forcing people out of the closet, lesbian loneliness, & Jill Gutowitz's essay collection Girls Can Kiss Now

Catching up on some hot take submissions from the past couple months, we discuss the politics of "coming out," especially within the context of online queer fanbases bullying celebrities out of the closet re: Kit Connor (whom we mistakenly call the name of an American Girl Doll in this episode lol), Becky Albertalli, and the misusage of the term "queerbait" in the current media landscape. Sunny complains extensively about the popular liberal queer assimilationist politics especially as mediated by the internet, and references the following books this episode— The Society of the Spectacle by Guy DeBord, Lesbian Choices by Claudia Card, The Persistent Desire: A Butch-Femme Reader edited by Joan Nestle, and probably some other titles. We talk about using the word "dyke," the loneliness of lesbianism and isolation of navigating the world as someone who doesn't center men, history of autistic lesbians, and online queer community vs. IRL lesbian spaces (and the lack of them.) We discuss an essay collection we both adored but that Renaissance connected with on a spiritual and psychic level; Girls Can Kiss Now by Jill Gutowitz. We talk all about the lesbian pop culture hilarity it compasses, as well as how earnest and genuine the writing feels. Jill, please come on the podcast! For media recommendations, Sunny really enjoyed watching an Irish lesbian film A Date For Mad Mary (2016) in their COVID quarantine era, and Renaissance raves about Tár (2022). Thanks for joining us for this episode! You can find us on Twitter, YouTube, Substack, Instagram, Tik Tok, and Letterboxd if you want to connect! Send your hot takes to thelavendermenacepodcast@gmail.com and support us on Patreon for bonus content and early access: https://www.patreon.com/TheLavenderMenace

Om Podcasten

Two overly online nonbinary lesbian communists of color (with gaylor tendencies) spew their opinions on pop culture and media via a three part comedy variety show: first, a discussion of a listener submitted hot take. Second, analyzing a piece of media we've both consumed together. And third, recommending books/movies/TV/music/etc. to each other. Renaissance is the film stan twitter user, and Sunny is the booktuber. We think we are hilarious and have the correct opinions, and we hope you can agree! Email us at thelavendermenacepodcast@gmail.com for your hot take submissions or business stuff. Follow us on Twitter @TheLavenderPod for live updates of our unhinged ramblings and @thelavendermenacepod on Instagram and Tik Tok for more of our short form content in between episodes. We also have a Letterboxd @thelavenderpod, if you're into that sort of thing. (Of course you are- we're all gay nerds here!!) You can support us at patreon.com/thelavendermenace for bonus episodes, early access, exclusive content, and merch, but we truly appreciate all of our listeners and love engaging with y'all on any level. Much lesbian love and solidarity!