Episode 3

Eric: 0:05

Hello and welcome to the Q lounge podcast. We are your hosts. I'm Eric

Gil: 0:09

I'm Gil.

Eric: 0:11

Join us as we discuss news stories and life situations. As they relate to the LGBTQIA plus experience, please visit us@theqloungepodcast.com and hit that subscribe button or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, and welcome to another episode of the Q lounge. I'm Eric and I'm Gil today. We wanted to check in on everyone and see how everyone's doing. There's so much going on in this world. And we wanted to see how everyone's coping. I want to talk a little bit about Chadwick Bozeman. in case people don't know, he passed away, he was 43 and passed away from colon cancer. He had been battling for a few years. I believe four years, five years, four to five years. And cancer is just a really awful thing. I know I have colon cancer that runs in my family as well he was a very inspiring person. He did a lot for the movement and to help fight for equality. He also, if you just think about the power of him being Black Panther and him. Making that movie, knowing that he was sick and how selfless he was, Black children will forever be able to identify with a superhero and have someone that they can identify with and be like, I can be that too. And I think that's a beautiful thing because he was such a selfless person and now generations of Children will always have that person to look up to and identify with

Gil: 1:31

nicely stated

Eric: 1:32

Thank you. I know that. Things can be really hard with the pandemic going on and all the racial and social injustices happening. So just wanting to do a mental check and see how everything's going for everyone. So how are you Gil, how are you coping with all of this? Let's start with COVID.

Gil: 1:48

COVID she unexpectedly came through for this year. it's definitely, it's been interesting. I must say with COVID, I feel like it's almost a resetting on everyone. I think it's forced people to really look at where they're at in their life, either good or bad. I think it's, at least for me, like I said, I started learning how to bake. I've learned how to penny pinch yes. Never baked before, definitely, penny pinching to a degree, or at least I would say financially aware. I got to save a lot of money and commute, so I realized how expensive it is to commute in and out of the city here in the Bay area. reconnecting with friends. It was nice. Realizing how gray my hair is become from working in the stress level. It has been a lot of self care, I would say I've definitely learned how to take care of my skin a lot better, I use Origins.

Eric: 2:43

I

Gil: 2:43

love origins. It's a good problem. Yes. And it's just, it's been very. Interestingly, it's like slowing down to forcing me to, smell the flowers along the route. So I think a lot of the times I'm like plowing right through or I'm like, ah, out my way. but it's been interesting. I must say,

Eric: 3:00

how is cause you're in the Bay area? So how is life in the Bay amongst the pandemic?

Gil: 3:05

Yeah, it's a shift. I could tell you that, it leads from.

Eric: 3:10

I have a few other friends that live in the Bay area and they're like, there is no one on the streets it's like completely bare. I don't know if it's still that way, but that was like, as a, if that was, like a month or two ago that I heard all that. But go ahead. Sorry.

Gil: 3:24

It's very it's peculiar because San Francisco obviously has 900,000 people in the city, but it still feels like a ghost town because of the influx of tourists or people like myself commuting in and out of the city for work that it's empty. it's very empty. It's sad in a lot of ways because you're seeing, some areas that are historically had drug issues or homelessness. It's not like that. The Tenderloin specifically. It's just, it's sad when I drive by it every day, it's Holy mother, it's something I've never seen in my entire life growing up here. but it's definitely skyrocketed during COVID. it's wonderful not having traffic. I drive into the city, which I would never do a pre COVID.

Eric: 4:10

Yeah. Because you'll be waiting exactly four hours just to get. 10 miles maybe.

Gil: 4:15

Yeah, exactly. And relatively speaking, people out here at least believe in science and the mask is not so much of an

Eric: 4:24

issue. Depends on what part of California you're in. But yeah, when you're at that, you're in there.

Gil: 4:31

And then there's

Eric: 4:32

them,

Gil: 4:32

cause I know in the Valley, when I was going up to Sacramento and all that, they don't acknowledge anything, to save their life. So that was to me very odd, but it's definitely been different, but people have definitely been at least from my, I'm in sales, I retail. So I noticed people are shopping more in their local markets. Which is great for those cities that depend on that economy. And, for us, it's just odd. it's so weird.

Eric: 4:57

Well, California is spiking again. Aren't they,

Gil: 5:01

we finally went down a little bit, just a little bit more steady. Yeah. But there was a while in July when it spiked, it was, that was a nightmare. I was like, Oh crap, here we go. My hair is so long right now we need the salons to open. Correctly

Eric: 5:14

correctly, because I thought I had seen a graphic that showed you guys in the red, but

Gil: 5:19

we're always going to be the red. I blame. So Cal that's just me. That's our Florida,

Eric: 5:27

the orange County Newport beach area.

Gil: 5:29

Oh dear God.

Eric: 5:30

No offense, anyone from Orange County or Newport

Gil: 5:33

I love the beaches down there, I'll take that back.

Eric: 5:38

And I know you guys can't see him, but his hair is not that long. It's long for him, but I think his hair might reach the top of his eyebrows.

Gil: 5:50

How about you, how are you doing? How are you holding up with COVID since it happened?

Eric: 5:54

Well like I said, in our initial episode, I personally have been really great and it's been awesome for me. But I know it's been really stressful for a lot of other people. There's a lot of uncertainty. I have gone back to work now, so there's just all those precautions that you have to take when going back to work and being around the public. So I'm always masked when I'm out and about. And. Other than that though. I'm trying to keep in my peaceful frame of mind. Like I've been the pretty much the whole time there's I don't want to say there's a lot of resistance, but there's a decent amount of resistance out here about wearing masks and that's irritating, but. I can just see what I can do for myself. And I wear my mask and the people, most of the people I'm around typically wear masks as well. I'm not around a whole lot of people though, cause you really can't be right now. And yeah, I mean it's New Mexico. It was fine. We're going down now. Although today we had some weird spike of like over 200 cases, which. Isn't really a lot compared to a lot of other States. but we've had, we were like in the seventies for a while. So now it's like up and down, but we're still more declining than anything else. So that's a good thing. Part of the reason why the state's not declining as much as it could is because there's parts of Southern New Mexico that don't believe in science and don't. believe that it's a true thing happening and it's going against their rights to have to wear a mask, which I think is bullshit. But if we're not going to wear masks because it goes against our rights. Then why are we wearing a seatbelt? When we drive a car?

Gil: 7:28

those people could inform the 183,000 people who passed away and just let the families know it does that exist, but that's their cross to bear now.

Eric: 7:38

so there's that going on? COVID itself hasn't really bothered me per se. it's weird. I feel like you have two reactions to it. Two extreme reactions to it. There's probably there's some in between as well, but you'll have the people who are chill and just doing their thing and coping really well, like I am. And then you have the people who are, it's bringing out the worst in people. And you're seeing how selfish, people really are with who they are and how important they think they are. Yes. And I think that's unfortunate. And we're getting exposed to a lot of that personality, which I don't necessarily care for, and I try not to be around it. So I am being just really picky with who I allow into my conversation. Bubbles, not even a personal bubble, but even around conversation. I guess that's how I am with COVID. It's hasn't been. A big thing for me, but I'm not trying to downplay it. I think it's a very serious situation. And I think that our current administration in the white house totally fucked us over as a country. And I think that we are now, like the laughingstock of the world. And there's over 180,000. people who've passed away due to this because. Certain people can't get their heads out of their fucking asses

Gil: 8:54

thankfully we have an opportunity this November to get rid of the situation course. Correct. And get this going, cause I'm sure it is much needed.

Eric: 9:05

Yes. I think it is much needed. And since you are in the Bay area, I think you should try to reach out to Kamala Harris's, office and see what she wants to let you do an episode with us. You can wish and hope, but yeah, COVID overall. when I look at it from a personal standpoint, I'm okay with it. But as far as like how I'm dealing with it, I'm not okay with the fact that it's out there and that it's affecting the world and this country. The way that it is that has me really upset and really sad. But, like I said, I'm an introvert so it's not unusual for me to just be isolated and chill at home anyways. But I know that there's a lot of people who are struggling with it because they need that interaction. They need that socialization extroverts definitely need to be amongst people. I know it's also triggering a lot of people's, depression. And anxiety. It's also triggering a lot of addiction and that's. Really sad. And I think that's really unfortunate, but I understand it. I've personally never dealt with addiction or substance addiction, but I have dealt a lot with depression as, I do suffer from depression. So the fact that I haven't been slipping in as much is really awkward for me, But I'm not questioning it. I'm happy that I haven't been slipping into depression. I have minor triggers every once in a while, but they aren't completely debilitating, like they have been in the past. So that's where I'm at so we can get into a further discussion on depression later, if you want. I right now, I'm really keyed up on what's going on with the racism in this country. I'm floored and I shouldn't be because it's always been there, but it's. Just fucking maddening. I don't even know how to say other than it pisses me off. It's completely unacceptable. Yeah.

Gil: 10:55

I was gonna say it's definitely COVID has done something to this. Like I said, it's woken up a lot of things that we already knew about ourselves, some of the I, I, I in America. but definitely the racism part has. It's reared, its ugly head. it's out and alive. And I think there was that, Oh, when Obama came in, racism is magically gone. And I think that was the ignorance within, even within the left to assume it to be gone. But Trump was the exact to me, the counterpoint to the situation. It was there.

Eric: 11:28

It's always been there. I don't know that anyone thought it was gone. And I don't think you're trying to say that it was gone, but, they

Gil: 11:34

thought

Eric: 11:34

it was muffled, it was less. the one thing I will say about Trump, I hate even to say the name, that I don't want to say that I'm going to give him credit for it, but I guess give him credit for is that he showed how sick this country really is and what the privilege of this country really is. And. He really let, you see, who people are as far as the hate that is there. He exposed the hatred and the racism in this country. And so now you know who you're dealing with. I am floored at the shit that's going on. I can't even imagine how it feels. I've dealt with racism being that I'm Latino or Latin X I've dealt with racism to a degree. But I also know that because I'm fairer skin that I don't deal with racism as much, or as harshly as other groups do. I've dealt with the whole people following me throughout the store and making sure that I'm not shoplifting and are, do you need anything? Do you need anything? Can I help you? Can I help you? Can I help you? And you're like, okay, the first time or two. Cool. But then the 15th time that you're asking me if I'm finding everything. Okay. Like back the fuck up. Correct. I've been detained at border patrol. Like every time I drive back from Texas, when I, not that I go a lot, but when I do go. Or from Southern Texas, I'm always stopped at border patrol. I've been detained at border patrol. I've been detained for over an hour at border patrol. I've had dogs run through my car at border patrol. I have had, I had a gallon of water. In my car in the backseat and they opened it and dumped it in my back seat, which I didn't realize that they had dumped it in my backseat until I had gotten to the next city where I went to fill up my car. And like I've dealt with that type of shit. And I've dealt with, being questioned heavily I've dealt with. TSA in airports where I've been searched constantly. randomly selected. And that's a bunch of bullshit. Yes. so I've dealt with that type of racism. I've dealt with people not wanting me around because I'm Latino and they didn't. know, how to quote unquote deal with me or my culture, which I honestly never understood that. I guess I was just really naive and ignorant. But I honestly know that I do have privilege because I am fairer skinned. All these deaths though, right now, like we just saw Daniel Prude who was actually killed in March, but the video was just released a couple of days ago. that video was so hard to watch. I was literally in tears and going off and then Breonna Taylor and what really gets me pissed off, and George Floyd, and Jacob, Blake. Sorry. I keep naming names. What really upsets me is how people are trying to justify their deaths and defame their characters. And do you fame their person

Gil: 14:17

only because they're a minority, because if this was, it was a White guy who got shot or he was normally it's the opposite. He did the shooting let's be real. Or he blew up a building. It was a poor guy misguided. Christian values just had one too many drinks and miraculously, this would have never happened, but a minority, this person shoplifted or allegedly shoplifted, or they start pulling out every bad record. Oh, he failed math. Oh, what a bad person. they try to frame it in a way that it's always we're wrong. We are evil.

Eric: 14:54

They try to defame them like, yep. Elijah McLean walking home from the store and he was killed.

Gil: 15:00

Yeah. From police who are employed by the people they are on our. Tax dime.

Eric: 15:08

Yes,

Gil: 15:09

they are employees of the citizens. They are not privately owned. This is not a business. And I think people need to stop giving too much credit where credit is not due.

Eric: 15:20

I agree. one thing I'll say that's really cool here in Albuquerque, the mayor, Tim Keller, he is now putting it in where he's reallocating funds to bring mental health. Specialists and other specialists so that the police department isn't answering those types of calls. Cause that's not their specialty. They should not be doing that.

Gil: 15:41

No,

Eric: 15:42

I saw a meme the other day that said police don't prevent crime. They show up after the fact. Yes. and I agree with that, it's mind boggling to me where it's at and how people are using that uniform to kill other people. Correct. So that's how I am dealing. Like I said, COVID is one thing I'm really broken up about how hateful and racist this country is right now. And I don't want to say right now how it always has been. But it's magnified a lot more now. And that's one good thing about social media and all these camera phones. Cause you can catch it. You can show it in the act. And I hope that there is change. I really do hope that there's change. I hope that the young people are pissed off. And that the change actually happens because every time there's quote unquote change, there's really not a whole lot of change. There might be four steps forward within they knock you back six steps and then you take four more steps and then you're knocked back 10 steps and it's a hamster wheel. Yeah, that's just my opinion. But I

Gil: 16:46

think with this one, especially I think if generations are able to unite and politically is really what gen X is starting to see. I say the forgotten one between the boomers and millennials, gen X, the political leanings have gone left. It's going to be a very blue seasons ahead.

Eric: 17:05

I hope so.

Gil: 17:06

And that's what I think that as long as we keep each other in check and just unite as a group, as groups of people and just looking at that sense that we can change it.

Eric: 17:16

I really hope so. Cause everyone keeps saying that, Oh, he's going to win it again. He's going to win it again. And I'm like, I don't think he has that much support, but then I'm like, he seems to have at least a vocal support. It can just be the 10 people who are just really screaming, super loud, but. I get worried that he may win again. And I'm like, what am I going to do at that point? Because he's already attacked the Latinx community and called us rapists and drug dealers and everything else. look at how he treated Puerto Rico when they got hit with Maria. And that was disgusting. And the kids, in the concentration camps on the border. And I've had a lot of people say, I heard a lot of people say don't call them concentration camps. No, that's what they fucking are. They're concentration camps. Yeah. And I wouldn't doubt if he got another term that I wouldn't end up at one of those concentration camps because I am of Latin descent.

Gil: 18:06

I've been told, go back to my country and I'm like, Fresno. you don't know where to go. My is, and let's be real. A lot of Latinos, especially if you're from New Mexico, our families have been here longer than the British.

Eric: 18:17

Yeah.

Gil: 18:18

Our families have been here for generations on generations. On generations. Yes. We were the ones who raided the lands and destroyed a lot of Native Americans, along of the way, but also the border crossed us. Let's be Frank. The story is told from East to West, that country is not founded East to West. It was founded south up. like I said, it depends on who won the war. Unfortunately, the Mexicans did not win the war and we're all speaking in English. that's just other ways to look at it as well, it's definitely, I could say things that happened recently. Like even at my work here in liberal San Francisco, I had a. Co-work come to me crying because a customer said, I don't want to ride the elevator with a China woman. I had a manager who was Arabic, was like, Oh yeah, you terrorist to her face today. today, this is all today. This is the kind of shit that we even deal with out here. And as liberal as we could be ignorance is boundaryless

Eric: 19:15

that's crazy.

Gil: 19:17

and I said here, how do you be civil with these humans? ignorance with that?

Eric: 19:21

like with Pino 45 president in name only 45, With the way he referred to Corona virus. I'm not even going to say the words cause I find them so offensive. we had Asian restaurants out here that were getting vandalized and the fact that he was referring to that such a way, put a huge target on their back and. let's not forget. America does not have a great relationship with Asians, either. Look what we did to the Asian population during World War II. Yeah, we put them in internment camps, concentration camps as well. and there was

Gil: 19:49

a lot of laws at the time against Chinese Americans owning property, owning, what kind of businesses they can run, what it's acceptable. Oh yeah. There was a lot of discrimination

Eric: 20:00

and. The fact that it's still there and that someone is actually encouraging it and promoting it is horrifying, especially with someone who has such power honestly, he does have power and. it's tragic. It's gross. That's I can't even think of another word other than it's gross.

Gil: 20:16

What I never quite understood is that the people still allow us to be questionable. Like where are you from? We are born here when I travel abroad. Like when I was in, I was, in Spain, I was in Italy at all that they don't say, Oh my God, you're. Spanish American. No, you're American. You are U.S.A. Or from California or whatever home state you're from only in America. If you're Brown nonwhite that you are from whatever heritage you're from even though you are generations removed. I have not stepped foot until recently my grandparents I've never stepped foot in that former country. we are, to me, American. Period. And I think they just are referencing, especially minorities. Take it back. Because, yes, we understand the heritage part, but I think we do, I need to start correcting people also on the terminology. Cause they try to alienate us as if we were adopted into America. I'm born here. I am born with these rights. We are all born with these, stuff that cannot be taken away. And I think we need to come at that level of intensity as well for future generations. Maybe not now, but I think we need to take it back. Yeah,

Eric: 21:21

no, I understand what you're saying. And it's just people are saying like peaceful protest. And I understand that, I think it's sad that buildings are getting, looted and broken into and fires are being set. I do think that's sad, but at the same time, a building can be rebuilt. A life cannot be brought back. And I look at it as you can only whisper for so long and you're still not heard, then you're going to start to yell and that's what's happening now is we are tired of whispering. We're tired of not being heard. And now it's time to

Gil: 21:53

yell. MLK. Always pushed that you know peaceful protest and he still got shot and killed.

Eric: 21:58

Yes.

Gil: 21:59

It's going to happen. Riots and stuff. the reason they always push for peaceful protests

Eric: 22:04

because it's uncomfortable for them. They don't want to have to recognize their bullshit and what they've done

Gil: 22:09

Exactly because it's Oh, no, please stay within the lines. Now it stay within the lines.

Eric: 22:15

where were your lines when you drove across the fucking state to go shoot people,

Gil: 22:20

right?

Eric: 22:21

Or when you drove from Northern Texas to El Paso to go shoot a bunch of Latino, where was your line then?

Gil: 22:28

Yeah, or in Pulse in Orlando

Eric: 22:30

Pulse in Orlando,

Gil: 22:32

Kenosha.

Eric: 22:32

That just happened in Wisconsin.

Gil: 22:34

Yep. and this is where I think we need a good conversational piece. I think within the country and the country needs to have that coming to Jesus, as I would say with itself. And you know what, this is the realities of it. And I think, Yeah. When we broke away from the British, it wasn't like a, we just sent a cute little documentation, Hey, we're pissed off. And then we call it a day. People died, people. We were fighting for our lives. Yeah. To be an independent nation same thing when, anything that's going to happen. And he it's not going to be this cute little thing. The white people in the South fought to keep slaves. They were willing to risk the lives still. They could keep slaves. That's what that was about.

Eric: 23:12

It was just gross. Bullshit

Gil: 23:13

Exactly. It is not peaceful. It's not going to be. I think people need to get off of that horse or horse and buggy little thing.

Eric: 23:22

People don't want to recognize that the reality for people of color has been so fucked up for so long. We're tired. People are tired. People are tired of being marginalized, being negated, being told to fuck off being treated like shit. And it's time to. Make some noise.

Gil: 23:43

It is, and

Eric: 23:44

we need to be heard

Gil: 23:45

and it has to come the voice, the message. It has to come from a minority. I don't want to hear another white person explained to me how I, as a minority, as a biracial male, should feel how I should come about this situation. Cause I used to hear it in Seattle. I'm like, so I didn't know. You're Hispanic and you're Filipino. Please explain to me what I should be dealing with. What kind of discrimination looks like? Cause I used to love to mansplain that to me on my interpretation.

Eric: 24:14

I despise being told what my experience is. You don't know my experience. I don't know your experience, but I can relate to your experience because we're both from the Latin culture. I've had friends try to tell me like, Oh, that experience isn't true. that you didn't go through that. Or you're just being paranoid. And I'm like, no, I literally have people follow me through the stores all the time People follow me all the time. And I have a few friends of mine and this was online, but some friends of mine actually just went through the same thing where a really good friend of mine was explaining. Experiences that they've had in a specific situation or genre of events and people that were White were basically telling her that she was wrong and that her experience, wasn't what it was I'm Like. You don't know her experience. You don't live in the shoes of someone of color. Correct where we're constantly looking over our shoulders. And like I said, I still have privilege because I'm male, but I also have privilege because I'm not completely dark in skin.

Gil: 25:22

Correct. And I'm the same boat as you.

Eric: 25:24

Yeah. And I, and. I'm not going to tell someone of a different race that their experiences are wrong because I don't know their experiences. And I'm sad that they've had to have what experiences they've had, because I don't want to say it's not fair, but it's more than just not fair. It's completely bullshit where this country is and where people are having to. Live this is the racism that's built into our culture, not even looking at the blatant killings and the hateful racism, well it's all hateful, but just from a socioeconomic standpoint, the way it's built into our system yeah. Where you're going to have less opportunity than. Your White counterpart on average. I know that there's specific situations where that may not be completely true, but it's pretty much true.

Gil: 26:12

Yeah. and that's, something, hopefully like I said if it's not our generation, the future ones will be able to course correct.

Eric: 26:17

I'm happy with the younger generation as far as they seem very proactive and they seem to really be moving in and really demanding change. You have a lot of the older generation that doesn't want change, which I find unfortunate. But no, I'm excited for the younger generations or the newer generations. They do really seem to be pushing for equality and justice and for things to really change. And I hope that continues and I hope that they really do push forward with all of that.

Gil: 26:48

And change starts with you. We want to make sure everyone votes. I know people are going to be political and I don't want to vote. I'm going to vote third party. That's not the way the system works and we'll have an educational system on that. As my degree is in political science and I could course correct you immediately about that, but the way the system is set up currently, you need a vote one or two. That is your options currently, can it be changed? Absolutely. But it has to start with people getting off of their asses and actually engaging in the system that is there. And I think people need to start doing something instead of. I'm going to send a cute little tweet, ain't to do anything at the end of the day, you need to be active in the local government. You're paying taxes, your taxes better go somewhere. You should follow up with the people, they doing it for you. Vote them out. There was no need to keep paying something like that's off of your money, your hard earned cash. Don't pay for something that's not working. It starts with local government. Everyone starts with your local officials. This is where basic politics 101 begins. It has nothing to do with the federal. It starts at the local level. And that's where you're able to make change at the local level back to you, Eric.

Eric: 27:56

I think it's crucial that people go out and vote. I think people really need to have their voices heard. I'll fully admit I've never been a huge political person until recently. Probably I guess the last three and a half, four years, I became pretty political. I've always voted and I've always tried to at least, yeah, somewhat knowledgeable about what was going on, but it was never a huge focus of mine until again recently. And be vocal and be supportive, support, different organizations that are helping support Black Lives Matter support legal funds. Different organizations, if you can't be out there protesting and on the front lines, if you're preexisting or, taking care of someone who has severe health issues and you have the worry of bringing COVID back, make donations, make phone calls, do what you can sign petitions. Use your platform. I'm really, nobody. I don't have much of a platform. If any, at all,

Gil: 28:52

we have a platform, all 50 people, we got this,

Eric: 28:56

but I still use what platform. I do have to get some knowledge out, and to get information out there to the masses. I think it's important.

Gil: 29:05

Knowledge is power.

Eric: 29:07

it is. Knowledge is.

Gil: 29:08

And that's what I want to make sure everyone is informed correctly. If it seems like you're reading an article, it just seems too good to be true. It just seems wow. They are thinking exactly what you're thinking. I would question the sources just to make sure, because there's a lot of fake crap out there.

Eric: 29:25

There is. And I will say I have been guilty. Of reading something and getting so worked up that I repost it and go off about something. And then it doesn't necessarily pertain or it happened a year ago. And I just flew off the handle because I didn't know about the situation until that moment. And then I've had to sheepishly retract my. Anger posts. I've deleted it and I've made apologies. And so that's happened to me a few times. I do try to vet everything that I post or repost and I look for a certain. Organizations I'm like, okay, if it's being sent from this news source or that news source, then it's most likely going to have a leg to stand on. It's not some random periodical that I've never heard of before. So I do try to do that. I know Facebook now says that they have fact-checker too. And, I use that too, but if it's a situation or a story that I not too knowledgeable on, or haven't really heard anything about, I'll also do a Google

Gil: 30:25

search. Yes we have technology now enough, in our pockets fact check, it is okay to question the sources. You want to make sure same thing with any kind of polls, polls can be misleading. You have to really be rational. what was the question asked? How did they do it? who's the group, if there's Oh, 99% of people oppose this. if you were standing in front of a church and they're like, do you support religion? You're probably going to get a really strong response saying, yes, we are religious religion should be here. Think about it, it's okay to question. That's why you have a brain. And I trust everyone. Won't forego the thought process.

Eric: 31:02

Yeah. Really quickly. Cause you brought up religion and church. That's another thing I have an issue with is not religion. If someone's religious and it works for you. That's awesome. And amazing. And I'm not going to tell you to not have your beliefs, but people seem to forget about the separation of church and state.

Gil: 31:18

What Eric, do explain

Eric: 31:20

and people seem to want our laws based on their beliefs of a book and not everyone is of the same religion. And your religion is not better than the next person's religion or better than the next person's religion, just because you want to be in your Christian world. And I'm going to say Christian quote unquote, because I do know a lot of people who are Christian, who are amazing people and they really do live as wonderful people. but you have the evangelicals and I never say that word right. Who. Are trying to dictate how people live based on their warped belief and they are preaching religious freedom. it's only religious freedom when it pertains to their religion. If you were to bring in any other beliefs from a different religion, they would be fighting tooth and nail against it. And I have a big issue with that,

Gil: 32:11

and it's a good, for our listeners and stuff like that, they could definitely read the constitution, read all the bills amendments, and please do find it. Cause I would love anyone to try to find it to me where it does say Christianity is number one, the mention of God in it. You could do a quick search on that. And I could guarantee you will not find one word. I've mentioned the word God, in any aspect of the constitution within our rights. so let's be real. That's what it's supposed to be a separation.

Eric: 32:39

that's also like back to a more, current events with the DNC and pino 45, trying to sit there and say that, Yeah. Oh, they took, one nation under God off of the pledge. it was originally didn't have that written in there anyways. Yeah. The thing is. Who cares they played back and they didn't omit it, but who cares if they had because A, it wasn't originally written like that. And B separation of church and state, maybe I should say A is separation of church and state and B it wasn't originally written that way anyways. So now you're just looking for something to rile up your base. It's like the whole, war on Christmas. What kind of bullshit was that?

Gil: 33:14

There is no war on

Eric: 33:15

Christmas. There never was a war on Christmas, not the fact that they, the fact that they made it a situation and an ordeal because they wanted to have their Christian beliefs pushed on the masses. And that's not where they're supposed to be. Yep. Again, I don't care if you're a Christian or Muslim or Jewish and you are strong in your faith. I think that's a beautiful, I honestly do. I think people who have their beliefs, I think it's beautiful. If that works for you, I just don't need it pushed on me. I'm not pushing my agnostic beliefs on you. So please don't push your beliefs on me.

Gil: 33:51

Correct. It is very true. It goes both ways.

Eric: 33:54

This has become a harsh episode. I didn't realize it was going to be so harsh, but I think it's good to have the differentiating of a lighter episode. Like we've had about ghosting and apps versus something that's actually going on in this world and things that are happening

Gil: 34:08

true. But like I said, during, wrapping it back to the COVID aspect of it's definitely made, it's forced us to really look back at ourselves and face some questionable stuff about ourselves or stuff it's all over the place. It's been very interesting, keeping people at home suddenly. Wow.

Eric: 34:26

Yeah,

Gil: 34:26

you've seen the way people react or some of the ugliness come out and it's just part of it.

Eric: 34:31

no COVID has definitely brought, the inequalities to the surface. Because if you look at where a lot of the deaths are happening, it's in marginalized communities. It's where people don't have the best access to good healthcare or where people are having to live on top of each other basically, or have communal restrooms are communal, air units, and it's a socioeconomic divide. And it's exposing all of that. It's exposing the bullshit that's in this country, which is all base, which is all based in systemic racism.

Gil: 35:06

It is, it really is. And definitely part of the socioeconomic divide. As you already mentioned, I say that this pushes why we need healthcare systems, but also at the same time, if the people were able to afford, let's say better diets because let's be real, a dollar could get you some cheap ass stuff, but to get natural organic, the shop at whole foods, you need money that ain't cheap.

Eric: 35:26

Yeah.

Gil: 35:26

It's not cheap to live on an or naturally organic, non pesticided food. I don't understand that, but that's a different subject. We'll dig into it eventually at a later date. but yeah, this has definitely been an interesting exercise to say, at least for the country, but I hope that it doesn't fall into deaf ears again. And I hope it will. I feel like some of the pacifism within the country, that's the way, at least in the last couple of the years, it's felt up until recently.

Eric: 35:51

Yeah, I think people have become, so comfortable in their privilege that, they're now complicit and within that they are contributing to the problem. Yeah. Cause you're willing to accept it. Correct. And you're willing to turn the other cheek. I saw a meme the other day that said not all Pino, 45 supporters are racist. They just decided that racism isn't a deal breaker. My response to that was no, that's bullshit because if it's not a deal breaker for you, then you are racist. Yeah. No, Oh, you're not a racist, but you support everything that a racist supports or you're willing to support a person who is pushing their racist agenda. On this country, or onto other people. no, that's not true. If you are okay with racism, then you are racist. If you are okay with taking away same sex marriage. Then you are homophobic. Yeah, which you're just an asshole because you're stupidly afraid of something that's different than what you are. If you're okay with taking away trans rights to serve in the military, then you are complicit in that and you are supporting that person. So it goes the same way with racism. You're gonna say, Oh, I'm okay with it because I don't deal with it. Or because I got an extra, $20 on my paycheck. You're going to be okay with people getting killed because you got an extra dollar. Fuck you. You are in fact racist.

Gil: 37:18

Welcome.

Eric: 37:20

So I know I'm a little harsh in my language, but

Gil: 37:24

But it's not the time to be polite.

Eric: 37:26

Exactly.

Gil: 37:26

I think the days of being polite about it has gone because at some point, when are you going to be able to, I almost feel like the more that you keep turning a blind eye, you're going to be like the last group standing. And it's Oh, you have no more friends or anyone to support you.

Eric: 37:39

and that also brings into the other point of, if you keep turning a blind eye, then you're letting things happen until you are. On your own Island. and you're like, Oh, I didn't realize all these bad things were happening. no, you were involved in all these bad things happening.

Gil: 37:55

it's more like you're having less allies pretty much when it comes out to the same thing within minorities. there's no need to fight we have one, group that's against us. It's the majority, we're all in the big bulk, And I think people need to start looking at that way. Is that, is this like a piece of pie where we're all trying to cut that out? This little slice? no, just not how it works. We all demand rights equally. We're going to get it. As one big group, it's a minority group. If unite, we outnumber, but if you keep allowing everyone to be separated and cut down and marginalized too, down to the tidbit, like to the toenail, then obviously it looks like we're small in numbers when in fact we're not, we have, we are bigger as a unified group.

Eric: 38:33

Yeah. But the way things are set up in society, it definitely keeps us divided so that we can never be bigger than the majority.

Gil: 38:42

Correct. That's where we have to get people like us into power, time to

Eric: 38:48

change it all. And that's representation, which we talked about in another episode about. There needs to be more representation for the different groups, the different marginalized groups. Correct. And we are getting more representation, which is great, but we could definitely use more.

Gil: 39:04

always use more. just thinking about before where, if somebody who was dressing in drag it immediately, Oh, that must be a gay person. And like that whole stereotype within, but then Will and Grace blew that sucker out of the water. He was already established out. We don't have to do the coming out story. He was a lawyer he's living at his best friend, living the life. And that show was so

Eric: 39:24

good.

Gil: 39:25

Yes. and it broke down barriers. Did it have some issues with potentially having lack of diversity, racial diversity? I should say specifically yes. it did. We know that, but do not take away from what it broke down. Like I said, it started little by little you're chipping away. You're chipping away. You're not going to break it down all at once. And I think that's where people need to realize. Also we have come a long way. Cause we can sit here where you're talking on a podcast were able to have the conversations. We do go to the clubs a little bit more openly than before. Obviously,

Eric: 39:56

behind a dumpster,

Gil: 39:57

right? We'll kick it old school, but we definitely have still, I think people forget that part of the complacency that we had as a nation. Oh, the police are, can't be that bad or. I didn't see it happen. And I think that's the great part about COVID it woke an entire generation up because I think there was a moments where us older millennials. Yeah. I think there's that little bit of fire. What was put away? I think there was, I think it was a little bit of, we fell relaxed when Obama got into office. I really believe that we caught up. I did, I was like, Oh, maybe things are changing maybe. And I, I feel like I underestimated it and I just knew it was a matter of one with Trump because I was like, something's going to happen.

Eric: 40:40

I will admit, I was naive. To think that racism was still as strong as it was. And that was me being again, naive and uneducated about the situation. I know my experiences and I know what I've dealt with, but then I didn't see it for the greater sadness of what it really is. And that was because of my privilege and because of my blinders.

Gil: 41:03

Yeah, I put it on during the Obama years. I'm not going to lie. I did. I was like, no things are going to change because I thought that was it. We elected the last stupid president in Bush and I would be laughing at myself. now I look back, I'm like, Oh my God, he is the reason I got political because I felt that the country was wronged in 2000. Now I look back and I'm like, my God, the guy was just a political idiot, not a genuine idiot. I would have a beer with him. I'd never thought this would happen, but here we are. And it definitely, I have forgotten some of my experiences where I'm like, it has happened, Gilbert. you need to remember things aren't changing. These are just, like I said, It's going to take more time. And I always hoping I bought into the belief of hope that he was gone, at least for me, and I still experience discrimination when, we recently, last year, we're flying to Kansas city. Same thing. I got my randomly selected and I sat there and watched at the gate. Nobody else in Kansas city, he got randomly searched, but me.

Eric: 41:58

Wow.

Gil: 42:00

And I'm like, wow, here we go again, bullshit yet in Iowa. And I do get it. I always get it.

Eric: 42:09

It's always crazy to me that you get randomly selected.

Gil: 42:14

I've been randomly selected. since 2001.

Eric: 42:16

it's. Not a good feeling.

Gil: 42:18

No,

Eric: 42:19

like at first, like with the first time it happens, you're like what? Okay. Yeah, sure. what's going on, but you don't think much of it. And then the second time, you're like, okay, this is weird. The third time, like seriously, what are the odds? And then. It almost becomes like a joke, but it's just irritating. It's not like a funny joke. You're just like, what the fuck seriously? And then you're just okay, let me just step out of line already, because I already know that this is what's going to happen.

Gil: 42:44

Correct.

Eric: 42:44

Thank you. So I hope you enjoyed our little rants on our opinions today. It's our show and hopefully we didn't scare too many of you off and we hope that, you'll be listening to us again in the future until next time,

Gil: 43:00

stay safe out there. Please make sure, take care of your mental state. Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoyed your time in the Q lounge. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions on topics, or you would like to be a guest or contributor, please email us at info.TheQlounge@gmail.Com or through our contact page at theqloungepodcast.com while you're there hit that subscribe button or listen wherever you get your podcast. If you would like to further support us, hit that donation button

Eric: 43:44

until next time live in your authenticity.