1 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to wige F Daily with 2 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: Meet your Girl Danielle Moody, recording from the Home Bunker. Folks, 3 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,119 Speaker 1: I'm going to be honest with you, this week has 4 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 1: been pretty shitty and I am still, as I'm sure 5 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: many of you are, emotionally reeling from Monday's school shooting. 6 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: You know, I am at what feels like my wits end. 7 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 1: If you haven't seen the viral video of the mother 8 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: from Nashville, Tennessee, who stood before cameras that were down 9 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: in Tennessee, you know, once again at the latest school shooting, 10 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: and she said, are you tired of this? Aren't you 11 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: exhausted by this? And just went off on you know, 12 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: the fact that this nation is addicted to guns, doesn't 13 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: want gun to reform, the fact that she is a 14 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: survivor of a mass shooting. And you know, I have 15 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: been in tears multiple times since Monday, because I, like you, 16 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: I'm just fucking exhausted. I listen to Republicans say things like, oh, 17 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: there's nothing we can do, and I'm just like, fix 18 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,400 Speaker 1: your fucking language, because what you should say is that 19 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: you don't want to do anything right. Oh, thoughts and prayers. Oh, 20 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: let's blame it on this. Let's blame it on that 21 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: we're their doors. Every single school shootings has been at 22 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: the hands of an AR fifteen. The school shooter in 23 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: Tennessee bought seven fucking guns. Seven legally, the fuck you 24 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: need with seven guns? Four that's not a red flag, no, 25 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: because Tennessee doesn't have red flags anymore, because Governor Lee said, ah, 26 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: fuck it, you don't need a permit, You don't need 27 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 1: to do anything right. You can walk into any place 28 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: and get a gun in the way that you walk 29 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: into seven eleven and get a fucking slurpee or a 30 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: pack of gum. They want to remove books from the 31 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: shelves because books and learning, education and critical thinking, that's 32 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: what's really dangerous. Imagination and dress up, that's the thing 33 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: that is going to threaten your child. But the AR 34 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: fifteen that they are staring down the fucking barrel of 35 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: no that they can't do anything about. In Utah, they 36 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 1: just pass legislation to regulate social media of those under 37 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: the age of eight team between ten thirty pm and 38 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 1: six thirty am, because in Utah it's fucking China. So 39 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 1: you can regulate social media. You can are bipartisan conversations 40 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: about getting rid of TikTok and banning at nationwide, But 41 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: banning in AAR fifteen that's fucking mowing kids down in 42 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 1: their classrooms out that you can't do anything about. You 43 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: have members of Congress that pose in front of a 44 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 1: Christmas tree with their children in AAR fifteen that doesn't 45 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 1: get child protective services called on you. No, But getting 46 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: gender affirming care for your child, that's what we need 47 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: to be paying attention to. But indoctrinating them into fucking 48 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: gun culture. No, that's okay. Do you see how sick 49 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: this fucking country is? And I just you know, there 50 00:03:54,400 --> 00:04:00,120 Speaker 1: are days, folks, there are days when I struggle. I 51 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: struggle to get out of bed, I struggled to turn 52 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: on the mic, I struggle to push through. And I 53 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: think that we are doing too much pushing through. And 54 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: like I called for yesterday on Mary Trump Show, we 55 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: need a national boycott. Everyone needs to refuse to work, 56 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 1: to shut down and grind this country to a fucking halt. 57 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 1: Every single teacher and every single school district across this 58 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 1: country needs to refuse to go to work. Every single 59 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:42,159 Speaker 1: bus driver, every single principle crossing guard school, nurse guidance counselor, 60 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 1: every single sanitation work, a nurse doctor, every single clerical person, 61 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: all of the bank workers, every single person at a 62 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 1: grocery store, a big box store. We need to grind 63 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: our country to a fucking halt until Republican politicians decide 64 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: to take their fucking nose out of the NRA's ass 65 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 1: and do what their constituents voted for them to do, 66 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 1: which is supposedly to protect their fucking kids. They want 67 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: a jerrymander and voter suppressed so that they stay in office, 68 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: so that they can keep getting bankrolled by the gun lobby. 69 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 1: They don't give a fuck about you. They don't give 70 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: a fuck about your kids. They are not a pro 71 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 1: life party. They are pro death and anti child. Because 72 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: there's no way that you have a member of Congress 73 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: look reporters in the face and say there's nothing we 74 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 1: can do. Things are gonna happen. Oh, we can't stop 75 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 1: a person with the gun. You can take away the 76 00:05:52,520 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 1: fucking gun, that's what you can do. I just, you know, 77 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: I get to the place where it's like the tears 78 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: are both from sadness and grief, but they're also just 79 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 1: from rage, like I just I want body bags, the 80 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: thousands of body bags delivered to every Republican members house, right. 81 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: I want massive boycotts and protests. I want to shut 82 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: this country down because they're not listening. And the more 83 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: that we take and just go back to fucking normal 84 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 1: and walk around and go to work, and go back 85 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 1: to school and just go about our days, and there 86 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: are children that are dead, not from cancer, not from 87 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: a car accident, but from preventable fucking gun violence. This 88 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: shouldn't be an every week occurrence. There have been more 89 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: mass shootings this year than days on the fucking calendar, 90 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: and every year gets worse. The only time that we 91 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: didn't have school shootings was during COVID, during quarantine. What 92 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: the fuck does that tell you? I don't know. I 93 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 1: don't know. Coming up next is a conversation that I 94 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: pre recorded with my friend, the executive director of LGBTQ 95 00:07:53,600 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 1: Task Force, Kara Johnson, and this conversation is about out 96 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 1: the targets that the Republicans are placing on the backs 97 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: of our community and the threats that we face and 98 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 1: what we can do about it. That conversation with Kia 99 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: Johnson is coming up next. Folks. I am very happy 100 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: to welcome back to Woke Fi Daily my friend the 101 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 1: executive director of the LGBTQ Task Force, Kiara Johnson, who 102 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: you have no doubt seen heard on the steps of 103 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: the Supreme Court on channels like MSNBC talking about the 104 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 1: onslaught of attacks and the targeting of the LGBTQ community 105 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: that we are seeing. Kiara, before we even jump in, 106 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 1: you know, I want to ask you, person to person, 107 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: black queer woman to black queer woman, how are you feeling? 108 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: You know, I feel like I have so many emotions 109 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: in any given day. Um. You know, on one hand, 110 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: I get so much I get I have so much 111 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: hope about what's possible right when I when I see 112 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 1: um more LGBTQ folks organizations working, you know, across movements 113 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: right with you know, immigrant rights organizations and and women's 114 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: rights organizations, poverty organizations. UM. More young people coming out, 115 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: and they're coming out in larger numbers and and at 116 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: younger ages. UM. And then I can't help but have 117 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: a pit in my stomach. You know, it's hard to 118 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 1: believe that in twenty twenty three we are seeing the 119 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 1: onslaught of attack and and and and in so many 120 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: different ways, um across the country, on every facet of 121 00:09:55,240 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: our community. It makes me nauseous. It makes me nervous, 122 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 1: but it also has really lit a fire under me too. 123 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: You know, I will tell you that nothing has really 124 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: prepared me right for this backslide in acceptance in just equity. Right. 125 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:27,680 Speaker 1: I was one of the people who, like you, have 126 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: been on the front lines for LGBTQ equality of use 127 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: their platform for a variety of things. And I was lulled, 128 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: like many after we watched the White House Go Rainbow 129 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:45,079 Speaker 1: in twenty fifteen, into complacency that like we were on 130 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: an up swing. We were on you know, we were 131 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: this we were going to be visited upon all the 132 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:57,440 Speaker 1: successes that our predecessors had fought so valiantly to get 133 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: us too. And now I feel in many ways we 134 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: have had the wind literally figuratively kicked out of us 135 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 1: right and pulled from underneath our wings and in our sales. 136 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: And so while you say you feel like you have 137 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: a fire ignited in you, there are many people who 138 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: you know, reach out to me on social media and 139 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: they're like, Danielle, I just don't have the energy. I 140 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 1: don't have the strength. I feel worn out, I feel hopeless, 141 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 1: and so to that, what do you say, I feel that, 142 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: I hear I hear that too. And the reality is 143 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: is that you know, we are not powerful only as individuals. 144 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: We're powerful as a collective, right, We're powerful as a community. 145 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 1: We are powerful being aligned, right. That Also, that's the 146 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: way we stay resilient too. It's not that everybody has 147 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,679 Speaker 1: to do everything all the time, forever and always right. 148 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 1: We have to figure out for ourselves and within the 149 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: context of community, what's our piece of the fight right now. 150 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: And remember that we're connected to elders in this movement 151 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: who are in their sixties, seventies, eighties, right who who 152 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 1: who are ready to jump back into this fight in 153 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: various ways. We are connected to teens and twenty somethings 154 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: in thirty some things who are also fired up and 155 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: looking to take part in this battle, in these fights. 156 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: And so I think the I think the most dangerous 157 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 1: thing our opposition can do, and it is what they 158 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: are trying to do, is to make us feel isolated, 159 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 1: make us feel alone, make us feel like we don't 160 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: have power, make us feel like we are undeserving of 161 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 1: the rights that we're demanding of the love that should 162 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 1: just be ours by virtue of being humanum and if 163 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 1: we can, if we can remind ourselves that we are 164 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 1: not alone and in fact, this onslaught of attacks is 165 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:21,359 Speaker 1: in reaction to us winning, in reaction to our progress. 166 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 1: I think I think we can we can really pull 167 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 1: this out. Yeah, I feel that, and I feel the 168 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 1: you know, I think that anger is a really powerful emotion, right, 169 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: as many people who listen to woke a come here 170 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 1: for which is the level of rage that I project 171 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 1: on a daily basis. But I do I think it's powerful. 172 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 1: I think it. I think if utilized as a tool, right, 173 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 1: it can force levers and mechanisms and break systems wide open. Right. 174 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: And I feel, Kiera, that we are in a system 175 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: breaking moment, right, And we're in a system breaking moment 176 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:10,440 Speaker 1: because they were never meant to hold us, right LGBTQ people, 177 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: people of color, people from marginalized communities in this breaking 178 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: open though? Do you feel like there needs to be 179 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: a full on sledgehammer destruction in order for a new 180 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 1: to grow out of that? Right? Like? Is there a 181 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 1: way that we mend this or is it in need 182 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: a full breaking? I think what you're talking about is 183 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: so it's so critical. I mean, I think we do 184 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: have to get angry. I also think being angry and 185 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: being hopeful or not mutually exclusive. Right, those things live together, right, 186 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: they work in tandem. Right. It's it's how we decide 187 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 1: what we're gonna do with the anger. Right. We can 188 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: we can use our anger to destroy and be done right, 189 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: or we can use our anger to destroy and also 190 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: right have that hope in our back pocket that's going 191 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: to help us build right and generate and evolved. And 192 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 1: so I do think so many of our systems have 193 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: to be to use your word sledge hammered. Right. Um, 194 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 1: so many of the systems right that are in play 195 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 1: right now are not working for us, right. I mean 196 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 1: the foster care system is a really great example of that. Um, 197 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: Black and brown and Indigenous kids are falling through the cracks. Um, 198 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: they're all of these homes, you know, willing, loving homes 199 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 1: waiting for kids that never see children enter their enter 200 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: their homes. Our education system. All we have to do 201 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 1: is look at Florida and know that the education system 202 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: is a joke. It's a joke. We've got to start 203 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: over and put people at the center of these systems 204 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: and institutions again, and I do think there's an outside 205 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 1: and an inside strategy. I think there are short term 206 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 1: and long term strategies. I don't think we have to 207 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 1: throw the baby out with the bathwater, because there are 208 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 1: too many of us are four mothers, four parents who 209 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 1: have had great ideas and have seen real success, right, 210 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: that we can capitalize on. And now's the time to 211 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 1: remember and learn our histories, right, because there's a lot 212 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: there for us to utilize and to capitalize on. And 213 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 1: isn't that the reason why we are seeing the onslaught 214 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:50,119 Speaker 1: of legislation that is attacking this community, that is attacking education, 215 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 1: that is attacking curriculum, Because now is the time for 216 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: us to understand our history. Understand that while there is 217 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 1: a newness to this moment moment, right, because we are 218 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:08,680 Speaker 1: dealing with layered and extensive and fraught crises, that the 219 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: struggle is not new, right. What we are struggling against, 220 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 1: and it's connection, right, climate change, economic crisis, racial injustice, 221 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 1: transphobia and homophobia, anti semitism, all of those things are 222 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:30,120 Speaker 1: not new things. It's just the fact that we are 223 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 1: in this literal perfect storm. And so you know, is 224 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 1: that why we're seeing these attacks Because I'll tell you, 225 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: Kiera that I wrote something the other day and I said, 226 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:47,919 Speaker 1: the problem is we got too free. That's the problem 227 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 1: is that we now have generations of young people that 228 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 1: are questioning the lies in the systems that they have 229 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:59,359 Speaker 1: been born into. They are questioning the gender binary, they 230 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:04,479 Speaker 1: are questioning name capitalism, they are questioning right patriarchy, they 231 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: are questioning the calls around the lack of bodily autonomy. 232 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 1: They are questioning these things. And dare I say, becoming 233 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: woke to these things, and that's why we are seeing 234 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: this vicious evil. Yes, immorl pushback. I think that's absolutely right. 235 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: I mean, I will never forget my I'm gonna take 236 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 1: it all the way to birthing um My Dula, who 237 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 1: was a badass black woman, said to me, when you 238 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:44,639 Speaker 1: feel the worst pain, that's when you are making the 239 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: most progress. That's that's how you know, right, you are 240 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 1: almost there. And and that feels so real for us 241 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:59,879 Speaker 1: in a movement context right now. I think that our 242 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: opposition is coming so hard for exactly the reason you said, 243 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 1: we are making too much progress, that the light is 244 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: shining too bright at the end of that tunnel. And 245 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 1: so the only thing they can do is to create 246 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:21,679 Speaker 1: narratives that strip us of our humanity, make people afraid. 247 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 1: You got to make people fear us to try to 248 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 1: gain any traction. And you know there have been casualties, right, 249 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: that's undeniable, and there will be more casualties. We're seeing 250 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:43,920 Speaker 1: it across the country and we're already winning. We're gonna win. 251 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 1: This is exactly the reason we have to push harder. 252 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 1: We have to make deeper connections, we have to invest 253 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 1: even more in our communities, engage our elders and young 254 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: people in this fight in an authentic way, because because 255 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 1: it is they're feeling the pressure, they're feeling the winds 256 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 1: and the power and that we're exhibiting. And that's my thing, 257 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:09,960 Speaker 1: is that I want to remind people of this. Right, 258 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:11,959 Speaker 1: And I love what your do list said. I love 259 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 1: I love that because I can envision it in this 260 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:19,400 Speaker 1: moment of we are in pain. So I want to 261 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:25,400 Speaker 1: acknowledge the fact that yes, right, like our community, right, 262 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: these layered and intersected communities that we are a part of, 263 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:34,160 Speaker 1: are feeling the most pain. Right, we are being forced 264 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:39,920 Speaker 1: to the brink of like our trauma, right of feeling 265 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: and living in fear, living looking behind our you know, 266 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:46,439 Speaker 1: looking over our shoulders, wondering whether or not we're going 267 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,199 Speaker 1: to lose our jobs, wondering whether or not we're going 268 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 1: to lose our homes. Right, what else is this Santa's 269 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:55,200 Speaker 1: gonna throw out every time my fucking phone dings. It's 270 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 1: some other piece of legislation that they're attacking, you know, 271 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 1: just right before it's now periods. So not only right, 272 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:10,719 Speaker 1: not only are people with uteruses you losing, yep, the 273 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:13,119 Speaker 1: ability to decide when, how, and if they want to 274 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:18,640 Speaker 1: have a child. But now we have legislation in the 275 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:24,399 Speaker 1: state of Florida that is about to muscle young girls 276 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 1: in school, muscle their teachers, muscle the administration from even 277 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: being able to talk about menstruation. Like what right in 278 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 1: the entirety? What in the back to the future? I 279 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: just you know what I'm saying. So when you see that, 280 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 1: because here are you come out of the abortion movement, 281 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 1: you come out of the reproductive movement as well, and 282 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: you see these things are so intertwined. What does coordinated 283 00:21:55,119 --> 00:22:02,640 Speaker 1: fight back look like? You know, our allies and friends 284 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:06,439 Speaker 1: at the state and local level have been saying this. 285 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 1: For a long time, the need to think locally right 286 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:16,880 Speaker 1: and at globally has been ever present, and it's even 287 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 1: more important now. I think in addition to thinking about 288 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:27,159 Speaker 1: how we're coordinating across movements or across issues or across constituencies, 289 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 1: we've also got to think about how we're coordinating cross borders. Right. 290 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 1: We've got to be thinking about how does what we 291 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:39,880 Speaker 1: do at the local level help give us an edge 292 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:42,119 Speaker 1: up in the in the change we're trying to make 293 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 1: at the state level, and you know, the change we're 294 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 1: trying to make at the state level federal level, and 295 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:50,120 Speaker 1: then vice versa, right in the other direction. These these 296 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:53,680 Speaker 1: things are ever connected, and I mean that's another way 297 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 1: we have to think differently, right, Like, we don't have 298 00:22:56,359 --> 00:23:00,240 Speaker 1: the luxury of only thinking about federal policy. We don't 299 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 1: have the luxury of only thinking about the state legislature. 300 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 1: We've got to be thinking about city policies, right, We've 301 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 1: got to be thinking about school board And again, we 302 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 1: each one of us can't do all of those things. 303 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: But how are we connecting through various tables right so 304 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 1: that we can be on a more coordinated front. And 305 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: we're in and if we can't align in an entire 306 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:29,159 Speaker 1: right strategic way. How can we work together not to 307 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:34,920 Speaker 1: do harm right along the way. I don't even know 308 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,440 Speaker 1: what doing no harm really looks like, because you see, 309 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 1: what I feel like the right has always been better 310 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 1: at is their coordinated attack, because you see they have 311 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 1: a similar endgame. It is the destruction of equity, of justice, 312 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 1: of freedom, right like, that's their goal, is a white 313 00:23:55,280 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 1: crystal fascist country, Disneyland Right Florida is their petrie dish 314 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 1: for that. And we're seeing what that looks like. It 315 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:09,199 Speaker 1: looks like criminalizing people who transport undocumented people, whether that 316 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 1: be a family member or a colleague. It looks like 317 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:17,159 Speaker 1: no bodily autonomy. It looks like no conversation around bodily autonomy. 318 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:22,199 Speaker 1: It looks like targeting the press, targeting trans people. You know, 319 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 1: it looks like a police state. Right. But when we 320 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 1: look at these separate movements, do you think that we 321 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:35,240 Speaker 1: talk enough about what freedom looks like to all of us? 322 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 1: Do you think that we have a conversation about freedom, 323 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:44,360 Speaker 1: about love, about you know, our collective and shared purpose, 324 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 1: or we two divergent in our thinking about what I 325 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 1: got to do over here? For Repo writes what I 326 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:53,040 Speaker 1: got to do over here for trans writes, what I 327 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:56,120 Speaker 1: got to do over here for black liberation, etc. Etc. 328 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:01,240 Speaker 1: You know, we just had our Creating Change conference a 329 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: couple of weeks ago, and somebody said, one of the participants, 330 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,360 Speaker 1: you know, it's critical for us to be in our 331 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 1: constituent specific right groups and right and configurations. But what's 332 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: missing that we used to do better is come back 333 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: together to share and learn and debate and like and 334 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:27,639 Speaker 1: and create together. And I think that's that's the piece. 335 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 1: I think we've got to carve out that space again 336 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:35,679 Speaker 1: to be right in community. However, right folks want to 337 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:40,200 Speaker 1: you know, mobilize right within their constituency groups. But then, 338 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:42,880 Speaker 1: like you were saying, how do we come back together 339 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: so that all of the generative ideas, all of the strategies, 340 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: all of the new found solutions right, there's a place 341 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:54,959 Speaker 1: for all of that to come back for us to 342 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 1: chew on right together. I think I think that's critical. 343 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 1: But but I also would say, you know, I've heard 344 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:04,879 Speaker 1: folks say, you know, we need to take up a 345 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: piece out of you know, take a page out of 346 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:11,160 Speaker 1: the opposition's handbook, And I would I argue that it's 347 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 1: always been our handbook, right, Like, when you look at 348 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 1: the tactics they're using, they're hours like investing in young 349 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:23,440 Speaker 1: people's leadership, right like having a strategy to reach college students, 350 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:28,720 Speaker 1: community building right at the local and state level, engaging 351 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: in organizing faith communities. That's not theirs, that's ours. And 352 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 1: so it's also like, how do we do less of 353 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:42,400 Speaker 1: getting sucked into what they're doing. Not that I'm saying 354 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:44,680 Speaker 1: we don't, we shouldn't be aware, right, We've got to 355 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:47,360 Speaker 1: be right now. I get that, yes, But also how 356 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:51,879 Speaker 1: do we invest in the strategies and tactics that have 357 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 1: worked for us over the centuries, whether it was right 358 00:26:56,119 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 1: to vote, desegregation, owning land. You know, there are so 359 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:08,240 Speaker 1: many powerful transformational wins that progressive people have made along 360 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 1: the way that I think it's dangerous for us to 361 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:16,719 Speaker 1: forget right. That perspective is critical, especially in these times. 362 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 1: I can remember learning about the civil rights movement when 363 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:27,840 Speaker 1: I was in high school, and I remember because it 364 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: is pretty much what triggered my love of politics and 365 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 1: public service and wanting to be a part of the 366 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 1: group of people that believed in the possibility of perfecting 367 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 1: this union and I remember thinking to myself, and all 368 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 1: throughout my career have thought to myself, who would I 369 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: have been right in the nineteen fifties, nineteen sixties, nineteen seventies. 370 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:03,680 Speaker 1: Would I have been doing right? Because we all love 371 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 1: to say that we would be you know, we would 372 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 1: have been this and that and like bump bap up. 373 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: But there were people. There were black folks that were 374 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:13,359 Speaker 1: just trying to live, just trying to survive, right, that 375 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 1: didn't want to put their body, their life there anything 376 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:20,200 Speaker 1: on the line. And so here we are fast forward. 377 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:22,879 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that it's the same, but I'm saying 378 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:26,280 Speaker 1: that there is a fight. We are at war, right. 379 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:30,640 Speaker 1: We didn't declare it, but it is happening and unfolding. Yeah, 380 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,840 Speaker 1: and I find myself recognizing that, oh what would I 381 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 1: have been doing? I would have been a voice. I 382 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 1: would have used whatever platform I had, whether I was 383 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 1: writing in the you know, the black newspaper, getting on 384 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:46,120 Speaker 1: you know, black radio, or doing whatever like that. Is 385 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:48,200 Speaker 1: what I would have been doing. Is what I'm doing now. 386 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 1: How do you answer that question? Do you feel like 387 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:56,440 Speaker 1: you are doing now what you would have done? Then? 388 00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 1: Oh my god, I love this question. Um, dang okay. 389 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:13,280 Speaker 1: So I don't know what immediately came to mind, to 390 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 1: be honest, was I see myself helping run the underground. 391 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 1: So you know, every movement right has had an underground right, 392 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:33,400 Speaker 1: whether moving underground information or moving people to seek the 393 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 1: healthcare right, the abortions they need, or getting people from 394 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:43,720 Speaker 1: you know, slaveholders to freeland right, like I housing people, tracking, 395 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 1: getting people to places. There's something about that that just 396 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 1: feels that subversive, like like pulling the things up by 397 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:58,200 Speaker 1: the roots, like you have no idea where I'm at, 398 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 1: but it's but that's but that that's the I don't know. 399 00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:04,840 Speaker 1: It makes me really excited, and now it's making me 400 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: question what else I need to be doing that I'm 401 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 1: not doing right now? You know, less out front, But 402 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:13,800 Speaker 1: there are other things I could be doing behind the 403 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 1: scenes that maybe fewer people know about. I mean fair, 404 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:21,920 Speaker 1: you know I think that. And I pose this question 405 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:24,520 Speaker 1: to you all that are listening right now. Are you 406 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:26,720 Speaker 1: doing what it is that you believe that you would 407 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 1: have been doing right? Because this is our time, This 408 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 1: is our generations from generation Z on up. This is 409 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:38,400 Speaker 1: our time, and this is our moment. And Kiera, as 410 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 1: I close out I say this to you every time 411 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:43,160 Speaker 1: that you know I have the great pleasure of speaking 412 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 1: with you and having you on the show. It gives 413 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:48,080 Speaker 1: me great comfort at a time when there is not 414 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:51,040 Speaker 1: a lot that is comforting to know that you are 415 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 1: at the helm of one of the LGBTQ plus organizations 416 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:01,600 Speaker 1: that are fighting for policy that is just, that is 417 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:06,240 Speaker 1: fighting for a world, for a country that is more just, 418 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 1: where we are able as queer people to live fully 419 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:13,760 Speaker 1: in our skin. And so I just appreciate you and 420 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:16,120 Speaker 1: the work that you continue to do, the fight that 421 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:19,080 Speaker 1: you continue to have and wage, and just know that 422 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:21,920 Speaker 1: Woke a f and our audience is here for you 423 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 1: whenever you call on us. Ah, I adore you, I 424 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 1: love you. I'm so grateful for your voice. We need 425 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:35,000 Speaker 1: you now more than ever. And I'm so so excited 426 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 1: for you and all the things that you're doing. But 427 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 1: I'm excited for us in a movement that has your 428 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:49,480 Speaker 1: voice on the air. Wow. That is it for me today, 429 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:53,200 Speaker 1: dear friends on Woke f as always, Power to the 430 00:31:53,240 --> 00:31:56,520 Speaker 1: people and to all the people. Power, get woke and 431 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:57,920 Speaker 1: stay woke as fuck.