Episode 170: "Finding Neverland," Luke Perry, and the United Methodist Church and LGBTQ Christians

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss “Leaving Neverland,” a new documentary about Michael Jackson’s alleged child abuse, the legacy of late “Beverly Hills, 90210” star Luke Perry, and the United Methodist Church’s decision to tighten its restrictions on same-sex marriage and gay clergy.

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Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: 

• “Leaving Neverland,” a new HBO documentary, centers the alleged victims of Michael Jackson’s pedophilia. Natalia recommended Jason King’s Slate piece about the centrality of race to this story. Niki cited another piece at Slate on whether Jackson will remain a staple on wedding playlists. Natalia drew connections with the recent “Surviving R. Kelly” documentary.
• Actor Luke Perry is dead at 52. Natalia referenced this Jezebel piece on Perry’s influence on shaping a 1990s cool aesthetic. Niki recommended Joan Didion’s New Yorker article on the southern California Spur Posse.
• The United Methodist Church has tightened its ban on same-sex marriage and gay clergy. Natalia recommended historian Jonathan Zimmerman’s book Too Hot to Handle: A Global History of Sex Education about the power of global religious conservatism.

In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:

• Natalia discussed Marc Fisher’s Washington Post article, “’Grab that Record’: How Trump’s High School Transcript was Hidden.”
• Neil shared Simon Romero’s New York Times article, “Lynch Mobs Killed Latinos Across the West. The Fight to Remember These Atrocities is Just Starting.”
• Niki recommended Jane Mayer’s New Yorker article, “The Making of the Fox News White House.”