1 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to bokay f Daily with 2 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: Meet your Girl Danielle Moody recording from the Long Island Bunker. Folks, 3 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 1: I want to start off with saying that today's episode 4 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: was a very difficult one for me to record because 5 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: the pain and the despair that is happening within the 6 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: LGBTQ community, particularly those that identify as trans is unbearable, unimaginable, 7 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: and should not be happening in this country or any country. 8 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: I've been thinking a lot, you know, as we in 9 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: this new Christian fundamentalist, fascist state that we are all 10 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: coming to terms with. It's it's like waking up from 11 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: a nightmare and realizing that it is reality. Is kind 12 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: of the place that I have been in, and I 13 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 1: know millions of people across this country have been in 14 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:12,960 Speaker 1: since the decision by the Supreme Court for the first 15 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: time in the Supreme Court's history and modern times, to 16 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:21,039 Speaker 1: be a body that takes away fundamental rights as opposed 17 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: to providing or expanding on what it means to live 18 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 1: in the land of the Free. And I think that 19 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: what a lot of young people, young women are facing 20 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:39,680 Speaker 1: right now is a country that has become overnight, incredibly dangerous. 21 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: But here's the thing that for those folks who are trans, 22 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: who are part of the lgbt Q community, their lives 23 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: have always been in danger right by virtue of just 24 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: having the audacity to show up in their body as 25 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: who they are, to be able to as my guest, 26 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: Jin will say, to be able to self direct, right 27 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 1: to self direct. And I thought about this as they 28 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: were speaking. Jin fam is the communications director at an 29 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: organization called the Transgender Education Network of Texas. So you 30 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: just imagine just by title alone, what Jin and the 31 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: people who work at TENT and other LGBTQ organizations in 32 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: the state of Texas and nationally are dealing with. And 33 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:42,839 Speaker 1: it is the understanding that you have elected officials who 34 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: are telling you that you do not have the right 35 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: to dignity and respect, that frankly, you shouldn't even exist. 36 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: Gin will walk through the fact that the deaths of 37 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: trans people, the murders of trans people, have been up 38 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: in the date of Texas since last year when they 39 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: started to roll out all of these insidious, cruel policies, 40 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 1: ones that we've talked about on this show that criminalize 41 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: parents for caring for the needs of their transgender children 42 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: being able to access the hormone treatment necessary in order 43 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: for them to thrive. Right, you now have Governor Abbott 44 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: who has directed and already overwhelmed Child Protective Services Agency 45 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: to investigate, interrogate, threaten, and criminalize parents for caring for 46 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: their children because they have decided that what abuse looks 47 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: like is what we know to be love. Because when 48 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: your child comes to you and tells you who they 49 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: are and that they, without the ability to access these treatments, 50 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: will kill themselves, will harm themselves, what would any loving 51 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: parent do, right, What would any parent who actually believes 52 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: that their child should have the chance at a full 53 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: and complete life filled with happiness, joy, right, Deny them 54 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 1: that access, deny them that right. Well, that's what Governor 55 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: Abbott is telling you to do, because you see, in 56 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: their warped mind, Right, in these Republicans warped mind, they 57 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 1: have so much love and commitment and quote unquote passion 58 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: for the unborn. But fuck those that are able to 59 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: walk on two feet, crawl right, or breathe actual oxygen. Oh, 60 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: then they don't give a fuck. And this is what 61 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 1: they tell us time and time again. Right, they want 62 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: to talk about Oh, the overturning of Roe v. Wade 63 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 1: being a win for life. No, the fuck it is not. 64 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: How is it a win for life when you will 65 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: against all of the ways that people would be able 66 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:09,479 Speaker 1: to protect their families, help their families, provide health and 67 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:14,159 Speaker 1: education for their families, to be able to advance their families. 68 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 1: Republicans don't want to do any of that, and they 69 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: don't consider the inability to do so a problem. Well, 70 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: that's your problem. They're going to force you into creating 71 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: a family, but they're not going to help you care 72 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:32,599 Speaker 1: for that family. No, they would then admonish you or 73 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: criminalize how you choose to care for your family because 74 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 1: your choice in this quote unquote free nation has been 75 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: taken away. You have no choice. That choice is dependent 76 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 1: on what state that you live in, and if you 77 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 1: are a queer person in this country, if you are 78 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: a trans person in this country, and don't happen to 79 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: live right now in a blue state. Because let me 80 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: just make it clearer, like I say every single week 81 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 1: it feels like now, is that our safety is in 82 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:05,919 Speaker 1: fact an illusion. It is an illusion. And that is 83 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: exactly what jin fam will tell us later on in 84 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: the show Safety isn't real. Right. We love to pretend that, oh, 85 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 1: police keep us safe, but we know we have learned 86 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: the hard way that police do not keep us safe. 87 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: They keep themselves safe. They cover their own assets. They 88 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 1: don't protect and serve anyone that is outside of their 89 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: blue force field. Right, the blue shield of silence, the 90 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 1: blue code of silence. Damn those citizens, Damn those people 91 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:43,160 Speaker 1: that need defending, like the poor children and teachers in 92 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: Huvaldi that were left to be slaughtered as police what 93 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 1: huddled outside their doors. I am, you know, at a 94 00:06:54,839 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: loss when each and every week we begin with a 95 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 1: hangover of the despair and the trauma that happened the 96 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: week before. This week already you have the Supreme Court 97 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: making another unilateral decision in a six to three right, 98 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: deciding that a football coach in Washington State, which we 99 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: have talked about on this show before, who had been 100 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: warned by the public school that he was employed by 101 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 1: to stop his prayer meetings, right, to stop making such 102 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: a display on the fifty yard line after each game 103 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: to pray and have the students rush in and bring 104 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: his team in to pray for their victory. And how 105 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: this case was brought up by the parent of a 106 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: child who is atheist, who was on the football team 107 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: and felt like they had no choice that if they 108 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: did not pray with the coach, then they weren't going 109 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: to get going to get to play well. Neil Gorsich, 110 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: who wrote the opinion, said this quote. Both the Free 111 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 1: exercise and free speech clauses of the First Amendment protect 112 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: expressions like mister Kennedy's. Nor does a proper understanding of 113 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: the Amendments Establishment Clause require the government to single out 114 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: private religious speech for special disfavor. The Constitution and the 115 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 1: best of our traditions counsel mutual respect and tolerance, not 116 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: censorship and suppression for religious and non religious views alike. 117 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: So what the Supreme Court has done, after overturning Roe v. Wade, 118 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: after limiting your access to Miranda rights, has now decided 119 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: that there is no longer a line between church and state. 120 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: So how long before we have prayer or back in 121 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,559 Speaker 1: schools because these teachers decide, well, it is my belief 122 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: that I need to pray before the start of each day. 123 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 1: And now your children in that classroom, and you, as 124 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: a parent or caregiver, have no right or legal standing 125 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: to object on because the Supreme Court just took away 126 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:09,559 Speaker 1: that right as well. Another win for radical Christian ideology 127 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:13,679 Speaker 1: and a loss for the rest of us. Each decision 128 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: is chipping away at democracy. Democracy is supposed to be 129 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:21,840 Speaker 1: government that is run for and by the people, where 130 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 1: the people actually have a voice in voting actually matters, 131 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:27,679 Speaker 1: except the nine people that are getting to make decisions 132 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: about which rights we actually get and which ones that 133 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: they don't want us to have anymore, because you know, 134 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 1: who gives a fuck about one hundred year old precedent 135 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:41,680 Speaker 1: or fifty year old precedent. They weren't elected by the 136 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: people and they have lifetime appointments. I created multiple videos 137 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 1: recently and I was on MSNBC where I said, you know, 138 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:56,560 Speaker 1: we don't even have Democrats opening up an investigation into 139 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: fucking Clarence Thomas and whether or not he's actually compromise 140 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: because of what we've learned about the back channeling that 141 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: his wife, Jenny Thomas was doing with Mark Meadows on 142 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: the day of the insurrection and days and weeks after. 143 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:15,679 Speaker 1: We've never had an investigation into Brett Kavanaugh, and the 144 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: fact that the FBI had collected over four thousand tips 145 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 1: from people who said that Brett Kavanaugh is a sexual predator. 146 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,440 Speaker 1: We haven't looked into that. I just don't understand why 147 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: we even have these fucking rules and regulations and policies 148 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 1: on the books that say we have the ability to 149 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 1: remove people from their positions if in fact they are compromised. 150 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:42,959 Speaker 1: If nobody's going to do the investigation into the compromise, 151 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: what the fuck do we have the laws for in 152 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: the first goddamn place, Because I'm pretty sure that even 153 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 1: if there was a hint of anything that was going 154 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: on with a justice that was appointed by a Democrat, 155 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 1: Republicans would have no fucking problem calling an impeachment inquiry, 156 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: turning that person into the poster child for corruption, and 157 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 1: forcing them probably to resign. But Democrats don't do any 158 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 1: of that. You have right now, right Joe Biden is 159 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 1: in Europe at the G seven conference, and he's speaking 160 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:21,560 Speaker 1: out and talking about Oh, America is back, America is nowhere, 161 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 1: and it's not going to be too long before the 162 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 1: rest of the world snags the microphone from the mouthpiece 163 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: of America and says, who the fuck are you to 164 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 1: tell us about liberty and justice and freedom. You can't 165 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 1: even control your own goddamn country. You're sitting over here 166 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: in Europe and your Supreme Court just voted to put 167 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 1: women and people with uteruses back into the twentieth century. Right, 168 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:46,679 Speaker 1: you don't even have voting rights in most of your 169 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:50,199 Speaker 1: goddamn states that haven't been thwarted in some way by 170 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: Republican zealots. Right, Like, So, who is America in the 171 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: world right now? That's a question that other world leaders 172 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: are going to start to ask, as many of them 173 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:08,959 Speaker 1: have offered their own like absolute disbelief and how quickly 174 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 1: America and our democracy is crumbling and are gonna need 175 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: to figure out if America goes down, who's going to 176 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 1: be standing up for democracy in the world. As fascism 177 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: is taking hold across the world. We are focusing right 178 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,319 Speaker 1: now on what is happening in Ukraine and the horrific 179 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,319 Speaker 1: bombing of the shopping mall that they don't even know. 180 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 1: They can't even fucking tally the death toll, because that's 181 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,839 Speaker 1: how many people have probably perished. They couldn't even put 182 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 1: out the fire. But we can't put out the fire 183 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 1: that the Republicans lit with the election of Donald Trump 184 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: in twenty sixteen. American democracy is ablaze, and I wish 185 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:52,559 Speaker 1: that Merrick Garland was paying as much attention to what 186 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:54,960 Speaker 1: was going on in these United States as he was 187 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 1: to what is happening in Ukraine. I'm still waiting around, folks, 188 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 1: undering when the sense of urgency and the alarm clock 189 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: for the Democratic establishment is going to go off, because 190 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: if it isn't the Roe v. Wade decision, which by 191 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 1: the way, all they want to do is fucking fundraise 192 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: off of. And I'm still wondering why the hell there 193 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,319 Speaker 1: was no strategy that was put in place when Republicans 194 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 1: had been organizing and playing site for the last fifty 195 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 1: goddamn years. Why is everybody caught off guard who's been 196 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: in leadership and been empowered and been in Congress for 197 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 1: fucking decades. Now I understand why the American people are 198 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 1: caught off guard because you thought that the people that 199 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: you elected would actually protect you. You didn't realize that 200 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 1: they were only going to be protecting themselves. And what 201 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: I am seeing that without direct opposition from the Democratic 202 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 1: Party and they're taking money from the same goddamn people, 203 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: I'm like, are y'all just on the same team? And 204 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: I have been hoodwinked bamboozled into believing that there was 205 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: actually a difference between Democrats and Republicans, because right now 206 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 1: I don't see one. I see Joe Mansion uttering the 207 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 1: same disbelief and clutching the same pearls that Susan Collins is. 208 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: Oh my god, I can't believe these justices lied to us. Well, 209 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 1: they'd fucking lie to you, and you have the power 210 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: to hold them accountable for but you won't. So save 211 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: your fucking outrage for somebody that gives a shit, because 212 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: I'm sure as I'll don't. What I know is that 213 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: each and every day in this country is getting worse 214 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 1: and worse. And I have friends that I'm in conversation 215 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 1: with that are waking up and they are sick, literally 216 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: becoming physically ill, not with COVID, but with despair. You know, 217 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: I have traveled, and I'm certain that all of you 218 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 1: have traveled around the world into places that have corrupt governments. 219 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 1: We're only going on vacation there, right, We pop in 220 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: and we pop out. But I can look in those 221 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: people's eyes and see that there is something that has 222 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: been put out, and it is their will because they 223 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: no longer have free will. Their will is dictated to 224 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: them by their government. That is exactly what is happening 225 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: in these United States. But we keep thinking that elections 226 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: are going to save us, and I'm telling you no, folks, 227 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 1: it's time for folks to get out into these streets 228 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 1: because these voting booths, once of Republicans take back power, 229 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: are going to look like you know those little games 230 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: that you use at the carnival where you are putting 231 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: in all of your money and the claw comes down 232 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 1: and it maybe it picks up something, but most likely 233 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 1: it doesn't. That's how it's going to feel every time 234 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 1: we vote. Maybe they'll count it, maybe they won't. But 235 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: Democrats never stop asking you for your money. And the 236 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: question is where the fuck is the money going, because 237 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: it's sureance fuck is in going into messaging and branding. 238 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: Coming up next, friends, my conversation with the communications director 239 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 1: and manager of Outreach at the Transgender Education Network in 240 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: Texas gin FAM. Hey, I'm David Plots of Slaves Political 241 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: gab Fest. As another election season accelerates, it can be 242 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: tricky to sort through all the noise and the news. 243 00:15:57,280 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 1: Each week on the Gabfest, John Dickerson, Emily Bathslaw and 244 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: I decipher the headlines, break down the races, and tell 245 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: you what issues really matter. We do not always agree. 246 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: We definitely do not always agree, but we always deliver 247 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: thoughtful debate and we always have a good time. So 248 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: subscribe to slates Political Gapfest new episodes every Thursday. Hey there, 249 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 1: I want to tell you about another podcast I think 250 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 1: you'll love. The Brown Girl's Guide to Politics, hosted by 251 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: a Shanty Gooler, the president of Emerge BGG, is the 252 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: one stop shop for women of color who want to 253 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: hear and talk about the world of politics. Join as 254 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: Shanty this season as she talks to incredible women of 255 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 1: color who are changing the face of politics and tackling 256 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 1: some of the most important issues basing the United States, 257 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 1: from reproductive justice to voting rights, to climate change and more. 258 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: Tune in every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts, folks. 259 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 1: I am very happy to welcome to okay F for 260 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: the very first time. Jim fam who is the communications 261 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: director and outreach manager for Transgender Education Network of Texas 262 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 1: or tent JINUM. I would ask you about, you know, 263 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:11,959 Speaker 1: just casually, how are you, how are you doing these days? 264 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: How are you feeling about you know, our country and 265 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 1: your work. So I'll offer that up as a as 266 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:27,119 Speaker 1: a as a jumping off point. For sure, it's been 267 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:31,920 Speaker 1: a weekend, I'll definitely say. And you know, with from 268 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:34,120 Speaker 1: all the way from the leak back and I don't 269 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: know what is it may now like this has been 270 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 1: a reality for my state or even longer than that 271 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 1: I were talking about September since SPA dropped, and for 272 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 1: the folks of color and folks that don't necessarily have 273 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 1: great access to healthcare in general, if they're as SISS 274 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 1: or CIS, gender or trans or not. It's always been 275 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 1: really hard, especially here in Texas. So everything is going 276 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: not the best, but we've we've prepared ourselves for a 277 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:18,120 Speaker 1: long time for this. So tell us about the nature 278 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:23,199 Speaker 1: of your organization and the work that you all do 279 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 1: and how it has either changed or shifted. With the 280 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:32,440 Speaker 1: myriad of anti trans bills that have originated out of Texas, 281 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: I call Texas and Florida the Petri Dish of the 282 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: radical right right. They are testing out just how far 283 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:43,919 Speaker 1: they can go to push the LGBTQ community, but particularly 284 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:47,760 Speaker 1: trans people back into the closet or to to criminalize 285 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 1: the very existence thereof and so tell us about how 286 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 1: what the work primarily is of your organization and if 287 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: and how it has shifted over the past couple of months. 288 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 1: For sure, just to give a little bit of background, 289 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:10,199 Speaker 1: we've been talking about trans folks since marriage quality, I 290 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: guess even further than that, I would say, and especially 291 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,439 Speaker 1: here in Texas, you know, with the bathroom bills that 292 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 1: came out gosh, five years ago, and they started talking 293 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: about it six or seven years ago. You know, we, 294 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: myself and a lot of my colleagues have been in 295 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: this mode of operation for quite a long time already. 296 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: If we were just to count last year's legislative session 297 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 1: last January, it's been eighteen months since we've been experiencing 298 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: these consistent cruel attacks. And I want to say that 299 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: the cruelty is definitely the point where we're talking about 300 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: my members in my community who have been listening to 301 00:19:55,560 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 1: their state legislator talk about their right to live, their 302 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 1: right to dignity, their right to privacy, and their ability 303 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:11,160 Speaker 1: to live a life that's self directed but also one 304 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: that is deserving of happiness, right you know. So TENT 305 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 1: is the Transgender Education Network of Texas, where one of 306 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:27,359 Speaker 1: four trans led policy focused orgs in the country. So 307 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: there's only four words kind of like, you know, tackling 308 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:35,359 Speaker 1: these attacks that are speaking from the voice of trans folks. 309 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: And so the last few months, we back in February 310 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:45,360 Speaker 1: around the twenty second, the Attorney General dropped an opinion 311 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 1: saying that being gender affirming to children is abuse. And 312 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:55,879 Speaker 1: this is still using the same language that reflected a 313 00:20:55,920 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 1: bill that was shot down last year. Following that the 314 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:08,919 Speaker 1: governor let down a an order it for DFPS or 315 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: the Department of Family Protective Services CPS, for anybody else 316 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 1: that might be listening, to start investigating these families right 317 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 1: going to their homes, their businesses, going to the children's schools, 318 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,640 Speaker 1: just to see if child abuse is going right. And 319 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:35,359 Speaker 1: there's definitely an obligation for CPS to investigate every single 320 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 1: report of abuse to a child or a person who 321 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: is elderly, right, so understand that as part of their job. 322 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 1: But we're also talking about an organization that's already stretched 323 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: soothin in a state that's so large, with one of 324 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: the largest economies, that have a large amount of folks 325 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 1: that are already struggling, right, and so you know, having 326 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:09,120 Speaker 1: these investigations happen to families of my community members has 327 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 1: really put that stress really even further upfront. Right last year, 328 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 1: we had you know, a lot of young trans folks 329 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:23,360 Speaker 1: and not barney folks, gender expansive folks argue with their 330 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: state leaders in either the testimony room or on the 331 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 1: floor of the Senate for their own dignity. And now 332 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 1: servants of the state are trying to keep it together. 333 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 1: It's hard, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. But so for the 334 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 1: last four months, a lot of families have been contemplating 335 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 1: their options of staying in the state to fight staying 336 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: in the state around you know, their support systems, you know, 337 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 1: whatever financial way that they make money for their family, 338 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,639 Speaker 1: you know, the children's schooling. The list goes on of 339 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 1: either they leave the state or stay in the state 340 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 1: to be able to be around family. Right. But this 341 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: isn't necessarily afforded to every family because this privilege of 342 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 1: being able to move, it's not necessarily everybody's privilege. And 343 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: so you know, there are a lot of families who 344 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 1: do not have that option of leaving the country, leaving 345 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:32,199 Speaker 1: the state and just have to stay here, bear with 346 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 1: it and fight with us, right, And so you know, 347 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 1: every year, especially this less six months has been really 348 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 1: hard on like a partner of ours, this Trevor Project, 349 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:52,199 Speaker 1: who received one hundred and fifty percent rise on call volume, 350 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: And the Trevor Project is a mental health crisis line, 351 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: and that one hundred and fifty percent was just last year. 352 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:02,919 Speaker 1: We're looking at two hundred percent here of calls coming 353 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 1: in from queer and trans community members who, UM are 354 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:11,399 Speaker 1: finding it really hard to be able to exist at 355 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:16,920 Speaker 1: the moment, you know, UM, we had on I guess 356 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 1: it was maybe a couple of weeks ago or a 357 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:22,200 Speaker 1: week ago, I don't know, time as a construct at 358 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 1: this time, UM, one of the legislative folks over at 359 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:33,120 Speaker 1: the Trevor Project to talk about what they have seen 360 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: in this in this time, in this time of great 361 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:42,880 Speaker 1: urgency in our community. Because for me, you know, as 362 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:51,959 Speaker 1: a as a black queer woman, to recognize that the 363 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:56,440 Speaker 1: world is unsafe for queer kids, and as a former teacher, 364 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 1: as a as you know, as a as a queer woman, 365 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: I think about how I am feeling attacked in this moment, 366 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:07,480 Speaker 1: how I struggle, you know, to keep it together, to 367 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 1: feel like there is something to fight for, that that 368 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 1: it's not just done right, that that that our agency, 369 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:18,879 Speaker 1: our freedom, our dignity, the respect that we have fought 370 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:21,719 Speaker 1: so hard to get to this point is just reversed 371 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:26,720 Speaker 1: because people have decided that we are undeserving. Right. Um, 372 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:29,919 Speaker 1: I think about queer kids, and I think about the 373 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:32,600 Speaker 1: fear of what it is like to be of school 374 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:35,639 Speaker 1: age and to be going into school in an environment 375 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: where you have no reprieve, that there is no support 376 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:43,879 Speaker 1: from your teachers or the administrators because of fear either 377 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 1: of being persecuted or because of the fact that they 378 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 1: believe what Abbott believes. That they believe what the Republican 379 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 1: Party believes, and that their their care and for safety 380 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 1: of children only is about the cells in the womb. 381 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:02,480 Speaker 1: They have nothing to do with what happens when you're 382 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:06,399 Speaker 1: able to actually breathe oxygen and are this side of 383 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 1: a uterus. And so I feel you and when you 384 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 1: tell when you when you offer up the statistics and 385 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 1: the numbers with the Trevor Project, like, I just don't 386 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 1: even know what we offer. So what do you what 387 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:24,480 Speaker 1: you know? I know that that you have, you know, 388 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:28,680 Speaker 1: a constituency base of people who are thinking about what 389 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 1: they are going to do. If a majority of people 390 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:35,840 Speaker 1: have to stay because they don't have the economic privilege 391 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 1: to be able to just pick and just I don't 392 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:40,080 Speaker 1: even want to think about it as just the economic privilege, 393 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:42,959 Speaker 1: because if you're born in Texas, you've lived in this 394 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 1: is your home, this is your state, this is your community, 395 00:26:46,119 --> 00:26:48,040 Speaker 1: and the idea that you are being forced out of 396 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:52,120 Speaker 1: your community should be something that is It is outrageous 397 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 1: to all of us when people say to me, oh, well, 398 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 1: they should just move, I'm like, so you just move. 399 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:00,919 Speaker 1: Why don't you just move and pick up everything that 400 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 1: you've ever known and moved to a different state. So 401 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:07,639 Speaker 1: what does what does tent offer in terms of advice 402 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:13,119 Speaker 1: or guidance to families that are suffering right now and 403 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 1: that they actually don't necessarily see light at the end 404 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: of this very dark tunnel that we're in. It's hard 405 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 1: to offer advice, but I can definitely offer a reminder that, 406 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:33,720 Speaker 1: you know, we live in a state that is considered 407 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,360 Speaker 1: the bloodiest state for trans people here in Texas. Right 408 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:41,920 Speaker 1: we've consistently broken records around that. Last year, we broke 409 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:47,119 Speaker 1: the records for the most anti trans legislations in the country. 410 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 1: But we're also talking about an extremely powerful, loving and 411 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: caring community that has been based off of so many 412 00:27:57,280 --> 00:28:01,639 Speaker 1: amazing queer and translators that have been able to find 413 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:04,159 Speaker 1: and create the ways for us to be able to 414 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:10,119 Speaker 1: combat these forms of legislations, no matter if it is 415 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 1: around you know, abortion access or affirming healthcare access to 416 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 1: whatever that's been happening. We also must remember that this 417 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:23,600 Speaker 1: fight has lasted longer than even I have been alive, 418 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:31,320 Speaker 1: and that you know, there are so many people and 419 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:34,960 Speaker 1: they all believe in what you know, the words that 420 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 1: Martha P. Johnson that's been staying with me for so 421 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: long is that if there's no pride for some of us, 422 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 1: until there's liberation for all of us. And so you know, 423 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 1: the team at Tent and all of our coalition members 424 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 1: are working around the clock to be able to create 425 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 1: and also be able to take care of ourselves and 426 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: everyone that we love, to be able to fight against 427 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:06,960 Speaker 1: all everything that's happening. You know, we try to consistently 428 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,360 Speaker 1: answer the question of like how it trans rights human 429 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 1: rights right, and when we say that, we mean that, like, 430 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:15,440 Speaker 1: you know, when we're fighting for trans rights, we're also 431 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: fighting for repro We're also fighting for the migrants. We're 432 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:24,520 Speaker 1: also fighting for water access right, because all of those 433 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:28,719 Speaker 1: things affect trans people and people in those spaces that 434 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 1: we've been coming into contact with partnering with, they understand 435 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:36,600 Speaker 1: that their fight is also going to support trans folks, 436 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 1: So that we really need to be able to recognize 437 00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:44,440 Speaker 1: that there are so many people, so many organizations that 438 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:48,360 Speaker 1: are fighting for themselves but also your kid, but also 439 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:54,400 Speaker 1: for me right and supporting them and understanding that the 440 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 1: way that we get through this is together. How do 441 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 1: you think that, And it sounds like you all partner 442 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 1: with a lot of organizations, probably not just in your 443 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: state but around the country, how do you think that, 444 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:13,400 Speaker 1: in this moment of great urgency and crisis, that we 445 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:19,160 Speaker 1: have more integration of all the topics that you said, right, Like, 446 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 1: what I think what the radical right does so well 447 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: is force us into a barrel right like craps that 448 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:30,720 Speaker 1: we're fighting for this. We're fighting for voting rights over here, 449 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:33,120 Speaker 1: we're fighting for LGBTQ rights over here, we're fighting for 450 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 1: trans rights over there, we're fighting for repro rights over there. 451 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:38,720 Speaker 1: But like you're saying, all of these things are layered, 452 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 1: and what it comes back to is power. And when 453 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 1: you understand that what the radical right is after is 454 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:48,000 Speaker 1: power and complete and total control and autonomy over everything, 455 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:51,080 Speaker 1: right that that is no longer a democracy. What do 456 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:57,480 Speaker 1: you think would get people to movement leaders to organize 457 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:00,440 Speaker 1: in a way that is more integrated than it has. 458 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:09,440 Speaker 1: These conversations with other organizers and organizations always comes back 459 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 1: down to the point that when we're talking about supporting 460 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 1: everyone is understanding that it is not a sheet to 461 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:20,600 Speaker 1: cover the whole population in but is to be able 462 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:25,440 Speaker 1: to recognize the differences that we all hold. Right, like 463 00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 1: as a queer and transient person right here in Texas 464 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:31,959 Speaker 1: is the third most spoken language, but most state universities 465 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 1: don't necessarily teach it. Right, That's just still an example 466 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 1: of like understanding that those experiences has been able to 467 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:43,480 Speaker 1: bring together so many folks in those intersections in between 468 00:31:43,560 --> 00:31:47,200 Speaker 1: all of our identities, those layers of marginalization that you mentioned. 469 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:52,880 Speaker 1: Understanding is this is about race, this is about class, 470 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 1: is about gender, this is about sexuality, this is about ability, 471 00:31:57,240 --> 00:32:01,520 Speaker 1: and understanding that many of these institutions are based off 472 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:06,080 Speaker 1: of hurting folks that are marginalized or controlling folks that 473 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:11,280 Speaker 1: are marginalized. So recognizing those differences and recognizing the institutions 474 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:15,080 Speaker 1: that we have to interact with a day to day basis. 475 00:32:15,880 --> 00:32:19,960 Speaker 1: Is also the ability to know what has been done 476 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:23,360 Speaker 1: about it already, what hasn't worked, and what will work, 477 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:26,480 Speaker 1: and what has worked in the past and what will 478 00:32:26,520 --> 00:32:29,959 Speaker 1: work now is if we do it all together. And 479 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:35,280 Speaker 1: understanding that pushing together for that progress doesn't come with 480 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:40,960 Speaker 1: sacrifice or compromise. Is understanding that we are on the 481 00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:45,600 Speaker 1: right set of history and finding together requires everyone to 482 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:49,640 Speaker 1: understand that liberation must be there for all of us. 483 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:57,520 Speaker 1: I want to ask you a question Jen that is 484 00:32:57,520 --> 00:33:00,760 Speaker 1: a difficult one because it is a question about safety. 485 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:06,440 Speaker 1: How do you stay safe in a state that has 486 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:11,440 Speaker 1: targeted not I mean because I always find, as a 487 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:15,440 Speaker 1: person that has done movement work across varied movements for 488 00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:19,480 Speaker 1: over a decade, that it is very hard to separate 489 00:33:19,520 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 1: the personal from the professional. And so how do you 490 00:33:22,680 --> 00:33:27,840 Speaker 1: manage both fighting for yourself the rights of your community, 491 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:33,280 Speaker 1: and like maintaining your emotional, mental health and well being. 492 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 1: At this time, I think safety is an idea. I 493 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:45,480 Speaker 1: think it's something we can definitely thrive for and seek, 494 00:33:45,880 --> 00:33:50,080 Speaker 1: But we've got to understand that the thing that we're 495 00:33:50,120 --> 00:33:55,000 Speaker 1: talking about, even risk reduction for example, is that you 496 00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 1: can make it safer, right, and making it safe for 497 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:00,960 Speaker 1: yourself and the ones around you is a lot more 498 00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:05,000 Speaker 1: achievable and a lot easier to be able to have 499 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:08,120 Speaker 1: yourself on the back about when it comes to day 500 00:34:08,120 --> 00:34:11,480 Speaker 1: to day is you know, being able to take care 501 00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:18,239 Speaker 1: of yourself during these moments really requires more people, which 502 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:20,719 Speaker 1: has been extremely difficult in the last two and a 503 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:27,279 Speaker 1: half years throughout the pandemic. But understanding that there are 504 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 1: communities all the way from discord to Facebook groups, from 505 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 1: Facebook groups to what's App's chat rooms. Being able to 506 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:39,800 Speaker 1: share your pain and holding it together and holding space 507 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:43,319 Speaker 1: for others pain as well, has been able to give 508 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:48,680 Speaker 1: me that solace that many of us seek, that community 509 00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:51,320 Speaker 1: space that many of those seek, right, I think together. 510 00:34:51,880 --> 00:34:55,640 Speaker 1: I mean, we're a day before the Stonewall anniversary, right, 511 00:34:56,480 --> 00:35:03,399 Speaker 1: it's also a national HIV testing day, right. But it 512 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:06,680 Speaker 1: wasn't just one person, and it wasn't just one day. 513 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:13,600 Speaker 1: It was so many people, thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions, 514 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:18,759 Speaker 1: hundreds of millions across the world of people who to 515 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:21,240 Speaker 1: say I love you to one another, and being able 516 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:24,399 Speaker 1: to take care of one another when you can't and 517 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:27,040 Speaker 1: being able to say like, hey, I don't have it 518 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:28,839 Speaker 1: in me today. I think you saw this a lot 519 00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:32,040 Speaker 1: on Friday was like today, we rest, tomorrow we fight. 520 00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:42,960 Speaker 1: Like everybody has a line in which you got to 521 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:46,640 Speaker 1: understand that, like self care is like paramountain moments like 522 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:50,880 Speaker 1: this because it's a marathon. It's been a marathon. I 523 00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: think you've seen in the last two and ten years. 524 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:57,359 Speaker 1: It's a marathon. And you know, while you're getting water, 525 00:35:57,400 --> 00:36:02,000 Speaker 1: a teammate can pick up the slag and carry Yeah. Yeah, 526 00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:07,080 Speaker 1: not because they have to, but because they want to. Yeah. 527 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:11,840 Speaker 1: I think community is really important right now, Jen, Well, 528 00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:14,200 Speaker 1: I just want to thank you. I want to thank 529 00:36:14,239 --> 00:36:16,080 Speaker 1: you for the work that you do. I want to 530 00:36:16,120 --> 00:36:19,680 Speaker 1: thank you for making the time to come and share 531 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:24,440 Speaker 1: the work that you're doing and words of hopefulness to 532 00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:30,040 Speaker 1: the woke a f audience, and you know, I really 533 00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:33,400 Speaker 1: I wish you rest so that you can continue a 534 00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:39,279 Speaker 1: very righteous fight. And we appreciate you so thank you. 535 00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:41,960 Speaker 1: I appreciate all so much too. I'm so lucky for 536 00:36:42,040 --> 00:36:45,040 Speaker 1: this opportunity to be speaking with you, so thank you. 537 00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:49,880 Speaker 1: It's no secret that the news is horsepill hard to swallow. Thankfully, 538 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:53,799 Speaker 1: there's the bituation room podcast hosted by comedian and commentator 539 00:36:53,920 --> 00:36:57,800 Speaker 1: Francesca free Erntini for a lighter take on the heavy staff. 540 00:36:57,840 --> 00:37:01,640 Speaker 1: Each week, the Bituation Room brings you aggressive comedians, experts, 541 00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:03,799 Speaker 1: and activists to break down the issues in a way 542 00:37:03,840 --> 00:37:06,560 Speaker 1: that won't just leave you crying under a weighted blanket. 543 00:37:06,680 --> 00:37:10,279 Speaker 1: Get the Bituation Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and 544 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:21,880 Speaker 1: streaming on YouTube and Twitch. That is it for me 545 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:26,480 Speaker 1: today on Woke app. As always, Power to the people 546 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:30,160 Speaker 1: and to all the people. Power, get woke and stay 547 00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:31,279 Speaker 1: woke as fuck.