1 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to WOKF Daily with Meet 2 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:19,119 Speaker 1: your Girl Daniel Moody, recording from the Home Bunker. Folks, 3 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: how is this Pride season treating you? I'm really interested 4 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: in hearing from all of you who are a part 5 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: of the LGBTQ plus community and tell me how you 6 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: were feeling about Pride this year. As I stated at 7 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: the beginning of the month, WOKF is committed to our 8 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: theme this year of you Can't Ban Queer Joy, and 9 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: we've teamed up with Glad as well as some of 10 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: our friends at Outspoken at iHeartRadio in order to bring 11 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: you conversations that are really important. You see now that 12 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:57,279 Speaker 1: the LGBTQ community is in the headlines on a day 13 00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: to day basis, and it is for nothing that is good. 14 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: It is about all of the attacks and cruelty and 15 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 1: legislation that is being passed in this country every single day. 16 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 1: Right now, as I speak, over five hundred pieces of 17 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:17,639 Speaker 1: anti LGBTQ, anti trans legislation have been introduced. Of those, 18 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: seventy six have been signed into law. We are at 19 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: a really terrible place, and you know in the LGBTQ community, 20 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: like we are not strangers right to the ups and 21 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: downs of acceptance in this country. But these attacks that 22 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: we are seeing are like nothing that we've seen, probably 23 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: since the nineteen eighties, probably since this Saved the Children 24 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 1: campaign that labeled us at that time as all pedophiles 25 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: in groomers. You see that what is old becomes new 26 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: again under new Republican regime and new focus on hate 27 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: and cruelty instead of actually working on issues that the 28 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: American people care about, like you know, being able to 29 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 1: breathe air and go outside when it doesn't look like 30 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: the fucking you know, sunset on Mars, being able to 31 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: breathe clean air, drink clean water, you know, combating real 32 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: issues like not you know, sending our kids to school 33 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: and then having to pick them up in body bags, 34 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 1: or the unrelenting violence against black people in this country. 35 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: And you know, there are so many things that could 36 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: be tackled, so much attention could be put towards making 37 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:31,519 Speaker 1: our lives better, But instead the Republican Party and the 38 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: white Evangelical Christians are hell bent on making the lives 39 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 1: of LGBTQ plus people, but particularly our trans brothers and 40 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: sisters hell on Earth. And so I am very excited 41 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: to introduce today's conversation with Carmen Laurent, who is a 42 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: transactivist and is the host of the outspoken podcast Beauty Translated, 43 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: and in this conversation, and I'm excited about it because 44 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: we're doing a special crossover where Carmen is airing an 45 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: interview with me as a minisode on her show, and 46 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: I am airing my interview with her here on WOKF 47 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: Daily because I think that it is important again you 48 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: know that we are in community with one another, but 49 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 1: that we are really talking to people whose lived experiences 50 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 1: we may not understand or we may not really have 51 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: an idea of what is actually happening outside of the headlines, 52 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 1: and so it's important to get to a place of understanding. 53 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: You don't have to like me, but you're sure as 54 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: fucks should have to respect me. You sure as fuck 55 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: should have to respect and provide dignity. 56 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 2: Right. 57 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: If I give you the tools to be better, then 58 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: you shouldn't decide to kick over that toolbox or throw 59 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 1: them away, which is what the Republican Party is doing 60 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: with regard to the trans community. You don't have to 61 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: be in quote unquote solidarity with us or with the 62 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: community at large, but you sure as functions be standing 63 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: in people's way of being able to live their full 64 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: and complete lives. And so my conversation with Carmen, I think, 65 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: you know, brings to light a lot of the experiences 66 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: that she's had as a trans woman living in Georgia, 67 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:21,359 Speaker 1: living in Red States and what that has felt like 68 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: and what that looks like in real time, and also 69 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:29,119 Speaker 1: providing solutions on how to be better allies, both those 70 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: that are in the LGBTQ plus community and those outside 71 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:36,039 Speaker 1: of the community. So I really hope that you all 72 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:40,039 Speaker 1: enjoy this conversation, leave comments, and do make sure to 73 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: head over to Beauty Translated and listen to Carmen interviewing 74 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: me as well. Both of these episodes are up now, folks. 75 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 1: I am very excited to kick off this Pride Month 76 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: with a fellow I Heart podcaster, Carmen Laurent, who is 77 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: the host of Beauty Translated and is skin therapist, wonderful 78 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:17,480 Speaker 1: trans woman and the podcast go focuses on the trans 79 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: experience in the Southeast United States, and Carmen, welcome, thank 80 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: you to the show, and tell us a bit more 81 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: about Beauty Translated and why you started this fabulous pod. 82 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 2: Well, first of all, thank you for having me, and 83 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:39,479 Speaker 2: you know, just to just to talk a little bit 84 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:43,359 Speaker 2: about beauty translated. I obviously I was selected, you know, 85 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:45,280 Speaker 2: I was selected by the Next Up program, which I'm 86 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 2: very honored to have been selected by. They chose my 87 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 2: pitch out of all the other pitches to be a 88 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 2: part of the program, or out of the mini pitches 89 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:58,359 Speaker 2: and everything, and the podcast is basically, uh, you know, 90 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 2: I didn't have an idea of what exactly I wanted 91 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 2: to create when I started the program, but through all 92 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 2: of the coaching and the lessons that we had, I 93 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 2: really started to develop my direction. And I was really 94 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 2: listening to the advice of my mentors and my peers, 95 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 2: and that was just being as true to myself as 96 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 2: I could possibly be, because I turns out people really 97 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 2: like it when you are just authentically yourself. Yes, And 98 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 2: so you know, I started thinking about I started thinking 99 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 2: about the things that make me who I am. And 100 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 2: one of the things that is a part of who 101 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 2: I am is that I'm born and raised in the 102 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 2: South and I've never actually in my life lived anywhere else. 103 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 2: So oh, it's kind of borne out of that, like 104 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 2: kind of limited perspective of what you know, what all 105 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 2: is out there, and just to remind people that trans 106 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 2: and queer people exist in all places, not east in 107 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 2: large metropolitan cities. And you know, even with season two, 108 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 2: I have moved moved on from you know, the Southeast, 109 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 2: and I'm even talking to people that are in rural 110 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 2: more rural areas that are you know, outside of the 111 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 2: Southeast as well, And so yeah, I'm really just trying 112 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 2: to get as many different perspectives as I can, and 113 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 2: I love to just let my guests speak authentically about 114 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 2: what they're what they're experiencing. So that's what the show's 115 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 2: all about. 116 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: That's wonderful. And I think that you know, I know 117 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: that you've said that you've since moved on from just 118 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 1: the geographical focus and have branched out, but you know, 119 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: I do want to give you an opportunity to speak 120 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 1: on you know, what it is like, right because for 121 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: many people I think that listen to wok F have 122 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: a different idea about what it means to be queer 123 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: where queer people exist, even though we say queer people 124 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: and trance people are everywhere right in rural places, in 125 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: cities and suburbs, what have you. But in a lot 126 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 1: of ways, the Republican Party and conservatives have made it 127 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: so that, you know, we only exist in these you know, uh, 128 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: devil bastions of blue cities that are running up with 129 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: crime and all of these things. And so can you 130 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: talk about what your experience has been like living in 131 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: the Southeast as a trans woman, as a queer person 132 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: and how that may be different from other people that 133 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: you talk to and have interviewed who live in uh, 134 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 1: who live in other geographical areas. 135 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 2: There's a lot of differences. I mean, the first and 136 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 2: foremost is, you know, we live in places that are 137 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 2: actively legislating against us at the moment. You know. That's yeah, 138 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 2: that's one thing. But surprisingly, in my experience, you know, 139 00:08:58,440 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 2: just in all of the years I've lived here, in 140 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 2: all of the years I've lived as a trans woman, 141 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 2: the the it's surprising, you know, I think the right 142 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 2: will have you think that, you know, like you said 143 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 2: that cities are these horrible places with crime and gay 144 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 2: people and whatever whatever is going on, and uh, that 145 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 2: we don't exist outside of outside of those areas. But 146 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 2: in reality, most people that I encounter in my day 147 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 2: to day life are happy. You know to to meet me, 148 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 2: They're usually not rude to me. And that being said, 149 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 2: I'm far into my transition now many people may not 150 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,439 Speaker 2: even recognize the fact that I'm that I'm trans when 151 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 2: I'm meeting them. But early on, you know, I faced 152 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 2: a lot of issues in school. I faced a lot 153 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 2: of issues with uh, you know, authority figures so to speak, 154 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 2: in school that wanted to essentially, you know, force me 155 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 2: to live as male. And so I will say it's 156 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 2: gotten a lot better since I left high school. You know, 157 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 2: shortly after I left high school, Obama signed the or 158 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 2: the memo he released on transgender students and used in 159 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 2: the bathroom, and that made me cry, you know, just 160 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 2: because finally somebody in an official capacity was acknowledging the 161 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 2: experience that I had gone through and I'd been suspended 162 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 2: over and over and over again from schools just for 163 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:22,319 Speaker 2: needing to go to the bathroom. So it's gotten better. 164 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 2: But in a lot of ways, I feel as though 165 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 2: with this current wave of anti trans legislation that we're 166 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:37,679 Speaker 2: all living through, I think it has increased the publics, 167 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 2: you know, disdain for queer people, and so I often, 168 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 2: you know, I have a little dog, you know, I 169 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:50,199 Speaker 2: have a little puppy that people are very excited to see. 170 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 2: I'm always nervous, you know, when it's kids and stuff 171 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 2: like that, because the second somebody recognizes that I'm trans 172 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 2: and they're talking to my to their kid is talking 173 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 2: to my dog, you know, am I going to be 174 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 2: you know, targeted as a quote unquote groomer or whatever. 175 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 2: So it's it's very you know, uh, you just take 176 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 2: it day by day. 177 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, I've been talking a lot about, you know, the 178 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: fact that there are human beings that are behind the 179 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: headlines that I cover on a regular basis. Right, all 180 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 1: of the terrible things that Ronda Santis is doing in Florida, 181 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 1: what is happening in Texas, What is happening in Alabama 182 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:37,719 Speaker 1: and Mississippi and Tennessee and all of these you know, 183 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: red states, And I feel like people become really detached 184 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:47,199 Speaker 1: from the fact that whenever when they continue to see 185 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: that there is a bathroom band, when they consider to 186 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 1: see that there's a book band, when they are seeing 187 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: that there are no more safe stickers right that were 188 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: once in schools and on classroom doors that would let 189 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: a queer youth know that this this space, this teacher, 190 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 1: this administrator is safe that when those things are removed, 191 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 1: you're creating such a hostile, terrifying environment. And so, you know, 192 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: Carmen as somebody who is living inside of a state 193 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: that is actively legislating, you know, against against you against 194 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 1: and it's particularly yes, it is the LGBTQ community at large, 195 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 1: but is specifically it is specifically targeting at trans people 196 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: and trans youth. You know, how do you maintain your 197 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:49,479 Speaker 1: mental and emotional well being and how do you express 198 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:54,079 Speaker 1: to others that this isn't just another piece of legislation, 199 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 1: that this is really about right your ability to exist 200 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 1: as a full and complete human being and citizen. 201 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:06,560 Speaker 2: Part of that is just connecting with people, hopefully even 202 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 2: through my podcast that learn about the experiences that we 203 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 2: have and learn that, you know, we are real people 204 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 2: who need this type of care in order to you know, 205 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 2: live our full, happy lives. And if we don't have 206 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 2: access to that, you know, we're no longer being welcomed 207 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 2: where we are. And so I know a lot of 208 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 2: fellow you know, queer people from here in the South, 209 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 2: and I want to acknowledge also that Atlanta is relatively 210 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 2: liberal compared to the rest of the South, you know, 211 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 2: and so I have it pretty easy, you know, compared 212 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 2: to somebody who say lives in like Minnesota or I'm sorry, 213 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 2: Minnesota is a good state. Sorry Missouri the other in state. 214 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:55,679 Speaker 2: If somebody lives in Missouri, then you know, yeah, I 215 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 2: have it a lot better. But people are looking at 216 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 2: fleeing their homes now because we're feeling more and more 217 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 2: like the writings on the wall that were that we're 218 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 2: not welcomed here. And I just think more people who 219 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 2: are our cis need to I need to see that 220 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 2: and recognize that we're under attack and we're feeling threatened 221 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 2: and we don't feel safe in our own homes anymore. 222 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 2: And nobody should have to go through that, you know. 223 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 2: I mean nobody should have to consider, oh, well, I'm 224 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 2: going to have to uproot my life and relocate. Because 225 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 2: the honest truth is is that the majority of people 226 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 2: who are going to be the most affected by these 227 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 2: things can't uproot themselves and leave. They are stuck here. So, 228 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 2: you know, I try to use my voice as much 229 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 2: as I can with the podcast, and you know, I 230 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 2: do a weekly news I do a weekly news episode. 231 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 2: I could do a daily news episode just because there's 232 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 2: so much going on, but I have to keep it 233 00:14:56,000 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 2: till weekly because it really does exhaust me keeping up 234 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 2: with all of the anti trans news that's going on. 235 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm already keeping up with all the other 236 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 2: crazy news that's going on, plus adding in this wave 237 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 2: of anti trans stuff, and it's yeah, it's not looking great. 238 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 2: And I personally, you know, talking about Rhondasantis, I think 239 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 2: that twenty twenty four is going to be a hard 240 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 2: time for all of us trans people, queer people, because 241 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 2: we are going to be the only, the only thing 242 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 2: that the Republican Party has to run off of in 243 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 2: this next presidential campaign. It's all going to be fear 244 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 2: mongering about, you know, the LGBTQ community. And I just 245 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 2: have to say, you know, what gets me through it 246 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 2: is looking to my elders and looking to the people 247 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 2: who have been through worse than this, and that paved 248 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 2: the way for us. So when I look at you 249 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 2: know what a lot of the elders have to say, 250 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 2: you know, they tell us that it's been a lot 251 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 2: worse and we're going to be okay. And so I 252 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 2: I appreciate my elders and moments like these. 253 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 1: And I think that that is so important because I 254 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 1: worry so much for trans youth. I am like really concerned. 255 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: You know, A couple of years ago, right the campaign 256 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 1: came out it gets better told, you know, we all 257 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: did like little videos I did I did, you know, 258 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: a couple and interviews of you know, trying to as 259 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: you know, as a as a as a black queer woman, 260 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: you know who's systs, but trying to use my experience 261 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 1: of you know, living at the intersection of multiple identities 262 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 1: to say like, look, you can work in government, be 263 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: on TV, do these you know, have these jobs. Like 264 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 1: it's your world is bigger than people around you are 265 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: trying to, you know, squeeze you into these boxes and 266 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:06,400 Speaker 1: squeeze you and bully you into not wanting to exist. Right. 267 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:11,679 Speaker 1: But now, you know, fast forward, it's just been a 268 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: handful of years since that campaign originated, and I can't 269 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 1: honestly say that things get better because that's not how 270 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 1: it feels. Yeah, right, And so you know, how what 271 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 1: kind of support can people provide who even are both 272 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: inside of the community and outside of the community to 273 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 1: youth specifically, you know, who don't have the recourse because 274 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:47,680 Speaker 1: they don't have the vote, they're not old enough yet, right, 275 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 1: and they don't have a voice, and so we must 276 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 1: then be their voice. 277 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I say that Really, the best I think the 278 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 2: best tool for somebody to be an alli asi is 279 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 2: per to be an ally for trans people is to 280 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:07,199 Speaker 2: really educate yourselves on the misinformation that's that's going around. 281 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 2: And so a lot of the misinformation regarding trans youth, 282 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 2: and I speak as somebody who was at trans youth, 283 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,640 Speaker 2: a lot of the misinformation regarding trans youth is very 284 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 2: to the average person, it's very vague, you know, we 285 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:24,160 Speaker 2: even you know, a couple of weeks ago, I saw 286 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 2: a news clip of It'll come to me who it was. 287 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 2: But they were talking on the news like asking another 288 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 2: trans when what is gender affirming care? Because they keep 289 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,399 Speaker 2: talking about gender affirming care and they don't actually know 290 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:41,640 Speaker 2: what gender affirming care is. And the reality is that 291 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:45,440 Speaker 2: for trans youth, the majority of gender affirming care that 292 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,199 Speaker 2: takes place is not medical. The majority of it that 293 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 2: takes place is going to be social, which is like 294 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 2: you know, changing clothes, hair pronouns, things like that, not 295 00:18:55,640 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 2: necessarily you know, you know, going and chopping boy. You know, 296 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 2: they like to say mutilation and stuff like that. Those 297 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:06,880 Speaker 2: kinds of words are all like you know, red flags. Obviously, 298 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,360 Speaker 2: if somebody is you know, using any type of word 299 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 2: like mutilation or anything like that to describe the trans experience, 300 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 2: be prepared for a lot of misinformation. Because we don't 301 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 2: talk about people having c sections as mutilation. We don't 302 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:23,880 Speaker 2: talk about teenage girls having breast and plants and nose 303 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 2: shops as mutilation. But when it comes to trans people, 304 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 2: it's it's it's painted in this very dehumanizing light. And 305 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 2: I'd like to also point out the biggest straw man 306 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:38,120 Speaker 2: argument with all of or I think with all of this, 307 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 2: is when you bring up intersex children into the picture. 308 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 2: Intersex children are born with genitals that do not match 309 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 2: the you know, either male or female sex characteristics, so 310 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 2: the doctor decides for them right then and there whether 311 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:57,440 Speaker 2: they're going to be a male or a female for 312 00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 2: the rest of their life. And it turns out that 313 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,400 Speaker 2: lots of intersex children that have under that have been 314 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 2: forced into these you know, operations, have ended up growing 315 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 2: up and not identifying with the gender that the doctor 316 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 2: assigned them with. But nobody cares about about that conversation 317 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:19,640 Speaker 2: about mutilation quote unquote mutilation when it comes to intersex children. 318 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 2: And you know, that's just another another interesting thing that 319 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:28,920 Speaker 2: I notice a lot in these conversations. 320 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 1: You know, one of the things that I also find 321 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:35,359 Speaker 1: really troubling is this idea that young people shouldn't have 322 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: any agency over their bodily autonomy. Right that we're we're 323 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: seeing legislation, you know, hundreds of bills, as we've covered 324 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: on this show have been passed, but particularly around denying 325 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 1: the access to hormones until you're eighteen, right until until 326 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 1: you're eighteen years old? Can you speak to why that 327 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 1: one is problematic? Right, if you're choosing to take hormones, 328 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 1: why pushing that off in terms of age is a problem. 329 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:12,399 Speaker 1: And also too, just speak to the lack of agency 330 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 1: that we you know, that one we give people just 331 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 1: in general, those with wombs, particularly in this country, don't 332 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: have any agency over their bodies anymore in a lot 333 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 1: of these red states. But why that is important for 334 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 1: young people to have that agency? Well? 335 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:30,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think young people we realize who we are 336 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 2: at much younger ages than adults. The adults around us 337 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:38,560 Speaker 2: think we do. You know, I remember realizing that I 338 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 2: was a girl when I was around seven or eight 339 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:43,679 Speaker 2: years old. My mother told me it was just a 340 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 2: phase and that it would go away. And by the 341 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 2: time I was experiencing puberty, I was having one of 342 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:54,440 Speaker 2: the first traumatic experiences of my life. And it was 343 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:58,159 Speaker 2: a very long drawn out experience to be forced to 344 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 2: experience a male puberty until I was, you know, eighteen 345 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 2: years old. 346 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 3: And so. 347 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 2: You know, it causes a lot of It causes, you know, 348 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 2: a lot of issues. And I don't necessarily think it 349 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:15,720 Speaker 2: depends on how you look at it, you know, through 350 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:22,160 Speaker 2: a positive lens, like I don't necessarily think having masculine 351 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 2: features is anything to make you at all less of 352 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:30,360 Speaker 2: a woman. But the more you are stuck in that 353 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 2: male or female puberty, your body develops in that direction, 354 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 2: and then you already have a lot more work done 355 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 2: in order to reverse those changes. So if I had 356 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 2: started hormones, say when I was like fifteen or sixteen, 357 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 2: I probably wouldn't needed to have under I mean, I'm 358 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 2: still undergoing laser hair removal and electrolysis on my face. 359 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 2: Wouldn't have had to deal with all of that, wouldn't 360 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 2: have to shape my face every day like I still do, 361 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 2: and I wouldn't need to, you know, save up for 362 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 2: facial feminization surge. You know, uh, you know, all of 363 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 2: those secondary sex characteristics would have been put to a halt, 364 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 2: which would have saved me a lot of you know, 365 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 2: time and money as an adult. And what a lot 366 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 2: of people don't realize is like most people my age 367 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 2: are buying houses. I mean maybe maybe not. 368 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:21,880 Speaker 3: Like houses in this economy, not in this economy, yeah exactly, 369 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 3: but like most people in my at my age, I'm thirty, 370 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 3: are you know, looking at settling down and establishing their 371 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 3: lives and all of that. 372 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:32,680 Speaker 2: And what they don't realize is that the majority of 373 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:36,919 Speaker 2: trans people, even those of us that have been transitioning 374 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:40,399 Speaker 2: since we were teens, unless we had like super supportive parents, 375 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:45,200 Speaker 2: which I did not, then you're having to focus on 376 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:49,199 Speaker 2: all of those things first. And now I you know, 377 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 2: I've put I've put off so many priorities. I've put 378 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:54,719 Speaker 2: off buying a car so that I could afford to 379 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 2: have surgery, because you know, it's more important to me 380 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:01,160 Speaker 2: to be able to to feel comfortable in my own 381 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:03,879 Speaker 2: body than to be able to even go in my 382 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:06,119 Speaker 2: car whenever I want, you know, get in my car 383 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 2: and go somewhere. 384 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, I appreciate that because I think that I don't 385 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 1: feel like enough people, particularly those that are on media right, 386 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:18,680 Speaker 1: those that have have microphones like the two of us, 387 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 1: do really are sharing the narrative in a holistic and 388 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: real way that people can understand and are just throwing 389 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:35,400 Speaker 1: around words without necessarily connecting them to meaning and connecting 390 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 1: them to real people's stories. So when I think about, 391 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:42,919 Speaker 1: you know, the conversation around gender affirming care and a 392 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:45,640 Speaker 1: majority of people having no idea what that means, right, 393 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 1: And when I think about you know, talking about hormones 394 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 1: and denying people and mutilation and all of you know, 395 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 1: it's just this hodgepodge of words and you're not attaching 396 00:24:56,600 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 1: real people and the day to day lived experience. So 397 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 1: my last question for you, Carmen is you know, what 398 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:14,200 Speaker 1: is it that needs to change in our responses to 399 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:20,480 Speaker 1: disrupt the mainstream media's miscommunication? Like what needs to be 400 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: the shift? You know, it has been that politicians on 401 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 1: you know, the side of progress Democrats have not wanted 402 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:33,879 Speaker 1: to engage in the culture. We're not engaging in the 403 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:38,719 Speaker 1: culture wars, right, We're above that. And they've allowed the 404 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 1: right to clearly run amock and lead the narrative right 405 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:47,240 Speaker 1: that now you're being forced to defend. So what is 406 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 1: it that needs to shift? 407 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 2: You think, Well, that's a great question, and I've been 408 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 2: thinking about that a lot lately because what I think 409 00:25:54,760 --> 00:26:01,119 Speaker 2: I see happening so much lately is we're please with 410 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 2: these hateful people to see us as human, you know, 411 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 2: we're pleading for these people to recognize our humanity and 412 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 2: our right to exist. And I think we really have 413 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 2: to stop being so respectful, you know, and stop being 414 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 2: so polite, and stop being so you know, like you said, 415 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 2: not wanting to engage in that, because the reality is 416 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:33,640 Speaker 2: is we're expecting the Republican Party to play by the 417 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 2: rules that the Democratic Party is playing by. They don't 418 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 2: play by those rules now, and we have to really, 419 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:41,639 Speaker 2: I mean, we have to really step it up in 420 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:45,240 Speaker 2: terms of just our response because I feel like as 421 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 2: a community, we're pleading for our right to exist, but 422 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 2: we really need to say we are here and we're 423 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:54,200 Speaker 2: not going away, and we need to stop I think, 424 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:57,879 Speaker 2: begging these people to recognize our humanity. I don't know 425 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:01,439 Speaker 2: if that's quite a solution, but I think if we 426 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:05,919 Speaker 2: can be just a little more, I don't know how 427 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:09,159 Speaker 2: to say, like I guess aggressive however, you whatever the 428 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:11,200 Speaker 2: word is that I'm looking for, but just a little 429 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 2: more forceful with what we're going through, I think we'll 430 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:21,680 Speaker 2: see a lot more success. I don't know, but that's 431 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 2: just me. Yeah, no, And I agree. 432 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:27,400 Speaker 1: I agree with the fact that, you know, we are 433 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 1: assuming that people have a moral compass, We're assuming that 434 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 1: we can make pleas to people's hearts and minds. And 435 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 1: I say, you know, you can't shame the devil. So 436 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 1: at some point in time you have to change tactics. 437 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 1: It's you want to see a different result. 438 00:27:46,560 --> 00:27:50,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, you can't. You can't negotiate or compromise with fascists, 439 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:55,159 Speaker 2: you know you can't. And so the response has to 440 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 2: be a little bit more aggressive, I think, in order 441 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 2: to show that, like we really we were really dealing 442 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 2: with not just a difference in opinion. We're dealing with 443 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:08,840 Speaker 2: a difference in our right, you know, our opinion and 444 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:11,719 Speaker 2: our right to exist, which is totally different than than 445 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:15,000 Speaker 2: an opinion, you know, and should not be up for debate, 446 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:16,920 Speaker 2: exactly exactly. 447 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:20,119 Speaker 1: Carmen, tell people how to find you and to find 448 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 1: beauty translated. 449 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:26,879 Speaker 2: You can find me on Instagram where I am, Uh, 450 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 2: you know, I post memes all day long. You can 451 00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:34,640 Speaker 2: find me on Instagram at the Carmen Laurent that's Lauren 452 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 2: with a tea at the end. And you can listen 453 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 2: to Beauty Translated wherever you get your podcasts on the 454 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 2: Outspoken Network, So check out Beauty Translated. 455 00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for making the time for WOKF. 456 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:51,720 Speaker 2: We really appreciate you. I really appreciate it. Thanks for 457 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 2: having me, Danielle. 458 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 1: That is it for me today, dear friends. Woke a 459 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 1: up as always, Power to the people and to all 460 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:08,120 Speaker 1: the people. Power, get woke and stay woke as fuck.