1 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: Good morning, peepsend Welcome to wok F Daily with Meet 2 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: your Girl Daniel Moody pre recording from the Home Bunker, Folks. 3 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:24,480 Speaker 1: I'm very happy today to welcome to wok F Daily 4 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: for the first time, Ian Haddick. And Ian is a 5 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: man with an really incredible story of just what it 6 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: means to have hope, what it means to persevere against 7 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: all odds as a homeless queer team to developing a 8 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: blog that would turn into an organization called the Normal 9 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: Anomaly Initiative. And Ian is the executive director and at 10 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: this organization he has been working to center the narrative, 11 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: the experience and the stories of black queer people and 12 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: also providing those that are underserved with the skills and 13 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: the ability to create businesses to build up their communities 14 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: to be more than the statistics that they are normally 15 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 1: labeled as. In my conversation with Ian, we talk about, 16 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: you know, what it means to uplift and center people's 17 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: stories and ship narrative, what it means to advocate for 18 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: policies that are less discriminatory, and what it means to 19 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: create opportunities in the face of obstacles. Our conversation is 20 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: a good one and ends in a very I hope 21 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: hopeful way, which is what can each of us do 22 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:00,080 Speaker 1: in our communities with what we have, with what we know, 23 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: to make things better instead of outsourcing to representatives who 24 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: are only in it for themselves, What can we do right? 25 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: And I think that Ian is the example that we 26 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: need in the work that he does, and I hope 27 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 1: that all of you will check out his organization after 28 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: listening to this, Folks, I am very excited to welcome 29 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: to wok F Daily four, I believe the first time. 30 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: Who is the founder of an organization called Normal Anomaly Initiative. 31 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 1: Ian Haddock has been working to try and bring the 32 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: voices and the issues of marginalized people, namely black queer folks, 33 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: to the forefront of discussions on a myriad of topics, 34 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 1: including HIV and AIDS and others. Ian, welcome to you. 35 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me here. I'm so excited. 36 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: So let's start off. Your organization that you founded has 37 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: a really interesting journey. It started off as a blog 38 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: and then transformed into an organization. Tell us about that journey. 39 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, I wanted to tell stories. I never wanted to 40 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 2: be a nonprofit leader I'm sure you can understand that 41 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 2: I wanted to tell the stories of the people that 42 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 2: were overlooked. I had been working in public health and 43 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 2: HIV and community advocacy and community development for about ten years, 44 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 2: and I got into this work in a very non 45 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 2: traditional way. I often don't share this, but I think 46 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 2: it's important to understand it here. I got into this 47 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 2: work as a homeless youth who was into sex work right, 48 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 2: and I got into this work and this work saved me. 49 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 2: But what I realized in this world is that it 50 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 2: still had some paternalistic, patriarchal, white supremacist views, and that 51 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 2: was built around sexism and homophobia and transphobia, and so 52 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 2: the people that we were trying to tell the stories 53 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 2: of were silenced. And so I started this from the 54 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 2: idea of let me tell those stories, let me show 55 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,280 Speaker 2: you the joy and the beauty of black queer people. 56 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 2: But over time, what we realized is that we were 57 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 2: doing a really good job of telling the story, but 58 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 2: we were not changing the narratives. And so that's when 59 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 2: the organization was perfect. 60 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 1: I love that one. I am somebody who part of 61 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:44,599 Speaker 1: my career was spent inside of the Center for American Progress, 62 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: one of the largest progressive thing tanks in the country, 63 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 1: working on elevating the policies that were most adversely affecting 64 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 1: black LGBTQ people, Right, Because when we were talking about 65 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 1: you know, same sex marriage, we were talking about HIV 66 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: and AIDS, we were talking about these issues that had 67 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 1: been at the forefront in the twenty tens, it was 68 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: largely white gay men that we were talking about or 69 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:16,840 Speaker 1: who were having the conversation. So I definitely appreciate the 70 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: uplifting and the spotlighting of those of those conversations of 71 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: those stories. Talk to us about the need though to 72 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: change the narrative and what you mean by that, and 73 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 1: also about the name of your organization as well. 74 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:42,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, so when we talk about the narrative, oftentimes we're 75 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 2: talking about black core people from a very bleak perspective, 76 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:52,160 Speaker 2: from this very needy perspective. Right, I believe that we 77 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 2: are God's chosen people. Whatever God you believe in or 78 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,280 Speaker 2: don't believe in, I believe we are black people. While 79 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 2: God shows and people and black where people have the 80 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 2: special two spiritedness from our native ancestors, right that have 81 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 2: the ability to be both the masculine and the feminine. 82 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 2: And so I really believe that all that I am 83 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 2: as a gift. It's a beautiful gift, and I'm grateful 84 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 2: to have it. But oftentimes these stories are told from 85 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 2: a place of despair and desperation and sadness. But I 86 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 2: believe that when I was kicked out of my home 87 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 2: from my heterosexual single mother, in living in poverty, that 88 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 2: I found a community that showed me hope and faith 89 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 2: and love and compassion. And so when we talk about 90 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 2: changing their narratives, there are two specific things that I 91 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 2: think about when I think about changing that narrative. The 92 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 2: first one is we are who we've been waiting for. 93 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 2: We can't wait on this system to change, for us 94 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 2: to do the internal work to do that change. And 95 00:06:55,920 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 2: the second thing is that I need need to move 96 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: the movable middle closer to allyship and accomplished and being accomplices. 97 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 2: And that is the work that we do at the 98 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 2: normal nominally one. We give each other the tools to 99 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 2: succeed without waiting on the system, and we don't worry 100 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 2: about the naysayers, the people that don't see the gift, 101 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 2: that don't see the beauty. We worry about those people 102 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 2: who are already in allyship and being accomplices and those 103 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 2: who are in this movable middle that can shift the 104 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 2: narrative on our behalf. And so the normal anomaly is 105 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 2: really an honor to that goal. When you think about 106 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 2: an anomaly, it's something that's different, or it's a one off, 107 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 2: it's a one thing kind of thing. But we are 108 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 2: normalizing what people think is abnormal. We're normalizing things that 109 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 2: people think are different and that no, we're here. We've 110 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: always been here. We've been your kings and queens and others, 111 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 2: and we've been here. And that is the work that 112 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 2: we do through direct services and advocacy, capacity building, research, 113 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 2: and creating braver spaces. 114 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: Let's talk about some of the work that you do, 115 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 1: particularly around healing justice, particularly around you know, how you 116 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: are just pouring in positivity into a space that is 117 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: generally looked at through a lens of lack. You know, 118 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: I talk about a lot on this show and other 119 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: shows about the conservatives quote unquote anti LGBTQ operatives. Their vision, 120 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 1: their ideology stems from a place of lack and scarcity. 121 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: It's why they are hoarders at their heart, right, It's 122 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: why they believe that there is not more than enough. Right. 123 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:55,199 Speaker 1: Why they believe in subjugation and oppression and erasure is 124 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 1: because they don't come from a place of abundance. And 125 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: so what does it mean to one at one both 126 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: advocate for changes in narrative and structures that keep people 127 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: in marginalized position and at the same time being able 128 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: to try and heal in some respects really devastating trauma. Right. 129 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: And I find that a lot of people who get 130 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: into advocacy work and activism work, particularly when it is 131 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 1: affecting their lives, there is a lot there. There's so 132 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 1: much at stake. So can you speak to that? 133 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,439 Speaker 2: That's good. I had to take a deep breath with that, 134 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 2: because you just hit something really deep inside. When I 135 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,559 Speaker 2: think about healing justice and I think about the work 136 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:57,199 Speaker 2: that we do, we have to center the people that 137 00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 2: we are working for and with, and oftentimes as an activist, 138 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 2: oftentimes as a nonprofit leader. What I find is that 139 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 2: people who have ascended and gotten influence and popularity and power, 140 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 2: what often happens is we become the oppressor because what 141 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:26,839 Speaker 2: we stop doing is listening to the people that are 142 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 2: still with that lived experience. My lived experience is really important. 143 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:33,680 Speaker 2: What I've been through is really important. But I have 144 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 2: ascended to a place of some level of power and 145 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 2: resource and capital, right, and so my job is to 146 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:46,320 Speaker 2: steal center the lived experience of my fifteen year old self, 147 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 2: of my twenty year old self, of my twenty four 148 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 2: year old self. And so what we have to do 149 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 2: is we have to keep going to the community. This 150 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:58,360 Speaker 2: generation that's dealing with HIV, that's dealing with homelessness, that's 151 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:03,559 Speaker 2: dealing with anti LGBTQ rhetoric and policy. This generation is different. 152 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 2: They are coming in fears and excited to knock down 153 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 2: the structure. They're not apologists like the millennials of my day. 154 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 2: I'm a millennial, right, They're not apologist in the same way. 155 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 2: And so if we're going after the same goal but 156 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 2: we don't have the same tools, we're not listening to 157 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 2: the same people, then we've already failed and we've become 158 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 2: our oppressor. Because these things are changing and there are 159 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 2: new advocates. I am I tell my team all the time, 160 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 2: and I think this is really important. I am creating. 161 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:40,959 Speaker 2: You are my succession plan today. You are my succession 162 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 2: plan because it does not matter if Ian is at 163 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 2: the hand even though Ian is able to be on 164 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 2: platforms such as this and other platforms. If you can't 165 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 2: be on those platforms and do your work and do 166 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 2: the work of the people, we have to create systems ourselves. 167 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 2: As we knock down the other systems, we have to 168 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 2: create systems of succession, systems of power, and systems of 169 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 2: focusing on communities needs that are ever changing. And as 170 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 2: I ascend in power and influence and capital and resources, 171 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 2: I have to understand that my story won't be the 172 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:19,840 Speaker 2: same as the people that need me. 173 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:28,959 Speaker 1: Let me ask you this. You know, when we are 174 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: looking because oftentimes we also look at people through the 175 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: lens of the statistics, right, and you're talking about real people. 176 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: What are some of the issues that you think the 177 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 1: headlines overlook that we need to focus on that matter 178 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 1: to the communities that you are serving. 179 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:59,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that the headlines they they try to 180 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 2: use intershi sections to create dissension and contention. No matter 181 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 2: if you're a black trans body or a black cist body, 182 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 2: no matter if you're a black queer body or a 183 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 2: black heterosexual body, the world does not love us the same. 184 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:25,319 Speaker 2: They just don't. They don't want to see you successful, 185 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 2: they don't want to create opportunities of influence, of compassion 186 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 2: and environment that is safe, and oftentimes I hear these 187 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 2: conversations between black cystender women and black transgender women talking 188 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:49,679 Speaker 2: about who has the most power, who's getting the most access, 189 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 2: or who has the most headlines. And it's just blackness. 190 00:13:54,480 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 2: It's anti blackness, it's white supremacy, it's patriarchy and paternal life. 191 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 2: And I think that black queer people understand that it 192 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 2: is my queerness. But if I was white, and I'm 193 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 2: not anti white, I'm just pro black. But if I 194 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 2: was white, I would have a different experience as a 195 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 2: masculine presenting gay man would experience. So it's my blackness. 196 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: It is my blackness, you know, because and it's one 197 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 1: of the reasons why many moons ago, I became an 198 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: advocate for LGBTQ folks, not because not just because it 199 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 1: was about my own life and future, but also because 200 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 1: of who was telling the story for all of this 201 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: the same reasons. You know, we may come under the 202 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: same rainbow, but we're not. We don't see everything the 203 00:14:55,880 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: same way because our experiences are colored differently, right, and 204 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 1: that of white gay cis men has been in large 205 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: part through the lens of privilege, and so, you know, 206 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 1: it was very difficult to consistently watch as marriage equality 207 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: was being fought for who was talking about marriage equality 208 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: and who was talking about anti LGBTQ policies. Because while 209 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: there is some intersection to the oppressions, how black queer people, 210 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 1: non SIS people experience that is wildly different, because everything 211 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: becomes compacted because of misogyny, noir, because of imagined phobias, 212 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 1: because of class, because of economic opportunity in all of 213 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 1: these different spaces. And so I wonder for you, you know, 214 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 1: as you have built this organization and moved it through 215 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: a pandemic, where do you find your hopefulness? Where do 216 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 1: you see the rays of sunshine that allow us to 217 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: believe that black queer people are more than just the number. 218 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 2: That's good. That's good. And I'm going to start with 219 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 2: talking about some numbers before I talk about where the 220 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 2: hope comes from, because I think in a small organization 221 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 2: that was really three people for most of its existence, 222 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 2: now it's eight, a small team of eight, but in 223 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 2: that we have helped to launch forty eight businesses and 224 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 2: an ecosystem of social enterprises that is expanding to five 225 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 2: cities across the South, in primarily black areas, we are 226 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 2: updating the status and doing that work, but we're also 227 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 2: like navigating people using a peer support model, both here 228 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:03,479 Speaker 2: and across Texas, and we're seeing the impact of grassroots 229 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:07,199 Speaker 2: work actually caring about the people, caring about the person. 230 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 2: My hope really is because I know the power that 231 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:21,159 Speaker 2: we have inside, and I know that the policies and 232 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 2: the things that are happening are because of that power. 233 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:28,199 Speaker 2: And it's not a power of attacking, it's not a 234 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 2: power of diminishing. It's just the essence our gene sa 235 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 2: qua is just beautiful. And when I realized that people 236 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 2: are here locally in Houston a couple years ago, the 237 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:46,679 Speaker 2: equal Rights Ordinance got passed by our city council and 238 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 2: then these majorly majority black pastors and some white pastors 239 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 2: took it and wanted to vote on the equal Rights 240 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 2: Ordinance and it failed. But why it felt was because 241 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 2: they made, you know, black trans people specifically the face 242 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 2: of this bathroom bill. And I thought that's so interesting 243 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 2: as we think about hope, because black trans people have 244 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 2: never questioned where they use the restaurant. They're not questioning 245 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 2: where they what doors they go into for a restaurant. Heck, 246 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 2: most of black trans people, you know, there's some studies 247 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,919 Speaker 2: that say thirty four percent of black trans women make 248 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 2: less than ten thousand dollars a year. So they're actually 249 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 2: not even worried about lack you know, fair employment. They're 250 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 2: just trying to get employment. They're trying to get transportation. 251 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 2: They're trying to get a firm and close and not 252 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:50,199 Speaker 2: do sex working and all the things. They're trying to 253 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 2: deal with health disparities. They don't have time to worry 254 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 2: about mental health or you know, taking their tea. They're 255 00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,359 Speaker 2: not even you know, they don't even have access to 256 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 2: the doctor at ten thousand dollars, right, and no transportation. 257 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 2: And so my hope is that I'm seeing more you know, 258 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 2: black trans, black queer black people that are interested in, like, 259 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 2: I need a healthier life, I need to make some 260 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 2: healthier decisions. My hope is, you know, I'm seeing more 261 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:19,640 Speaker 2: social enterprisers that are in advocacy work, that are doing 262 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 2: advocacy work with us as volunteers and as part time 263 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,680 Speaker 2: people and as people across the state and across the country, 264 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:28,959 Speaker 2: but they are also running their businesses. I'm proud of 265 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 2: some black queer people are. One of the people that 266 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:35,400 Speaker 2: I think about is this young lady who has decided, 267 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 2: after making a quarter of a million dollars in the 268 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:41,880 Speaker 2: first two years since our Social Enterprising program, she has 269 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 2: decided to close that building locally, do it virtually, and 270 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 2: use all the money she made to do a retreat 271 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:54,160 Speaker 2: center in Mexico. Thatow R that gives me hope. I'm 272 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:58,160 Speaker 2: thinking about a barber who is a straight man. He's 273 00:19:58,200 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 2: a straight man who is a part of our co 274 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:04,399 Speaker 2: a black LGBT cohort, but a black straight man was 275 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 2: a part of our cohort and now as a full 276 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 2: time barber with his own suite, employing other people who 277 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 2: just got funded through be Good and Comcast right through 278 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 2: our through our program. That's what gives me hope, because 279 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 2: the reality is if we weigh on the system to change, 280 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 2: we'll die and we don't have time. 281 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 1: And I just, you know, I'm so inspired by the 282 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 1: work that you're doing. I'm so just in awe of 283 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: your story, your personal story, but then what you're doing 284 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: to transform the lives of people, because I just, you know, 285 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 1: I think that we can get really lost and bogged 286 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:50,679 Speaker 1: down in the darkness that we see in the headlines, 287 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 1: in the darkness that is around us, but that there 288 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 1: is opportunity in doing what you can, where you can, 289 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:00,840 Speaker 1: how you can, and so so are just the last 290 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 1: question for you is what advice do you have for 291 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:10,920 Speaker 1: people that are feeling impossible right now to give them 292 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 1: some type of possibility. 293 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:25,879 Speaker 2: You know, everybody has a gift, and I would just 294 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:29,200 Speaker 2: ask everybody as they think through their gift and as 295 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 2: they sit with the gifts that they have and the 296 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:39,119 Speaker 2: gifts that will manifest, that you realize that the gift 297 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 2: is for someone else. And I think that in the 298 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 2: community and the ecosystem in which I live and I 299 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 2: desire to live is a space where I am fed 300 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 2: by the gifts of other people and people are fed 301 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 2: by the gifts of me. And so I know that 302 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 2: seems very abstract, but this new community, we have a 303 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:07,359 Speaker 2: lot of work to do outside of our community, but 304 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 2: inside our communities, well, we're woke as fuck, right. I 305 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 2: need us to be clear that our gift is for 306 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:22,240 Speaker 2: the uplifting, the building and the empowerment of the community. 307 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 2: And if each one of us can figure out our 308 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 2: gifts and give that to someone else, we will all 309 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 2: be full. 310 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 1: Oh Ian Haddick, Thank you so incredibly much for making 311 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:40,920 Speaker 1: the time for WOKF and folks to find out more 312 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:46,160 Speaker 1: about Ian and his work at Normal Anomaly Initiative. Head 313 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 1: over to normal anomaly dot org and get involved. Thank 314 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: you so much, really appreciate you. 315 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 2: Thank you. 316 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: That is it for me today. Dear friends on Woke 317 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 1: a F as always power to the people and to 318 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:12,680 Speaker 1: all the people power, get woke and stay woke as fuck.