1 00:00:08,285 --> 00:00:09,165 Speaker 1: School of Humans. 2 00:00:12,525 --> 00:00:14,045 Speaker 2: This is Queer Chronicles. 3 00:00:15,365 --> 00:00:19,365 Speaker 3: This is my personal entry queer. 4 00:00:20,205 --> 00:00:21,965 Speaker 1: This is Queer Chronicles. 5 00:00:29,165 --> 00:00:34,445 Speaker 4: I'm Raquel Willis from School of Humans, the Outspoken Podcast Network, 6 00:00:34,565 --> 00:00:41,125 Speaker 4: and iHeart Podcasts. This is a special edition of Queer Chronicles, 7 00:00:41,685 --> 00:00:47,325 Speaker 4: a show where queer folks document their personal lives and experiences. 8 00:00:46,085 --> 00:00:47,205 Speaker 5: In their own words. 9 00:00:47,925 --> 00:00:50,885 Speaker 4: This season, we spoke with a group of teens and 10 00:00:51,005 --> 00:00:55,965 Speaker 4: battleground states across the country. But today I'm joined by 11 00:00:56,045 --> 00:01:01,645 Speaker 4: three esteemed adult guests to review and key key about 12 00:01:01,685 --> 00:01:04,245 Speaker 4: some of the themes and ideas that came up this season. 13 00:01:04,685 --> 00:01:06,805 Speaker 4: We're going to get some tea on the ways they're 14 00:01:06,845 --> 00:01:10,365 Speaker 4: telling queer stories in the world, share advice for our 15 00:01:10,405 --> 00:01:13,845 Speaker 4: youth out there, and maybe dish a little guess too. 16 00:01:14,405 --> 00:01:14,965 Speaker 5: Who knows. 17 00:01:16,765 --> 00:01:21,005 Speaker 4: First, We've got actor activists and self proclaimed horror movie 18 00:01:21,005 --> 00:01:27,365 Speaker 4: buff Miss Peppermint Meow and my down home fam coming 19 00:01:27,405 --> 00:01:32,605 Speaker 4: in from Georgia. Singer and drag show girl Taylor Alexander 20 00:01:33,165 --> 00:01:39,005 Speaker 4: Hi Hi, and a little later, Chase Strangio, attorney for 21 00:01:39,085 --> 00:01:42,725 Speaker 4: the American Civil Liberties Union, will be joining us too. 22 00:01:44,045 --> 00:01:47,605 Speaker 4: Thank y'all so much for chatting today. How are y'all feeling? 23 00:01:48,565 --> 00:01:50,365 Speaker 4: How are you feeling Miss Peppermint. 24 00:01:50,605 --> 00:01:53,885 Speaker 6: I'm feeling good and feeling energized and really happy to 25 00:01:53,925 --> 00:02:00,205 Speaker 6: be here with everybody. And yeah, I'm feeling activated and directed. 26 00:02:00,965 --> 00:02:05,005 Speaker 1: Ooh, come on, and what about you, Taylor, I am 27 00:02:05,045 --> 00:02:08,765 Speaker 1: feeling caffeinated. I am ready to converse. I am ready 28 00:02:08,805 --> 00:02:12,885 Speaker 1: to key key and other words to start with the cussounds. 29 00:02:12,885 --> 00:02:16,245 Speaker 1: So yeah, I'm down. I'm ready. Give us like three 30 00:02:16,365 --> 00:02:21,245 Speaker 1: more Oh my gosh, qualify, quantify, I don't know. 31 00:02:23,605 --> 00:02:24,005 Speaker 5: Okay. 32 00:02:24,085 --> 00:02:27,445 Speaker 4: So, to set the scene for y'all, over the past 33 00:02:27,485 --> 00:02:29,805 Speaker 4: few months, we've been following a group of queer and 34 00:02:29,845 --> 00:02:33,565 Speaker 4: trans teens, many of them in Red States, and they 35 00:02:33,685 --> 00:02:37,925 Speaker 4: sent us voice memos about their lives, plus they just 36 00:02:38,005 --> 00:02:42,445 Speaker 4: kind of gave us the ins and outs of their experiences. Today, 37 00:02:42,485 --> 00:02:44,245 Speaker 4: we're going to play you some of the clips from 38 00:02:44,285 --> 00:02:46,525 Speaker 4: the show, and you'll get to meet some of the 39 00:02:46,605 --> 00:02:50,485 Speaker 4: teens through parts of their stories, and we'll talk about 40 00:02:50,525 --> 00:02:52,805 Speaker 4: them and see what comes up for y'all. 41 00:02:52,885 --> 00:02:53,885 Speaker 5: So does that sound good? 42 00:02:54,205 --> 00:02:55,885 Speaker 6: Oh, it's I am ready. 43 00:02:59,405 --> 00:02:59,805 Speaker 5: Okay. 44 00:03:00,485 --> 00:03:03,085 Speaker 4: So one of the last things we discussed on the 45 00:03:03,085 --> 00:03:07,725 Speaker 4: show was the experience of coming out or inviting in, 46 00:03:08,165 --> 00:03:11,165 Speaker 4: as others might say these days. So we're going to 47 00:03:11,285 --> 00:03:15,205 Speaker 4: run the tape from our episode with Sofara. Now so 48 00:03:15,405 --> 00:03:20,005 Speaker 4: far is a trans tine from Texas, and she goes 49 00:03:20,245 --> 00:03:25,565 Speaker 4: into her experience and her connection with ballroom. So she 50 00:03:25,685 --> 00:03:29,685 Speaker 4: got very real about the shift from seeing herself previously 51 00:03:29,965 --> 00:03:37,685 Speaker 4: as gay to understanding her womanhood in a more expansive way. 52 00:03:37,805 --> 00:03:41,605 Speaker 7: Yeah, it took me a long time to like find out, 53 00:03:41,645 --> 00:03:45,005 Speaker 7: Like I know, like everyone's transitions has their own timeline, 54 00:03:45,645 --> 00:03:49,325 Speaker 7: and for me, it wasn't like incredibly vastly apparent that 55 00:03:49,405 --> 00:03:51,485 Speaker 7: I was a girl from the jump, you know what 56 00:03:51,485 --> 00:03:54,805 Speaker 7: I mean. Like I felt a lot of like comfortability 57 00:03:54,845 --> 00:03:59,245 Speaker 7: and like being a gay man. For like a while, 58 00:03:59,685 --> 00:04:01,965 Speaker 7: I thought I knew what I was. I thought I 59 00:04:01,965 --> 00:04:04,845 Speaker 7: had it fully figured out in the back of my mind. 60 00:04:05,005 --> 00:04:08,205 Speaker 7: I remember, like I would probably say, since like fourth 61 00:04:08,325 --> 00:04:10,565 Speaker 7: or fifth grade was when I had the first thought of, well, 62 00:04:10,605 --> 00:04:13,805 Speaker 7: it would be great if I had if I had breasts, 63 00:04:14,005 --> 00:04:16,005 Speaker 7: and it would be great if I was born a woman. 64 00:04:16,285 --> 00:04:18,485 Speaker 7: It would be better if I was born a woman. 65 00:04:18,805 --> 00:04:21,405 Speaker 7: But I was, like I always literally said, but I 66 00:04:21,445 --> 00:04:23,925 Speaker 7: don't want enough to be like trans I don't want 67 00:04:24,085 --> 00:04:27,445 Speaker 7: enough to actually go through a transition. And that always 68 00:04:27,925 --> 00:04:34,525 Speaker 7: hot back up, like every six months or so. 69 00:04:32,405 --> 00:04:32,565 Speaker 1: So. 70 00:04:34,045 --> 00:04:37,125 Speaker 4: We got into it, and I know, I feel so 71 00:04:37,245 --> 00:04:40,445 Speaker 4: much of what Miss Safara is laying down here. I 72 00:04:40,485 --> 00:04:44,685 Speaker 4: had plenty of times from childhood to beyond where I 73 00:04:44,845 --> 00:04:49,205 Speaker 4: was reimagining my life as the girl or woman I 74 00:04:49,325 --> 00:04:53,205 Speaker 4: was finding myself to be. But of course the idea 75 00:04:53,445 --> 00:04:57,845 Speaker 4: that coming out piece the feet of it loomed over me. 76 00:04:58,645 --> 00:05:02,765 Speaker 4: So I'm curious if any of you resonate with what 77 00:05:02,925 --> 00:05:06,685 Speaker 4: missafar is talking about here. What is it bringing up 78 00:05:06,725 --> 00:05:09,485 Speaker 4: for you in terms of thinking about being a teenager 79 00:05:09,605 --> 00:05:15,685 Speaker 4: and coming to terms with your evolving identity? And Taylor, 80 00:05:15,725 --> 00:05:17,165 Speaker 4: do you want to kick us off? 81 00:05:17,925 --> 00:05:21,885 Speaker 1: I can, Yeah, just listening just brought up, you know, 82 00:05:21,925 --> 00:05:24,925 Speaker 1: this idea of like the audacity to be yourself and 83 00:05:24,965 --> 00:05:27,885 Speaker 1: coming into yourself. And you know, for so many people, 84 00:05:28,045 --> 00:05:32,285 Speaker 1: especially like taking my own experience into account, it's just 85 00:05:32,325 --> 00:05:36,565 Speaker 1: like the idea of safety. Like, sure, I have these identities, 86 00:05:36,605 --> 00:05:40,405 Speaker 1: I have these feelings. I know there are certain aspects 87 00:05:40,445 --> 00:05:42,805 Speaker 1: of myself that I want to explore or express, but 88 00:05:43,245 --> 00:05:48,565 Speaker 1: there's a certain safety that comes with not pursuing those things, 89 00:05:48,565 --> 00:05:51,645 Speaker 1: and so sometimes it keeps us quote unquote in the closet, 90 00:05:51,645 --> 00:05:55,125 Speaker 1: It keeps us from you know, really exploring all the 91 00:05:55,165 --> 00:05:58,525 Speaker 1: possibilities of who we can become, and so just hearing 92 00:05:58,565 --> 00:06:02,685 Speaker 1: about the possibility of you know, beginning to transition and 93 00:06:02,725 --> 00:06:06,085 Speaker 1: coming into yourself, but also understanding the more safety of 94 00:06:06,565 --> 00:06:09,605 Speaker 1: an identity that maybe isn't home to you. Yeah, that 95 00:06:09,685 --> 00:06:10,925 Speaker 1: definitely resonated with me. 96 00:06:11,525 --> 00:06:14,365 Speaker 6: But so far I had to say, definitely resonated with me, 97 00:06:15,325 --> 00:06:19,845 Speaker 6: especially coming from the drag world. And Taylor, what you 98 00:06:19,845 --> 00:06:22,845 Speaker 6: said also really it could have been my own words. 99 00:06:23,845 --> 00:06:28,645 Speaker 6: I remember prioritizing sort of the comfort of I guess, 100 00:06:28,645 --> 00:06:31,525 Speaker 6: the status quo, the people that like weren't trans the 101 00:06:31,565 --> 00:06:36,045 Speaker 6: people that were like you know, my parents, the society, 102 00:06:36,165 --> 00:06:40,645 Speaker 6: the bullies, prioritizing their comfort over mine. And I was 103 00:06:40,685 --> 00:06:44,365 Speaker 6: able to use drag as a tool, especially for people 104 00:06:44,365 --> 00:06:47,645 Speaker 6: who are performers. I think we can utilize the space 105 00:06:47,685 --> 00:06:51,685 Speaker 6: of performance and work in that context to like temporarily, 106 00:06:52,965 --> 00:06:57,645 Speaker 6: you know, sort of satisfy the urge and the need 107 00:06:57,765 --> 00:07:02,245 Speaker 6: to like medically transition and at least if not come 108 00:07:02,285 --> 00:07:04,165 Speaker 6: out as trans because you can, you know, it's a 109 00:07:04,645 --> 00:07:06,605 Speaker 6: there can be an over right. And so for me, 110 00:07:06,685 --> 00:07:09,525 Speaker 6: I was like, I considered myself and I thought I 111 00:07:09,565 --> 00:07:11,005 Speaker 6: made up a word. I think I might have made 112 00:07:11,085 --> 00:07:13,645 Speaker 6: up word a non op trans woman. There was like 113 00:07:13,845 --> 00:07:16,125 Speaker 6: and the back in the day people were like prep 114 00:07:16,285 --> 00:07:18,525 Speaker 6: post op and I was like, well, I'm non op 115 00:07:18,845 --> 00:07:21,285 Speaker 6: and I'm just going to use makeup and that's going 116 00:07:21,365 --> 00:07:25,005 Speaker 6: to be it. And so that worked for a while. 117 00:07:25,525 --> 00:07:28,845 Speaker 4: I mean, I hear so much of what y'all are saying. 118 00:07:28,925 --> 00:07:32,045 Speaker 4: And for me, there was also like drag as a 119 00:07:32,125 --> 00:07:35,125 Speaker 4: performance element was a gateway because I was a drag 120 00:07:35,165 --> 00:07:39,845 Speaker 4: performer at school at the University of Georgia, and it 121 00:07:39,885 --> 00:07:44,525 Speaker 4: was through that art form that I met other queer 122 00:07:44,645 --> 00:07:49,125 Speaker 4: trans people were identifying as gender queer than not non 123 00:07:49,205 --> 00:07:55,605 Speaker 4: binary necessarily, but it was such a beautiful gateway into 124 00:07:55,765 --> 00:07:58,885 Speaker 4: understanding myself but also understanding that I wasn't alone in 125 00:07:58,925 --> 00:08:01,925 Speaker 4: this experience. So can y'all talk a little bit more 126 00:08:02,005 --> 00:08:05,485 Speaker 4: about what it was, like how important maybe it was 127 00:08:05,765 --> 00:08:10,965 Speaker 4: to find community at that time or in these times 128 00:08:11,005 --> 00:08:13,765 Speaker 4: when you were also just trying to figure yourself out 129 00:08:13,805 --> 00:08:15,085 Speaker 4: on an individual level. 130 00:08:15,645 --> 00:08:18,885 Speaker 5: Well, for me, it was really different. 131 00:08:19,245 --> 00:08:21,805 Speaker 6: You know, like in the nineties, we didn't even have 132 00:08:21,845 --> 00:08:26,725 Speaker 6: the nuance of understanding that we have today, and so 133 00:08:28,525 --> 00:08:30,845 Speaker 6: back then people were like, you're either a gay boy 134 00:08:31,605 --> 00:08:36,005 Speaker 6: or a transsexual, and we weren't even using the word transgender. 135 00:08:36,885 --> 00:08:40,845 Speaker 6: In my at least, what I had access to finding 136 00:08:40,885 --> 00:08:45,965 Speaker 6: community is important. It was really ironic in that regard. 137 00:08:46,365 --> 00:08:49,205 Speaker 6: Even folks in the gay community and the gay bars 138 00:08:49,245 --> 00:08:53,645 Speaker 6: and the clubs that I was working in didn't have 139 00:08:53,765 --> 00:08:57,365 Speaker 6: much of a nuanced perspective as well, and so they 140 00:08:57,405 --> 00:09:02,405 Speaker 6: were there was some you know, cis sexism happening, and 141 00:09:02,445 --> 00:09:07,005 Speaker 6: there was some you know, uh, the misogyny and the 142 00:09:07,045 --> 00:09:09,445 Speaker 6: patriarchy was, you know, ever present in the gay bar, 143 00:09:10,645 --> 00:09:13,085 Speaker 6: especially in the bars that I worked in, which are 144 00:09:13,085 --> 00:09:18,005 Speaker 6: mostly white gay bars, you know, mostly frequented by white men, 145 00:09:18,125 --> 00:09:22,605 Speaker 6: white gay men, and so like, there just wasn't a 146 00:09:22,605 --> 00:09:25,365 Speaker 6: lot of options. And when I started to explore my 147 00:09:25,445 --> 00:09:27,965 Speaker 6: transness and want to connect that to the community that 148 00:09:28,045 --> 00:09:30,645 Speaker 6: I had been around for so long, I was met 149 00:09:30,685 --> 00:09:34,605 Speaker 6: with toxicity and resistance and sort of threats of losing 150 00:09:34,645 --> 00:09:38,565 Speaker 6: my job and so not to be a naysayer. A 151 00:09:38,605 --> 00:09:41,725 Speaker 6: community is one hundred percent important, and I think today 152 00:09:42,125 --> 00:09:43,765 Speaker 6: what we have to take advantage of is there are 153 00:09:43,845 --> 00:09:47,725 Speaker 6: so many more queer people who are expressing their queerness, 154 00:09:47,765 --> 00:09:50,085 Speaker 6: which to me has a little bit of a political 155 00:09:50,085 --> 00:09:53,365 Speaker 6: context as well, and understanding that we have this larger 156 00:09:53,365 --> 00:09:56,965 Speaker 6: community and it's not just focused on the gay white men. 157 00:09:57,485 --> 00:09:58,805 Speaker 6: You know, this cis gay white. 158 00:09:58,565 --> 00:10:01,085 Speaker 5: Men, absolutely. 159 00:10:01,325 --> 00:10:04,645 Speaker 4: I mean, I think what I'm hearing here is the 160 00:10:04,685 --> 00:10:09,685 Speaker 4: community is right, and also it's not always accessible, especially 161 00:10:09,685 --> 00:10:12,245 Speaker 4: in the ways that maybe the most enriching for us, 162 00:10:12,285 --> 00:10:18,805 Speaker 4: particularly as trans as non Binaria's agender folks. I want 163 00:10:18,845 --> 00:10:21,765 Speaker 4: to shift also to you, Taylor, because I want to 164 00:10:21,765 --> 00:10:24,525 Speaker 4: get some of what we just got from Peppermint from 165 00:10:24,645 --> 00:10:28,685 Speaker 4: you in terms of what it was like for you 166 00:10:28,965 --> 00:10:32,845 Speaker 4: coming into your identity maybe in different spaces. 167 00:10:33,205 --> 00:10:34,845 Speaker 5: So, I know we first. 168 00:10:34,605 --> 00:10:39,005 Speaker 4: Met probably around twenty fourteen, right or was it before then? 169 00:10:39,445 --> 00:10:43,805 Speaker 1: It had to be twenty because it was a Unity conference. 170 00:10:44,085 --> 00:10:45,685 Speaker 5: Oh, it was a Unity conference. 171 00:10:45,685 --> 00:10:48,325 Speaker 4: So we probably met right around the time you moved 172 00:10:48,365 --> 00:10:52,045 Speaker 4: to Atlanta, which was like twenty eleven ish. 173 00:10:52,205 --> 00:10:54,805 Speaker 1: M hm, cause I think Unity Conference was my first. 174 00:10:54,805 --> 00:10:58,245 Speaker 1: One was twenty twelve, that spring semester. Yeah. 175 00:10:58,245 --> 00:11:00,845 Speaker 4: But I'm curious though, because when I met you, you 176 00:11:00,965 --> 00:11:04,245 Speaker 4: were probably just kind of coming out of a similar 177 00:11:04,285 --> 00:11:06,245 Speaker 4: space that I was in at a place point of 178 00:11:06,365 --> 00:11:10,725 Speaker 4: smaller town Georgia. You were in Griffin and you were 179 00:11:10,845 --> 00:11:14,205 Speaker 4: in then in Atlanta, and so can you talk about 180 00:11:14,245 --> 00:11:16,365 Speaker 4: a little bit what it was like to come into 181 00:11:16,405 --> 00:11:21,405 Speaker 4: your own dealing with kind of the difference in those experiences. 182 00:11:21,925 --> 00:11:24,765 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think a phrase that jumped out in the 183 00:11:24,765 --> 00:11:28,645 Speaker 1: conversation is, you know, accessibility to community. So in Griffin, 184 00:11:28,725 --> 00:11:32,285 Speaker 1: it's a small town in our south of Atlanta, there 185 00:11:32,405 --> 00:11:37,805 Speaker 1: is no visible queer community. Before I moved to Atlanta, 186 00:11:38,405 --> 00:11:42,285 Speaker 1: there was no positive use of the word queer, you know, 187 00:11:44,205 --> 00:11:46,685 Speaker 1: the whole use of the acronym was not existing. There 188 00:11:46,765 --> 00:11:51,085 Speaker 1: just wasn't a visible or physical or even like online 189 00:11:51,405 --> 00:11:55,045 Speaker 1: LGBTQ kind of like presence to access. You know, my 190 00:11:55,365 --> 00:11:59,485 Speaker 1: understanding of LGBTQ identities came from the Internet, So you know, 191 00:11:59,565 --> 00:12:03,085 Speaker 1: I was always on MySpace, I was always on Facebook, Tumblr, 192 00:12:03,565 --> 00:12:06,565 Speaker 1: you know, taught me so much. So when I moved 193 00:12:06,605 --> 00:12:08,685 Speaker 1: to Atlanta in twenty eleven to go to school at 194 00:12:08,685 --> 00:12:12,485 Speaker 1: Georgia State University, I it was just all thrown at me. 195 00:12:12,725 --> 00:12:12,925 Speaker 4: You know. 196 00:12:13,045 --> 00:12:16,685 Speaker 1: The first semester of school, I joined the Alliance at GSU, 197 00:12:16,765 --> 00:12:21,045 Speaker 1: which is I still believe, the oldest LGBTQ student group 198 00:12:21,165 --> 00:12:24,845 Speaker 1: in the Southeast. I started doing work for different local 199 00:12:24,965 --> 00:12:29,645 Speaker 1: organizations that were focused on like HIV AIDS awareness and advocacy, 200 00:12:30,805 --> 00:12:36,125 Speaker 1: I finally met trans people, like, you know, before twenty eleven, 201 00:12:36,205 --> 00:12:39,605 Speaker 1: there was for me, there was no visible trans community. 202 00:12:39,645 --> 00:12:42,445 Speaker 1: I didn't even know the word transgender before I moved 203 00:12:42,485 --> 00:12:47,405 Speaker 1: to Atlanta. And that's also where I got involved in drag, 204 00:12:47,965 --> 00:12:52,045 Speaker 1: is where I started going to ballroom events, so that 205 00:12:52,125 --> 00:12:56,405 Speaker 1: allowed me to just explore so much. You know, the 206 00:12:56,845 --> 00:12:59,445 Speaker 1: access to community led to access to language, which I 207 00:12:59,485 --> 00:13:03,405 Speaker 1: think is so important, you know, having certain identities to name, 208 00:13:04,125 --> 00:13:06,325 Speaker 1: you know, that match these feelings that you have, so 209 00:13:07,445 --> 00:13:11,325 Speaker 1: you know, I was like, oh, I'm definitely not assist man. 210 00:13:11,445 --> 00:13:14,125 Speaker 1: That is not accurate to my life or my experience 211 00:13:14,125 --> 00:13:15,645 Speaker 1: at all. And then that was around the time that 212 00:13:16,045 --> 00:13:19,645 Speaker 1: non binary was coming to usage and then accessing drag 213 00:13:19,725 --> 00:13:23,285 Speaker 1: and meeting beautiful trans women and transfems who were like, baby, 214 00:13:23,365 --> 00:13:25,245 Speaker 1: this is where the hormones are, and then you know, 215 00:13:25,405 --> 00:13:29,765 Speaker 1: allowing me to access that. You know, I was raised 216 00:13:29,765 --> 00:13:32,885 Speaker 1: in the drag scene by trans women who were showgirls, 217 00:13:32,965 --> 00:13:35,885 Speaker 1: point blank period. Like so many amazing people that I 218 00:13:36,005 --> 00:13:38,925 Speaker 1: met through the drag scene, through the trans community that 219 00:13:39,045 --> 00:13:43,485 Speaker 1: welcomed me and allowed me to manifest my own reality 220 00:13:43,525 --> 00:13:48,085 Speaker 1: that never existed before twenty eleven. In Griffin Georgia, Titty Girls, 221 00:13:49,085 --> 00:13:49,925 Speaker 1: Titty Girls. 222 00:13:49,725 --> 00:13:58,565 Speaker 4: Yes Girls, And now cha Strangio has joined the chat. 223 00:13:59,245 --> 00:14:02,365 Speaker 4: He's an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union. 224 00:14:03,125 --> 00:14:06,325 Speaker 3: Welcome Chaise, Thank you, Rickell, happy to be here. 225 00:14:07,005 --> 00:14:09,365 Speaker 4: So I'm just going to ask you right off the top, 226 00:14:10,045 --> 00:14:12,925 Speaker 4: can you tell us a little bit more about young 227 00:14:13,045 --> 00:14:17,125 Speaker 4: Chase what it was like coming into your identity and 228 00:14:17,445 --> 00:14:20,525 Speaker 4: what were some of the things that you were thinking about, 229 00:14:20,725 --> 00:14:23,525 Speaker 4: like as your transness unfolded. 230 00:14:24,045 --> 00:14:27,885 Speaker 3: Yeah, young Chase, yikes. So when I think about young 231 00:14:27,965 --> 00:14:29,885 Speaker 3: Chase and what it was like growing up, I didn't 232 00:14:29,885 --> 00:14:34,045 Speaker 3: really have any direct sense in my consciousness about what 233 00:14:34,085 --> 00:14:35,765 Speaker 3: it would mean to be queer, what it would mean 234 00:14:35,845 --> 00:14:37,685 Speaker 3: to be trans. So much of what I think about 235 00:14:37,685 --> 00:14:40,565 Speaker 3: when I think about my childhood is lost time, time 236 00:14:40,605 --> 00:14:43,085 Speaker 3: where I didn't get to be myself, time where I 237 00:14:43,085 --> 00:14:45,725 Speaker 3: didn't even have a consciousness of what was possible to 238 00:14:45,965 --> 00:14:49,005 Speaker 3: inhabit my body in ways that felt authentic and liberating 239 00:14:49,085 --> 00:14:53,725 Speaker 3: and free. In One of the one of the things 240 00:14:53,725 --> 00:14:56,725 Speaker 3: that's so painful for me doing the work that I 241 00:14:56,805 --> 00:15:00,005 Speaker 3: do fighting back against all these new forms of restrictions 242 00:15:00,005 --> 00:15:03,085 Speaker 3: on access to healthcare for trans adolescents in particular, is 243 00:15:03,125 --> 00:15:06,365 Speaker 3: that there was this moment where I wat things get 244 00:15:06,925 --> 00:15:09,565 Speaker 3: more accessible, and certainly not in the way I would 245 00:15:09,605 --> 00:15:12,085 Speaker 3: want to the extent I would want. And so that 246 00:15:12,845 --> 00:15:15,845 Speaker 3: is something I think a lot about in this momentness 247 00:15:15,885 --> 00:15:20,485 Speaker 3: that I don't want to take away the more expansive 248 00:15:20,645 --> 00:15:24,045 Speaker 3: options that have been evolving over time for the young 249 00:15:24,085 --> 00:15:27,765 Speaker 3: people who are coming into their own today. 250 00:15:28,365 --> 00:15:32,725 Speaker 4: Absolutely. Well, that's going to take us into our next 251 00:15:32,765 --> 00:15:52,845 Speaker 4: section right after the break, and we're back with Queer Chronicles. 252 00:15:53,365 --> 00:16:01,045 Speaker 4: I'm joined by Taylor, Alexander, Miss Peppermint, and Cha Strangio. 253 00:16:01,565 --> 00:16:04,965 Speaker 4: So something that came up a lot this season was 254 00:16:05,165 --> 00:16:09,525 Speaker 4: acting and the fact that a lot of the teenagers 255 00:16:09,565 --> 00:16:12,325 Speaker 4: we've met on the show have been involved in it 256 00:16:12,445 --> 00:16:16,285 Speaker 4: in some way from a pretty young age. So we 257 00:16:16,365 --> 00:16:19,605 Speaker 4: have Daniel and Libby in particular, who were two of 258 00:16:19,645 --> 00:16:23,565 Speaker 4: the masterminds behind trans Prom at the Capitol. 259 00:16:24,445 --> 00:16:26,405 Speaker 5: Most of us on this call. 260 00:16:26,245 --> 00:16:29,925 Speaker 4: Actually were there, and of course, Chase, you supported them 261 00:16:29,925 --> 00:16:32,325 Speaker 4: in getting that massive effort off the ground. 262 00:16:32,965 --> 00:16:35,405 Speaker 5: So you know what, We're gonna. 263 00:16:35,205 --> 00:16:38,925 Speaker 4: Jump into a little bit of Daniel's speech from trans 264 00:16:39,005 --> 00:16:41,605 Speaker 4: Prom last year, and then we're gonna kick it to 265 00:16:41,645 --> 00:16:43,405 Speaker 4: you to give us a little bit more tea on 266 00:16:43,485 --> 00:16:44,685 Speaker 4: how all that went down. 267 00:16:45,845 --> 00:16:49,085 Speaker 8: Transprom is a celebration of that, affirming love and support. 268 00:16:49,805 --> 00:16:53,045 Speaker 8: It is trans joint and full disclaim. We are proud, 269 00:16:53,965 --> 00:16:57,365 Speaker 8: we are visible, we will not be erased, and we 270 00:16:57,485 --> 00:17:00,645 Speaker 8: courageously stand here today in defiance of those who say 271 00:17:00,645 --> 00:17:05,805 Speaker 8: we are too young to know who. We are here 272 00:17:05,845 --> 00:17:09,805 Speaker 8: today because of our friendsgender ancestors who face discrimination and 273 00:17:09,845 --> 00:17:12,845 Speaker 8: hate and paved away for us to exist today. We 274 00:17:12,885 --> 00:17:15,445 Speaker 8: are the legacy, and we are the future. We are 275 00:17:15,485 --> 00:17:18,485 Speaker 8: the future in which trans people will finally achieve liberation. 276 00:17:19,605 --> 00:17:23,045 Speaker 4: So, miss Pepperman and Chase y'all were both so crucial 277 00:17:23,245 --> 00:17:26,365 Speaker 4: in the planning of this event. Can you tell us 278 00:17:26,485 --> 00:17:29,685 Speaker 4: a bit more about what it was like being involved? 279 00:17:30,445 --> 00:17:34,245 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I can. I can start and just sort 280 00:17:34,245 --> 00:17:38,645 Speaker 3: of say, first, trans prom The entire process of planning 281 00:17:38,725 --> 00:17:41,445 Speaker 3: it and conceptualizing it was in and of itself such 282 00:17:41,445 --> 00:17:45,165 Speaker 3: a beautiful experience for me. I think I've spent the 283 00:17:45,245 --> 00:17:49,725 Speaker 3: last few years really inundated with all of the anti 284 00:17:49,725 --> 00:17:53,925 Speaker 3: trans policies, litigation around anti trans policies. So my engagement 285 00:17:53,965 --> 00:17:55,965 Speaker 3: with young people has always been in the context of 286 00:17:56,365 --> 00:17:59,645 Speaker 3: young people having to go testify before state legislatures, are 287 00:17:59,645 --> 00:18:01,765 Speaker 3: having to fight back in court, and that's just such 288 00:18:01,765 --> 00:18:05,045 Speaker 3: a huge thing to ask for someone to defend their 289 00:18:05,085 --> 00:18:08,845 Speaker 3: existence before the government in various halls of power, whether 290 00:18:08,885 --> 00:18:12,445 Speaker 3: they're judicial or legislative in nature. And I had known 291 00:18:12,485 --> 00:18:16,125 Speaker 3: Daniel and Libby from that type of advocacy and sort 292 00:18:16,165 --> 00:18:18,125 Speaker 3: of talking to them, they reached a point in twenty 293 00:18:18,165 --> 00:18:21,205 Speaker 3: twenty three where it was just like enough is enough. 294 00:18:21,325 --> 00:18:22,925 Speaker 3: It's like how much do we have to say the 295 00:18:22,965 --> 00:18:25,605 Speaker 3: same thing over and over again to people who quite 296 00:18:25,645 --> 00:18:28,965 Speaker 3: literally don't care and don't want to change their views? 297 00:18:28,965 --> 00:18:31,205 Speaker 3: And what does it mean to go back in queer 298 00:18:31,245 --> 00:18:34,245 Speaker 3: history and think about the other forms of protests that 299 00:18:34,285 --> 00:18:39,765 Speaker 3: our communities have utilized and sort of looking at disruptive protest, 300 00:18:39,885 --> 00:18:44,765 Speaker 3: creative protests, protest that is not just about proving that 301 00:18:44,805 --> 00:18:48,125 Speaker 3: we're quote unquote just like everyone else or that you 302 00:18:48,125 --> 00:18:50,765 Speaker 3: can be comfortable with us, but protests that's grounded in 303 00:18:51,085 --> 00:18:54,725 Speaker 3: creative celebrations of how we're different or better or more 304 00:18:56,365 --> 00:19:00,325 Speaker 3: extravagant and spectacular. And so that's how trans problem was 305 00:19:00,325 --> 00:19:04,805 Speaker 3: really born. And it was such a beautiful, fabulous, perfect day, 306 00:19:04,965 --> 00:19:08,165 Speaker 3: and being there was really sort of an antidote to 307 00:19:08,205 --> 00:19:09,285 Speaker 3: everything that we're seeing. 308 00:19:10,005 --> 00:19:14,405 Speaker 5: Okay, come one. I love it. So what was it 309 00:19:14,485 --> 00:19:16,245 Speaker 5: like for you, miss Peppermint? 310 00:19:16,805 --> 00:19:20,565 Speaker 6: I wasn't able to be there in person, unfortunately, and 311 00:19:20,685 --> 00:19:23,325 Speaker 6: the only reason, the only good reason for me to 312 00:19:24,045 --> 00:19:29,885 Speaker 6: miss such a beautiful event and moment that Chase described 313 00:19:30,925 --> 00:19:36,485 Speaker 6: was to be working on another trans inclusive piece of art. However, 314 00:19:36,685 --> 00:19:40,805 Speaker 6: I was in many of the planning meetings and on 315 00:19:40,845 --> 00:19:45,525 Speaker 6: the steering committee. It was great to see trans youth 316 00:19:46,325 --> 00:19:49,725 Speaker 6: making trans folks in general, but trans youth making decisions 317 00:19:49,765 --> 00:19:51,925 Speaker 6: about what they want to do and who they are 318 00:19:52,005 --> 00:19:56,725 Speaker 6: and how they're going to move about the world, and 319 00:19:56,765 --> 00:20:00,125 Speaker 6: having control over their own space and also control over 320 00:20:00,165 --> 00:20:01,925 Speaker 6: who else enters the space. 321 00:20:02,965 --> 00:20:06,485 Speaker 4: Peppermint Chase, so much of your what y'all are saying 322 00:20:06,645 --> 00:20:11,725 Speaker 4: resonates with me. I felt so blessed to be invited 323 00:20:11,805 --> 00:20:14,645 Speaker 4: into the space by y'all, and of course I think 324 00:20:14,965 --> 00:20:17,965 Speaker 4: by the youth especially, I mean they made a special 325 00:20:18,125 --> 00:20:22,565 Speaker 4: invite to me. And then I also had the kind 326 00:20:22,565 --> 00:20:25,925 Speaker 4: of other special dynamic of having my mom there because 327 00:20:25,925 --> 00:20:29,045 Speaker 4: she was in town, and so just to be there 328 00:20:29,205 --> 00:20:33,365 Speaker 4: with my mom in the space, also with chosen family, 329 00:20:33,605 --> 00:20:36,325 Speaker 4: and then all of these young people who had their 330 00:20:36,445 --> 00:20:39,685 Speaker 4: parents and guardians and adults who loved them there. It 331 00:20:39,805 --> 00:20:44,085 Speaker 4: was such a beautiful kind of full circle moment. And 332 00:20:44,165 --> 00:20:46,885 Speaker 4: so with that, Taylor, I want to jump to you 333 00:20:47,045 --> 00:20:52,325 Speaker 4: because you've been building moments of rejoice, of resilience, of 334 00:20:52,445 --> 00:20:57,965 Speaker 4: resistance for years now, most especially through Southern Fried Queer Pride, 335 00:20:58,005 --> 00:21:02,045 Speaker 4: which I kind of defined even though it's so many 336 00:21:02,125 --> 00:21:08,165 Speaker 4: things as an arts and community building and I'm still 337 00:21:08,245 --> 00:21:11,725 Speaker 4: so proud to have been able to witness your unshakable 338 00:21:11,845 --> 00:21:15,805 Speaker 4: leadership at the start of it. But baby, y'all have 339 00:21:16,005 --> 00:21:20,485 Speaker 4: expanded from that first event into so much more. You 340 00:21:20,565 --> 00:21:24,405 Speaker 4: and your team plan upwards of fifty events each year 341 00:21:24,525 --> 00:21:28,525 Speaker 4: now all over the South. Can you tell us a 342 00:21:28,605 --> 00:21:32,965 Speaker 4: little bit more why these sights of all of these 343 00:21:33,005 --> 00:21:35,965 Speaker 4: things that I've discussed are so important. 344 00:21:35,725 --> 00:21:37,445 Speaker 5: For queer and trans people to have. 345 00:21:38,445 --> 00:21:41,645 Speaker 1: I think that in all of the things that we 346 00:21:41,765 --> 00:21:45,085 Speaker 1: face as queer and trans people, we have to have 347 00:21:45,205 --> 00:21:52,045 Speaker 1: moments of joy of rest of community, just because so 348 00:21:52,085 --> 00:21:53,845 Speaker 1: many things that we face on a day to day 349 00:21:53,885 --> 00:21:57,165 Speaker 1: basis to just add up based on how marginalized you are, 350 00:21:57,805 --> 00:22:00,925 Speaker 1: that you have to have moments where you can just relax, 351 00:22:01,125 --> 00:22:06,245 Speaker 1: let go and see yourself reflected. And there's nothing really 352 00:22:06,325 --> 00:22:11,525 Speaker 1: like this in Atlanta, and so we treat everything as political, 353 00:22:11,645 --> 00:22:16,325 Speaker 1: We treat everything as intentional community organizing. But that looks 354 00:22:16,365 --> 00:22:18,285 Speaker 1: like a merry different ways. You know, we can do 355 00:22:18,325 --> 00:22:20,085 Speaker 1: a rally, we can do a protest, we can do 356 00:22:20,205 --> 00:22:23,445 Speaker 1: a workshop or a town hall. But also a drag 357 00:22:23,485 --> 00:22:26,725 Speaker 1: show is political, a dance party is political. You know, 358 00:22:26,885 --> 00:22:29,285 Speaker 1: Queer and trans folks meeting up in a public park 359 00:22:29,405 --> 00:22:32,445 Speaker 1: just to share food and commune with each other as political. 360 00:22:32,965 --> 00:22:34,725 Speaker 1: And it's also moments of joy. 361 00:22:35,085 --> 00:22:35,285 Speaker 4: You know. 362 00:22:35,405 --> 00:22:38,365 Speaker 1: I've had so many people over the years who have 363 00:22:38,485 --> 00:22:40,805 Speaker 1: just come up to me while I'm sweating trying to 364 00:22:40,805 --> 00:22:43,125 Speaker 1: like put things together for the event, and clearly just 365 00:22:43,205 --> 00:22:45,925 Speaker 1: in like organizer mode, who are just like very like 366 00:22:46,765 --> 00:22:50,325 Speaker 1: thankful for the work that we do in the spaces 367 00:22:50,325 --> 00:22:54,205 Speaker 1: that they that we create, because for them it's sometimes 368 00:22:54,285 --> 00:23:00,005 Speaker 1: the only time they can just like exhale and be themselves. 369 00:23:00,285 --> 00:23:02,565 Speaker 4: Yeah, And I think to bring in kind of the 370 00:23:02,605 --> 00:23:06,965 Speaker 4: thread that Daniel was sharing with us, right, is that, yes, 371 00:23:07,125 --> 00:23:11,485 Speaker 4: things feel especially difficult now, but you know that might 372 00:23:11,525 --> 00:23:14,245 Speaker 4: be up for debate. I mean, I'm sure our ancestors 373 00:23:14,525 --> 00:23:20,325 Speaker 4: in decades before, centuries before, had it more difficult in 374 00:23:20,845 --> 00:23:24,365 Speaker 4: so many other ways, right, But just like us. They 375 00:23:25,165 --> 00:23:31,165 Speaker 4: understood that we had to have these spaces of Joey. Now, unfortunately, 376 00:23:31,765 --> 00:23:36,045 Speaker 4: you know, let's tap in a little bit into what's 377 00:23:36,125 --> 00:23:44,605 Speaker 4: happening politically and maybe legislatively, I know, right, but you know, 378 00:23:44,805 --> 00:23:47,885 Speaker 4: Chase to your point, you know, so much of trans 379 00:23:48,005 --> 00:23:53,845 Speaker 4: prom was ideated in response to the legislation that's been 380 00:23:53,925 --> 00:23:58,285 Speaker 4: moving across the country over the last several years targeting 381 00:23:58,445 --> 00:24:03,245 Speaker 4: specifically LGBTQ plus folks. And I say specifically because we've 382 00:24:03,245 --> 00:24:07,285 Speaker 4: always had targets on us right just now it's more 383 00:24:07,405 --> 00:24:13,125 Speaker 4: fully articulated that they're coming after our people. And so, Chase, 384 00:24:13,165 --> 00:24:18,565 Speaker 4: what are some of the specific dynamics around legislation that 385 00:24:18,605 --> 00:24:19,885 Speaker 4: are most troubling to. 386 00:24:19,845 --> 00:24:20,645 Speaker 5: You right now? 387 00:24:21,045 --> 00:24:23,485 Speaker 4: And do you have a little bit of a forecast 388 00:24:23,565 --> 00:24:28,365 Speaker 4: for us to consider in the near future around these issues? 389 00:24:28,925 --> 00:24:29,365 Speaker 2: Oh? 390 00:24:29,445 --> 00:24:32,765 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, it's all very troubling in terms of 391 00:24:32,805 --> 00:24:37,165 Speaker 3: what's been going on legislatively, particularly for trans folks, but 392 00:24:37,205 --> 00:24:39,725 Speaker 3: for LGBTQ folks who are broadly. We've seen just sort 393 00:24:39,765 --> 00:24:44,125 Speaker 3: of a rapid but ever expanding escalation of attacks from 394 00:24:44,445 --> 00:24:47,685 Speaker 3: bathrooms to locker rooms, to sports and now much more 395 00:24:47,725 --> 00:24:52,965 Speaker 3: expansively attacking adult restroom use. In public healthcare access for 396 00:24:53,085 --> 00:24:57,325 Speaker 3: trans adolescents, but also eroding healthcare access for trans adults, 397 00:24:57,405 --> 00:25:01,565 Speaker 3: and further restrictions on the ability of young people to 398 00:25:01,645 --> 00:25:05,045 Speaker 3: go to school, to be referred to by their names, 399 00:25:05,045 --> 00:25:09,765 Speaker 3: and prona to have access to curriculum that reflects their experiences. 400 00:25:10,205 --> 00:25:13,085 Speaker 3: If you look at the context of healthcare for trans adolescence, 401 00:25:13,445 --> 00:25:15,925 Speaker 3: in a matter of three years, twenty one states banned 402 00:25:15,965 --> 00:25:19,565 Speaker 3: care for trans adolescence. That is just such an unbelievably 403 00:25:19,725 --> 00:25:23,925 Speaker 3: rapid change in the ability to access essential medical services 404 00:25:24,165 --> 00:25:27,645 Speaker 3: with only three years of lawmaking. And so what that 405 00:25:27,725 --> 00:25:30,045 Speaker 3: means in a material sense is we also haven't built 406 00:25:30,045 --> 00:25:33,245 Speaker 3: the infrastructure to fill in the gaps of what we're seeing, 407 00:25:33,285 --> 00:25:35,925 Speaker 3: and so even the clinics and states that do continue 408 00:25:35,925 --> 00:25:38,685 Speaker 3: to provide care, they're overrun with patients because there just 409 00:25:38,845 --> 00:25:42,205 Speaker 3: isn't an infrastructure set up for this magnitude of assault. 410 00:25:42,285 --> 00:25:44,165 Speaker 3: And in terms of what we're going to see in 411 00:25:44,205 --> 00:25:46,085 Speaker 3: the future, we just have to keep in mind that 412 00:25:46,165 --> 00:25:50,805 Speaker 3: twenty twenty four is a presidential and congressional election year. 413 00:25:50,845 --> 00:25:53,325 Speaker 3: We're going to see the rhetoric increasing with the election, 414 00:25:53,845 --> 00:25:56,565 Speaker 3: things that are going to impact people in very rapid 415 00:25:56,605 --> 00:25:59,725 Speaker 3: and material ways. That's what's at stake right now. And 416 00:25:59,765 --> 00:26:02,565 Speaker 3: if we don't mobilize, our lives depend on it. Because 417 00:26:02,565 --> 00:26:04,765 Speaker 3: they do, we're going to be in twenty twenty five 418 00:26:04,845 --> 00:26:06,565 Speaker 3: and be in big, big trouble. 419 00:26:10,085 --> 00:26:15,885 Speaker 4: Okay, let's just take a breath, all right, Yes, a 420 00:26:15,925 --> 00:26:18,405 Speaker 4: little wusa, A little Wusa. 421 00:26:19,605 --> 00:26:21,365 Speaker 5: Well, Peppermint and Taylor. 422 00:26:22,725 --> 00:26:25,845 Speaker 4: I want to get y'all's reaction to that, right, because 423 00:26:26,045 --> 00:26:32,045 Speaker 4: so much of this legislation touches on your lives, your passions, 424 00:26:32,245 --> 00:26:38,365 Speaker 4: your work, your dreams. Yeah, what is coming up for you? 425 00:26:38,405 --> 00:26:43,085 Speaker 4: As you kind of hear this forecast from chaos? 426 00:26:43,685 --> 00:26:46,725 Speaker 6: I mean, my first reaction is, are you kidding me? 427 00:26:47,485 --> 00:26:47,725 Speaker 5: You know? 428 00:26:48,285 --> 00:26:51,645 Speaker 6: I mean I want to curse. I want to you know. 429 00:26:51,765 --> 00:26:53,885 Speaker 6: It makes me angry, It makes me feel hurt, It 430 00:26:53,925 --> 00:26:55,685 Speaker 6: makes me feel all the things that I guess people 431 00:26:55,685 --> 00:26:59,805 Speaker 6: would feel if they're being attacked at the at virtually 432 00:26:59,885 --> 00:27:06,445 Speaker 6: every level. And so I'm gobsmacked, I'm befuddled, I'm you know, 433 00:27:07,285 --> 00:27:14,485 Speaker 6: stupefied and all of the words. But I think the 434 00:27:14,685 --> 00:27:19,645 Speaker 6: only saving grace for me is, like, you know, going 435 00:27:19,685 --> 00:27:23,365 Speaker 6: back to my childhood and the earlier experiences that I 436 00:27:23,365 --> 00:27:25,605 Speaker 6: had that we were talking about earlier. I didn't have 437 00:27:25,645 --> 00:27:27,725 Speaker 6: half these things that were getting ready to lose anyway. 438 00:27:28,125 --> 00:27:30,245 Speaker 6: But I was able to do it and manage to 439 00:27:30,365 --> 00:27:35,485 Speaker 6: become happy and healthy and joyous without those things, or 440 00:27:35,525 --> 00:27:38,965 Speaker 6: at least without early access to those things. And I'm 441 00:27:39,005 --> 00:27:41,605 Speaker 6: not saying that that's what we should strive for. But 442 00:27:42,085 --> 00:27:44,925 Speaker 6: the one thing that they can't legislate out is my 443 00:27:45,125 --> 00:27:48,165 Speaker 6: identity and connection to who I actually am. It's not 444 00:27:48,285 --> 00:27:50,525 Speaker 6: so much that we'll be able to just make do without, 445 00:27:50,885 --> 00:27:52,965 Speaker 6: it's that we won't give up the fight because we 446 00:27:53,005 --> 00:27:55,445 Speaker 6: are fighting for our lives, and in order to survive, 447 00:27:55,565 --> 00:27:57,845 Speaker 6: we will just go right back again, and we'll make 448 00:27:57,845 --> 00:28:02,045 Speaker 6: sure that we do set up an infrastructure that supports 449 00:28:02,565 --> 00:28:04,245 Speaker 6: a move towards progress. 450 00:28:05,085 --> 00:28:09,125 Speaker 4: Yeah. I mean, we have such a volatile landscape, and 451 00:28:10,045 --> 00:28:13,365 Speaker 4: what I hear from you, Pepperman, is that we do 452 00:28:13,565 --> 00:28:19,005 Speaker 4: have this kind of innate power to know ourselves, to 453 00:28:19,085 --> 00:28:24,525 Speaker 4: come together, to build, to create, to generate little pockets 454 00:28:24,525 --> 00:28:25,245 Speaker 4: of liberation. 455 00:28:25,765 --> 00:28:28,805 Speaker 5: Even when it seems like those things that are the most. 456 00:28:32,005 --> 00:28:36,365 Speaker 4: Crucial to getting there are being stripped away, we still 457 00:28:36,445 --> 00:28:40,045 Speaker 4: have ways to kind of carve out resistance and resilience 458 00:28:40,045 --> 00:28:43,325 Speaker 4: in liberation in our lives. Taylor, I want to get 459 00:28:43,365 --> 00:28:46,165 Speaker 4: your take as well. What's kind of coming up for 460 00:28:46,245 --> 00:28:47,245 Speaker 4: you in this discussion. 461 00:28:48,285 --> 00:28:51,325 Speaker 1: You know, I sitting here and listening, it's definitely brought 462 00:28:51,405 --> 00:28:55,965 Speaker 1: up feelings and experiences over the past year and some 463 00:28:56,165 --> 00:28:59,085 Speaker 1: change with you know, living in Atlanta, which is in Georgia, 464 00:28:59,125 --> 00:29:02,085 Speaker 1: which is the South, which you know, we've seen so 465 00:29:02,165 --> 00:29:08,405 Speaker 1: many laws and legislation being volleyed at trans people and 466 00:29:08,645 --> 00:29:13,485 Speaker 1: also indirectly but also directly drag performers because we all 467 00:29:13,485 --> 00:29:16,485 Speaker 1: know that conservatives don't understand gender in that kind of way. 468 00:29:16,725 --> 00:29:19,365 Speaker 1: But I think at the core of it, we have 469 00:29:19,485 --> 00:29:23,845 Speaker 1: a history of resistance. We have always existed within society, 470 00:29:24,045 --> 00:29:30,365 Speaker 1: but we've also always faced discrimination, terrible legislation, harm and violence. 471 00:29:30,485 --> 00:29:33,885 Speaker 1: It's just something that comes with being who we are 472 00:29:34,405 --> 00:29:39,045 Speaker 1: as a marginalized people in community. But we've also had amazing, 473 00:29:39,165 --> 00:29:44,405 Speaker 1: beautiful stories of resistance, of fighting back, of success of liberation. 474 00:29:45,205 --> 00:29:48,645 Speaker 1: And this is just how unfortunately liberation works. You're going 475 00:29:48,725 --> 00:29:51,725 Speaker 1: to bump up against obstacles, you're going to feel defeated, 476 00:29:52,125 --> 00:29:54,405 Speaker 1: but you're also going to take some time, find some joy, 477 00:29:54,485 --> 00:29:57,685 Speaker 1: find some rest, and then fight back and then eventually 478 00:29:57,765 --> 00:30:00,965 Speaker 1: it just it gets a little bit easier, but it's waves. 479 00:30:01,005 --> 00:30:04,805 Speaker 1: You know, you get something somehow, it's retracted, is taken back, 480 00:30:05,045 --> 00:30:07,245 Speaker 1: you fight back, you get a little bit more, and 481 00:30:07,285 --> 00:30:11,925 Speaker 1: it's just inching towards that finish line of overall liberation 482 00:30:12,085 --> 00:30:15,205 Speaker 1: for all. So that keeps me afloat in times of 483 00:30:15,285 --> 00:30:17,485 Speaker 1: kind of despair around what's happening. 484 00:30:18,285 --> 00:30:23,045 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think what I hear is that our destinies 485 00:30:23,125 --> 00:30:28,205 Speaker 4: are intertwined and there's a whole lot of struggle happening 486 00:30:28,405 --> 00:30:32,965 Speaker 4: all over the country, and we need more spaces like 487 00:30:33,045 --> 00:30:36,445 Speaker 4: this where we can kind of compare and contrast our notes, 488 00:30:36,525 --> 00:30:41,765 Speaker 4: especially as clear and trans people. So I'm grateful to 489 00:30:41,845 --> 00:30:44,205 Speaker 4: be in this space with y'all. I'm grateful for how 490 00:30:44,285 --> 00:30:49,085 Speaker 4: y'all are showing up just with candor and strength, and 491 00:30:50,045 --> 00:30:51,725 Speaker 4: y'all are going to get some more of that when 492 00:30:51,765 --> 00:31:05,405 Speaker 4: we return from the break. So we're back on Queer Chronicles. 493 00:31:05,765 --> 00:31:10,565 Speaker 4: I'm here with Chase Strangio, Miss Peppermint, and Taylor Alexander. 494 00:31:11,885 --> 00:31:15,725 Speaker 4: So one episode that is near and dear to my 495 00:31:15,965 --> 00:31:21,565 Speaker 4: heart is episode five, where we dive into the life 496 00:31:21,605 --> 00:31:26,805 Speaker 4: of Indigo, a trans tine in Alabama who expresses his 497 00:31:26,965 --> 00:31:30,925 Speaker 4: love for his then girlfriend Alyssa Clocket. 498 00:31:31,365 --> 00:31:35,045 Speaker 5: Then girlfriend, but we'll come back to that later. 499 00:31:35,125 --> 00:31:40,125 Speaker 4: Maybe we ask them to exchange voice memos talking about 500 00:31:40,125 --> 00:31:43,525 Speaker 4: their relationship, and it was so beautiful hearing them express 501 00:31:43,565 --> 00:31:44,605 Speaker 4: these feelings. 502 00:31:44,965 --> 00:31:46,525 Speaker 5: So let's listen. 503 00:31:48,645 --> 00:31:50,925 Speaker 2: What does love mean to you and what does it 504 00:31:50,965 --> 00:31:59,085 Speaker 2: mean to love someone? I think it means choosing to. 505 00:31:58,525 --> 00:32:01,525 Speaker 9: Make the effort every day to talk to them, to 506 00:32:01,685 --> 00:32:04,245 Speaker 9: love them, to sort out your problems, to love them 507 00:32:04,285 --> 00:32:09,445 Speaker 9: despite their flaws, shit like that. It's a labor of love, 508 00:32:09,525 --> 00:32:11,365 Speaker 9: and you're doing this because you want to. 509 00:32:13,125 --> 00:32:15,805 Speaker 2: I completely agree with everything you said, and that's what 510 00:32:15,885 --> 00:32:18,085 Speaker 2: I love so much about us, because we're always on 511 00:32:18,165 --> 00:32:21,125 Speaker 2: the same page. But for me, what it means to 512 00:32:21,165 --> 00:32:24,965 Speaker 2: love someone is just choosing that person every day and 513 00:32:25,045 --> 00:32:30,445 Speaker 2: continuing to choose that person. Relationships aren't perfect at all, 514 00:32:31,085 --> 00:32:33,885 Speaker 2: but just the fact that we can communicate and talk 515 00:32:34,045 --> 00:32:37,365 Speaker 2: out our problems and how we feel and realize ways 516 00:32:37,365 --> 00:32:39,845 Speaker 2: that we can be a better partner to each other. 517 00:32:40,405 --> 00:32:43,285 Speaker 2: Stuff like that I really appreciate and it's what makes 518 00:32:43,285 --> 00:32:46,285 Speaker 2: me fall in love with you every day. 519 00:32:48,045 --> 00:32:48,805 Speaker 3: All babe. 520 00:32:49,085 --> 00:32:54,365 Speaker 9: I'm so locked in for real, Like we basically kind 521 00:32:54,365 --> 00:32:57,205 Speaker 9: of said the same thing, but I'm really glad that 522 00:32:57,205 --> 00:33:00,965 Speaker 9: we're on the same page. Anyways, love you bye. 523 00:33:06,045 --> 00:33:12,285 Speaker 4: So with that, I want to delve into y'all's experiences. 524 00:33:12,405 --> 00:33:18,205 Speaker 4: I mean, when did y'all first experience affirming queer love 525 00:33:18,245 --> 00:33:22,165 Speaker 4: in your life? It could be platonic, it could be romantic, 526 00:33:22,525 --> 00:33:25,765 Speaker 4: you know, but what was that like? And what did 527 00:33:25,765 --> 00:33:28,005 Speaker 4: it teach you? 528 00:33:28,125 --> 00:33:32,165 Speaker 6: Y'all are making me sweat, darling. 529 00:33:32,445 --> 00:33:36,765 Speaker 5: I wasn't ready for it. I never look. 530 00:33:36,885 --> 00:33:42,245 Speaker 4: Our teens were brave and they went there. 531 00:33:40,885 --> 00:33:44,405 Speaker 3: All well, they maybe didn't grow up with as much 532 00:33:44,485 --> 00:33:46,285 Speaker 3: internalized shame as we did. 533 00:33:46,525 --> 00:33:46,885 Speaker 4: Shame. 534 00:33:47,125 --> 00:33:49,765 Speaker 5: Hello, oh my good grief. 535 00:33:52,245 --> 00:33:54,925 Speaker 3: I'll be serious. I'll be serious, but someone else wanna 536 00:33:54,965 --> 00:33:55,365 Speaker 3: go first? 537 00:33:55,445 --> 00:33:59,045 Speaker 5: Before chase go ahead, I will say. 538 00:33:58,805 --> 00:34:02,645 Speaker 3: Like once I came to terms with my own queerness, 539 00:34:03,005 --> 00:34:04,965 Speaker 3: because I think for me that was the biggest struggle 540 00:34:05,045 --> 00:34:07,045 Speaker 3: was that I was so repressed that there was I 541 00:34:07,805 --> 00:34:12,005 Speaker 3: was just like not able to access things until the 542 00:34:12,045 --> 00:34:14,965 Speaker 3: second I graduated from high school and felt liberated from that, 543 00:34:15,045 --> 00:34:18,045 Speaker 3: and then I was like, oh, I'm so queer. But 544 00:34:18,085 --> 00:34:21,205 Speaker 3: then what I think finding queer community was to me 545 00:34:21,405 --> 00:34:24,805 Speaker 3: like the ultimate life saving experience. And I think the 546 00:34:24,845 --> 00:34:27,925 Speaker 3: thing that was harder perhaps for me over time, was 547 00:34:27,965 --> 00:34:30,205 Speaker 3: to love myself enough to let someone else love me 548 00:34:30,445 --> 00:34:36,325 Speaker 3: romantically and not accept shit, because I think that that's 549 00:34:36,325 --> 00:34:38,445 Speaker 3: been a lifelong struggle, and I think it's tay. I'm 550 00:34:38,485 --> 00:34:41,525 Speaker 3: forty almost forty one years old, and I feel like 551 00:34:41,565 --> 00:34:45,085 Speaker 3: I'm just starting to understand that type of intimate love. 552 00:34:47,445 --> 00:34:51,325 Speaker 6: Well, I mean I as adults and trans adults, we 553 00:34:51,565 --> 00:34:56,645 Speaker 6: and queer adults, we come oftentimes come into ourselves a 554 00:34:56,725 --> 00:34:59,885 Speaker 6: little bit later in life, or at least people that 555 00:34:59,925 --> 00:35:01,765 Speaker 6: are the age that we are now, people who are 556 00:35:01,845 --> 00:35:04,285 Speaker 6: of adult age now probably had a bit of a 557 00:35:04,325 --> 00:35:06,165 Speaker 6: coming out process and a bit a journey to get 558 00:35:06,165 --> 00:35:08,285 Speaker 6: to where we are. For me, it was about like 559 00:35:08,445 --> 00:35:13,805 Speaker 6: forcing queer community or queer queer affirming spaces and romantically 560 00:35:15,605 --> 00:35:19,125 Speaker 6: really defining figuring out what that was. It was it was, 561 00:35:19,685 --> 00:35:23,285 Speaker 6: it was a bit of it was difficult for sure. 562 00:35:23,485 --> 00:35:28,965 Speaker 6: I identified with my transness very early. I came out 563 00:35:29,005 --> 00:35:34,085 Speaker 6: to the first person in second grade as different and queer. 564 00:35:35,125 --> 00:35:37,125 Speaker 6: I didn't use the word queer, but they understood what 565 00:35:37,205 --> 00:35:39,965 Speaker 6: I was talking about and they were like, I support you, 566 00:35:41,445 --> 00:35:44,365 Speaker 6: And so that was, you know, unusual for me. But 567 00:35:45,245 --> 00:35:49,325 Speaker 6: I I knew that even though I wasn't out as 568 00:35:49,405 --> 00:35:53,005 Speaker 6: trans per se and hadn't begun my medical transition, the 569 00:35:53,605 --> 00:36:01,925 Speaker 6: men because I'm begrudgingly attracted to heterosexual men gender men, 570 00:36:03,805 --> 00:36:09,245 Speaker 6: trying to change that, but it's not working. These guys, 571 00:36:09,685 --> 00:36:11,805 Speaker 6: the folks who were attracted to me and would come 572 00:36:12,205 --> 00:36:16,845 Speaker 6: around me, were attracted to whatever feminine energy I was 573 00:36:16,885 --> 00:36:21,045 Speaker 6: putting out. And so I learned really early, and I 574 00:36:21,125 --> 00:36:23,925 Speaker 6: knew really early like what the story was. It was 575 00:36:23,965 --> 00:36:25,405 Speaker 6: just how it was going to be told. And I 576 00:36:25,405 --> 00:36:27,405 Speaker 6: wasn't really able to articulate it in the way that 577 00:36:27,445 --> 00:36:31,085 Speaker 6: I am today until I was much older and in college, 578 00:36:31,085 --> 00:36:33,605 Speaker 6: and then I went to an art school, so then 579 00:36:33,885 --> 00:36:35,805 Speaker 6: you know, the rest is her story. 580 00:36:36,125 --> 00:36:40,045 Speaker 4: Come on, all right, Taylor, what's the tea? 581 00:36:41,205 --> 00:36:48,205 Speaker 1: So I'm thinking about platonic queer and trans love and 582 00:36:48,245 --> 00:36:52,965 Speaker 1: also like romantic queer and trans love, and I think too, 583 00:36:54,525 --> 00:36:56,645 Speaker 1: I think from a very young age, I was already 584 00:36:56,805 --> 00:37:01,285 Speaker 1: like dead set on never having a relationship. It maybe 585 00:37:01,285 --> 00:37:03,205 Speaker 1: it's the Aquarius in me, but I was like, I 586 00:37:03,205 --> 00:37:05,405 Speaker 1: don't need it, I don't want to. I'm fine by myself. 587 00:37:06,165 --> 00:37:09,005 Speaker 1: I'm the focus. I'm in love with myself. Let's keep 588 00:37:09,045 --> 00:37:11,565 Speaker 1: it that way. And I think over the years for 589 00:37:11,685 --> 00:37:16,765 Speaker 1: me was really learning who I call family, who I 590 00:37:16,805 --> 00:37:20,365 Speaker 1: call community and who I allow to love me. And 591 00:37:20,925 --> 00:37:23,965 Speaker 1: it's been a process of like defining that and redefining 592 00:37:23,965 --> 00:37:26,725 Speaker 1: and redefining that. And I think for me, the biggest 593 00:37:26,725 --> 00:37:32,765 Speaker 1: saving grace, both platonically and romantically is you know, just 594 00:37:33,045 --> 00:37:35,965 Speaker 1: giving myself fully to more like tea for tea relationships. 595 00:37:36,405 --> 00:37:40,285 Speaker 1: And you know, that went from dating and surrounding myself 596 00:37:40,325 --> 00:37:44,525 Speaker 1: with CIS gay men, to queer people, to trans people, 597 00:37:44,685 --> 00:37:50,565 Speaker 1: and it's just developed into such a beautiful experience where 598 00:37:50,565 --> 00:37:56,245 Speaker 1: I'm surrounded by family and friends, platonic lovers, romantic lovers, 599 00:37:56,325 --> 00:38:00,605 Speaker 1: to my current relationship where I am engaged to another transperson, 600 00:38:00,645 --> 00:38:04,805 Speaker 1: to a trans man who absolutely affirms me and adores 601 00:38:04,845 --> 00:38:07,165 Speaker 1: me in ways that I can never possibly have fathoms 602 00:38:07,205 --> 00:38:10,925 Speaker 1: as a younger person. So, you know, from going to 603 00:38:11,005 --> 00:38:13,565 Speaker 1: being okay, from completely just being alone furtherest in my 604 00:38:13,605 --> 00:38:17,885 Speaker 1: life with like three cats in my mansion, to you know, 605 00:38:18,045 --> 00:38:20,365 Speaker 1: now being like you know, in a tee for t 606 00:38:20,605 --> 00:38:24,325 Speaker 1: relationship surrounded by amazing trans people and trans community. 607 00:38:25,045 --> 00:38:27,925 Speaker 5: It's just you know, and how many cats? 608 00:38:28,045 --> 00:38:31,765 Speaker 1: Okay, So I have two cats and one dog zoo 609 00:38:32,285 --> 00:38:33,125 Speaker 1: and my own house. 610 00:38:36,645 --> 00:38:37,965 Speaker 5: I love it. Well. 611 00:38:38,165 --> 00:38:43,125 Speaker 4: I appreciate y'all for going there with me. I, you know, 612 00:38:43,205 --> 00:38:46,525 Speaker 4: but I think that these conversations are so key because 613 00:38:47,405 --> 00:38:52,685 Speaker 4: these young people, again have so much language and access 614 00:38:54,165 --> 00:38:57,565 Speaker 4: that many of us didn't have. But I think what's 615 00:38:57,645 --> 00:39:03,845 Speaker 4: healing about hearing their experiences is that it gives us 616 00:39:03,885 --> 00:39:07,805 Speaker 4: a vision of like the path that maybe was laid 617 00:39:07,845 --> 00:39:10,925 Speaker 4: for them by some of us who had, you know, 618 00:39:11,965 --> 00:39:16,285 Speaker 4: few tools, broken tools, but still believe that they deserved better. 619 00:39:17,285 --> 00:39:18,685 Speaker 5: So I think that that's beautiful. 620 00:39:18,805 --> 00:39:22,525 Speaker 4: And I think we've got some beautiful kind of nuggets 621 00:39:22,525 --> 00:39:25,125 Speaker 4: here that maybe will inspire some of our peers to 622 00:39:26,005 --> 00:39:29,325 Speaker 4: feel a little bit less triggered and traumatized by love. 623 00:39:30,485 --> 00:39:32,565 Speaker 5: Love don't last, you know. 624 00:39:32,645 --> 00:39:36,925 Speaker 4: I think as we kind of move into wrapping up, 625 00:39:38,565 --> 00:39:42,965 Speaker 4: I want one kind of last moment here where we 626 00:39:43,085 --> 00:39:48,405 Speaker 4: can get some knowledge from everyone, you know, for our 627 00:39:48,525 --> 00:39:53,205 Speaker 4: LGBTQ plus youth and really anyone out there who's listening. 628 00:39:54,085 --> 00:39:58,565 Speaker 4: What is maybe one piece of advice I mean, y'all 629 00:39:58,605 --> 00:40:02,845 Speaker 4: would give folks who are exploring their identity trying to. 630 00:40:02,885 --> 00:40:08,485 Speaker 5: Navigate the world. Yeah, I'm curious about that. 631 00:40:08,805 --> 00:40:12,085 Speaker 4: And then I'll have one more question, but we'll leave 632 00:40:12,125 --> 00:40:13,885 Speaker 4: it there because that's already a big one. 633 00:40:14,845 --> 00:40:18,925 Speaker 6: I have an answer to that, in spite of every 634 00:40:19,205 --> 00:40:22,245 Speaker 6: bit of cynicism you may have heard from me on 635 00:40:22,965 --> 00:40:27,525 Speaker 6: this conversation, especially in the wake of what we may 636 00:40:27,565 --> 00:40:31,125 Speaker 6: be getting ready to experience, hopefully not, but we should 637 00:40:31,125 --> 00:40:35,885 Speaker 6: prepare in terms of all the discrimination and anti LGBT 638 00:40:35,965 --> 00:40:41,085 Speaker 6: and anti trans legislation that's surging through the country. I 639 00:40:41,165 --> 00:40:47,565 Speaker 6: remember specifically, I remember how crucial my medical transition was 640 00:40:47,685 --> 00:40:51,965 Speaker 6: to me at a certain age. And I know that 641 00:40:52,005 --> 00:40:55,765 Speaker 6: there's times where folks in our community focus mostly on 642 00:40:55,805 --> 00:40:58,845 Speaker 6: the medical transition side of things, which is very important. 643 00:40:58,845 --> 00:41:02,165 Speaker 6: Again it is, it is crucial, and I remember how 644 00:41:02,245 --> 00:41:05,445 Speaker 6: much how much weight I put into my medical transition 645 00:41:05,605 --> 00:41:11,125 Speaker 6: and how much I focused on it. And so Cecilia 646 00:41:11,205 --> 00:41:15,605 Speaker 6: gent Tilley, who was my counselor at the Center when 647 00:41:15,645 --> 00:41:19,205 Speaker 6: I first started my medical transition, you know she I was. 648 00:41:19,285 --> 00:41:21,405 Speaker 6: I remember saying, I have to get on these hormones, 649 00:41:21,405 --> 00:41:22,645 Speaker 6: and I have to get this things, and I need 650 00:41:22,685 --> 00:41:25,605 Speaker 6: to get that to had a list, and she was 651 00:41:25,645 --> 00:41:28,685 Speaker 6: just like, girl, there's no race. You know, there's no race, 652 00:41:28,725 --> 00:41:31,365 Speaker 6: there's no finish line. You're never going to be finished. 653 00:41:31,405 --> 00:41:36,645 Speaker 6: Like transforming who you are and even medically, you know, 654 00:41:37,285 --> 00:41:39,445 Speaker 6: once you start down that road, you may or may not. 655 00:41:39,685 --> 00:41:41,765 Speaker 6: You may stop, you may start, you may all these 656 00:41:41,805 --> 00:41:44,645 Speaker 6: different things. And so it really is about just like 657 00:41:45,485 --> 00:41:49,925 Speaker 6: sitting with yourself and evolving as a person. And again 658 00:41:49,965 --> 00:41:52,245 Speaker 6: that's not to say that we shouldn't have access to 659 00:41:52,285 --> 00:41:55,125 Speaker 6: the things that we need, like hormones and surgeries and 660 00:41:55,205 --> 00:42:00,445 Speaker 6: all the different things medically. But I am still a 661 00:42:00,485 --> 00:42:04,005 Speaker 6: woman regardless of access to these things. And that wasn't 662 00:42:04,045 --> 00:42:07,925 Speaker 6: that's not something that I like anyone goes out of 663 00:42:07,925 --> 00:42:11,085 Speaker 6: their way to tell you, you know, and so I 664 00:42:11,165 --> 00:42:12,245 Speaker 6: was really grateful for that. 665 00:42:15,525 --> 00:42:20,725 Speaker 4: Hey, y'all, really quick note. We recorded this conversation just 666 00:42:20,925 --> 00:42:25,805 Speaker 4: months before the passing of Cecilia Genteeli in February twenty 667 00:42:25,845 --> 00:42:30,525 Speaker 4: twenty four, and with that beautiful nod from Peppermint, our 668 00:42:30,605 --> 00:42:34,125 Speaker 4: Queer Chronicles crew knew we had to pay a deeper 669 00:42:34,165 --> 00:42:39,125 Speaker 4: tribute to her. If you didn't know Cecilia well, she 670 00:42:39,445 --> 00:42:45,285 Speaker 4: was an iconic Translatina activist who fought for immigrants, sex workers, and. 671 00:42:45,285 --> 00:42:49,965 Speaker 5: All folks on the margins. She was a titan and. 672 00:42:50,205 --> 00:42:55,325 Speaker 4: Unapologetic example of joy and power. We get to relish 673 00:42:55,325 --> 00:43:00,205 Speaker 4: in her words eternally through her memoir Faltas, her appearance 674 00:43:00,285 --> 00:43:04,645 Speaker 4: and documentaries like The Stroll and episodes of FX's Pose, 675 00:43:05,125 --> 00:43:07,725 Speaker 4: and all all the videos and photos of her one 676 00:43:07,765 --> 00:43:13,845 Speaker 4: woman performances scattered over the Internet. I was always in 677 00:43:14,165 --> 00:43:18,045 Speaker 4: awe of how vulnerable she was and grateful to hear 678 00:43:18,125 --> 00:43:20,045 Speaker 4: her life's testimony. 679 00:43:19,565 --> 00:43:21,085 Speaker 5: On more than one occasion. 680 00:43:22,125 --> 00:43:26,565 Speaker 4: She loved our people out loud, and she made us 681 00:43:26,605 --> 00:43:30,285 Speaker 4: burst out and laughter all the time. She also made 682 00:43:30,365 --> 00:43:35,445 Speaker 4: us take ourselves seriously and not so seriously all at once, 683 00:43:35,965 --> 00:43:41,045 Speaker 4: and she mothered in every sense of the word. Rest 684 00:43:41,205 --> 00:43:46,885 Speaker 4: powerfully and peacefully. Santa Cecilia, and go Kiki with the ancestors. 685 00:43:47,525 --> 00:43:50,045 Speaker 5: You deserve eternal pleasure. 686 00:43:51,165 --> 00:43:58,645 Speaker 4: And with that, let's get back to the conversation, Chase, 687 00:43:58,965 --> 00:44:00,245 Speaker 4: do you have some words here? 688 00:44:00,885 --> 00:44:04,485 Speaker 3: I was pretty inspired by by what Peppermint just said 689 00:44:04,565 --> 00:44:07,565 Speaker 3: in terms of, you know something I've been thinking a 690 00:44:07,605 --> 00:44:11,685 Speaker 3: lot about. And this is maybe not like advice, but 691 00:44:11,805 --> 00:44:14,885 Speaker 3: more sort of a shared reflection. I'll say, like people 692 00:44:14,925 --> 00:44:17,285 Speaker 3: my generation, there was no puberty suppression, there was no 693 00:44:17,325 --> 00:44:21,725 Speaker 3: access to healthcare when we were younger, and I think 694 00:44:21,765 --> 00:44:23,845 Speaker 3: something that I think a lot about is we get 695 00:44:23,845 --> 00:44:28,045 Speaker 3: to decide the contours of what it means to live 696 00:44:28,085 --> 00:44:31,525 Speaker 3: in and habit a sex body So the truth is, 697 00:44:32,085 --> 00:44:35,165 Speaker 3: you can change in all sorts of ways. You can 698 00:44:35,205 --> 00:44:36,965 Speaker 3: decide what it means for you to be a man, 699 00:44:37,045 --> 00:44:39,365 Speaker 3: to be a woman, to be transd to be non binary, like, 700 00:44:39,445 --> 00:44:41,725 Speaker 3: all of that can evolve. And so I just I 701 00:44:41,765 --> 00:44:44,525 Speaker 3: want people to know that as we battle through this 702 00:44:44,645 --> 00:44:46,925 Speaker 3: future time, that we will always find a way to 703 00:44:47,005 --> 00:44:51,165 Speaker 3: get each other what we need. And that's it's okay 704 00:44:51,205 --> 00:44:54,845 Speaker 3: if it doesn't look exactly how we envision. There's no race, 705 00:44:54,885 --> 00:44:57,845 Speaker 3: there's no rush, and there's nothing that we're measuring ourselves against. 706 00:44:57,925 --> 00:45:02,045 Speaker 3: It's our beautiful ability to continue to evolve and define 707 00:45:02,445 --> 00:45:04,005 Speaker 3: who we are on our own terms. 708 00:45:04,645 --> 00:45:09,285 Speaker 1: Okay, Taylor, Well, I think really I just want to 709 00:45:09,325 --> 00:45:13,805 Speaker 1: echo the previous sentiments. I think my advice is really 710 00:45:13,885 --> 00:45:21,205 Speaker 1: to explore and rest and give yourself time. I really 711 00:45:21,245 --> 00:45:26,365 Speaker 1: want younger folks to just explore. I think the beauty 712 00:45:26,405 --> 00:45:28,565 Speaker 1: of our community as we have, like you know, grown 713 00:45:28,725 --> 00:45:31,285 Speaker 1: and we have access to more identities and more spaces 714 00:45:31,325 --> 00:45:35,325 Speaker 1: and more representation, is that we don't have to rush 715 00:45:35,365 --> 00:45:37,685 Speaker 1: to fit ourselves in boxes. I love that this younger 716 00:45:37,725 --> 00:45:40,405 Speaker 1: generation is just like I don't really know, it's kind 717 00:45:40,445 --> 00:45:43,525 Speaker 1: of just a vibe I wish I had that energy 718 00:45:44,005 --> 00:45:47,245 Speaker 1: when I was younger, because it would have saved me 719 00:45:47,285 --> 00:45:51,245 Speaker 1: so much time and stress. And don't let anyone try 720 00:45:51,285 --> 00:45:54,885 Speaker 1: to tell you how to move, how to identify, how 721 00:45:54,925 --> 00:45:58,965 Speaker 1: to transition, how to express yourself, how to love. It's 722 00:45:59,045 --> 00:46:03,045 Speaker 1: all up to you and your own experience. So do 723 00:46:03,125 --> 00:46:03,925 Speaker 1: with it what you will. 724 00:46:04,765 --> 00:46:13,965 Speaker 4: Yeah, Yeah, y'all are so powerful. Yeah, I mean I 725 00:46:14,005 --> 00:46:20,245 Speaker 4: think everything that y'all have discussed, our thoughts and ideas 726 00:46:20,325 --> 00:46:25,805 Speaker 4: that come up all throughout this season. I guess for 727 00:46:25,965 --> 00:46:30,445 Speaker 4: me what always feels important is for our queer and 728 00:46:30,485 --> 00:46:34,845 Speaker 4: trans youth to remember that they have a story worth 729 00:46:34,965 --> 00:46:42,285 Speaker 4: telling and that their story is a superpower. And you know, 730 00:46:43,205 --> 00:46:48,405 Speaker 4: you have a responsibility not to weaponize that story. You 731 00:46:48,485 --> 00:46:54,165 Speaker 4: have a responsibility to fully invest in that story, find 732 00:46:54,205 --> 00:46:59,765 Speaker 4: ways to be generative, and leave the door open more 733 00:46:59,845 --> 00:47:01,925 Speaker 4: with that story. At least, I think that's what we 734 00:47:02,085 --> 00:47:04,565 Speaker 4: all kind of do on this call. 735 00:47:06,125 --> 00:47:15,205 Speaker 5: And so with that, we have one last question. What 736 00:47:15,565 --> 00:47:16,845 Speaker 5: is one. 737 00:47:16,765 --> 00:47:21,165 Speaker 4: Thing someone can do today to protect queer and trans 738 00:47:21,205 --> 00:47:22,765 Speaker 4: youth in their community. 739 00:47:23,405 --> 00:47:25,725 Speaker 3: My favorite thing this day to say, and this is 740 00:47:25,765 --> 00:47:28,325 Speaker 3: not just to protect queer and trans youth, this is 741 00:47:28,365 --> 00:47:33,365 Speaker 3: to protect us, Saul, is to stop overly gendering everything 742 00:47:33,565 --> 00:47:37,045 Speaker 3: from the moment of conception. In every single thing you do. 743 00:47:37,285 --> 00:47:40,925 Speaker 3: You can listen to this. It's it's very revelatory. But 744 00:47:40,965 --> 00:47:44,085 Speaker 3: you can ask someone about their kid without asking if 745 00:47:44,085 --> 00:47:45,845 Speaker 3: it's a boy or a girl. And I think if 746 00:47:45,885 --> 00:47:48,485 Speaker 3: we change our norms around this, we're going to open 747 00:47:48,525 --> 00:47:52,685 Speaker 3: the door to much more joy and expansive and disruptive 748 00:47:52,725 --> 00:47:55,885 Speaker 3: ways of living in this very toxic society. So just 749 00:47:55,965 --> 00:47:57,285 Speaker 3: keep it simple and be better. 750 00:47:58,205 --> 00:48:01,805 Speaker 6: I agree. You don't know yet until someone tells you 751 00:48:01,845 --> 00:48:05,845 Speaker 6: whether they are trans, are queer, or questioning or something thing. 752 00:48:06,165 --> 00:48:08,805 Speaker 6: And so if it's important for you to provide a 753 00:48:08,845 --> 00:48:10,645 Speaker 6: safe space for those people, then you can sort of 754 00:48:11,285 --> 00:48:15,285 Speaker 6: advertise that these spaces are free of some of these 755 00:48:15,405 --> 00:48:20,125 Speaker 6: really oppressive like gender norms and boxes and spaces, and 756 00:48:20,165 --> 00:48:24,565 Speaker 6: so speaking in a way that is inclusive of gender expressions, 757 00:48:24,565 --> 00:48:28,645 Speaker 6: sexualities and things like that. It's just communicating two things 758 00:48:28,925 --> 00:48:33,525 Speaker 6: to the people who are, you know, just there, that 759 00:48:33,965 --> 00:48:36,005 Speaker 6: they might be able to do this work as well, 760 00:48:36,525 --> 00:48:39,125 Speaker 6: to provide a safe space and an open and an 761 00:48:39,205 --> 00:48:41,885 Speaker 6: understanding inclusive space for queer people. And then you're definitely 762 00:48:41,925 --> 00:48:44,605 Speaker 6: communicating to the queer people who haven't yet told you 763 00:48:45,005 --> 00:48:48,325 Speaker 6: who they are, that this is a safe space for them. 764 00:48:48,805 --> 00:48:49,245 Speaker 5: Agreed. 765 00:48:49,445 --> 00:48:53,445 Speaker 1: I think I think on the other side of that coin, 766 00:48:53,685 --> 00:48:57,525 Speaker 1: or maybe like in tandem with it, is as much 767 00:48:57,525 --> 00:49:01,485 Speaker 1: as you are doing those things, also do some self 768 00:49:01,565 --> 00:49:06,605 Speaker 1: interrogation and really look into yourself and maybe analyze how 769 00:49:07,205 --> 00:49:09,565 Speaker 1: the world has gendered to you, how maybe you have 770 00:49:10,245 --> 00:49:15,045 Speaker 1: or are currently perpetuating gender stereotypes or gender norms that 771 00:49:15,085 --> 00:49:18,365 Speaker 1: aren't healthy. Because as much as like you know, trans 772 00:49:18,405 --> 00:49:23,325 Speaker 1: people are creating ourselves and coming into ourselves in certain ways, 773 00:49:23,325 --> 00:49:26,805 Speaker 1: redefining gender and how it's viewed in the world, I 774 00:49:26,845 --> 00:49:30,365 Speaker 1: think a lot of CIS people don't understand how gender 775 00:49:30,445 --> 00:49:34,965 Speaker 1: has affected them and how gender has sometimes harmed them. 776 00:49:35,485 --> 00:49:38,645 Speaker 1: You know, trans people are simply trying to create space 777 00:49:38,725 --> 00:49:42,365 Speaker 1: to exist in this world. And I think that CIS 778 00:49:42,405 --> 00:49:45,205 Speaker 1: people who are trying to include grand trans people more 779 00:49:45,325 --> 00:49:49,405 Speaker 1: or be like in an ally role, need to analyze 780 00:49:50,165 --> 00:49:52,845 Speaker 1: and figure out how they can change the world that 781 00:49:52,925 --> 00:49:55,245 Speaker 1: trans people are trying to be a part of, how 782 00:49:55,285 --> 00:50:02,205 Speaker 1: they can help create more inclusive, affirming spaces, and yeah, 783 00:50:02,285 --> 00:50:04,725 Speaker 1: just do some deep work on yourself. 784 00:50:06,005 --> 00:50:08,645 Speaker 4: So with that, I want to thank you all for 785 00:50:08,765 --> 00:50:18,205 Speaker 4: joining me today. You're all incredible ferocious, gorgeous, stunning, and 786 00:50:18,285 --> 00:50:22,005 Speaker 4: your work is so vital right now and beyond. 787 00:50:22,565 --> 00:50:25,125 Speaker 6: So thank you, we love you, Thank you so much 788 00:50:25,165 --> 00:50:25,805 Speaker 6: for having us. 789 00:50:27,125 --> 00:50:29,605 Speaker 3: Thank you, bye, y'all, Thank you. 790 00:50:35,125 --> 00:50:38,645 Speaker 4: Queer Chronicles is a production of School of Humans, The 791 00:50:38,685 --> 00:50:45,445 Speaker 4: Outspoken Podcast Network and iHeart Podcasts. I'm your host, Raquel Willis. 792 00:50:46,805 --> 00:50:49,885 Speaker 4: You can find a list of resources in the show notes, 793 00:50:50,045 --> 00:50:52,565 Speaker 4: including trans Lifeline and. 794 00:50:52,525 --> 00:50:53,565 Speaker 5: The Trevor Project. 795 00:50:55,165 --> 00:50:58,405 Speaker 4: This show was written by Jordan Bailey et Alise Perez, 796 00:50:58,965 --> 00:51:04,245 Speaker 4: Aaron Edwards, and me. Our story editors are Aaron Edwards 797 00:51:04,325 --> 00:51:09,645 Speaker 4: and Julia for Long. Produced by Jordan Bailey, Julia Farlan 798 00:51:09,885 --> 00:51:16,445 Speaker 4: and Edalis Perez. Our senior producer is Amelia Brock, directed 799 00:51:16,725 --> 00:51:22,565 Speaker 4: by ediis Perez, Sound design and mix by mv al Rahie. 800 00:51:23,965 --> 00:51:29,885 Speaker 4: Theme song composed by Jesse Niswanger, Casting by Jordan Bailey 801 00:51:30,045 --> 00:51:36,325 Speaker 4: and Julia Furlan, Fact checking by Savannah Hugley. Our production 802 00:51:36,485 --> 00:51:41,205 Speaker 4: manager is Daisy Church. Special thanks to Beheed Fraser and 803 00:51:41,325 --> 00:51:46,485 Speaker 4: Casey Petgram for engineering support and our special guests, Miss 804 00:51:46,605 --> 00:51:52,205 Speaker 4: Peppermint Taylor, Alexander and Chase Stradio for joining our roundtable. 805 00:51:53,285 --> 00:51:57,525 Speaker 4: Executive producers include Jay Brunson and Me from The Outspoken 806 00:51:57,605 --> 00:52:03,085 Speaker 4: Podcast Network, Michael Alder June and Noel Brown from iHeart Podcasts, 807 00:52:04,285 --> 00:52:08,605 Speaker 4: Virginia Prescott, Brandon Barr, and Elsie Crowley from School of 808 00:52:08,685 --> 00:52:14,285 Speaker 4: Humans and The Cats Company. This series was recorded at 809 00:52:14,365 --> 00:52:19,925 Speaker 4: Cdium Studios, Citybox, and iHeart Studios in New York City. 810 00:52:20,805 --> 00:52:23,525 Speaker 4: If you're enjoying the show, please share it with friends 811 00:52:23,525 --> 00:52:26,685 Speaker 4: and family, and don't forget to rate and review in 812 00:52:26,765 --> 00:52:30,245 Speaker 4: your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening.