Introducing: Because the Boss Belongs to Us

You know Bruce Springsteen, but did you know that he is a queer icon? Because The Boss Belongs to Us is a series presented by Jesse Lawson and Holly Casio that uses Bruce Springsteen as a lens through which to explore queer history, identity and politics. Through original reporting, tender personal narratives, and playful, sound-rich surprises, Jesse and Holly go on a journey to not only understand why The Boss low-key resonates with so many queer folks, but also what it even means to idolize a celebrity in this way.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
If someone asked you to name a queer icon, who
would you say?

Speaker 2 (00:07):
Brittany Christina.

Speaker 3 (00:09):
That's not who we were thinking about.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Try again, Shirley Bassey, Tina, and again Mariah Kerry.

Speaker 3 (00:17):
No, there's still someone you're missing. Bruce Springspring Springsteen.

Speaker 4 (00:21):
Bruce Springsteen in particular.

Speaker 3 (00:23):
Leather twink, Bruce Springsteen just very hand on hip sassified Bruce.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
From Melton Hart and iHeart podcasts. This is because the
bus belongs to us.

Speaker 3 (00:36):
A series where two queer notes who were obsessed with
Bruce Springsteen try and get him recognized is the queer
icon we know.

Speaker 4 (00:43):
That he is. I mean in a mixed CD for
a girlfriend and I had written in sharpie you me
and all the stuff we're so scared of, which is
the line from Tunnel of Love.

Speaker 1 (00:53):
I'm Jesse, I'm Holly, and we are serious journalists. Over
seven episode we'll be addressing important questions.

Speaker 3 (01:02):
Like who wore it best? Bruce Springsteen, Orcadie Lang. It's
like you, Squinn and everyone can be a ViRGE?

Speaker 1 (01:10):
What is the best Bruce song for your sex playlist?

Speaker 4 (01:13):
On my dating profile, I heard something about being a
fan of Nebraska era Bruce Springsteen.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
Is Bruce Springsteen the ultimate emo.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
The chorus of real Man is He's like, you can
be on your chest what any monkey can, but you
make me feel like a real man. He's like, my
deep romantic love for you, my gender.

Speaker 3 (01:33):
And what the hell are we?

Speaker 5 (01:34):
Trans activists, abolitionist, DIY punk dragging working class.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
Weirdos doing idolizing a cis straight rich white man.

Speaker 6 (01:45):
It was with Bruce's music that when I first arrived,
I thought I'd assimilate into straight culture, which is such
a joke now considering.

Speaker 1 (01:56):
Listen to because the Bus belongs to us on the
iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.