Series Finale: Joy Silver Guests plus LGBTQIA+ News Roundup & No Kings Day

Announcer: [: 00:00:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Hello and welcome to another episode of Richie and John.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: We are back, as you know, uh, and we are better than ever, maybe as good as ever. Probably maybe worse, who knows? But in any case, we are here and we are bringing you the latest that you need to know about the L-G-B-T-Q community and the things that affect us. And there are many things that affect us these days.

am here, of course, with our [: 00:01:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: Oh, they're beautiful, especially now because the weather is changing and so we're having like nice cool temperatures in the sixties and seventies. Mm, and barely touching the eighties. So it's really getting to be a very comfortable time of year again, by the way, coming up later in our program. Today we're going to be joined by somebody who's very involved with the whole No Kings Day movement.

cross the United States, like: 2100

John McMullen, Co-Host: It's gonna be huge, and we want to encourage you to get out and, and take part in your community, or maybe you did, and if you did, we [00:02:00] want you to send us your take on how it went, and we can talk about that on an upcoming episode. So, joy Silver will be here later on in the broadcast to talk with us.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Yeah, no, that'll, that'll be great.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: And you know, the No Kings Day events are great. You know, they're, they tend to be very well attended. They show, I think, the world that we aren't all. In love with what's going on right now at all. And that, and that more of us

John McMullen, Co-Host: than not are really unified in trying to make the world a better place. Exactly.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: No, I mean that, right. And it's just, it is, it is good to see because as you know, social media tends to, to show these events, um, these No Kings Day rallies and marches and stuff like that. Because, you know, one of the real issues, thankfully we are not allied with the New York Times, the Washington Post, C-B-S-A-B-C, you name it, they are not paying our bills.

t now they are not doing the [: 00:03:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: not the case. Mm-hmm.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Yeah.

John McMullen, Co-Host: And so that's a word. By the way, if you bring up the media, I'll just make a quick point that, uh, this past Wednesday, it was an amazing day out in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC when a lot of reporters handed in their credentials and said, F you to the Secretary of War.

John McMullen, Co-Host: Right. Pete Ha, Seth. And told them, fine, if we have to cover the Pentagon, only as you say, we can then screw you. We're not gonna cover you at all. Which plays right into what I think has needed to happen for a long time, which is that the mainstream media should just, since the TV is Donald Trump's oxygen, just quit giving him the coverage.

John McMullen, Co-Host: Mm-hmm.

ut they, you know, it's like [: 00:04:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: But yeah, no, I agree. I think that starving him of, of that attention would be exactly the right move.

John McMullen, Co-Host: Oh, you know what? I think we should go 123 miles down the freeway to the west of me right now and talk about something that happened this past week at the Abbey in West Hollywood. Yes. So

Richie Roy, Co-Host: in West Hollywood, which uh, for those of you who don't know is Hollywood, but for gays.

. That was uh, a showcase of [: 00:05:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: I will just sort of have a brief aside here that MR is excellent. I use MR for my prep and doxy pep. It's very easy, it's very discreet and you know, I think depending on your insurance and other things, many times it's free. You do your labs at home, it's great and prep is super important. Um, and as is doxy pep.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: So I'm glad that they're kind of making the case. That prep is something that we should be thinking about. But this event was hosted by Bob, the drag queen, and had a dazzling, actually quite dazzling guest list. They had Cardi B, Dua Lipa, Matt Bomer, Kim Petras, Demi Lovato. Diplo was spinning music while drag performers.

Lipa hit to life. And then, [: 00:06:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: That's cool too, actually. Yep. The, the Injections is a really big new development that I think will be important for a lot of people.

John McMullen, Co-Host: And of course they have a sister, uh, organization as well called Sister.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: You know, I was actually recently in New York City and in Hell's Kitchen, and I walked by. A storefront and I was like, oh, it's the Mister, Mister has a store.

oked at the address, like, I [: 00:07:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: It's not fun

John McMullen, Co-Host: for us to see brick and mortar places doing stuff that is really a big mail order business. So it's kind of nice to see that presence in our communities across the country.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Yeah. Um, and I think the thing to keep an eye on with things like prep is, and we'll, we'll talk about this knucklehead RFK JR a little later, but keeping an eye on how they might try to tamper with things like prep, because I saw a story that, that RFK Junior is.

, that's, you know, a way to [: 00:08:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: The abortion pill next may be prep. I mean, you know, we have to keep an eye on this stuff. But for now, prep is not only legal, but the Supreme Court upheld that it, you know, that the, uh, affordable Care Act provisions that require it to be covered under insurance stand. So. Get your prep, do it however you want to.

t you are gonna be safe. But [: 00:09:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: that's where we have a pastor who is drawing condemnation for promoting violence against liberals and spreading false anti LGBTQ plus claims in a recent online broadcast, Christian Nationalist preacher, Joel Wein, told his followers, quote.

John McMullen, Co-Host: If you fire into a crowd of liberals, you've got about a 100% chance of hitting exclusively child predators. End quote. And I was like, no, no, no. I think he means to say, if you were to shoot into a crowd of Megas supporters. Because they're the ones I keep hearing about having an issue with either being on some Jeffrey Epstein list or getting nailed for raping some kid or taking and sexually abusing some teenager.

n McMullen, Co-Host: I don't [: 00:10:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: Webbon, who has previously called for the death penalty as a deterrent for homosexuality, uh, also repeated a baseless claim that 17% of gay men are you ready? Please have your birth bags ready. Eat feces now. Now, Richie, I know that you're a pretty wack guy and you're into some really wild stuff, but do you eat feces?

John McMullen, Co-Host: I know, I don't.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: No, I mean, I really, it's not, it's not on my sort of. Regular, you know? Sure.

John McMullen, Co-Host: [: 00:11:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: Duh. Including the president of the United States Civil Rights Groups, say that his escalating rhetoric represents a growing threat from extremist religious movements, blending faith, hate, and political violence. Those damn Christian nationalists.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Yeah. And there, I mean, it is a real thing. I mean, you know, we've talked about these kind of stories percolate up from time to time.

eople. The difference now is [: 00:12:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: And it's, it's not a nice feeling because what you see happening is just the, that really a year, two years ago was essentially fringe thinking. That was. Relegated to the dustbin of history is being dusted off and kind of re bandied about as maybe policy, you know? Um, so anyway, screw this guy. I mean, whatever, Joel Webb, you know, I'd like whatever,

John McMullen, Co-Host: shoot on his face though,

Richie Roy, Co-Host: but yeah.

e. Um, you know, and this is [: 00:13:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: This really feels like early 20th century. This sounds like Kellogg level, like, you know, sanitarium stuff. So RFK Junior drew sharp criticism after claiming get this, that circumcision may double a child's risk of autism. Speaking at a cabinet meeting last week, Kennedy said, children who are circumcised early have doubled the rate of autism and it's highly likely because they're given Tylenol.

lenol used to autism. While a: 2015

Richie Roy, Co-Host: No credible research supports any connection among circumcision, Tylenol, [00:14:00] or autism. Advocate stress that autism is a neuro develop advocate Stress that autism is a neuro develop. Okay, let's try this again. Advocate stress that autism is a neurodevelopmental variation, not a disease. And that support and inclusion, not baseless blame should guide public health policy.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: This is just wildness, the circum. Okay. Like, you know, I guess now circumcision like changes chromosomes. I don't know what he's, it's just random, crazy things. Like it's start

John McMullen, Co-Host: acting like I've got neuro divergent issues and, and like I'm some autistic person since I am cut.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: I is just un unbelievable to me.

don't know if it's by design [: 00:15:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Mm-hmm. Um, and it, I, you know, anyway, this, this story just again, is, it reiterates the fact that RFK Jr is, um, absolute disaster for public health for really any kind of wellness for anyone. And the idea all of his ideas are wrong, it's like he's 100% crazy. You know, it's like he thinks that, you know, raw milk is going to solve cancer or, you know, or whatever the latest thing is, you know, you know, I'm sure that he'll say, you know, that sauerkraut, you know, will help you with your [00:16:00] lupus.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Or just some dumbed shit that, like some magnetic poetry of words coming out of his mouth that is supposed to like guide health policy is just so demoralizing.

John McMullen, Co-Host: What is wrong with the way he talks? Well, I mean some cow kick him in the head. I'm sorry, I forgot that he had worms that ate his brain

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Well, he had worms that ate his brain.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: I mean he also looks like a leather coin purse that was left out in the sun for 10 years. You know, just the idea that he is supposed to. But the crazy thing is that if you look or was on

John McMullen, Co-Host: vacation here in Palm Springs for a little too long,

Richie Roy, Co-Host: if you look at the kind of the fever swamps of the right, they actually like show pictures of him shirtless and are like, this is a real man.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: It's like, uh, we have some good news from, we

the country wackos is anon. [: 00:17:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Yes. So teachers across Oklahoma are celebrating the resignation of Ryan Walters, the state's embattled education superintendent

John McMullen, Co-Host: known for his, he was the one who was, uh, jacking off in his office or at school board meetings.

John McMullen, Co-Host: Mm-hmm. You know, whatever, getting his jollies and getting caught. Right.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: He, or was it, he had like porn playing or something? Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. So Walter stepped down in late September to lead, to lead a right wing group called the Teacher Freedom Alliance,

John McMullen, Co-Host: which by the way, that group is tied to that other net job, Charlie Kirk's organization, I'm

Richie Roy, Co-Host: sure. Oh, right. Of course. Educators describe his departure as a moment of pure joy with spontaneous celebrations. Even a farewell party planned at the state capitol. Governor Kevin Stitt has appointed retired superintendent Lindell Fields to replace him.

s' initiatives restoring the [: 00:18:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: During his tenure, Walters attacks, teachers unions pushed to ban lgbtq plus books and attempted to insert Christian nationalist content into public school curricula. I'm trying to remember, was he the one that tried that, tried to push through an order for Trump Bibles for the schools? I think he might have probably, you know, he was

John McMullen, Co-Host: the one who was friends with, uh, with

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Chaya, right?

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Yeah, yeah. Brought her in, correct. Yeah. Yeah.

dercover investigations into [: 00:19:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: Anyway, in a Tuesday press release, Paxton claimed corrupted ideologies like transgenderism, and Antifa are a cancer on our culture. And he says that the probes are a response to the killing of right wing activists, Charlie Kirk, whom he called a martyr. I have a name for 'em too, but it's probably not suitable to be on at least broadcast television.

r right wing push to portray [: 00:20:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: Laura Meeks could attest since she used to fly, you know, B two bombers with. Nuclear warheads and didn't drop them on any Republicans.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Yeah. I mean, this melted candle of a human is just, you know, we've talked about him so much. Yeah. And I mean, even his own party tried to get rid of him. Yeah. I mean, he, he's just, he is, you know, this outlive, outlast, outplay cockroach of a human who is, and who just, you know, uses the power of the ags office to really just do terrible stuff.

gh things like subpoenas and [: 00:21:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: The stuff. I mean, first of all, transgenderism, I mean, come on. But like, you know, transgenderism and Antifa, I love this like, new anti, their Antifa is back, you know, Pam Bondy the other day talked about taking Antifa down, you know, from, from stem to stern or top to bottom or whatever, you know, as, as if it, you know, there's um, org chart for Antifa, you know, that they have, you know, a 5 0 1 C3, uh, you know, uh, it's just the dumb, they're just dumb.

ind of buy it hook, line and [: 00:22:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: This is, it's just the stupidity is just breathtaking every day. It is just breathtaking and. Paxton is no, no, no different. Speaking of being anti-trans, um, and being anti intelligent president, Donald Trump is facing renewed criticism after making again false and inflammatory comments about transgender people.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: During a White House meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose child, Sasha is non-binary. During the televised meeting, Trump declared quote, we have no men in women's sports. We're not going to take your child away and change the sex of your child. Carney remained silent as Trump continued attacking what he called woke crap.

s uh, noted that it became a [: 00:23:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: No one is like, literally no one is, is just like whisking a child out of school and changing their sex. Uh, it's just, I mean, this is the, they're eating the dogs, they're eating the cats level. Dumb. But Trump's framing, of course, deliberately also misgenders trans women athletes, glads. Sarah Kay Ellis says, Trump's remarks distract from real issues, which is his favorite thing to do is distract from real issues, adding quote, we all want belonging, peace, and the ability to care for our families.

it's not glad's place to be [: 00:24:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: I mean, I would be fine with a fuck you from glad actually. Me too. So, you know, a good, I mean we, yeah. Belonging, peace and care for our family. Sure. But like, that doesn't, that does not feel commensurate to the spewing bullshit coming out of this administration.

John McMullen, Co-Host: Yeah. The president of the United States of America.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Right.

John McMullen, Co-Host: You know, representing you and me.

that came across my transom [: 00:25:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: People with passports that are ex or you who are non-binary or trans or otherwise have valid passports that are not male or female because they have, again, for ideological reasons, instructed that the database that, that, that airlines and everyone uses to, to put in passengers on manifests can no longer enter in a U or X.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: They can only enter in an M or an F, and if they try to put anything else in, it'll kick it back. And so there's,

John McMullen, Co-Host: in Trump's case, they should make him enter an and an F because that's what he is, is an effer. But you know, again, it's just

Richie Roy, Co-Host: these little things they're doing, you know, these that, that fly under the radar.

But, you know, taken in, in [: 00:26:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: Well, the others and sisters are going to have sanctuary, at least if he is elected. A mayor of New York City. If, uh, Zoran Ani is elected, he is honoring transgender activist Sylvia Rivera. You'll remember her. We talked about. When she passed away, while pledging to make the city a sanctuary for trans people in a new campaign.

Co-Host: Ad mom Donny calls [: 00:27:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: Ma'am Donny says her legacy inspires his promise to deploy hundreds of lawyers to resist President Trump's anti-trans policies, and to establish an office of lgbtqia plus of heirs the candidate vows to expand housing and gender affirming care programs. Declaring New York will not sit idly by while trans people are attacked.

uote, in a time of darkness, [: 00:28:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: I mean, that's great. And you know, and it is, it, it's so important because it, you know, in this moment, obviously the administration isn't, is not our friend, but we had moments not that long ago, like the podcast that Gavin Newsom did, where he essentially, that's why

t from Gavin in a run for the: 2028

John McMullen, Co-Host: Yep.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: And we're, and we're just, I mean, we're just seeing also, you know, this slow weird creep tor creep being the operative word towards people wrapping their heads around transphobia, people who previously didn't, you know, a, a little while, a few months ago I saw this story that Malcolm Gladwell basically was like, yeah, you know, I.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: I used to kind of be pro like trans people, but you know. Mm. Actually I'm not, never was. Um, first of all, I'm like, who cares? Your books are hack, are hack garbage. But like, um, you know, we're seeing that, you know, people kind of, and, and with this thing with Gavin Newsom, you know, in an attempt to, I guess try to seem like a maverick or something, you know, being like, well, it's actually kind of complicated and like, maybe a problem.

ing people who are just full [: 00:30:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: Yeah.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: People are people. Yeah. So

John McMullen, Co-Host: give them the respect they deserve.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: It's great. So I'm, I'm really happy about that. Yeah, me too. And, you know, I think that this, this is a, it's an interesting situation, um, you know, with Zoran, because I know people on both sides of the situation, all of whom are Democrats by the way.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Mm-hmm. Like, like take, let's take Republicans outta the equation for New York City within the Democrats. I know, I know a lot of people who are very excited about Zora and Momani passionately. And then there are some who are really not, and it surprises me, actually

rmer speaker of the New York [: 00:31:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: Yeah. And I thought that was really weird considering how pro LGBTQIA plus Corey is.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Yeah. It's, it's, it's been very mysterious to me. There are just some people, and they tend to be Democratic machine people. Um, who, and, and it actually is giving me major echoes to a OC when she first came on the scene because she upset a huge, you know, her seat was really meant to be for a long time Democratic machine politician.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: And it was an upset and she, she unseated him and the machine was pissed about it. And I get the sense that, that that's kind of what this is about. Well, they should

ed from Hillary Clinton. Uh, [: 00:32:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Yeah. And you know, I think the thing that I, I, I find really weird, um, is. The, there is this desire, or this, this belief, this belief, um, you know, from a lot of mainstream democratic sort of strategists and thinkers, um, that is even today in 2025, about being scared of being progressive. That the way to win it is to be milk toast down the middle, you know, moderate, super moderate, don't scare people, but it's like, oh, oh yeah, Donald

John McMullen, Co-Host: [: 00:33:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Right? And who were they picking off? I mean, who, which maga people are they gonna win over by being like, yeah, actually, you know, we shouldn't have more housing. Like what Maga people, what RFK Junior Supporting Mouth Breather is gonna be like, oh, now that the Democrats think that, you know, we shouldn't have more free housing for poor people.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: I'm gonna vote for Democrat. Like, that is the dumbest. I don't know where that thinking is coming from. I really don't. I mean, it, it, it, it almost so. Archaic. I mean, it's, it reminds me, it's the, it's the Bill Clinton triangulation, but that was a thousand years ago.

John McMullen, Co-Host: That is a good question for you, uh, to ask our guest who's gonna be with us in just a few minutes.

b is working in dealing with [: 00:34:00

GLAAAD Ad VO: Do you want meet a family with a transgender kid?

GLAAAD Ad VO: Here we are.

GLAAAD Ad VO: Max loves to do back flips. Max loves to play his ukulele. Max loves to just be a kid and just be himself. When I found out I was pregnant, all I really wanted was a happy, healthy, whole child, and that's what I got. If you've never met a transgender child before, what I want you to know is that that child is no different than yours.

GLAAAD Ad VO: They have the same hopes and dreams and deserve the same equality as your child does. We tell our kids as often as we can, that we love them in as many ways as possible. There are some politicians who are trying to tear my family apart simply because my son is transgender. Trans kids don't have a political agenda.

ing for them. Stand with us, [: 00:35:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: Welcome back to Richie and John, and we're glad to have joining us the chairwoman of the Riverside County Democratic Party in the state of California. Riverside County is the 10th largest county in the United States, so there is definitely some importance to the role that she has in trying to help Democrats or, you know, progressives hold office, and also to win important measures like the one that is before California voters with Proposition 50.

John McMullen, Co-Host: Uh. Joy. Silver is back. We talked with you. Gosh, it's been like a year or so ago now. Can't believe it. Long. It's been a while. It's

Joy Silver, Guest: not long.

Day that is happening today, [: 00:36:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: So I wanted to have you join us for that and talk about why this is an important thing for as many L-G-B-T-Q people as possible to be involved with. And, and maybe a few other topics may come up because not much has been happening in the news lately, so

Joy Silver, Guest: too much has been happening, right? Yeah.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Yeah. I mean, so, you know, I, I think the, um, one of the things we were talking about kind of before the break, um, and you know, it, it goes to.

ited about his candidacy and [: 00:37:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: And it just strikes me that it reminded me a little of when a OC came on the scene in New York City. Hmm. Um, and that there is a, a chunk of the Democratic Party that is so skittish about anything that, that smacks of even slight progressivism, um, that they. That they just run away from it. And, and I'm just thinking, I, my question is in 2025, um, are we really going to win hearts and minds of MAGA people by being moderate?

icans, but I don't know that [: 00:38:00

Joy Silver, Guest: I think what we really wanna see in New York City is the Democratic Party come together to be able to get somebody elected that can go forward from there. And that isn't a crook, okay?

Announcer: Mm-hmm.

Joy Silver, Guest: So I think that's kind of the bigger issue, and what I'm seeing is that the divide and the dis unification in the Democratic party is not so much about the progressive issues.

Joy Silver, Guest: Remember now we have a lot of Jewish population who kind of sees New York City as a homeland. Okay, so to, to go further, a bit to your point, people couch it around progressive and moderate, but I'm not really sure that's the real issue. Maybe it is from certain people's points of view, do we need Republican votes to win in New York City?

exactly, but I'll just give [: 00:39:00

Joy Silver, Guest: We know that they're not in that space. Mond can make a business case. For why it's important to be progressive on things like healthcare and affordable housing and housing. I think that that would be a winning strategy for him to show that these items are indeed good for business and the stabilization of the workforce, the stabilization of having housing, the stabilization of providing service.

he equivocated, he was very [: 00:40:00

Joy Silver, Guest: In his own definition of it, which doesn't really place well in this timeframe because when the word jihad is used, it's usually because that is the extreme Islamic state of eliminating all other religions, and particularly the Jewish population itself. So from my perspective now, that's what I see a divide is that keeps the democrats from, from really unifying, he was unwilling to say, look, that's not what I meant by jihad.

pt the use of the word jihad [: 00:41:00

Joy Silver, Guest: So that I think is where we're at with that particular thing. And I think all of those issues around that kind of thing have served to dis unify Democrats. And I think the opposition has taken advantage of that in order to, to forward that. And is being a fascist worse than being a communist? I don't think that we can state that, you know, that doesn't make any sense.

Joy Silver, Guest: So I don't know if this is helpful, but I think that is certainly my perspective.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: And, and I mean, I, I think that it definitely, I mean the, the sort of the tinderbox of, you know, what is happening, um, you know, in sort of Israel and Palestine is, uh, does weigh heavy on the Democratic party and on on Democrats and sort of people having different.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Views. [: 00:42:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: I just No, I agree with

Joy Silver, Guest: that.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: And, and, and so, you know, it's in a way kind of this intractable problem because I've seen this, you know, long before the current moment. You know, I, I've read the New York Review of books for many, many years and. Questions about Netanyahu's government and Palestine and sort of, and Gaza.

these have been issues that [: 00:43:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: It's just, it, I know it, it's, it's a thing that exists, but it's just, it's so disparaging to me to see it.

Joy Silver, Guest: I agree. And, and, and I, I wanna get to the No Kings thing, but I do wanna say that in the setting, if there are two Democrats that are gonna run against each other, that's a problem. And Palestine and Israel, that's a whole nother story.

be ever. And so I don't see [: 00:44:00

Joy Silver, Guest: And that's, and Jewish people and Israel are, although it's a Jewish homeland, it's still not worldwide Jew. So the problems of the government of Israel are not dissimilar to our problem with having our president. And I don't think that that's understood in a way that it really needs to be understood because you can go by and say, wow, Palestine and Israel, well, what does that have to do with Democrats here?

nt that they had focused did [: 00:45:00

Joy Silver, Guest: This is not dissimilar to our problem with our current president. And there's not, doesn't seem to be an understanding of that because it becomes the Jews and that, but you know, the problem

Richie Roy, Co-Host: and you know, and, and this kind of the, this. Is all sort of, again, the kind of disunity, but the thing that we can unify around and you know, which again you are working on is no King's Day.

the words, right? Despotic, [: 00:46:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: It's just wild. I mean, like, they're almost like meshing, uh, you know, he, he's almost this sort of like theistic character to them, to many of them. Absolutely. And so, yeah, so the fact that a lot of us can get out there and say that. You know, we are not worshiping at that altar is really important.

today all over the country in: 2100

Joy Silver, Guest: Absolutely, I do. And that's an interesting thing that you're saying because at this rally tonight or this evening, it is what they've [00:47:00] done. What the opposition has done is give us a unifying moment that it goes past all of the differences that we have. So I do agree with what you're saying, John, and also what you're saying, Richie, because in that no Kings moment we're really talking about democracy.

Joy Silver, Guest: And what is our vision for as many people as possible to be seated at the table? I mean, I have been asked this week by other press around this issue on, for example, prop 50. Yes. On Prop 50. This is really the directive action for our No Kings. And it's so incredible that the entire country is working with the state of California to ha to help that happen.

aming IE, this strength that [: 00:48:00

Joy Silver, Guest: Indivisible of the desert. And I just want everybody to know is that we have been awarded by Palm Springs Pride. We've been awarded LGBT Activist Organization of the Year, and I can't tell you who was more shocked by it than I, because that's the city really seeing that we are not just activists, but we're advocates and we are bringing people together and people are having a seat at the table.

t now, we don't have a voice.[: 00:49:00

Joy Silver, Guest: We can talk about things, but we have no power even though we have a voice. And by the way, the opposition doesn't want people to have a voice, don't want people to participate. They just want them to be like them. And on our side, we're in. We are for the greater number of people coming together to actually have a voice and a say and a seat at the table.

Joy Silver, Guest: So I said, so I'm not really sure what you mean by this, but I do understand you do not want us to roll out and support democracy. And that was kind of my answer to that.

John McMullen, Co-Host: You come from a very interesting district because I think a lot of people who are in our audience, many people have traveled to Palm Springs and see it as being a very progressive L-G-B-T-Q friendly place.

have this responsibility for [: 00:50:00

Joy Silver, Guest: Well, that's true. And not only that, but the redistricting, uh, would also move, uh, Daryl Isa out of the picture, and this would be a tremendous boon for them. The area because then we would actually have some democratic representation for change, which is unheard. It, it is just so painful not to have a, a democratic representation.

Joy Silver, Guest: And I think this goes back to, and by

to be in Congress before and [: 00:51:00

Joy Silver, Guest: Yeah, yeah, that's a really good point. So, but the, the, the cult-like behavior, uh, becomes really critical because that cult-like behavior that, that in a way there's a certain segment of the population and I don't think it's nearly as large as people think, but that particular segment of the population needs that.

ing to us about, they didn't [: 00:52:00

Joy Silver, Guest: And although it was clear as day to we who have read Project 20, a lot of times I, what happens with peoples that they think, well, I didn't know they meant me. Mm-hmm. And I think that's what happens.

John McMullen, Co-Host: Yeah. You have a lot of veterans who live here and they've certainly been munched in a way that you know, oh, you didn't mean me.

Joy Silver, Guest: And we're gonna hear from some veterans tonight too. One's a Bronze Star recipient and another one was in the Marines. And we're going to hear from them about how they see things right now. And I think that's kind of, uh, exciting. And what we do with no Kings is to be sure to hear from many kinds of voices and many kinds of ethnicities and cultures so that people can see how large the unification of our values are.

is the missing piece because [: 00:53:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: this is, I mean, like I was thinking about, I've been thinking about this a lot recently, but it's like all of the moves that they, I mean, all of the moves that they make are about.

he day, about they're really [: 00:54:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: The table for them is really cis, straight white men and the women who support them.

Joy Silver, Guest: Well, let, let me take it a step further. Is it even them. Okay. That is sort of the first set of criteria, but as long as you're a pedophile or a rapist that's rich, let's take it to what they, the, the real section people that, but that goes benefits of this.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: But that goes to, I think, I think the, the, the true ethos of what their, what their thought is, you know, and, and it is that straight white men should not be held to account by anyone except to the extent that other straight white men care to do so. But it's like the idea that, that there should be, you know, accountability for, like you said, you know, sexual crimes, financial crimes, if you're a straight white guy, especially a rich one.

e Roy, Co-Host: I think they [: 00:55:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: You, they're not all, you know, the current president has talked even in his first administration about central casting, central ca People in power are white straight men who look a certain way or the sort of the licks that the women who are willing to, you know, sort of coddle and like cosset that worldview.

ut the kind of the worldview [: 00:56:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Because those are the exact voices that are like, are really people who are not, they don't have a seat at that table. They're not invited and they don't, and then it is by design.

Joy Silver, Guest: Hmm. It's so interesting and, and John, I'm sure you're, you're familiar with this, but there are so many gay men, I don't know what it is.

Joy Silver, Guest: Is it Stockholm Syndrome? I mean, do they really think it's not going to be them?

GLAAAD Ad VO: Mm-hmm.

Joy Silver, Guest: When it is time? I this is, and this is the, this is what happened in Germany, right? It was like these outgroups or these marginalized groups like the Jewish people who were really, really rich and or had fought in World War.

: I thought they meant those [: 00:57:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: Yeah. I can't, they'll, they'll people coming at me and saying, but nobody, nobody warned me because that's not true. I know that the two guys sitting here and you have been warning everybody for the last several years.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Yeah. And they'll, and they'll grasp at straws too. I mean, like you're talking about the sort of, and I think gay men in particular, like, you know, in the queer community, there's just a certain group, they will grasp his straws.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: They'll say, Hey, Richard Grinnell is part of the Trump administration. He's a gay man. They love gays. And it's like, have you read projects? Have you seen what they're actually doing? Like, you know, he's at best a token.

Joy Silver, Guest: Mm-hmm. [: 00:58:00

Richie Roy, Co-Host: But you're gonna hang your hat on that versus every single other thing they've done to slowly but surely chip away at your rights, your safety, your freedom, your ability to exist, to even be like mentioned, you know, like, okay, good for them.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: They have Richard Grinnell, they're also erasing us. Yeah. But I agree with you. I mean, like the, the fact that those people can, you know, that, that those gay men just unwilling, and those are also the people who tend to be the LGB without the T people, you know, are, are their, they're, and

John McMullen, Co-Host: just as Elon Musk was the person who bought Donald Trump's seat for him, Peter Thiel was the person who bought JD Vance's seat for him.

Joy Silver, Guest: Mm-hmm.

Richie Roy, Co-Host: Right. But, you know, but it's, it is so naive of them to think that doesn't, they're somehow exempt from

pitchforks come out. There's [: 00:59:00

Joy Silver, Guest: But when you are at a rally, you are experiencing the numbers of people. In other words, we don't get to see all of us the way we get to see us at a rally. We don't, we experience it in its story. We experience it when somebody writes about it. But to be in the room with the energy of all of these groups coming together, you realize there are so many more of us when we're united.

ought us all closer together [: 01:00:00

Joy Silver, Guest: Now, we had 5,000 people. And she said, I can't believe that I'm getting this value from this group who's just loving me in this moment. Mean she was just taken aback. And I think it's very important for these different generations of people, for the different ethnicities and cultures to just really be in a room with each other in a place that they may never really cross necessarily.

John McMullen, Co-Host: Yeah. Yeah.

Joy Silver, Guest: And I think

the ngl tfs, uh, out in the [: 01:01:00

John McMullen, Co-Host: And that was the first time I met Elizabeth Burch. And at the time she wasn't with the HRC, she was the Chief Litigation Counsel at Apple Computer. And I remember listening to her and to Michelangelo Selli at that event. And when I was flying home, all I could think about is how I went from being this person who like wanted nothing to do with activists, to God helped the first 10 people who get in my face after being at this conference.

John McMullen, Co-Host: And I think that people will find themselves really energized by attending these no Kings rallies and find themselves doing something that they might've thought they'd never be capable of. And, and, you know, being passionate with their family, their friends, their coworkers, about what we need to do. Uh, in these next election cycles.

gether and they see how many [: 01:02:00

Joy Silver, Guest: They didn't even know GLBT. That wasn't even, those letters weren't even associated together at that point in time. But that first one, I never knew there were so many gay people. And when I saw the magnitude of a New York, my first New York Gay Pride March, and I was very young, I was like, wow. And from that moment on, the power that it gave me in knowing that I count.

and where I stood, and that [: 01:03:00

Joy Silver, Guest: You be there at four o'clock. We wanna see you. And remember, this needs you. We need you. We need each other because it's either all of us or it's going to be none of us.

John McMullen, Co-Host: Well, whatever community you're in across the country, Google today, if you're listening or watching us on Saturday, where your communities, no Kings Rally is going to be held and go participate in it if you can, um, and send us a picture.

John McMullen, Co-Host: Of you there. We'd love to see that. And I think that's gonna pretty much wrap it for this episode of Richie and John Joy, thank you so much for coming back and joining us. I look forward to our doing it again.

Joy Silver, Guest: Yes, thank you. Thank you, Richie. Thank you, John. It's a pleasure. And I'll see you evening.

John McMullen, Co-Host: All right.

ANNOUNCER: On behalf of the Mutual Broadcasting System and the Q-N-N, thank you for listening to this episode of Richie and John. This concludes this series. But, stay connected to Mutual QNN dot com for details on upcoming podcasts that will focus on and highlight the stories that have an impact on the LGBTQIA-Plus Community. For more information, write to info at mutual broadcasting system dot com.