1 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to look f Daily with 2 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:19,479 Speaker 1: me your Girl, Daniel Moody pre recording from the Home Bunker. Folks, 3 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: you know, during this Pride month, I think that it's 4 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: really important one to have conversations about the origination right 5 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: of pride, being a riot, being a pushing back against 6 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: police brutality against LGBTQ plus community, but particularly black trans women. 7 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: And I oftentimes give you the headlines, right we delve 8 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: into the headlines which are heartbreaking, which are traumatic, and 9 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: so it is my hope that during this month of Pride, 10 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 1: that we're also having conversations about joy, which is why 11 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 1: we named and themed along with our friends at GLAD 12 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: the theme of Pride for WOK at this you can't 13 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 1: ban queer joy, and so I'm really excited to bring 14 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: to you this conversation today with kit Yan and Melissa Lee, 15 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: who are award winning queer Asian American musical theater writing 16 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: team based in New York, and they have been using 17 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: art and theater and musicals with their stories to talk 18 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: about the LGBTQ plus community, but through joy, through dance, 19 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: right through characters that have depth, and not through our 20 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: trauma and pain and So Kit and Melissa and I 21 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: get into a really great conversation on this episode about 22 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: the power of art, the necessity of joy as an 23 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: act and form of resistance, and talk about their musicals 24 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: and their work which is award winning and really just 25 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: joyful and exciting. So I hope that you all enjoy 26 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 1: this episode, folks. I am very excited to welcome to 27 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: wokef during our Pride coverage this month, Kit Yan and 28 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 1: Melissa Lee, who are award winning Queer Asian American musical 29 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 1: theater writing team based in New York City. They are 30 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: the winners of the twenty twenty two ASCAP Harold Adamson 31 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 1: Lyric Award twenty twenty two. In two thousand and seven, 32 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:50,399 Speaker 1: Jonathan Larson grants the twenty twenty one Club CLEBN Prize 33 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 1: and the twenty nineteen This Award, and have their first musical, Interstate, 34 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: won Best Lyrics at the twenty eighteen in New York 35 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: Music Festival, and their second musical, Misstep, was commissioned by 36 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: the Fifth Avenue Theater's Draft Program, received the twenty nineteen 37 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 1: Divese Award from the Brett Adams and Paul Rice Foundation. 38 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 1: So you all are just clearly badass, clearly, clearly everything 39 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 1: you both touch turns to gold. So let us open 40 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: up with talking about your work and why it's important 41 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: in each of the musicals that you have put out 42 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: to center the stories of queer folks and diverse people. 43 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,119 Speaker 2: First of all, it's an honor to be here. Thank 44 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 2: you so much for having us and Happy Pride, Happy Pride, 45 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 2: thank you, and we are super excited to chat with 46 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 2: you today about our musicals. I'll just maybe tell you 47 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 2: a little bit about them and then Melissa, please we 48 00:03:57,600 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 2: can talk a little bit about what they mean to us. Yeah, 49 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 2: let's see, we have two main musical projects. So the 50 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 2: kind of writing we do is we work in theater, 51 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 2: TV and film, and in musical theater specifically. We have 52 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 2: two musicals. One is called Interstate and it is a 53 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 2: semi autobiographical musical about two best friends that go on 54 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 2: the road, a transgender slam poet and a lesbian singer 55 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 2: songwriter who just want to share their art with the 56 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 2: country and along the way they inspire Henry, a sixteen 57 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 2: year old South Asian dacy transgender teenager in Kentucky whose family, 58 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:38,359 Speaker 2: community and church do not support him to go to 59 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 2: see a show of theirs, and that it's loosely based 60 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 2: on our own lives and journeys, because in two thousand 61 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 2: and eight we quit our jobs. We both were living 62 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 2: in Boston performing monthly at a queer Asian drag cabaret 63 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 2: bar variety show type thing. We quit our jobs. We 64 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 2: got on the road and we went and did what 65 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: the two characters in Interstate did. 66 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 1: Wow, oh way, I love this. 67 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 2: Okay. We were equipped with a Toyota Corolla Corolla, a 68 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 2: rice cooker, a hot water boiler, and a hot plate, 69 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,359 Speaker 2: and we just we went to about thirty four or 70 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 2: so states and performed at at venues like coffee shops, cafes, 71 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 2: open mics, and then San Francisco Pride was the West 72 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:33,119 Speaker 2: coast cap of our tour. 73 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: Amazing. So wait, let me so let me ask you 74 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 1: this during your the actual you know tour that you 75 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: guys were on and going into these different states, like 76 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 1: what were your like did you go into you know, 77 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 1: the Red States and like were you like how were 78 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:57,600 Speaker 1: you feeling coming in as you know, as the quote 79 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 1: unquote other Like what did you have concerns where their fears? 80 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 3: Like, yeah, that's such a great question. I think when 81 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 3: we left, we were pretty young, and we were like 82 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 3: kids said, we're both geminis, and we were like, let's 83 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 3: just go on tour and like share and like share 84 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 3: our music and and you know, try to I think 85 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 3: for us, you know, we you grew up in Hawaii 86 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 3: and we met in Boston and I grew up in Boston, 87 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 3: and we just wanted to break out of our bubble. 88 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,040 Speaker 3: We were like, we want to we know there's queer 89 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 3: people that look like us across the country, and we 90 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 3: want to find them. We want to go perform and 91 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 3: put together our own tour. So when we did it, 92 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 3: we weren't thinking about those things, to be totally honest, 93 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 3: I think we were just like, okay, like Ohio, like 94 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 3: you know, Cincinnati, like where is like the you know, 95 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 3: the queer youth. Whatever. We'll just play, We'll crash at 96 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 3: someone's house, you know, We'll we'll go to like a college, 97 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 3: you know, in Chicago. We went to Appleton, Wisconsin. We 98 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,600 Speaker 3: stayed at someone's house and we played at like Harmony Cafe, 99 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 3: which is just like a quick cafe there. And we 100 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 3: talked about this recently because we're doing a bunch of 101 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 3: rewrites on Interstate and we were actually saying, you know, 102 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 3: like we had a great time on the road, and 103 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 3: part part partly it was naive day, you know, part 104 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 3: right right right, we were having a good time. We 105 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 3: weren't paying attention to any of that, and partially you know, 106 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 3: sad to say, like the political climate has gotten much 107 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 3: worse now, like correct words now where if if we 108 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 3: were going on the road today, Again, we're older now, 109 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 3: so we're more mindful, but also I think we would 110 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 3: have been way more afraid. 111 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'd be a little more concerned just about our safety, 112 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 2: just because like I'm an openly transgender artist and and 113 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 2: we're both very openly queer. We write stories about queer 114 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 2: and transgender people of color, and our main characters are 115 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 2: often queer and more often transgender, and so we when 116 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 2: we used to go on the road, it was like 117 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 2: a really fun time. But that was like kind of 118 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: pre social media boom, and so it was two thousand 119 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,679 Speaker 2: and eight when we weren't as connected on the internet 120 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 2: as we are today. Yeah, people, we were doing a 121 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 2: lot of education in those days. I don't think we 122 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 2: largely have to explain transgender or queer to most people 123 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 2: we meet nowadays. In twenty twenty three. But back then 124 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 2: we identified in those ways and sort of went on 125 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 2: the road and figured it out collectively. I think I'm 126 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 2: not even gonna we didn't know what we were doing 127 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 2: back then. 128 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: But you know, I think that that is like I think, well, one, 129 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 1: that's the beauty of youth, right like this, you know, 130 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: the idea that like we can just do whatever we 131 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 1: want and do it right. And I think that that's 132 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: the beauty of being artists too. Is kind of is 133 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 1: the risk taking. Like you may not have seen it 134 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: as a risk, but like you're saying now, in reflection 135 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: and as you're doing these rewrites, you know, how would 136 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:53,599 Speaker 1: you move differently? The question that I have for the 137 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: both of you is, you know, from from two thousand 138 00:08:56,000 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: and eight right to twenty twenty three, as you just 139 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 1: alluded to, the country has seen a real regression in acceptance. 140 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: Right like two thousand and eight, we're welcoming and cheering 141 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: the first black president, you know, entering into the White House. 142 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:17,319 Speaker 1: We're thinking that America is quote unquote post racial. We're 143 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: thinking we are part of this you know, Obama coalition, 144 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: and look how diverse and open and welcoming, and we're 145 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 1: watching during this time, you know that the White House 146 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: would turn rainbow, same sex marriage would be past. The 147 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: conversations that were happening around the LGBTQ plus community were 148 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: largely positive. Right about the winds that were happening fast forward, 149 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:46,679 Speaker 1: we are so fucking far from that place, you know where. 150 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 1: And you said, KIT like that you don't feel like 151 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty three you have to necessarily explain transgender 152 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: and explain queer two people. But I'm like, we have 153 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: an entire right wing Republican party that is weaponizing people's ignorance, 154 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: is what I will say around the transgender community. So 155 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 1: how do you feel about while thirty percent of people 156 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 1: in America? And this I remember this because back in 157 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: the beginning of the two thousands, it was at eighteen percent. 158 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: Eighteen percent of Americans knew somebody that was transgender. 159 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 2: That number has. 160 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: Now a little more than doubled. Right in twenty twenty three, 161 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: it's about at thirty percent, But there are still seventy 162 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:45,199 Speaker 1: percent of the population that has never had any interaction 163 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: with or knows somebody that is trans So how does 164 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:52,319 Speaker 1: that land for you in terms of how you both 165 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:57,200 Speaker 1: try to create normal narrative normal you know, stories, comedies 166 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: and what have you. How does is what you're sharing 167 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 1: in your work educate and inform in a way to 168 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 1: kind of bring people along in this process of trying 169 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: to better understand and in your work you're actually able 170 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: to aid in using art and comedy and music to 171 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: be able to aid people in that learning. 172 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 2: Wow, you know what's so interesting? You have totally just 173 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 2: opened something in my mind about Interstate specifically and the 174 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 2: time period that it sits in, because that music call 175 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:36,079 Speaker 2: is a parallel journey. There is an older transgender person 176 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 2: who is based on me, the slam poet, going on 177 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:43,319 Speaker 2: tour to share his identity and figure out his identity 178 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 2: with the country. And then there's a teenager isolated in 179 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 2: a bedroom by themselves in the South who sees this 180 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 2: person and is figuring themselves out and is inspired by 181 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 2: seeing that art to go on a journey of their own. 182 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 2: And so that's making me think about the fact that 183 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 2: like two very separate things are happening in our art. 184 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:08,079 Speaker 2: We have never really set out to educate the general 185 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 2: public about any issues or identities, but we know that 186 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:17,079 Speaker 2: we have a responsibility as artists to people who hear 187 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 2: our work, even if we don't set out to do 188 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:23,439 Speaker 2: that necessarily. And so I think what's funny is in 189 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 2: Interstate that the Dash and Adrian, the main characters of 190 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 2: the show, they are going out to partially educate the 191 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 2: world slash share their art and open themselves up to 192 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 2: that kind of vulnerability. But our art, I think largely 193 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 2: sits in where Henry is, where it's like we're making 194 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 2: a lot of work that is sort of like for us, 195 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 2: by us, for us. Yeah, using our own language, using 196 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 2: our own culture, and exploring I guess like that through 197 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 2: our art. So I guess it's just makes me think 198 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 2: about in that show that whole thing's happening at the 199 00:12:57,800 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 2: same time. 200 00:12:58,240 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean there's a couple of things I think, 201 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 3: Like one Kit, when you said like, yeah, we didn't 202 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 3: go out to set out to educate, I actually find 203 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:06,560 Speaker 3: personally the best art is not the kind that people 204 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 3: go and set out to educate, right. The best kind 205 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 3: of art that actually ends up educating people is stuff 206 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 3: that doesn't explicitly do that, right, stuff that's just a 207 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 3: reflection of the stories or of our lives. Right. And 208 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 3: I think just to I think just say it, maybe 209 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 3: a different way that you had said it too, Kit, 210 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 3: is that like it's it's actually for us, our activism 211 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 3: is around, is around telling and uplifting the stories of 212 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 3: our communities. That is so needed. Like especially in the theater. 213 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:37,959 Speaker 3: You know, I think we do have some representation. When 214 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 3: I say we, I mean I'm really talking about trans 215 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 3: non binary folks. Uh who I'm sis so, but but yeah, 216 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 3: like I think like there's a lot more in in 217 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,959 Speaker 3: film and TV, and I think, like you know, theater, 218 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:52,199 Speaker 3: particular musical theater too is even more specific, is a 219 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 3: little bit behind. So so for us, like you know, 220 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 3: coming from a place of queer joy, coming from a 221 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 3: place of not trauma, not retelling stories that people have 222 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 3: already heard is really important. I think the more honest 223 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 3: we are about us and the stories we want to tell, 224 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 3: the more our communities will feel uplifted. 225 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 2: Totally. That's not to say I don't we don't respect education, lectures, book, 226 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 2: that sort of thing, but they all sort of work 227 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 2: together in a way. Like we as artists, we a 228 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 2: lot of times when we set out to create something, 229 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 2: we have more questions and answers. So when we're writing, 230 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 2: we're processing, like what's happening with the characters the story, 231 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 2: what's happening in the world around us. We're certainly not 232 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 2: immune to the state of the world when we're writing 233 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 2: as well, And that's all sort of like working together 234 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 2: as a vehicle for us to ask important questions about ourselves, 235 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 2: our community, and about where and the times we're living in. 236 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, I think that that's important. I just 237 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: want to touch upon what you said about about queer 238 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: joy because I do. I feel like it is so 239 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 1: necessary to have stories that are uplifting, that are funny, 240 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 1: that are you know, that are centered in the good 241 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: as opposed to the continued. And again this is not 242 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: to this is not to discredit those who create work 243 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: that is seeped in trauma right in order to show 244 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: society's impact right on individuals or on particular communities. But 245 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: there is something about I just you know, I sit 246 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: in misery all day. I followed the news on a 247 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: regular basis and have created a career around politics, and 248 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 1: so the opportunity to really see joy as part of 249 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: the resistance, right like the whole our whole mantra is 250 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: along with Glad's mantra, is that you can't ban queer joy. 251 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: You can ban all of these things, but that it's 252 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 1: important to show trans people, non binary people, queer people. 253 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: It's just people live in lives, dance, singing, you know, 254 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: carrying on. And I just, yeah, I I respect that 255 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: that that you said that, because I I do. I 256 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: think that if we just see trans people, particularly as 257 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: just the statistics of what's bad, right of of the 258 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 1: murder rate of suicide, if I'm only talking about that, 259 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: I still don't believe that I'm really talking about the 260 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 1: entirety of the experience. So how do you Yeah, so, 261 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: so how do you all see now? And you only 262 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 1: talked about your your your one place, so your your 263 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: one musical. So I want to give you the opportunity 264 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: to talk about this step. Let's talk about that, and 265 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: then I want to ask you a question about just 266 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 1: how we're moving, how we're how we can use art, musicals, plays, 267 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: theater as kind of escapism from the misery right now 268 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: and your and your thoughts around that. 269 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a perfect segue because talking about queer Joy. 270 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 3: Because the next musical that we've been working on is 271 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 3: called Misstep, and it's an eighties dance aerobics musical featuring 272 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 3: an all trans lead cast that is like in their thirties, forties, 273 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 3: fifties like, and it's like a twenty person dance cast. 274 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 3: And it's just it's truly is that. And the show 275 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:27,639 Speaker 3: is essentially it's about Pam, who's like a middle aged 276 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 3: trans woman who works on the New Jersey Turnpike and 277 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 3: living a boring, happy life. She calls herself unremarkable and 278 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 3: essentially her her father, who's a strange of her, passes away. 279 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 3: She has to go home to deal with the funeral, 280 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 3: and when she gets back, she opens a box of 281 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 3: his stuff and realizes that he was an aspiring aerobics competitor, 282 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 3: aspiring champion and never got to compete. And so, in 283 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:54,439 Speaker 3: in order to an effort to get to know the 284 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 3: man that she never knew, she assembles a ragtag group 285 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 3: of trans friends to try to compete in the regional competition. 286 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:03,480 Speaker 3: And so, you know, I think, yeah, and I think 287 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 3: that's just been such a joyous project to work on, 288 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:09,479 Speaker 3: not just for us, you know, behind the you know 289 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,719 Speaker 3: and behind the stage, and also also the folks on 290 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 3: stage as well. Getting to embody characters that don't die, 291 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 3: you know, getting to body get that don't you know, 292 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 3: have you know all these other issues that they have. 293 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 2: In real life, Being trans is not part of the story. 294 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, and being trans is not the mate. It's not 295 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 3: something we shy away from. It's very explicit, but it's 296 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 3: also not really the driving story. 297 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 2: Right. Actually, I want to take that all the way 298 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 2: to the personal because I think that's really important and 299 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:40,160 Speaker 2: relevant to this discussion. Is the reason why we wrote 300 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,720 Speaker 2: the show is because Interstate is about eleven years in 301 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 2: the making. We have been working on that thing since 302 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:53,879 Speaker 2: twenty twelve. Yeah, and doing deep introspective, self reflective work, 303 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 2: thinking about our lives, thinking about the state of the country, 304 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 2: thinking about queer and trans young people, and really really 305 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:05,960 Speaker 2: diving into those kind of themes and questions. At some point, 306 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,119 Speaker 2: like you said earlier, Danielle, you need a You do 307 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:10,959 Speaker 2: need an escape, and you need a break from all 308 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:14,119 Speaker 2: of that stuff. So my escape when we started writing 309 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:18,239 Speaker 2: Misstep was I was going to step aerobics classes in 310 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 2: Long Island in the Export Fitness in the basement of 311 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:25,680 Speaker 2: the Roosevelt Field Mall. And so I was like in 312 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 2: this basement just doing step aerobics with like mostly women 313 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 2: who were significantly older than I. And that was the 314 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 2: first time in my entire life that I really felt 315 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 2: free in my body as a trans person. I was like, oh, 316 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 2: dancing is fun, Like I can dance too. I didn't 317 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,880 Speaker 2: really think I could dance before. I didn't really think 318 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 2: that movement was something for me. I don't do it well, 319 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 2: but I had a lot of fun doing it. And 320 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,440 Speaker 2: then and so I kept I kept sharing with Melissa 321 00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 2: this joy that I had found within my own body, 322 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 2: which was like, I love Stubb aerobics and it's so 323 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 2: fun and everyone should do this, which it's kind of 324 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:10,119 Speaker 2: a hard sell. It didn't really come back, but I 325 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 2: loved it. I loved it. I still love it, and 326 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 2: so that sort of led us to go down this 327 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:19,359 Speaker 2: path of writing this joyous musical centered around the body. 328 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 2: So in Misstep there are some very deep themes around 329 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:27,639 Speaker 2: bodies and being trands and women's bodies and impossible beauty 330 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:31,920 Speaker 2: standards that and trans people in sports, all of these 331 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 2: things that existed in the eighties and and now. There 332 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:38,959 Speaker 2: are very very big questions that we had, But the 333 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:44,640 Speaker 2: show itself answers those questions by asking, like, what if 334 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,879 Speaker 2: these this group of people went and found themselves by dancing. 335 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: I think that that's so interesting because I think, well, 336 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 1: I mean, I know, I'm assuming that you chose the 337 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: eighties because that's when step aerobics and like all of 338 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:59,439 Speaker 1: the video that the you know, the the VHS's and 339 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 1: all of those you know things, because I know that 340 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 1: my mother had a step, had a step in the 341 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 1: house and like had those videos. I remember doing like 342 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 1: wanting to be like earths and doing it as as 343 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 1: a little kid, and I you know, when I watch 344 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:16,919 Speaker 1: it now on TikTok videos of people like they're wild 345 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: with it, like it's you know, it's actually really cool 346 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:23,160 Speaker 1: to see the evolution. How do you see though, like 347 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 1: those the different discussions and themes that that you brought 348 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 1: up kit around you know, uh, body dysmorphia around you know, 349 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,640 Speaker 1: your feelings of being in your body as you're as 350 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:40,359 Speaker 1: you were writing this. Have we shifted in any way 351 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: in terms of how from the eighties, which you you 352 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:48,080 Speaker 1: know you case this in, have we shifted? Have we grown? 353 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: Do you think in our way of how we think 354 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 1: about the body, body images and feeling both for CIS folks, 355 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:01,119 Speaker 1: particularly women who have to meet these you know or 356 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: forced into these unrealistic beauty standards, but then also for 357 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 1: for trans folks. 358 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm not. I don't really know if I'm I'm 359 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:17,120 Speaker 2: having a hard time thinking about if and how things 360 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 2: have changed. I guess things are always changing throughout time. 361 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 2: When I think about like the impossible beauty standards of 362 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:32,640 Speaker 2: eighties aerobics, it doesn't feel too far from seeing, yeah, 363 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:36,480 Speaker 2: seeing people on TikTok and wanting to be like wondering 364 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:39,399 Speaker 2: how you can be like that, or seeing something on 365 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 2: TV and thinking like, oh, yeah, maybe I could be 366 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 2: that that movie star or something like that. But what 367 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 2: I will say that I have seen is like more 368 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 2: I think because of social media that still exists and 369 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 2: now there are lots of other people sharing their stories 370 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 2: and creating content, and that feels really important in terms 371 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:06,919 Speaker 2: of just thinking about like who I am and what 372 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 2: I who I could be. It's it's like really heartening 373 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,880 Speaker 2: for me to see lots of trans people on the Internet, 374 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 2: and people of different bodies and different ethnicities and abilities 375 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:24,359 Speaker 2: just sort of like sharing themselves and being seen. And 376 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 2: so I do think that they are certainly more examples 377 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 2: of people different kinds of people out there are. Is 378 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:40,680 Speaker 2: that translating into greater opportunities for stuff that we make 379 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 2: to be produced. That part is why I said I 380 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 2: don't know, yeah things have changed or not, Because, particularly 381 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:52,480 Speaker 2: in the theater, we write these kind of stories. We're 382 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 2: very true to that. It's a very difficult path. Creating 383 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 2: an original musical is probably the most difficult path in 384 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:03,120 Speaker 2: the theater you could take because it costs the most 385 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 2: amount of money. It takes a lot of people. You 386 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 2: have to sing, dance and act at the same time. 387 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 3: We're a very specific, trans specific casting yep too. 388 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:15,240 Speaker 2: And so has the world shifted so much so that 389 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:21,360 Speaker 2: we can see those stories on stage right now? No, 390 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 2: But last night at the Tony Awards, two Binery folks 391 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 2: Wantoni Awards, Alex Dwell and Jay Harrison. So I do 392 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 2: think that things are changing on stage behind the scenes, 393 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:43,719 Speaker 2: I haven't felt a giant leap from twenty twelve when 394 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 2: we started writing musicals together to now. Yeah. 395 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:51,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, that's interesting. I mean it's you know, on 396 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 1: one hand, hopeful right in terms of in terms of 397 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 1: the Tonies and that kind of representation. We see more 398 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:01,639 Speaker 1: representation I think in front of the screens right on 399 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: TV and in film, but it's you know, there's still 400 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 1: a lot of work to be done for those that get, 401 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 1: for those that have green lighting power, right, those that 402 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:17,120 Speaker 1: are the money people and seeing value in in quote 403 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 1: unquote non traditional stories. 404 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. What that says to me is that trans people 405 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:26,879 Speaker 2: can be seen as someone else, but not themselves. 406 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 1: Oh damn, Oh you said a mouthful there. Yeah, yeah, okay, 407 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:36,920 Speaker 1: last question for the for the both of you during 408 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: this during this Pride season, you know, what does Pride 409 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 1: mean for you at this at this time? How are 410 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 1: you showing up to Pride this year? 411 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:49,280 Speaker 2: Does Pride mean for me this season? 412 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:55,400 Speaker 3: I think, well, I don't know. Maybe you start first, 413 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 3: let me think about it a little bit. 414 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:01,280 Speaker 2: Okay. I am thirty nine years old. I just turned 415 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 2: thirty nine two years ago. 416 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 3: We are old gay. 417 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 2: Well, haven't gone to Pride in quite some time. Because 418 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 2: you need to prepare for Pride. You need to get 419 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:13,119 Speaker 2: a group together, or you could go by yourself. You 420 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 2: gotta get hydrated because you're in the sun all day. 421 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:18,360 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, get on the train and fight through the crowds. 422 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 3: There is actually a period of time where we stopped 423 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,159 Speaker 3: going to Pride because it was too capitalistic, and we 424 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:25,479 Speaker 3: just went camping with our gay group of friends, and 425 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 3: that's that's just as good of a pride for us, honestly. 426 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. So, actually, friends i'm thinking about, your question is 427 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:34,720 Speaker 2: so right on, because where you're catching us right now, 428 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 2: I'm going to just describe what we're doing right now. 429 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 2: I'm in Montreal with Melissa and where she. 430 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:43,360 Speaker 3: I'm turning forty on Saturday. 431 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:47,920 Speaker 2: Yes, it's celebrity, thank you. And so these two weeks 432 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:51,959 Speaker 2: we're both working on interstate and many friends are flying 433 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:54,960 Speaker 2: and driving in to celebrate. Yes, many queer friends are 434 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:58,639 Speaker 2: flying and driving in to celebrate Melissa's birthday. And it 435 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:02,359 Speaker 2: pride for me. I'll I will never disassociate that with 436 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:06,439 Speaker 2: being a riot, a protest fighting for our rights and 437 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 2: a movement led by trans women of color and black 438 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:13,959 Speaker 2: trans women, And I think about what they were fighting 439 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:16,719 Speaker 2: for or asking for. It's unfortunately not too different than 440 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:19,360 Speaker 2: the things we're asking for now, which is the ability 441 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:22,200 Speaker 2: to be yourself, the ability to live, body autonomy, basic 442 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:25,919 Speaker 2: human rights, a place to live, eat, sleep, be with 443 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:30,119 Speaker 2: your families. Like that stuff is what pride is about. 444 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:33,119 Speaker 2: To me, is for like it started as like a 445 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:35,920 Speaker 2: fight for those rights and freedoms. And so this week, 446 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:39,400 Speaker 2: as we're in Montreal, and we're just not necessarily going 447 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:44,480 Speaker 2: out to the nightclubs and stuff. It's celebrating at home, 448 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 2: barbecuing on the rooftop, making chocolate moose from scratch, teaching 449 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 2: each other how to do those things like that feels 450 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:58,359 Speaker 2: that kind of family, community, chosen, family building is that's 451 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:01,679 Speaker 2: the stuff that they were fighting for. And that's something 452 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:05,399 Speaker 2: that I certainly never want to stop celebrating. Is like, yeah, 453 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:07,280 Speaker 2: the families were creating during the season. 454 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 1: I love that. I love that. 455 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:09,720 Speaker 2: Yeah. 456 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:12,520 Speaker 3: And and and for me, I think, you know, I 457 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,480 Speaker 3: came out when I was eleven, so when I went 458 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 3: to Pride, I was like thirteen fourteen. This was in 459 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 3: the nineties. And yeah, and and what's interesting is that 460 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 3: now we've we've moved on to a phase where maybe 461 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 3: we don't go out and we and we you know, 462 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 3: hold the flags and do all that stuff. But what's 463 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:30,920 Speaker 3: Pride for me is actually little bit about a little 464 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 3: bit about hope. I think like what's inspiring is that 465 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 3: actually seeing younger people, you know, and people that were 466 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 3: like us when we were kids and we were in 467 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:41,480 Speaker 3: college and having all of that energy to like go 468 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:46,000 Speaker 3: and like you know, support and shout and protest, you know, 469 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 3: go to the Dike March, do all of that, and 470 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 3: so for me it actually is really hardening sometimes to 471 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 3: see the young folks come out and really yeah and 472 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 3: celebrate and bye for our rights. 473 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 2: When our friend group is having kids now, so we're 474 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 2: talking about bringing the in the newborns to Dike March 475 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:04,600 Speaker 2: and it is so full circle. 476 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I love that the both of you are fantastic. 477 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:13,120 Speaker 1: I could honestly talk to you forever. Thank you so 478 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:16,720 Speaker 1: much for making the time to join wok F kit 479 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: Yan and Melissa Lee, thank you so much, and thank 480 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 1: you for your work. And how can people just lastly, 481 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,160 Speaker 1: how can people follow you? How can they how can 482 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:28,000 Speaker 1: they get connected with the with the work that you're doing. 483 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 2: Let's see, we're on uh Instagram and we have websites. 484 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:38,480 Speaker 2: So my Instagram is at kit Yan Poet and then 485 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:41,720 Speaker 2: it's kit yanpoet dot com and we're we're about to 486 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 2: launch a joint site. Yeah. 487 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 3: Mine is Melissa Lee l I dot com uh, and 488 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 3: you can find me on Instagram anywhere at melsa boo. 489 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 3: And also you could find Interstate at Interstate musical dot 490 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 3: com as well as Misstep Misstep Musical dot com Oh that's. 491 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:58,160 Speaker 1: Right, awesome, Thank you both. 492 00:29:58,280 --> 00:30:01,120 Speaker 2: Happy pride to you. Oh, thank you, and thank you 493 00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:03,840 Speaker 2: for having us such a joy to chat with you. 494 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 2: You're so wonderful and smart and generous. 495 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: Thank you guys. That is it for me today. Dear 496 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 1: friends on woke app as always, power to the people 497 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:23,720 Speaker 1: and to all the people power, get woke and stay 498 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:24,680 Speaker 1: woke as fuck.