Alison Bechdel! Protest resources!

Hey friends,

Happy Pride! Hope you’re all hanging in there. This week on the show, we finally shared our chat with Alison Bechdel, a cartoonist best known for dunking on podcaster Hanna Rosin on Twitter one time.

Okay, fine, I guess she’s famous for other things. Actually, producing this interview is how I learned that many of my cherished friends—who, yes, are gay!—have never read the Essential Dykes to Watch Out For. Every time I learn this, I have to say “open the schools!” and we’re all tired of that joke by now, so maybe you should just read the collection!!!! And once you do, you can really appreciate the part of this episode where we talk about Stuart’s eggish nature and what Janis is up to these days. :) :) :)

Typically, people do not like it when I interview “cis” guests, and the lack of complaints about this particular interview leads me to believe that we all agree that Something Is Going On Here. And that’s beautiful! Thank you for allowing me space to interview gender freaks of all varieties.

Anyway, I love this episode. Yes, I went a little soft in a few places, but I feel like we got several fun scoops, and Alison weirdly also got a couple of scoops of her own. Also, there’s a bit of a blind item after the credits that you will almost certainly never guess the subject of… but friends of the show can find out upon request! Hehe.

Also! We’ve already got the transcript up (thank you, Quinn!) so if anyone wants that, it’s on our website. As a reminder, y’all also have access to the bonus podcast transcripts with password “detective” :)

We’ve got a lot of related Links & Stuff this week, so let’s get into it.

Protests:

• You’ve surely read all about the arrests happening at ICE check-ins across the country, as well as other ICE kidnappings and raids.

• LA protesters have claimed that their protests of an AC Hotel caused the hotel to kick out ICE employees. Cool if true!

• If you choose to protest, please take a moment to refresh yourself re: protest safety. If you’re planning to take photos or videos, please think very hard about that! (Also! Remember that you never need to sign up for a protest — just show up; don’t give anyone your info!)

• This is also a good time to remind everyone on the effects of tear gas on hormones, which particularly affects trans people and menstruation.

• There are plenty of ways to support our neighbors in addition to protesting. This includes sharing Know Your Rights materials and adopting a day laborer corner. The LA Times also created an LA-specific guide that includes many groups who need donations.

• Speaking of donations, I try to regularly support NDLON, TASSN, Make the Road NY, and a couple of local Oregon groups (Voz & PCUN). Perhaps there’s a similar group in your area!

Everything else:

• Only true baseball sickos should bother to click this Cal Raleigh Deep Dive, but this catch of the year is for everyone.

• Congrats, New Yorkers, you can now snitch on landlords for shady broker tactics. (Also please GO VOTE please I’m begging and so is Cynthia Nixon.)

• This Defector essay by a Spelling Bee Pronouncer is very charming.

That’s it for this week. Here’s your weekly Rhubarb.

Photo: Ruby sleeping with one paw covering her eye

And also Puffin.

Photo: Puffin sleeping fully upside down in a cardboard scratcher box.

Xo,
Yr resident gender detective