1 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to wok F Daily with 2 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: Me your Girl. Daniel Moody recording from the Home Bunker. 3 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: Pre recording. Dear friends, as I am away for a 4 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: couple of days, I would love to say that I'm 5 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: taking some rests, but you know that I'm away from 6 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: the pod but on social media, so as always follow 7 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 1: me there, and you know that if there is breaking news, 8 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: I will surely have a microphone and a laptop. That's 9 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: what it means to kind of pseudo go on vacation 10 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: these days. Nonetheless, I'm really excited to bring to you 11 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 1: a pre recorded conversation with a friend of the show, 12 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: Anna Deshaun, who is the founder of E three Radio 13 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 1: and The Cube and is the host of Queer News 14 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: podcast and Second Sunday. We get into a really good 15 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: conversation Anna and I about you know, obviously the state 16 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: of politics, but also about faith and what it means 17 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: to hold faith in this moment, and also what this 18 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:19,400 Speaker 1: political moment means for people that live at the intersections 19 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: of multiple identities. This conversation was recorded prior to the 20 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: announcement that Joe Biden would be stepping down from reelection 21 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 1: and the announcement of Vice President Kamala Harris as our 22 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: new Democratic nominee. This is a good conversation, however, because look, folks, 23 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: as we make our way into this election, we know 24 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: exactly what is at stake and what I can say 25 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: right now, just days, you know, removed from this seismic 26 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: shift in our body politic, is that people are energized 27 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: in a way that I have not seen. I am 28 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: hopeful in a way that I have not been hopeful 29 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: probably since two thousand and eight. There is just this 30 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: palpable energy and excitement that I am just so grateful 31 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:15,399 Speaker 1: that I was wrong. As everybody knows, I was very 32 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: staunchly against Joe Biden stepping aside, only because I thought 33 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: that the Democrats were going to fall into absolute disarray 34 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 1: and it was going to be inevitable that Donald Trump 35 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: would be elected because of it. But now seeing the 36 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: way that people are hitting the ground running. You had 37 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: forty four thousand black women show up for a call 38 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,079 Speaker 1: that raised over a million dollars. Then the following day 39 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: you had over fifty thousand black men show up for 40 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: a call that raised over a million dollars. Now you're 41 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: having aapi, folks, do a call. White women are being 42 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: organized to do a call. Different communities are taking on 43 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: the responsibility of what it means to activate in this 44 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,040 Speaker 1: moment with three and a half months to go to 45 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: the election. The stakes are still the same, right, but 46 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 1: the players are different, and I think that that matters. 47 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: And you know where we are right now. I continue 48 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: to share on social media ways in which people can 49 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: get activated. If you have the ability to give money, 50 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: give money, if you have the ability to organize it, 51 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 1: get out the vote in your town, in your city, 52 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 1: do that right. If you have the opportunity to organize 53 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: and host salons and discussions in your home to talk 54 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: to people about what is at stake in this election 55 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: with friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, do that. We all have 56 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: a role to play in this moment, and we have 57 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: three and a half months. So every single person needs 58 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: to roll up their sleeves and needs to get to 59 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: work and needs to do what they can where they can, 60 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: so that we can get Vice President Kamala Harris and 61 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: our democracy over the fucking finish line and finish Donald 62 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:59,839 Speaker 1: Trump off once and for all. So that's where I am. 63 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: I am energized. I'm taking a few days away, but 64 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: I'm never really too far away, and leaving you with 65 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: some really great interviews in the meantime. Coming up next, 66 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 1: my conversation with Anna Deshon, Folks, I am very happy 67 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,840 Speaker 1: to welcome back to the show. Anna Deshon, who is 68 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: a founder of E three Radio and The Cube and 69 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: is the host of Queer News, a podcast covering all 70 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 1: that queer news. Anna, it has been what did you 71 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 1: say before, A wild time? 72 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 2: It's wild and complicated. 73 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: Wild, wild and complicated. I think that if there was 74 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: a word or two words to describe twenty twenty four, 75 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 1: that is what we would use. I would use the 76 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 1: same as well. Let's just start with this for you 77 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: as you cover the news of the community, about the community. 78 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 1: What is happening to and in and around the LGBTQ 79 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: plus community. What has made it the most wild and 80 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: complex time in your opinion? 81 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 2: Where do we start? Danielle, Oh, my God, and so family. 82 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 2: Always always great to be on WOKF with you, So 83 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 2: thanks for having me back. You know, as black quear women, 84 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:23,720 Speaker 2: every day our identity is in the news. So that's 85 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 2: just let's just start there. So wild and complicated times 86 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 2: when it comes to abortion rights, when it comes to DEI, 87 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 2: affirmative action, everything that is being rolled back at time, 88 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 2: and then we get to queer and I just feel 89 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,679 Speaker 2: like history is continuing to repeat itself, and I feel 90 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 2: like we haven't learned a single lesson. So I've been 91 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 2: sitting in this reflective moment of what does it mean 92 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 2: to be in this time while history is in fact 93 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 2: repeating itself where we are looking ahead thirty years to 94 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 2: be able to repeal all the stuff that's happened over 95 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 2: the last eight and what does that mean for us? 96 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 2: I have another posse a Sunday, we had Bishop flunder 97 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 2: On and she talked about believing that we come from 98 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 2: eternity into time and then back into eternity and had 99 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 2: me thinking, like what are we doing with this time? 100 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 2: Like how do we how will the future talk about 101 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 2: us right now? And y'all it's complicated and and why 102 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 2: What I mean by that is I report one week 103 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,720 Speaker 2: about how some of Desantus' anti trans policies have been 104 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 2: rolled back, clarified, cleared up, moved to socide, okay right. 105 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 2: Recently a couple weeks ago, I reported about how that 106 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 2: judge Judge Hinkel Right put a permanent ban on that 107 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 2: whole trans healthcare business in Florida. So folks who identify 108 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 2: as trans can now have health care there because he said, 109 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 2: it doesn't matter what you think, you can't stop somebody 110 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 2: from getting health care for themselves. Right. That is a 111 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 2: big win. That is a major moment because Desantus's legislation 112 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 2: laid the groundwork for all these other states to use 113 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 2: as a blueprint for all this anti trans legislation. Right, 114 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 2: So now we sort of have a blueprint and now 115 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 2: a precedent that could also be used in other states 116 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 2: to roll back all this anti translationlation. Right. But then 117 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 2: I you know, another day rolls by, and I'm also 118 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 2: reporting about how Utah there's colleges in Utah who are 119 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 2: closing pride centers because of di regulations, right. 120 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 1: And not just Pride centers, the Black Center, the Indigenous Center, 121 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: all of these different centers for historically marginalized communities that 122 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: were place of community right and connection are being closed down. 123 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 2: Yep, that's right, and now being a rolled all up 124 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 2: into one place as if everybody's needs are the same 125 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 2: and as everybody you know, resources ought to look the same. 126 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 2: It makes no sense, right, And then I've got a 127 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 2: celebrating on the White House lawn. It's great pride celebration 128 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 2: that didn't happen, you know, four years ago. These are 129 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 2: things we ought to appreciate. At the same time we 130 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 2: in amidst these wars that we're funding genocide that's happening. 131 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 2: What are we doing here? Where is our humanity? Is 132 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 2: also complicated? And then we have probably the on record, 133 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 2: the worst presidential candidate coming up here in November. But 134 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 2: all the same time, day y'all was in here, Like 135 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 2: it feels like history's repeating itself. I'm sitting here like 136 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 2: this feels like the Bull O'Connor of our time. Like 137 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 2: I feel like this is like the Inneded Bryant of 138 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 2: our time, right, like Marjorie Taylor Green's like, for example, 139 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 2: come to mind, And I just find myself one to 140 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 2: tap back in to all of our ancestors, the Ella 141 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 2: Bakers and the Fannie Lou Hammers, and the people who 142 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:41,559 Speaker 2: had taught us how to get through those times, because 143 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 2: I feel like I feel like we are in it. 144 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:49,959 Speaker 1: I think that similarly, I have found myself really looking 145 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 1: back right, looking in history to provide some solace, to 146 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: provide some hopefulness, and faith because what we are up against, 147 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: while daunting, is nothing like what our ancestors were up against. 148 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: I'm reading a book by a friend, Jen M. Jackson, 149 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 1: doctor Jackson, called Black Women Taught Us, and going through 150 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: each chapter is about, you know, a different black feminist 151 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: from a different time who was dealing with being you know, 152 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: Ida b Wells, being run out of her state with 153 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 1: death threats, all because she was covering in great detail 154 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 1: the lynchings that were happening right that mainstream white media 155 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 1: wasn't covering, talking about enslaved you know, women hiding out 156 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: in attics addicts that weren't even high enough to be 157 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,079 Speaker 1: able to stand up in or really long enough to 158 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: be able to lay down in. But what freedom looked 159 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 1: like to her was like the freedom of space and body. 160 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 1: So that's where she hid on the plantation. So it's 161 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 1: just one reminding ourselves that inside of I think our 162 00:09:56,120 --> 00:10:02,679 Speaker 1: DNA lies like a great resili and a blueprint of 163 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:04,839 Speaker 1: how to move forward, because I think that what we 164 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:11,319 Speaker 1: were lulled into believing is that the bull Connors were gone, 165 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 1: is that we had toppled them, you know, and that 166 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: it was now our time to move forward. And there 167 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:20,079 Speaker 1: were never going to be people who were going to 168 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 1: stand in our way because we had pushed them to 169 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: the margins. And I think that that's where we got 170 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 1: caught up. 171 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 2: Oh we did. We got complacent. We got so complacent, 172 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 2: and I think, especially with queer folks, I think about 173 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 2: marriage equality being the start of that complacency, thinking that 174 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 2: that was the ultimate right, that was like the silver ullan, 175 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:42,319 Speaker 2: that was it, you know, from here all other things 176 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 2: are solved. But even during that time, if you talk 177 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 2: to anybody whose identities were marginalized, that was not their 178 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 2: number one issue. They trying to find housing, employment. And 179 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 2: so when we don't tackle the most basic fundamental rights 180 00:10:57,080 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 2: of those who are the most I like what Arlen 181 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 2: Hamilton says, like the most underestimated of us, you know, 182 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 2: then we really aren't solving the real problems. And I 183 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 2: think that's what we have found in all the efforts 184 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:14,839 Speaker 2: of all of our ancestors. It's like we've solved this 185 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,679 Speaker 2: one piece, but we haven't really solved the real problem 186 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:21,560 Speaker 2: in this country. I mean, let's be real, I don't 187 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:24,840 Speaker 2: know what is possible in all of its shapes and forms, 188 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 2: given how this place started. I tell people our time 189 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 2: in conversation like this was a great experiment. Okay, there's 190 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 2: no other country in the world made up like the 191 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 2: United States of America. It's still a great experiment. And 192 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 2: it's not been going that great Okay, Okay, there's some 193 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 2: things that are like really shining bright lights, but Chile, Chile, 194 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 2: to be in this body has not been the greatest 195 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 2: of times, right, It's been pretty awful. So I think 196 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 2: we find ourselves in this place, in this experiment and 197 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 2: not knowing how to actually solve it, actually solve it. 198 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, as a black queer woman, we are facing down. 199 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 1: So much is at stake in this election, and for you, 200 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: you know, and the folks that you talk to on 201 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: your shows, Like, as we get closer to the election, 202 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:28,199 Speaker 1: what are you hearing from other black queer people, queer 203 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 1: people of color in terms of the threat and the fear. 204 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:37,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's tough. It's hard because are we looking to 205 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 2: save what was a like white center democracy? Is that 206 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 2: what we're really looking to say, We're looking to create 207 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 2: a new democracy? What does that look like? And what 208 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 2: I hear is the goal is to fight fascism? Balid 209 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 2: valid okay, And is the democracy we've been in the 210 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 2: one that's been working. Has that been working for you? 211 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 2: Has that been working for me? Has that been working 212 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 2: for my cousins, all the black men I know? Has 213 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 2: that been working for all the black women I know? 214 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 2: For all the queer folks I know? I don't think so. 215 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,280 Speaker 2: So I'm hearing I'm gonna do what I gotta do 216 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 2: when it's time to go vote, you know, because I 217 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 2: know voting people. They're gonna go and they're gonna vote 218 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 2: against fascism, but they are not happy or pleased with 219 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 2: the other options. I mean, it just feels like we're 220 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 2: constantly sucking this rock in a hard place. And I 221 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 2: catch myself saying, oh, this is like the most crucial election, 222 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 2: because I feel like every time there is something crucial 223 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 2: happening to black and brown bodies period. Every presidential election 224 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:43,839 Speaker 2: is important to as a matter of fact, every local 225 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 2: election is even more important to us. And so I 226 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 2: catch myself and I catch other people saying, like, don't 227 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 2: say like this is the child. Every election is yep, 228 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:57,080 Speaker 2: important to our bodies, but this is just what we 229 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,080 Speaker 2: have to deal with in this particular election, in this 230 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:03,199 Speaker 2: particular time. So I find people just being just terribly conflicted. 231 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: How are you finding hope? We've been saying on wookf 232 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: And I say, you know all the time, Pride is 233 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 1: three hundred and sixty five days a year, and there 234 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 1: is something about my feeling where I become conflicted because 235 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 1: I'm just like, even going to attend the White House 236 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: Pride event was a deep conflict for me. 237 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 2: You know. 238 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: I woke up that day and I was just like, hmm, well, 239 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 1: you know, still sending weapons and bombs and murdering tens 240 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: of thousands of Palestinians every single day, and there is 241 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: no sign of stopping. 242 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 2: And so. 243 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: How do I not be complicit? So talk to me 244 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: about like the conflict if any you were feeling. 245 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is. It is what I'm facing here in 246 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 2: Chicago as well. Right, We've got a black man as 247 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 2: mayor of this city right now, right, this is a 248 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 2: historical moment for us. We haven't had one since Harold Washington. Right. 249 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 2: He's also a liberal mayor, doing very positive things, guaranteed 250 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 2: minimum income type of stuff like stuff that's like, okay, 251 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 2: that's like fighting capitalism type stuff, you know. And we 252 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 2: also have the shortest parade on record happening this year 253 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 2: for the Chicago Pride Parade. We also have a shorter 254 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 2: route this year. Now it's the Pride Parade, something that 255 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 2: I have shown up at every single year. No, I'm 256 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 2: at an age child, I've been to the parade, so okay, 257 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 2: I have done the rainbow thing. Okay, I don't need 258 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 2: the rainbow thing. And in fact, I'm queer every day, okay. 259 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 2: And I felt it was incredibly important to fight for 260 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 2: the Pride Parade because I remember being the baby gay 261 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 2: who had never seen anything like that before and just 262 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 2: knowing how incredibly important it is. Yeah, that these types 263 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 2: of spaces exists. Despite the capitalism that comes along with 264 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 2: the corporate you know whatever that they put on, it 265 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 2: is still important to so many people who don't have 266 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 2: the opportunities to come out, who don't have the privilege 267 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 2: and who have never celebrated before, and that is worth 268 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 2: fighting for. And so I feel the same way about 269 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 2: the White House. It is important to show up because 270 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 2: there might be another time, but we are not allowed 271 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 2: where literally he does everything. If he's elected again, he 272 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 2: will erase us from every single document moment that exists 273 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 2: in every legal period. His goal is to erase our existence, 274 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 2: and that is exactly what he will do quickly and 275 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 2: swiftly with some type of executive order and break some 276 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 2: other type of protocol that nobody ever thought of president 277 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 2: would ever break. Like, I think that is his goal 278 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 2: and mission in life. And so I don't think it's 279 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 2: this or that, it's but and and I think that 280 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 2: we just have to stay committed to what we know 281 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 2: is important, which is centering the most marginalized of us, 282 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 2: because we if we actually sent to the most marginalized, 283 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:07,119 Speaker 2: everybody wins. And when you ask me, like how, I 284 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 2: get hope. I do my best to tell balanced stories 285 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 2: and have a balanced pod because what bleeds is not 286 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 2: what leads on this podcast, because that doesn't serve us. 287 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 2: It just makes us sad and depressed. Yeah, but you 288 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 2: know this past week Shakirie richardson freaking is a bright light. Okay, 289 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 2: she let the storytelling on my pod, all right, as 290 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 2: a queer black woman out here running as fast as flow. Joe, Oh, 291 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 2: that is good news. When I tell a story. This 292 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 2: man he came out in his obituary at the age 293 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:39,680 Speaker 2: of eighty five. 294 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 1: Oh my god, see the story. Yeah, it broke oh god, Anna, 295 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: it broke my heart. Yeah, to think that you would 296 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: carry that secret until your death to say that you 297 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:04,199 Speaker 1: had lost the love of your life decades prior, you know, 298 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 1: and the fear had like it really it broke That 299 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:09,400 Speaker 1: story broke my heart. 300 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 2: It broke my heart. And at the same time, I 301 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 2: was like, he had the courage enough to write that, 302 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 2: and if somebody on the other end had the courage 303 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 2: enough to follow the directives, because clearly there was something, 304 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 2: you know, where he felt like he couldn't but somebody said, 305 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 2: this is what he wanted, and he's gonna be buried 306 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 2: next to the person that he loved his entire life. 307 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 2: You know, when I report about young people fighting back, 308 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 2: like I got the chance. We have Senator Mike Simmons 309 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 2: here in the state of Illinois, our first out elected 310 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 2: state senator, black man with locks. Okay, I am a 311 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 2: fan of Senator Centimons, and this year for his Pride 312 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,400 Speaker 2: press conference, he actually was like, ain't none of y'all 313 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 2: talking this year? I want to center queer youth. And 314 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 2: he had a queer youth panel that gave me so 315 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 2: much hope, Danielle listening to these young people sixteen, seventeen, 316 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 2: eighteen years old talk about their queer identities, their experiences 317 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 2: in school, their experiences with their families, them having the 318 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 2: courage to sit up here and be recorded and be 319 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:16,920 Speaker 2: broadcasted out everywhere about how they are fighting for their 320 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 2: humanity because if they don't like, who will? And the 321 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:24,120 Speaker 2: I'm stepping up and saying that's what I'm doing because 322 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 2: I love us so much. That gives me hope, you know. 323 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 2: And that's the tough type of stuff I like to 324 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 2: report on. And that's why I end every podcast with 325 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 2: Anna's word, because we're more than just these terrible moments, 326 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:39,719 Speaker 2: and I don't believe we're going to stop fighting. And 327 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 2: I think that that ought to give all of us 328 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 2: a little bit of hope. 329 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:48,959 Speaker 1: I think that it's just like one young people listening 330 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 1: to young people. I mean, the college campus uprisings gave 331 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: me so much hope because it was a stark reminder 332 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: that it is and has always been young people that 333 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: move this kind treeforward, that hold up a mirror and 334 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 1: show us all who we are. So whether it was 335 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 1: Ryan White during you know, the beginning of the AIDS crisis, 336 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 1: being a child going on the news to talk about 337 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,719 Speaker 1: having had contracted AIDS, whether it is these young people 338 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 1: queer kids saying like you can strip off the safe 339 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:23,719 Speaker 1: space stickers from the classroom, but like I'm still going 340 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:27,239 Speaker 1: to be gay right, Like you know, So it is. 341 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 1: I think that it's so important because those of us 342 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 1: who are older, I think, can get calcified in our 343 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 1: frustration and our apathy, and so I think that it 344 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 1: is really important to have those reminders. 345 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:45,680 Speaker 2: Often we're so easily jaded. That's what, Yeah, we are. 346 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:47,639 Speaker 1: But it's not to say that there isn't a lot 347 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: that has jaded us the jaded nate. 348 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:50,640 Speaker 2: It is valid. 349 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:53,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, what is it that you hope that folks get 350 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: from your POD's Sunday Sermon and Queer News? Like, what 351 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 1: is it that you hope that you are able to 352 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:02,639 Speaker 1: contribute to the media landscape? 353 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:07,200 Speaker 2: So with queer News, my hope is that I contribute 354 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:10,200 Speaker 2: to this canon, that is this news cycle, no matter 355 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 2: what's happening on the social media networks with their shadow 356 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 2: banning or whatever is happening on this particular day or moment, 357 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:18,679 Speaker 2: but that people can hear news that they are not 358 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 2: getting anywhere else period. That centers us first, and for me, 359 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:27,920 Speaker 2: that is what I hear from people, and that is 360 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 2: where people center their gratitude around this piece of work, 361 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 2: and that encourages me. I was actually recently at in 362 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 2: DC for Capital Pride and what a great time I had. 363 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:41,400 Speaker 2: I'm looking forward to World Pride. And a sister came 364 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:43,919 Speaker 2: up to the table and talked about how my reporting 365 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 2: on Britney Griner before anybody else even cared about what 366 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 2: was happening with her, meant so much to her. And 367 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 2: that's why I do it, and that's why I think 368 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 2: it's important, because a Britney Grinder story is important every day, 369 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,639 Speaker 2: not just on the day that someone sent a press release. 370 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 2: Important to us every day, and so that's what I 371 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 2: hope people get from Queer News. And then with Second Sunday, 372 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 2: it is an opportunity for us to talk about stories 373 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 2: that we don't get to talk about out loud. It's 374 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:14,879 Speaker 2: literally about black queer people finding keeping in sometimes losing faith. 375 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 2: And there's a lot of us who grew up in church, 376 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 2: in the Christian Church in particular, and it caused us 377 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 2: a whole heck of a lot of harm. And we 378 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 2: have found some type of spiritual grounding or not in 379 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 2: other ways and shapes and forms, and we talk about it, 380 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 2: but nobody else hears about it, and I wanted the 381 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:35,399 Speaker 2: world to hear about how the Christian Church has not 382 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:38,199 Speaker 2: only harmed us, but we are still okay, and for 383 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 2: other people to know that they can be okay too, 384 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 2: because there's so many other people who have felt ostracized 385 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:46,640 Speaker 2: from the church or cast aside in the church who 386 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 2: can relate to the stories that we're telling. And I 387 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:52,439 Speaker 2: feel like that is really resonating with a lot of people. 388 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 2: I love it. I love it. 389 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 1: You're giving me a run for my money with your 390 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:59,200 Speaker 1: multiple pods. Now I gotta go pick out like a 391 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:01,960 Speaker 1: fourth thing, fourth and fifth one to stay in the race. 392 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:06,000 Speaker 1: Tell people where they can find your shows, Listen to 393 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:08,639 Speaker 1: your shows, share your shows. 394 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 2: One hundred percent so you all can totally listen wherever 395 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,199 Speaker 2: you get your podcasts. I would also love for you 396 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 2: to go visit the qube t a t qu b E. 397 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 2: It's our currated platform of the best black and brown 398 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,359 Speaker 2: pods out here. You can go there and listen, you know, 399 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 2: and wherever you get your pods. I know how y'all 400 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 2: are y'all particular, So go wherever you go to follow, listener, subscribe, 401 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:31,160 Speaker 2: You can find career news, you can find second Sunday 402 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:33,120 Speaker 2: and you can find an other podcast as well. 403 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: Thank you for making the time for wok app daily. 404 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:38,159 Speaker 1: Thank you for all of the work that you do, 405 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:40,719 Speaker 1: all of the stories that you lift up each and 406 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 1: every day. And you know, happy pride today and every 407 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 1: day to you. 408 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:48,920 Speaker 2: Yes, indeed, happy pride, my Briger. 409 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: That is it for me today. Dear friends on wok app. 410 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:59,639 Speaker 1: As always, power to the people and to all the people. 411 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: Power work, get woke and stay woke as fuck.