Dr. Laurel Harbridge-Yong, Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University and an authority on the subject, might just surprise you. We’ll journey into the heart of American politics, exploring the ramifications of polarization, the push and pull of primary voters, and the strategic game of redistricting. We’ll dissect how our elected representatives navigate the tricky path between appeasing primary voters and general electorates, and delve into the concept of the primary premium, particularly in safe seats. Drawing from Dr. Harbridge-Yong's research, we examine the seismic shifts within the Republican and Democratic parties and the disparities between them. Also on our agenda is the controversial practice of gerrymandering - an exercise that shapes our districts, our representation, and potentially strains our democracy.As we navigate through these complex themes, our final port of call is the state of American democracy itself. We’ll grapple with the explanations for the rise of polarization, the role of money in politics, and the shifting perception of democratic norms. Is it all doom and gloom, or do glimmers of hope persist? Join us as we embark on this provocative exploration of American politics, with an ending that will leave you optimistic about the future of our democracy.Recommended:Is Bipartisanship Dead - Laurel Harbridge-YongRejecting Compromise - Sarah E. Anderson, Daniel M. Butler, & Laurel Harbridge-Yong-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

Have you ever felt the weight of fear when your spirituality seems to contradict your identity? This episode addresses the intricate relationship between faith and queerness, as we delve into the profound emotions and experiences that come with growing up queer in the church. Dr. Bernard Schlager, associate professor of Historical and Cultural Studies and Executive Director of the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion at Pacific School of Religion, joins me to share his valuable insights on this topic.We dissect not only the conflicts and tensions within religious spaces but also explore the potentialities of queer spirituality, how religious texts can be interpreted, and the importance of creating safe faith exploratory spaces for queer individuals. This genuine exploration of the queer experience within the context of spirituality and religion aims to instigate conversations, questions, and a broader understanding of the intersection between queerness and faith.What does it mean to find comfort and community in faith as a queer individual? We examine the need for open and inclusive religious spaces, the complexities of interpreting religious texts concerning queer identities, and how easily differing beliefs can be demonized. Also, we reflect on the invaluable role of pastoral care for the queer community, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and celebrating queer people as valuable members of religious communities. Tune in for an enlightening dialogue that bridges the seemingly disparate worlds of queerness and faith. And, ChatGPT does something the Bible does not - writes a parable in which Jesus explains to a young child why his queerness ensures him a place in Heaven.Recommended:Ministry Among God’s Queer Folk: LGBTQ Pastoral Care - Bernard Schlager and David KundtzMentioned:Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality - John BoswellNot a Tame LionLove Tenderly: Sacred Stories of Lesbian and Queer Religious - Grace Surdovel and Jeannine GramickPunch Me Up to the Gods - Brian BroomeQueer as Fact Podcast-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

In this episode I’m talking to Dominic Arnall, CEO of Open for Business, an international coalition dedicated to working with the business community to advance LGBT+ rights globally. Open for Business advances LGBT+ inclusion and creates change in three ways – by constructing and promoting the economic business case, by catalyzing a global business voice on LGBT+ inclusion, and by mobilizing local business leaders to advance LGBT+ inclusion. We talk about some of their initiatives, their research, the practice of corporate pinkwashing, some of the best and worst places to do business, how companies support the LGBT+ community in ways that aren’t necessarily visible, how the US right-wing attacks on LGBT+ supportive business could impact the community, as well as business practices around the world, Ron DeSantis' war against Disney, The right-wing war against Dylan Mulvaney and Bud Light,if we could be experiencing an emerging paradigm that pits an LGBT+ positive economic model against an anti-LGBT+ model, and more. Recommended:Open for Business-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

In this episode, I talk to  Dr. Javier Corrales, professor of Political Science at Amherst College. Dr. Corrales' research focuses on democratization, democratic backsliding, populism, foreign policies, and sexuality. He has also published extensively on Latin America and the Caribbean.We talk about all of these things – advancement of queer rights in Latin America, why these countries seem to be liberalizing in this area when other regions of the world are experiencing significant contractions on queer rights, which characteristics of Latin American societies and politics influence liberalization on queer rights, what makes Cuba unique on this issue and in this region, the role that religion plays in queer rights advancement and contraction, what signs indicate democratic backsliding, and if we in the United States are still vulnerable to the rise of authoritarianism. And, I also discuss the profound influence that Sinead O'Connor had on my social and political development. RIP. Recommended: Telltale Signs of Democratic Backsliding - Javier CorralesThe Politics of LGBTQ Rights Expansion in Latin America and the Caribbean – Javier Corrales-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

Increasingly, Russian citizens opposed to the war are fleeing their country, taking asylum in other places – around the world. A significant number of these folks are queer – leaving not just because of their opposition to the war, but fleeing severe persecution in Russia, as the country cracks down on the LGBTQ community. And, they’re landing in places that are skeptical of them because of the war in Ukraine. In this episode I’m talking to Maxim Eye-BAD-off, coordinator with Rusa LGBTQ+ - a network for Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States, their friends, supporters and loved ones. They provide informational support to asylum seekers and organize social events to increase acceptance and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people within the Russian-speaking public.  We talk about the queer climate in Russia today, how it has evolved, the feedback loop of LGBTQ oppression – how the anti-LGBT policies instituted in Russia are being mirrored in red-states here in the US, that then inform further oppressive policies in Russia, the war in Ukraine, how it has created a global diaspora of Ukrainian and Russian refugees, and how you can support the community. Recommended:Rusa LGBTQWelcome to ChechnyaWhat is War to a Grieving Child?Mentioned:The Idol-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

**This episode was recorded on July 7, 2023, one week after the Supreme Court issued its ruling in 303 Creative allowing some private businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ people.If you’ve been listening to the podcast over the past few months, you know that I’ve been worried about the safety and mental health of the queer community, especially queer kids, as they sustain broadside after broadside from the far-right, the Republican Party, which has firmly set the queer community in its sights. Hundreds of pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation have passed in Republican-led states – banning books with LGBT content, banning drag, banning trans treatment, and banning LGBTQ discussion in certain places. All of this stigmatizes and marginalizes an already vulnerable community. This, in turn, heightens not just the perception of hostility, but actual hostility and violence against LGBTQ-identified individuals. As you might know from my conversation a couple of weeks ago with Beverly Tillery of the Anti-Violence Project, this rhetoric and legislation has led to an increase in anxiety and fear within the queer community, but also actual, tangible incidents of violence against the community.On today’s episode I want to dig further into the toll this is taking on queer people, queer families, and queer youth. So, I’m talking to Dr. Abbie Goldberg – Professor in the Department of Psychology at Clark University, and the Director of Women and Gender Studies. A leading scholar on LGBTQ families and queer youth, Dr. Goldberg has published over 140 articles, 25 books chapters, and 4 books – including, most recently, LGBTQ Family Building – A Guide for Prospective Parents. She’s also written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Boston Globe, and New York Magazine.  We talk about some of her research, the challenges that LGBTQ families face irrespective of anti-LGBT legislation, but also the impact that this legislation is having on LGBTQ families and youth, the choices people face to stay or leave increasingly hostile environments, and how we can all, and should all, help LGBTQ families and youth in need. And, then after the interview, an AI assistant comes through in its support for LGBT youth.Recommended:LGBTQ Family Building: A Guide for Prospective Parents - Abbie GoldbergMentioned:Equality FloridaClaude 2-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

The Supreme Court ended its most recent term on June 30th and it was another blockbuster term. The Court made some surprising and some not-so surprising decisions. It upheld precedent in some places and smashed it in others. While this new Court is still trying to figure out its  character, the past two terms have made it pretty clear that this is a conservative majority that intends to reinterpret our long-held understanding of some important constitutional principles and in doing so, reshape the legal, social, and political landscape in the United States.In this episode, we welcome back friend of the pod, and resident Deep Dive Supreme Court scholar,  Dr. Sara Benesh, the chair of and associate professor in the Political Science Department at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. We talk about some of this term’s cases, the implications, the tenor of this empowered conservative court, and also the rise of the dissenters. And more ethics crap.And, also a teaser about a new Deep Dive project in the works. If you're queer and thinking about leaving the United States due to the spike in anti-queer legislation and violence, we've got something coming for you.Mentioned:A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. MaasHarry Potter SeriesDaisy Jones and the SixTed LassoThe AmericansThe DiplomatNashville-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

2022 marked the fourth year in a row that hate crimes – offenses against a person or property motivated by bias - had increased in the United States. According to the FBI’s annual hate crime report, most of these crimes have targeted Black folks, jewish folks, sexual minorities and latinos. According to the Human Rights Campaign, 42% of queer youth say the community in which they live is not accepting of queer people. And, this might for why 73% of queer youth say they are more honest about themselves online than they are in the real world.  And, according to New York City Anti-Violence Project 2017 report of LGBT homicides, anti-LGBT homicides grew each year from 2013 through 2017. And, in fact, the number spiked, almost doubling from 2016 to 2017.  In this episode, I’m talking to Beverly Tillery – the Executive Director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project about violence against the queer community, intimate partner violence, the influence that political rhetoric and hate speech has on incidents of violence committed against the queer community and queer people, and how you can help – both in your own communities, but also specifically with the Anti-Violence Project. Then, I'll tell you how white supremacists, organized religion, and the Republican Party converged, and why they want to dismantle American democracy.Mentioned:National Coalition of Anti-Violence ProgramsDrag Story HourNYC Against Hate-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

According to SAGE USA, a national LGBTQ advocacy and services organization for older adults, LGBTQ elders are 2 times as likely to be single and live alone than straight elders. 59% of LGBTQ elders report feeling a lack of companionship and 53% report being isolated. 23% of trans folks have reported avoiding going to a doctor when they needed to, because they were fearful of mistreatment. These numbers are a drop in the bucket. When it comes to healthcare and healthcare for LGBTQ elders, the numbers are far worse than they are for straight elders. There are a number of reasons for this, but none is because we can’t fix it. Rather, we choose not to. In this episode, I’m talking to Dr. Carey Candrian, an associate professor of medicine at University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine. She has studied and is a leading voice on LGBTQ elder healthcare and healthcare outcomes. We talk about discrimination in healthcare and the healthcare system, disparities in health outcomes between LGBTQ elders and straight elders, how to respectfully and effectively collect personal LGBTQ data, the limits to healthcare policy in righting past wrongs, the impact that hiding your identity has on your health and health outcomes, and what we might expect on the long term health of queer people, particularly trans folks, as a result of the sustained attack on the LGBTQ community.Mentioned:GLMA-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock

In this episode, Deep Dive is partnering with National Queer Theater to bring you a conversation with the three playwrights whose projects are being showcased at this year's Criminal Queerness Festival at the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts in New York City beginning Wednesday, June 21st, and running through Friday, June 23rd.  Acclaimed by the New York Times, the Advocate, and Thrillist – the Criminal Queerness Festival, founded in 2018 by the co-founder and artistic director of National Queer Theater Adam Odsess-Rubin and Egyptian playwright Adam Ashraf Al-sayeeg, has become an annual internationally focused theater festival aimed at lifting up queer and trans stories from around the world – with an emphasis on places and regions that might pose challenges for queer people and queer artists, for a number of reasons.  This year’s focus is on Ukraine and Ukrainian playwrights and stories.  Joining me today are the writers of this year’s highlighted works.  Danielle Levsky has written and is starring in her play War and Play: A Clown Odyssey of Survival, which follows two clowns - Vira and Nadiya - as they navigate the horrors of Russia’s war on Ukraine. This will feature at the festival on opening night, June 21st. Wotjek Rodak is the writer of the play The Chimera. A staged reading of this play, inspired by the memoir of Herculine Barbin, describes the reality of today’s Poland through metaphor - telling the story of an intersex person living in 19th century France. This will feature at the festival on Thursday night, June 22nd. And, Andrew Kushnir is the writer of the play The Division – which tells the story of the gay grandson of a famous Ukrainian watchmaker, who, in the face of Russia’s ongoing invasion, and in pursuit of answering big questions, confronts a contentious family history. This will feature at the festival on Friday night, June 23rd.Recommended: Spotlight on LGBTQIA+ Pride at Lincoln Center for Performing ArtsNational Queer TheaterCriminal Queerness FestivalMentioned:Critic Turned ClownWe Support LGBT Ukraine Fund-------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock