1 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to woka F Daily with 2 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: Meet your Girl Danielle Moody recording from the Fucking Toe 3 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: reconstruction Zone and the Brooklyn Bunker. Happy Pride, folks, it 4 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: is officially June. I myself cannot believe that we have 5 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: made it here as a country as a group, but 6 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 1: we are here and for this pride on woke F. 7 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 1: We are conjuring up the spirits of our LGBTQ ancestors 8 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,319 Speaker 1: and leaders, and we're going back to what the core 9 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: of pride has been and was born out of, which 10 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: is a riot. For many of you who listen to 11 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: me on a regular basis and have been listening to 12 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: and been a part of the woke a F community nation, 13 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: I want you to understand that when pride originated, as 14 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: some folks know, came out of the Stonewall riots. And 15 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: Stonewall is a bar located in New York City, in Manhattan, 16 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 1: in Chelsea, an area that during the time was very 17 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: much frequented by LGBTQ plus people. And what we have 18 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: always known is that the queer community has never been 19 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: accepted and embraced. It has always been the ire of police, politicians. 20 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: You name it, and how pride began was out of 21 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: a sense of exhaustion, out of a sense of you know, folks, 22 00:01:55,080 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: particularly black, queer, black trans women saying, like Marsha P. Johnson, 23 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: I've had enough. We've had a fucking enough of cops 24 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: coming into this bar, hustling us from money, you know, 25 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 1: beating us, and we do nothing because we are forced 26 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 1: to live in the shadows, in the margins. And what 27 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: the Stonewall riots did was bring to the consciousness the 28 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 1: forefront of the New York City community, of the state 29 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: of the city, how dismally, how poorly, how disgustingly the 30 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: LGBTQ plus community has been treated, and from their pride 31 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 1: birth itself into not so much of a riot, but 32 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: instead of celebration, an unapologetic celebration of who we are, 33 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: who we love, how we exist in a world that 34 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 1: believes in boxes. And if you can't fit into said box, 35 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 1: then you were cast aside, you were ostracized, you were 36 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: made to feel small and insignificant and worse, violated in 37 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 1: ways that no one, no person should experience. There have 38 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: been so many markers of violence, and there continue to 39 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 1: be markers of violence. Black trans women are killed at 40 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: an alarming rate, their identities, their existence thrown literally and 41 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: figuratively in the trash. It is through our quest for 42 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: liberation that isn't about assimilation into what it means to 43 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: exist in the heteronormative confines. And funny enough, I've been 44 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: having a lot of this conversation as a person who 45 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: is still relatively newly divorced but really operated inside of 46 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: this assimilation model. We'd us like you, right, is you 47 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: know what the queer community was forced to say in 48 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: order to be able to access the same rights and 49 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: privileges that our straight neighbors and friends and colleagues have, 50 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 1: is that to bring down the level of hysteria and 51 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 1: threat that our opposition has made it seem as if 52 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: we are in society a threat, something to be locked away, 53 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: to never be spoken of, to be beaten into submission, 54 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:43,559 Speaker 1: to be jailed, to be prosecuted. Is that we made 55 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: a campaign out of saying we're just like you. We 56 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,840 Speaker 1: want to get married, we want to have kids, we 57 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: want to live full and complete lives. But the reality 58 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: is is that, yeah, I want to live a full 59 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: and complete life, but what I deem as full and 60 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: complete may not be what full and complete looks like 61 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 1: for you. I don't have to want to get married 62 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: in order to be seen as a full and complete 63 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: citizen of these United States. I don't have to conform 64 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: right and fold myself in order to fit into what 65 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: other people's beliefs and desires are. And I have only recently, 66 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,599 Speaker 1: recently truly been able to really understand that because I 67 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:33,280 Speaker 1: spent a large part of my career in politics, in 68 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 1: movement work, particularly around LGBTQ politics, with trying to fit in. 69 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: I became one of the voices for marriage equality back 70 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 1: in the early two thousands because who was speaking out 71 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: at that time were white gay men, double income, no kids. 72 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: That's where that saying came from. White men. As we know, 73 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 1: right outside of orientation, our gender identity are the oppressor, 74 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 1: right hold all the mechanisms of power. So when you 75 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 1: had white gay men in the beginning of the two 76 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: thousands talking about their rights and what they're being denied, 77 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: you think that that was invoking empathy. It's surely the 78 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 1: fuck was not. So enter the voices of black queer 79 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: people like myself, who at the time were getting married 80 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: or were married, and so we were able to insert 81 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: a different perspective into the conversation about what discriminatory policies 82 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 1: due to already marginalized communities. But as I have moved 83 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:52,720 Speaker 1: through life and my own understanding of my identity how 84 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 1: I want to show up in the world, I realize 85 00:06:55,680 --> 00:07:00,239 Speaker 1: that assimilation is honestly what has been beat into us 86 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: since the beginning. When I talk about our public education 87 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 1: system being a product or a tool of white supremacy, 88 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: I mean that, and I mean that in all senses. 89 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: I also mean it in terms of patriarchy and how 90 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: we come to understand who is supposed to be raising 91 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,119 Speaker 1: their hand and who is supposed to sit quietly, who 92 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 1: was supposed to be playing with dolls and who's supposed 93 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: to be playing with trucks. Who can be the aggressor 94 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 1: and situation and who has to be the submissive. You 95 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: learn all of these roles through societal standards, and where 96 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: do we learn society standards through school? So it makes 97 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: sense then that the opposition, the Republican cult, would turn 98 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: once again to our education system as a way to 99 00:07:54,160 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: pose their will on already marginalized and oppressed peoples. The 100 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: don't say gay bills, the bathroom bills, they're all directed 101 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: at queer youth at a time when you are young 102 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: and trying to understand who you are in the world 103 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: outside of your parents, gays, and outside of society's desires. 104 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: So how are we setting up our young people, whether 105 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: they are queer or not, to be able to be 106 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: critical thinkers, global citizens to feel safe in their own skin, 107 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 1: which means that if you are safe in your own skin, 108 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: then you are able to tackle some of society and 109 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: the world's biggest problems. But if I'm so busy looking 110 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 1: over my shoulder, how can I see into the future, 111 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 1: How can I offer myself as a way of being 112 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: of service. So I've been thinking a lot as a 113 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:00,959 Speaker 1: person who has come from Even though I am black, 114 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: I am a woman, i am queer, I'm a child 115 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: of immigrants, I'm all of these things. I still have 116 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: points of privilege. I still grew up in a suburban 117 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: tree line street neighborhoods where I could walk to school 118 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,319 Speaker 1: and go to the pizza place and get a slice 119 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:23,119 Speaker 1: after school, where I played sports, where I had series 120 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 1: upon series of microaggressions but at the time didn't realize them. 121 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 1: It was upon reflection, but my orientation into the world 122 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 1: was important, which is why I feel like the way 123 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: that we treat our youth and how they show up 124 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: and how they are able to succeed is about our 125 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: own success as a country, as a people, and if 126 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 1: we're not nurturing our young people, whether they are queer 127 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: or straight, or non binary or somewhere on the spectrum, 128 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 1: that is about nurturing our own success. So this month, 129 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 1: during Pride Month, which also encapsulates June teenth, we were 130 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 1: going to tackle some of the biggest issues that are 131 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: facing the LGBTQ plus community, which are entwined with all 132 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: of the issues that we are all facing. But what 133 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 1: does it mean to face issues of voter suppression, of 134 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:27,560 Speaker 1: living in a time of a police state right where 135 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 1: you can be shot dead because you are black, because 136 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:36,559 Speaker 1: you were queer, because you exist at these overlapping intersections 137 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: of identity. So we're going to go throughout the weeks 138 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: of this month and talk to some of my friends, 139 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 1: some of my colleagues, people that I admire, whose work 140 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: that I cherish, to really get a better perspective of 141 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: who America is in this moment. For me, Pride over 142 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: the last decades plus has always been a celebration it's 143 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 1: when you get to dress up and go to the 144 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: marches and the parades and see old friends and dance 145 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: and literally be gay, be merry. But in the climate 146 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 1: that we are living in right now, I don't feel 147 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 1: that level of joy. I know that it is important, however, 148 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 1: I know that it is necessary. It is necessary now 149 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 1: for us to be unapologetic in the streets with our 150 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 1: glitter and our rainbows and our you know, bearing our 151 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 1: vulnerabilities to the world and saying you don't get to 152 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: box me, you don't get to judge me, you don't 153 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: get to define me. I get to define myself. And 154 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: so for us here on Woke f this month, Pride 155 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 1: is a riot. It has always been a riot. And 156 00:11:56,160 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: what are riots? They are the voices of the unheard, 157 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: those that have been invisibilized. Right, And so this month, 158 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: during this time, we are going to paint the picture 159 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 1: of who this community is, who I am, what we 160 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: are up against, but also what we are looking forward to. 161 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: It isn't all bad, right, but there are a lot 162 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 1: of bad things on the horizon and a lot of 163 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,839 Speaker 1: evils that we need to push back against. Coming up 164 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 1: in our first Pride conversation, is my friend, and you've 165 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 1: heard from him before, Preston Mitcham, who is the director 166 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 1: of Policy and government Affairs for the Trevor Project. The 167 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: Trevor Project is a national organization that works to prevent 168 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: LGBTQ suicides. You will hear in this conversation with my 169 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:03,439 Speaker 1: dear friend Preston about how the suicide rates among LGBTQ 170 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:09,320 Speaker 1: people and LGBTQ youth specifically are up. If you've listened 171 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 1: to the show over the past couple of months. I 172 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 1: also iterated that after I watched a special on sixty 173 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: Minutes which was just about youth across the board and 174 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: how youth are attempting suicides at higher rates than we 175 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 1: have ever seen and why is that? Because we are 176 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: all living in compounded trauma, living through compounded trauma. So, 177 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 1: if we're all struggling with a global health pandemic with 178 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: the rise of white supremacy, fascism, violence, and you are 179 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 1: also a queer youth, and you live in a state 180 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: where you're a you're governor like Rhonda Santis, Greg Abbott 181 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 1: and others are telling you that you are unworthy, that 182 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 1: your family should be criminalized for caring for you. How 183 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: are you seeing yourself? Years ago in the early aughts, 184 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 1: it was a campaign that was started called it Gets 185 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 1: Better because if you remember, in the early two thousands, 186 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 1: there were a rash of suicides ten year olds, twelve 187 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:27,479 Speaker 1: year olds, thirteen year olds who had been bullied relentlessly 188 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: and took their own lives because they couldn't envision a future. 189 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 1: We know that Republicans are trying to create an environment 190 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 1: where we don't see past our present misery, which is 191 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 1: why pride as a riot and pride as joy is 192 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: so incredibly important now more than ever, because the lives 193 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: of our youth, of our community is at stake. So 194 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: Preston will discuss with us the latest numbers, the latest 195 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: data points from the Trevor Project offer us opportunities to 196 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: engage and then talk about what we can each do 197 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 1: for our own self care. That conversation, dear friends, is 198 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 1: coming up next. Hey, I'm David. Plots of Slights Political Gabfest. 199 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: As another election season accelerates, it can be tricky to 200 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: sort through all the noise and the news. Each week 201 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 1: on the Gapfest, John Dickerson, Emily Bathlon and I decipher 202 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: the headlines, break down the races, and tell you what 203 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: issues really matter. We do not always agree, We definitely 204 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: do not always agree, but we always deliver thoughtful debate 205 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: and we always have a good time. So subscribe to 206 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: Slights Political Gapfest new episodes every Thursday. The Damage Report 207 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 1: with John Idarola is one of the most popular shows 208 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: on the TYT network that serves as your daily breakdown 209 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 1: of the genuine threat and challenges facing our country and world. 210 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 1: These days, we're confronted with an overwhelming sea of shocking, confounding, 211 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 1: and devastating news stories. The Damage Report is your life raft, 212 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: helping you navigate the day's news and understand the damage 213 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: caused by the corrupt establishment, politicians, corporations, and everything in between. 214 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 1: Join the Damage Reports notorious fan club, the Dragon Squad, 215 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: where you become part of the fantastic community of progressives, 216 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 1: create a fun dragon nickname that fits your personality, collaborate 217 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 1: and participate in fun activities like voting for the Garbage 218 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: Person of the Week, and much more. Listen to The 219 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: Damage Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get 220 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: your podcasts. If you like what you hear, be sure 221 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Folks I 222 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: am very excited to welcome back to Woke f Daily, 223 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: our friend, my friend over so many years. My god, 224 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 1: we won't even tell the kids. We just have good 225 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 1: skincare Preston Mitcham, who is the director of Advocacy and 226 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 1: Government Affairs at the Trevor Project. You know, the Trevor Project. 227 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: But I want to give Preston an opportunity before we 228 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:15,120 Speaker 1: even jump into this important conversation this Pride Month, presdon 229 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,679 Speaker 1: tell folks, remind folks what the Trevor Project is and 230 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 1: what the important work is that you all do. Yeah. 231 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 1: So I'm really excited to be here friend, and you know, 232 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: I'm really excited to represent the Trevor Project as well. 233 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 1: And we are the world's largest suicide prevention and mental 234 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 1: health organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer and 235 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: questioning youth. And we know because of all of the 236 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 1: unprecedented attacks, we know that we need organizations like the 237 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 1: Trevor Project which really are life saving tools and providing 238 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 1: resources and advocacy and education and public trainings to the 239 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: general public, to schools, among others on how to save 240 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:58,440 Speaker 1: LGBTQ youth lives. So, Preston, I mean I will say this. 241 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:01,640 Speaker 1: You know, you, like my self, have been an LGBTQ 242 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 1: plus advocate for ever at this at this point right 243 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 1: like we have for our entire careers. I think we 244 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:14,160 Speaker 1: have made it a point to always put our community upfront. 245 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:19,880 Speaker 1: Have you ever, in the course of your career, not 246 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:22,119 Speaker 1: just with the Trevor Project, but just in your career 247 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: in general, seen the types of unrelenting attacks against LGBTQ 248 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:31,159 Speaker 1: plus people that we have been seeing over the last 249 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 1: two years. Have you seen this before? I certainly have not, 250 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 1: and I think many others would agree with that. Of course, 251 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 1: we've certainly seen state based attacks through bills at the 252 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 1: state level, at the federal level as well, But right now, 253 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,680 Speaker 1: it's such an unprecedented number of attacks that are happening 254 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:55,680 Speaker 1: to LGBTQ people, especially LGBTQ young people. And not only 255 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 1: is it unprecedented, it's coordinated. So there seems to be 256 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:05,880 Speaker 1: a nationwide coordinated campaign by anti LGBTQ organizations and elected 257 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 1: officials seeking political gain admitted election year especially, and again, 258 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 1: what they're once again doing or treating one of the 259 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 1: most marginalized groups in our country, trans youth and non 260 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: binary youth, especially as a political wedge issue when they 261 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 1: are certainly not. You know it every week aside from 262 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 1: us dealing with the gun violence and gun massacres that 263 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: are many being done so at the hands of white 264 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: supremacists right with manifestos that purport their ideology. And part 265 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: of that ideology isn't just about their hatred towards black 266 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 1: folks right or people of color by the bipop community, 267 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:55,920 Speaker 1: it is also queer people. And we have seen through 268 00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 1: Tucker Carlson's many, many segments on Fox News, through Ron 269 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:05,120 Speaker 1: De Santis's statements as he is signing anti LGBTQ plus legislation, 270 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 1: that they are one and the same, right, that this 271 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 1: desire for white supremacy is at the hands of sis 272 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: white hetero men in this country. And so, what do 273 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:23,400 Speaker 1: you think or how can you tell us how these policies, 274 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 1: how this rhetoric that has now transformed into violence is 275 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:33,880 Speaker 1: affecting LGBTQ plus people. What has the Trevor Project been 276 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 1: able to uncover over the past couple of years in 277 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:42,280 Speaker 1: terms of where things are trending for the community. So 278 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: I'm glad we started there because the truth of the 279 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 1: matter is that this year we've seen a record number 280 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: of anti LGBTQ bills, and right now, I want to 281 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 1: be clear that we're at tracking more than two hundred 282 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: and forty bills that are sweeping the nation. It's a 283 00:20:56,280 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 1: broad wave of anti LGBTQ rhetoric that even targets trans 284 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 1: in our binary youth as Stata before. But also want 285 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 1: to be clear, it's it's to your point, it is 286 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: also things that expand the gamut. Right. So, of course 287 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: we do have these bills that you see the restrictability 288 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,640 Speaker 1: of trans folks to play sports, receive gender framing care, 289 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 1: access bathrooms, and really be representing classrooms, discussions, and curriculums. 290 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 1: But we also see many of these same bills discussing 291 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:29,959 Speaker 1: things like critical racing and other things that are related 292 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: to systemic racism too. And so that actually is backed 293 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 1: up by some of the data that we've seen in 294 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 1: so far as the people who we see are experiencing 295 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:42,880 Speaker 1: a lot of mental health challenges and negative mental health 296 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:47,120 Speaker 1: outcomes are LGBTQ people of color. So in early May, 297 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:50,360 Speaker 1: the Trevor Project put out it's twenty twenty two National 298 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:55,480 Speaker 1: Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental health. In particular, what we 299 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: saw as a racial disparity that worsens the mental health 300 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:03,919 Speaker 1: impacts of and on bipod LGBTQUTH so that's black, Indigenous 301 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:07,360 Speaker 1: and other people of color. To provide some data, we're 302 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 1: really excited because this year we surveyed nearly thirty four 303 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 1: thousand LGBTQ young people and that was across the entire 304 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:17,920 Speaker 1: United States. It is also one of our most diverse 305 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 1: samples to date, and that forty five percent of respondents 306 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 1: were LGBTQUTH of color and nearly fifty percent were trans 307 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: or non binary. What we also saw was alarming and 308 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:37,080 Speaker 1: sobering statistics that had trended upward for suicidal thoughts among 309 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:41,360 Speaker 1: lgbtquth as well as well as focused on key barriers. 310 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 1: And we know the reasons why we're seeing these increases 311 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 1: suicidal thoughts among others is because of these wave of 312 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 1: unprecedented and coordinated attacks on LGBTQUTH. You know, it is 313 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 1: it is almost as if I believe, and let me 314 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:01,199 Speaker 1: not put words in your mouth, I believe that it 315 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:04,720 Speaker 1: is a coordinated attack. I believe that they absolutely are 316 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: going for our mental and emotional well being as well 317 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:14,159 Speaker 1: as our physical safety. And so you know as you 318 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 1: all are you digging through these over two hundred and 319 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 1: forty plus pieces of legislation, what do they have in common, Preston, 320 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:26,400 Speaker 1: and what do you perceive to be the ability to 321 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: work around Like, what are we missing on our side 322 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: that they have been able to replicate, replicate, replicate across 323 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:39,199 Speaker 1: the country. One of the things that we're consistently seeing 324 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: quite frankly, albeit misguided policies, but they really do help 325 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 1: in particular election years. And so that is some of 326 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:49,160 Speaker 1: the things that we're seeing, you know, while so while 327 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:52,440 Speaker 1: we have elected officials who are continuing to target LGBTQ youth, 328 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 1: our polling data in particular has found a majority of 329 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 1: adults reject this government overreach that we are seeing across 330 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:02,919 Speaker 1: the country. Even though there are still some consistency in 331 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 1: some popularity if we want to use that language among 332 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 1: certain communities, among certain and elected officials, we know that 333 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:13,399 Speaker 1: written large, the general public reject them. And so, but 334 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: the things that are coordinated right are banning books, censoring 335 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:21,959 Speaker 1: school curriculums, intervening in medical care decisions that we know 336 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: our best left to doctors and patients. And so those 337 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 1: are some of the coordinations that we're seeing. We're also 338 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 1: seeing this attack. You know, to the point earlier around 339 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:35,080 Speaker 1: systemic racism, that it is rare that in most of 340 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:37,400 Speaker 1: these bills, we're going to find an example where they're 341 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:41,679 Speaker 1: attacking book bands and school curriculums and also not attacking 342 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 1: things like critical race theory. I want to be clear, 343 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 1: I'm a lawyer. I went to law school, and I 344 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:51,159 Speaker 1: didn't take critical race theory until I went law school 345 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:54,120 Speaker 1: and almost graduate. Are you sure are, Preston, it wasn't 346 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 1: part of your kindergarten first grade curriculum? You sure? Positive? 347 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:01,639 Speaker 1: Absolutely positive? Right? And so I think that is the 348 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: part for many of us that becomes quite frustrating, particularly 349 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:08,919 Speaker 1: when we are black and queer or Latin X and queer, 350 00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:12,120 Speaker 1: or indigenous and queer, right, those of us who have multi, 351 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: multi faceted lives, and you know, we don't live single 352 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 1: issue struggles or lives for that matter, right, true to 353 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:22,640 Speaker 1: our proogle word and even hearkening in Kimberly Crenshaw, and so, 354 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:25,480 Speaker 1: you know, when we see people are attacking every facet 355 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,720 Speaker 1: of who we are, right, we know that we start 356 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:32,879 Speaker 1: to then internalize, right, we then start to think differently 357 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 1: about ourselves and who we are, and that is actually 358 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 1: rooted in so much data and science, and so that 359 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 1: is why, even if it's not intentionally focused and targeted 360 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:46,920 Speaker 1: on our mental health, we inherently start thinking negative thoughts 361 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 1: about who we are, about our own history because all 362 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: we know is a rature right, and so that is 363 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 1: what we're trying to combat every single day. So tell us, like, 364 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:58,440 Speaker 1: what are some of the ways in which you are 365 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:02,440 Speaker 1: tackling this moment that feels like preston. It's so difficult 366 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:05,320 Speaker 1: to wrap our arms around, right, Like, how are you 367 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:09,919 Speaker 1: able in this role to be able and the organization 368 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: as a whole to be able to tackle what feels 369 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 1: like everest at this moment? It does and many I 370 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 1: mean listen, you know, working obviously in like avoccing government 371 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 1: affairs and even in media in comms, one of the 372 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:25,440 Speaker 1: things that we see is it feels like everything is 373 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:28,119 Speaker 1: drinking from a fire hose. Right, There's so many things 374 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 1: happening all across the spectrum that you don't know how 375 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 1: to prioritize. And so one of the things that we 376 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:36,479 Speaker 1: really wanted to get comfortable with was what does it 377 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 1: mean to prioritize the health and well being of LGBTQ 378 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:42,880 Speaker 1: youth because we know our research in particular has found 379 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 1: that lgbtqth who lived in an accepting community and had 380 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 1: access to these LGBTQ affirming schools and are felt high 381 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 1: social support from family and France reported significantly lower rates 382 00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:58,879 Speaker 1: of attempting suicide in the past year. And so for us, 383 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:03,640 Speaker 1: what that means is prioritizing safety by schools, prioritizing safety 384 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:06,879 Speaker 1: and communities figuring out if you have any alliances in 385 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:10,160 Speaker 1: your universities or your high schools or your middle schools, 386 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:14,200 Speaker 1: and really figuring out how do we provide resources not 387 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:17,199 Speaker 1: only to LGBTQ youth, but to their parents and to 388 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 1: their other family members and to their friends who are 389 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 1: really trying to understand a little bit more about what 390 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 1: that looks like. Right, And we know that some of 391 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:27,639 Speaker 1: this has shifted because of COVID, So you know, mental 392 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:30,399 Speaker 1: health challenges did not take place because of COVID, but 393 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 1: they certainly exacinate it. It's already in reality for people 394 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:37,280 Speaker 1: pre COVID, and so for us, it's about resources. It's 395 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:40,440 Speaker 1: about creating these affirming environment right, and it's on all 396 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:44,159 Speaker 1: of us to create these safer, more accepting world for 397 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:47,720 Speaker 1: LGBTQ youth, right, Like, I always try to think of 398 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:50,280 Speaker 1: who I was and who I did not want to 399 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 1: be when I was younger, right, And so by that end, right, 400 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 1: I'm comfortable now, I'm confident, now, I'm securing who I 401 00:27:56,640 --> 00:28:00,520 Speaker 1: am now. Many lgbtqth don't have that environment and they 402 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:02,840 Speaker 1: don't have that reality. So a lot of our research 403 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:05,320 Speaker 1: and our advocacy work is really grow toward, grew toward 404 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:09,040 Speaker 1: those people who frankly don't think they have possibility models 405 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 1: around them. What does it mean these days, Preston? Because 406 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:17,240 Speaker 1: I learned that phrase from you, possibility model? What does 407 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 1: it mean these days for you? For myself too to 408 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:26,480 Speaker 1: be that model? When frankly I'm scared, right, Like, I 409 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 1: am scared about my well being in safety as well 410 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 1: as those of my friends and family. But recognizing that 411 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:38,320 Speaker 1: I'm not a young person going to middle school and 412 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:43,320 Speaker 1: high school right now, right whose fear is so much 413 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:47,200 Speaker 1: more compounded in terms of what they are experiencing. I 414 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 1: can choose not to go to set place or choose 415 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 1: not to do So what does it mean these days 416 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 1: for us to be possibility models? And how can we 417 00:28:55,920 --> 00:29:00,280 Speaker 1: show up more at a time. As LGBTQ plus adult 418 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,719 Speaker 1: and those that are you know, quote unquote professionally gay 419 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 1: doing this work, how do we show up for our youth? 420 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 1: I just want to make sure we're not forgetting about them, right. 421 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:15,640 Speaker 1: I think so often it's easy when we become a 422 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 1: little bit more comfortable and who we are, to forget 423 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 1: about the people who are who we've left behind sort 424 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 1: of speak. And I think that with organizations like the 425 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:27,120 Speaker 1: Trevor Project and with us individually, will make sure that 426 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:30,440 Speaker 1: that will not happen for us. Right. I want to 427 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 1: admit that I also am afraid. Yeah, right. I think 428 00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 1: fear is such a valid emotion that many times we 429 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 1: attempt to go over or push to the side, But 430 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 1: it is a it is a healthy emotion, and it 431 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 1: is one that is a real emotion. So you know, 432 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 1: I always say we don't have to lie in sack. 433 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 1: We should not lie to young people when we are 434 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:56,800 Speaker 1: feeling these exact feelings and thoughts. I also believe right 435 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 1: that when it comes to these coordinated attacks, have to 436 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:02,239 Speaker 1: all be on the same page as far as like 437 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:06,840 Speaker 1: who the enemy ultimately is. Oftentimes say that you know 438 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:10,200 Speaker 1: our opponents regardless of what we're looking at may hate 439 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:13,400 Speaker 1: understandings of intersectionality, but they sure do know how to 440 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 1: attack issues intersectionally. Right. That's one of the things that 441 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:21,480 Speaker 1: I try to focus on so much. It's like it's 442 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 1: not either or it is oftentimes both. And so how 443 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:27,440 Speaker 1: are we doing? Are we offering lines to people? Are 444 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 1: we offering crisis services of people? Are we offering resources? 445 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: And then sometimes you know, you'll have to offer things 446 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 1: that may meet people's material conditions a little earlier. Are 447 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 1: you offering them housing and shelter and access to food 448 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 1: and healthcare? And so there are many things we can do. 449 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:45,720 Speaker 1: I just always want to make clear to people that 450 00:30:45,880 --> 00:30:48,080 Speaker 1: we all have a role to play, and everyone's role 451 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:53,600 Speaker 1: is going to look different person. You know, I don't 452 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:56,280 Speaker 1: really know what the future holds, and I think that 453 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 1: you know, tell me if I'm wrong. But in a 454 00:30:58,680 --> 00:31:04,000 Speaker 1: lot of ways, that kind of drives attempted suicides, right, 455 00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:08,040 Speaker 1: not being able to see outside of the present moment 456 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:11,400 Speaker 1: that there is possibility, there is hope, and at a 457 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:16,600 Speaker 1: time when we are all struggling to find hopefulness. Right, Um, 458 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:20,440 Speaker 1: I tell people on this show to not marinate a 459 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:23,960 Speaker 1: misery like I do, right, to try and find avenues 460 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:28,360 Speaker 1: of joy, to find those pockets of joy connection. Um, 461 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,600 Speaker 1: what is your recommendation just as a member you know 462 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: of the community and somebody like you said you are 463 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:38,920 Speaker 1: scared as I am scared, right, Like you know, you 464 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:41,360 Speaker 1: always show up on the front lines for black trans 465 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:45,560 Speaker 1: women that are murdered at an unrelenting rate. That again 466 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:49,840 Speaker 1: does not make the headlines in the way that these 467 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:55,040 Speaker 1: horrible bills and these horrible massacres make. And so what 468 00:31:55,040 --> 00:31:58,239 Speaker 1: what advice do you have for people in order to 469 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:00,600 Speaker 1: be able to hold on to their joy, to seek 470 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:05,320 Speaker 1: their joy and also seek the care of community. I 471 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:10,320 Speaker 1: love this question because so often the data is hard 472 00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 1: to actually extrapolate. How do we find joy and balance? 473 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:17,680 Speaker 1: And so for me at least, that oftentimes means disconnecting 474 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:20,040 Speaker 1: when I'm able to do so. Right, we can't just 475 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:23,840 Speaker 1: sit with the reality of attacks every single day. We 476 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:26,440 Speaker 1: have to, if we're able to do so, find an 477 00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:30,400 Speaker 1: outlet to joy, whether that's singing and dancing, whether that's 478 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 1: watching a movie right, whether that's writing or journaling, whether 479 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:38,520 Speaker 1: that's drawing. Like, joy does not have to cost money, right, 480 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:40,880 Speaker 1: there are so many ways we can connect with other 481 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:43,920 Speaker 1: people with community members, right, So I think sometimes it 482 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:46,880 Speaker 1: starts local most times, and start local, right, That means 483 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:49,760 Speaker 1: it can start at home, at school, or in your community. 484 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:52,200 Speaker 1: And again it's on all of us to create these 485 00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:55,160 Speaker 1: like more accepting environments. And the Term of Project even 486 00:32:55,240 --> 00:33:00,360 Speaker 1: has data that show at least one supportive person can 487 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:06,440 Speaker 1: reduce thoughts of suicide considering suicide by forty five to percent. 488 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 1: So len mean just one person could actually make someone 489 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:15,560 Speaker 1: think differently about their life or attempting or considering by 490 00:33:15,680 --> 00:33:18,040 Speaker 1: upwards of forty to forty five percent, And that is 491 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:21,200 Speaker 1: a huge deal, because we know a little support can 492 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:24,040 Speaker 1: go a long way and help save a young person's life. 493 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:26,440 Speaker 1: And it will be remiss for me to not also 494 00:33:26,520 --> 00:33:30,040 Speaker 1: saying surely about research and what it show in terms 495 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:33,760 Speaker 1: of youth of marginalized identities, and how many of us 496 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:37,520 Speaker 1: experienced disapportionate rates of mental health challenges like bullying and 497 00:33:37,560 --> 00:33:40,400 Speaker 1: suicide risk and these things that may seem to bring 498 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:43,320 Speaker 1: about lack of hope and despair, But it's because of 499 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:45,800 Speaker 1: It's not because of who they are, right, It was 500 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:48,520 Speaker 1: never because of who we are as queer people, but 501 00:33:48,560 --> 00:33:53,960 Speaker 1: because of how society, yes, right, how lawmakers sometimes treat 502 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:57,800 Speaker 1: us how community members treat us, which of course drives stigma. 503 00:33:57,880 --> 00:34:01,760 Speaker 1: It drives discrimination, it drives criminalization, and to your point, 504 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:05,480 Speaker 1: it drives thoughts of suicide and maybe even attempts of suicide. 505 00:34:05,480 --> 00:34:07,560 Speaker 1: And so that is why I always want to go 506 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:09,840 Speaker 1: back to we all have a role to play, you know. 507 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:12,600 Speaker 1: So oftentimes people make it about parties, and you know, 508 00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:14,719 Speaker 1: for me, I'm not there. I am at a point 509 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:18,440 Speaker 1: where I recognize that every single person has a role 510 00:34:18,480 --> 00:34:20,520 Speaker 1: to play, and surely we could argue that some do 511 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:23,080 Speaker 1: better than others, but at the end of the day, 512 00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:28,520 Speaker 1: everybody needs to do better to support LGBTQ youth. Preston Mitcham, 513 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:30,799 Speaker 1: thank you so much for the work that you do, 514 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:33,920 Speaker 1: for the work that you do with the Trevor Project, 515 00:34:33,920 --> 00:34:35,960 Speaker 1: for the work that you do on social media, for 516 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:39,440 Speaker 1: the work that we have done over the decades together. 517 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:42,160 Speaker 1: I just genuinely appreciate you, and I hope that you 518 00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:45,080 Speaker 1: will join us again and we wish you a happy pride. 519 00:34:46,080 --> 00:34:53,800 Speaker 1: I would love too happy. Brian Indisputaful with Doctor rashid 520 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:56,560 Speaker 1: Ricci is one of the latest shows on the TYT 521 00:34:56,800 --> 00:34:59,960 Speaker 1: network and also the fastest growing news show in a Mary. 522 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:04,400 Speaker 1: On his show, Doctor Ricci plays no games regarding policy, 523 00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:07,640 Speaker 1: delivering a heavy dose of fact based truth and penetrating 524 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:11,200 Speaker 1: analysis on all the top news stories focusing on racism, 525 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:16,160 Speaker 1: criminal and social justice, politics, police brutality, Karens, and much more. 526 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:21,560 Speaker 1: Listeners can also expect interviews with fascinating guests, political leaders, commentators, 527 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:25,120 Speaker 1: and even fiery debates with conservatives on a wide range 528 00:35:25,160 --> 00:35:29,320 Speaker 1: of policy topics. In the Bullpen. It is an indisputable 529 00:35:29,360 --> 00:35:32,720 Speaker 1: fact that you will love this show. Listen to Indisputable 530 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:36,680 Speaker 1: with Doctor Rashad Ricci on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever 531 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:39,279 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts. If you like what you hear, 532 00:35:39,440 --> 00:35:46,120 Speaker 1: be sure to subscribe so you never miss a new episode. 533 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:56,200 Speaker 1: That is it for me today on Woke f I 534 00:35:56,280 --> 00:36:01,520 Speaker 1: wish all of you a happy, happy, fucking prode and 535 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:05,920 Speaker 1: we'll be here all month. Power to the people and 536 00:36:06,040 --> 00:36:10,560 Speaker 1: to all the people. Power, get woke and stay woke 537 00:36:10,560 --> 00:36:11,040 Speaker 1: as fuck.