1 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to wok F Daily with 2 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: Meet your Girl Danielle Moody, recording from the Home Bunker. Folks, 3 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: We're continuing with our series on Queer the Vote in 4 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: partnership with the LGBTQ Task Force. Last month, I had 5 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: the distinct pleasure in honor of attending the Creating Change 6 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: Conference in New Orleans and got to sit down with 7 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: LGBTQ activists on the ground in battleground states and talking 8 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:47,839 Speaker 1: about the issues that are adversely affecting their lives and 9 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: the lives of those that are living inside of red states. Oftentimes. 10 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: You know, I think even myself can be very I 11 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: don't know, just not really recognizing that while we look 12 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 1: at these states like Mississippi, like Florida, like Texas with 13 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 1: their incredibly disgusting laws, and we see the headlines, we 14 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: don't know what it's like to live there, and to 15 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: live inside of a queer body and be in a 16 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: space and place that has turned you, your life, and 17 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: your family into targets. Right, even me, I will say 18 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:41,680 Speaker 1: this as a black queer woman, I am not by 19 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 1: virtue of looking at me what one would say is 20 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: queer or lesbian, Right, or part of the LGBTQ community. 21 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: It's the reason why I offer it, you know, often 22 00:01:55,640 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: because there are those people who do not quote unquote 23 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: pass and there is all different types of passing in 24 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: the community right, much in the same way that there 25 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 1: was passing in the black community, much in the same 26 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 1: way that people at one time with very Italian or 27 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: Jewish last names would change their names right in order 28 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: to assimilate and blend in. And there are some folks 29 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: that can, and there are some folks that can't, and 30 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: there are some folks that won't. But the fact is 31 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 1: that unless you're inside of a red state, you don't 32 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: know what it's like. And even in blue states, we 33 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: know that. Just not too long ago, there was a 34 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 1: shooting of a black queer man who was dancing to 35 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: Beyonce at a gas station in Brooklyn. So while marriage 36 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 1: equality changed some perceptions, an acceptance has risen throughout the decades. 37 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: What this Republican Party is trying to do is not 38 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: only turn back the clock, but eradicate LGBTQ people from 39 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 1: day to day life. And so these conversations that we 40 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: are continuing this week, I think are really important and 41 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: really illuminating and incredibly necessary. So coming up next my 42 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 1: conversation with activists Geo Santiago, Folks, I am so excited 43 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: to welcome to OOKF Daily Geo Santiago, who is the 44 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: founder and CEO of Meta Center, Inc. A nonprofit organization 45 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: assisting trans youth from ages five to twenty five with 46 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 1: all sorts of things from care packages, clothing swaps, you know, 47 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 1: opportunities to create community parks and recreation in the state 48 00:03:56,240 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: of Ohio, which, as you all know, is a battle 49 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: ground state and has been in the headlines with a 50 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: lot of ballot initiatives to restrict voting, to restrict access 51 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: to abortion, to restrict dignity and respect for the LGBTQ community, 52 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: and g you and I are here right now at 53 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 1: the Creating Change Conference put on by the National LGBTQ 54 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 1: Task Force in New Orleans. Geo, first, talk to me 55 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 1: about your organization and why you founded it and what 56 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: it is that people need to understand about what's happening 57 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 1: on the ground in Ohio. 58 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, So I started Meta in twenty sixteen. It kind 59 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 2: of came out of the fact that there were so 60 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: many trans youth that we were seeing in the media 61 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 2: either attempting suicide or completing suicide, and the lack of 62 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 2: resources that there were. You know, there's lgbt centers, you know, 63 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 2: kind of everywhere, and you know, I live just outside 64 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 2: of Cleveland, so there's one in Cleveland. But what we 65 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: also were seeing with that was there's not a lot 66 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 2: of youth programming that were happening at these locations. Everything 67 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 2: was kind of centered around being an LGBTQ adult, which 68 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 2: is amazing, but if these youth weren't even seeing themselves 69 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 2: get there, it didn't matter if those services were available later. 70 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 2: And so as a person who's a doer, I just 71 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 2: had to kind of stop volunteering other places and talking 72 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 2: about it and just create something myself. 73 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,040 Speaker 3: And so over the last almost. 74 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 2: Eight years, it's been a lot of me having like 75 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 2: one on one talks with students family schools. 76 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 3: I go into the schools a lot. 77 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,280 Speaker 2: I speak just to like the GSAs, but I also 78 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 2: speak to like larger classrooms or auditoriums of students and 79 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 2: just really letting people know that there are resources out there, 80 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 2: that there's someone out there like fighting the fight. 81 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 3: With them, but more importantly that education is key. 82 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 2: You know, I'm also a teacher by and so I 83 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 2: feel like a lot of the problem that we're seeing, 84 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 2: not only just in Ohio but in the nation as 85 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 2: a whole is the lack of education in general, the 86 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 2: lack of education, but the lack of education on what 87 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 2: it is to be a trans person and what comes 88 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 2: with being a trans person because people are like, oh, 89 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 2: you just did this thing, and your whole life is better, 90 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:24,799 Speaker 2: and it's like, well, it's not that and it's also 91 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 2: not that easy. And so what we know in the 92 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 2: narrative of things is that trans youth are only seeing 93 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 2: the negative in the world. So they're not seeing what 94 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 2: they can be because either no one is talking about 95 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:44,159 Speaker 2: that or they're just seeing themselves be chopped down by legislators, 96 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 2: by coaches, teachers, you. 97 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 3: Know, sometimes their family. 98 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 2: And so it's very hard for them to see the 99 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 2: light at the end of the tunnel because nobody's telling 100 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 2: them here's the light. 101 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 3: I got through it. 102 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: And actually I'm the one holding the candle or you know, 103 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 2: the lantern for you. So I think giving the education 104 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:04,279 Speaker 2: to people is something that I feel like is really 105 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 2: important to me and why I do what I do 106 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 2: in Ohio. 107 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 1: You know, I will tell you one I am an 108 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: educator by trade. I taught in Washington, d C. When 109 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 1: I lived there, and then did education policy, and I 110 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 1: believe so wholeheartedly in education. And I do believe that 111 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 1: education is key to personal empowerment, to success, whatever success 112 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: looks like for you, which is why you have the 113 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: Republican Party in different states working so hard to erase 114 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:41,559 Speaker 1: public education, to ban books, to deny access to critical thought, 115 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: which is essentially what they're trying to do. And I 116 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: think that as it pertains to the trans community in 117 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:53,119 Speaker 1: particular and to trans youth. Why do you think that 118 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 1: they and when I say they, Maga supremis the Republican 119 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 1: Party that they have decided that this is the group 120 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 1: that they're going after, that it is young people who 121 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: want to play on sports teams, which we know that 122 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: if you talk to you know, therapists and sociologists that 123 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 1: they will tell you, you know, what's important building community, right, 124 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: Why do you think that they've made this group? 125 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 3: I think it's two reasons. 126 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 2: The first one is it's some internalized homophobia transphobia. 127 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 3: Come on, you know you hate who you are yep. 128 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 2: Sometimes, So it's that projection, you know, because what we 129 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 2: see even with folks who are lesbian or gay and 130 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 2: more on the side of gay. You know, these politicians 131 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 2: are you know, so negative and homophobic, but then they're 132 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 2: the first ones to be caught in a hotel room 133 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 2: with a man. So it's like you were projecting, and 134 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 2: so I think it's a little bit of that. And 135 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 2: then I think it is they saw trans youth and 136 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 2: trans people as an easy target and so it was like, 137 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 2: nobody cares about them because of X, Y, and Z, 138 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 2: so we can pick on this easy target. And what 139 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 2: they didn't know was that they were wrong with that. 140 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 2: But you know, that ideology of white supremacy and just 141 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 2: privilege in itself, first off, makes people go mad and 142 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 2: so they're living in their own vicious cycle. And again 143 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 2: it's like, okay, but I know that I'm better than you, 144 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 2: whether it's because I'm white, whether it's because I am 145 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 2: middle class, or because I am male identified, and it's like, 146 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 2: and I see you as less than So again that 147 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 2: just makes folks in their mind an easy target, and 148 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 2: I think that's what's happening. And so then you have 149 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 2: one monkey that runs the show that's talking and squawking 150 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,559 Speaker 2: the loudest that makes all the other monkeys in the 151 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 2: zoo at crazy. That's something that we just see and 152 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 2: that's exactly what is now happening in public policy. 153 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 3: Oh that is so right. 154 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:13,679 Speaker 1: We are so locked inside of the zoo. What makes 155 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 1: me really concerned about where we are is that I 156 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 1: had felt for quite some time that we as members 157 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: of the LGBTQ community, were making a considerable amount of progress, 158 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 1: that things were actually looking up. 159 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 2: Right. 160 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: We had gone from the early two thousands of it 161 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 1: gets better to now you can get married, to now 162 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 1: you can be a member of a cabinet, member of 163 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: an administration. Right, that there was progress that was happening. 164 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:49,559 Speaker 1: I feel a sense of darkness. 165 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 2: Can I energete and ask, okay, was that progress for 166 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 2: black trans women? 167 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:02,320 Speaker 1: So this is so? And so that's the thing is 168 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: that we see these markers, right. It's kind of like saying, well, 169 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: I got into the Ivy League school, right, right? Is 170 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 1: that the only marker of success? And like, how are 171 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,559 Speaker 1: we actually measuring success? So I appreciate that response. 172 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 2: So if you look at all of those things and 173 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 2: see who it matters to, most of that has no 174 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 2: bearing on the life of a black trans woman. 175 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 3: Okay, So you can get married. But am I going 176 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 3: to be murdered? Oh I can get into this school? 177 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 3: Can I can? 178 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 2: I really because when they see me, they're going to 179 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 2: see that I'm a black trans woman. So if I 180 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 2: am not someone who quote unquote aesthetically passes, then it 181 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 2: doesn't matter. So all of these things that we're seen 182 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 2: as markers, and I think we all in the movement 183 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 2: fell victim to thinking that we were moving towards some success. 184 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 2: So there's no shade to anyone who even still thinks that. 185 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 2: But when you really boil it down, if we're thinking 186 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 2: about the most marginalized of those of us who are marginalized, 187 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 2: which is black trans women, if all of these things 188 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 2: that are counted as success markers still don't help them, 189 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 2: then we're not ever getting there. 190 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 3: And I think that's what it was. 191 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 2: It was like, you know again, the thing that really 192 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 2: happened was people in the movement started to take a 193 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 2: look at some of that, and some of us are like, 194 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 2: wait a minute, this actually is not reading for us, 195 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 2: because especially trans people like I could get married because 196 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 2: my documents say I was a male, So it didn't 197 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 2: matter if marriage quality passed because that no longer affected 198 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 2: my life, And so I think we see these almost 199 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 2: superficial markers as success when it's can everyone have health care? 200 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 2: Can trans people, even if they have health care, go 201 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 2: to the doctor and still not be categorized as this. 202 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 3: Thing, you know and have the broken arm syndrome? 203 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 2: And I don't know if folks know what that is, 204 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 2: but that is like a trans person goes to the 205 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 2: doctor with a broken arm and they're like, Okay, but 206 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 2: this happened because you're trans. You're like, no, it happened 207 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:24,439 Speaker 2: because I fell off the back of the truck. Like 208 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 2: my arm is broken. Me being trans has nothing to 209 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:28,439 Speaker 2: do with you setting my arm. 210 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 3: So yeah, all of these other things. 211 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 2: But if this thing that we're looking for to make 212 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 2: people like actually a human person actually valued in society 213 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 2: are not happening for again, those of us that are 214 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 2: the most marginalized of the marginalized, then it's really not success. 215 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: That is so valid because I feel like I have 216 00:13:55,640 --> 00:14:01,079 Speaker 1: these conversations a lot, and I think that we are 217 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:10,079 Speaker 1: socialized into believing in these outside societal markers of what 218 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: it means to advance and progress right, what it means 219 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 1: to pass right right, And so I'm like, then do 220 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: you think that as a movement, we are still inside 221 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: of that trap where it's like, well, you have Pete 222 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: buddhat Edge is the Secretary of transportation, and you have this, 223 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: you know, person that is leading something really important, and 224 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: you know you can point to, oh, well, so and 225 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: so just won an Emmy, right like, But when you 226 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 1: drill it down, it's like, are markers of success aligned 227 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 1: with what real people actually need as a movement? 228 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 2: No, and even a lot of that. You look at 229 00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 2: a lot of those people and a lot of that 230 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 2: success and they're white. So first off, in the movement, 231 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 2: there's still a lot of racial disparities that that's a 232 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 2: whole other conversation for a whole other day. But that 233 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 2: is a part of the problem because success is lumped 234 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 2: in together. What success is for me as a black 235 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 2: trans man is not the same success for a black 236 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 2: film lesbian woman or a white trans man or white 237 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 2: trans woman or a black trans woman. And so instead 238 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 2: of the narrative of this blanket success, what really needs 239 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 2: to be talked about is like the ability to have 240 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 2: success in whatever, like you said, success looks like for you. 241 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 2: And that's not the conversations we're having because we're just 242 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 2: always moving towards this one marker of what we deem 243 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 2: as success at the time, and it's not helpful for 244 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 2: us because again, what I need is not the same 245 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 2: as what you need. And we know obviously you're never 246 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 2: going to please everyone, but at the same token, pockets 247 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 2: of success would be better, Like Okay, we need, you know, 248 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 2: really to like have success to find in this role 249 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 2: for this person or this you know, identity of folks 250 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 2: and this other way because like, yeah, Blue Jedge is gay, 251 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 2: but I didn't vote for him, and I wouldn't have 252 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 2: voted for him just because he was gay. And that's 253 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 2: the thing, Like people are like, oh, okay, but he's 254 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 2: in the community, but I'm like, who's community And he's 255 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 2: not in my community, and so you know, it's again 256 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 2: no shade, but he's like, that's not a reflection of 257 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 2: me as a black trans man. 258 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 3: And so. 259 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 2: I think about things like that and it's like, yeah, 260 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 2: but again it's not helpful to me, and it's not 261 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 2: helpful for the movement, and the movement itself is still 262 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 2: being stifled by white people. 263 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 3: Mm hmm. 264 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: You know, because I think about it, and it's funny, 265 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: and I'm going to say this to you, And I 266 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 1: don't think I've ever said it on the show, which 267 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: is that I was one of the faces and voices 268 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: around marriage qua right, and you know, and it was. 269 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 1: And when I look back now in time, what is 270 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:14,400 Speaker 1: this like now ten almost ten? Yeah, yeah, yeah, so 271 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: we're looking at almost ten years, right, like so nine 272 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:19,719 Speaker 1: years I'm looking back and I'm thinking to my and 273 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: I am embarrassed by some of the things that I've 274 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 1: said because and I say embarrassed because it was very 275 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 1: much assimilationist language, right. It was very much convincing straight 276 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: people that like, oh, we are just like you, when 277 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: now nine ten years later, I'm like, no, actually, we're 278 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 1: not just fucking like you, right, And that should be okay, 279 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: that that shouldn't that shouldn't then relegate me to a 280 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 1: place that doesn't have you provide me with dignity and respect, 281 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: Like I shouldn't have to be just like you and 282 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 1: you shouldn't have to know me in order to And 283 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 1: I feel like, but that has been the consistent model. 284 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:03,879 Speaker 1: It was a model in the civil and parts of 285 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,439 Speaker 1: the civil rights movement. It was a model in the 286 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 1: women's movement, like we can do anything men can do, 287 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 1: you know, for sis women like it was all of that, 288 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: and so I just wonder now in hindsight me and 289 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:18,920 Speaker 1: I'm just like, so that wasn't it. 290 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 2: But okay, first let me say, do not hold any embarrassment. 291 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,640 Speaker 2: Let me say that on here, because there's no like, 292 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 2: hindsight is twenty twenty. We know. 293 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 3: Yeah. 294 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 2: The good thing is you learned from that. And that's 295 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 2: what I think is the problem. People are not looking 296 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:38,400 Speaker 2: back ten years ago and being like, ooh, that actually 297 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 2: doesn't work now, right, It's fine because it worked then, right, 298 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:45,639 Speaker 2: well here, So there's no shame and that because it 299 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 2: worked then, and that does not make it not factual 300 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:52,120 Speaker 2: just because it doesn't resonate now. 301 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:53,360 Speaker 3: The difference is. 302 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 2: People recycle this stuff so much without looking at the 303 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 2: fact that it is not the same now. So what 304 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 2: happened almost ten years ago from marriage quality is not 305 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 2: the same for the trans rice movement, and it's not 306 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 2: the same for you know, advancing youth, and so there's 307 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:12,880 Speaker 2: nothing wrong with that. You just have to like take 308 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:15,439 Speaker 2: what you know and take what did work and be like, okay, 309 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 2: parts of that worked, how do we reframe it, how do. 310 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 3: We fix it? 311 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 2: And that's not what's happening and I don't think it's 312 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:23,679 Speaker 2: what's happening in the movement. I think stuff is just 313 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 2: being recycled, maybe with a different face out there in front. 314 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: Let's talk about recycling for a minute, because as we go, 315 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: as we are now in twenty twenty four in the 316 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: presidential election, what have we recycled the two people that 317 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 1: are going to be running for the presidency. We know 318 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: Donald Trump is going to be the Republican nominee. Whether 319 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: or not the man is found guilty and dieted doesn't matter, 320 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 1: Like he said, if he shot somebody in the middle 321 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 1: of Fifth Avenue, doesn't matter. That's their guy. And then 322 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 1: we have Biden, which has become in a lot of 323 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 1: ways a complicated character over the last several months that 324 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:11,199 Speaker 1: people are not down with. And I've said this on 325 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: my show and other shows. Biden was not my first 326 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 1: choice in twenty twenty second, third, or fourth or fifth choice, right, 327 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:22,400 Speaker 1: but I did vote for him when the time came around. 328 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:27,080 Speaker 1: What are your thoughts about the recycling right that we're 329 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: doing and also the apathy that people have in voting 330 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 1: right in twenty twenty four. 331 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 2: Well, I think the problem is people get mad at 332 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 2: the wrong times. 333 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 3: You know like, oh, the two party system sucks. 334 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 2: Okay, first off, we already knew that, but nobody cares 335 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 2: to hear it the day after the election. 336 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 3: You should have been saying this the whole time and 337 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 3: actually putting action to those words. 338 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 2: And I'm not saying that people don't. But the banding 339 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 2: together of it is what's not. 340 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 3: Obviously we know. 341 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:07,159 Speaker 2: The government is what it is, and so they're wanting 342 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 2: to hold strong to this two party system because it 343 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 2: fits their narrative. But if we're fighting, like legitimately, fighting 344 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 2: the fight consistently for it not to be a two 345 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 2: party system, we might would be somewhere. You can't just 346 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 2: get mad for three months after the election that you 347 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 2: didn't like either candidate. You all voted for Harambe to 348 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 2: Gorilla like some dummies. I was a Hillary, I don't care, 349 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 2: I'll say it on any pot. I was a Secretary. 350 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:43,919 Speaker 3: Clinton through and through because what Bill Clinton did. 351 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 2: Wasn't her problem and what they said she did who 352 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 2: I don't know, who's perfect, none of us, And we've 353 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:51,920 Speaker 2: all had to smile on somebody's face. 354 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:55,360 Speaker 3: We didn't like because conformity is the thing. 355 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 2: And at the end of the day, she was still 356 00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 2: a woman, so they were never going to put her 357 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 2: are in there after a black man, no matter how 358 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 2: much I wanted it. So like, we have to think 359 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:09,119 Speaker 2: about that, and we have to think about how at 360 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 2: the end of the day, if you're not campaigning appropriately 361 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 2: to run for office, yep, or supporting those who are 362 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,959 Speaker 2: running for office in an appropriate way, then we're just 363 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 2: gonna keep getting Joe Biden's in Donald Trump's And it's 364 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 2: of no fault of anyone's but our own, because we 365 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 2: have to really find a way to overthrow the system 366 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:36,119 Speaker 2: from the inside in and not the outside, because we 367 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 2: clearly know. 368 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 3: That that doesn't work. So if you don't like. 369 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 2: It, then run for office and then keep running for office. Okay, 370 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 2: you've won city council. 371 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 3: Now you run for mayor. 372 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:50,200 Speaker 2: Now you run for the state House, Now you run 373 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 2: for the you know, and like we obviously we saw 374 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 2: like a very large uptick in black and brown folks 375 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:00,400 Speaker 2: being elected, queer folks being elected. 376 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:03,120 Speaker 3: Being elected and being. 377 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 2: The voters that are you know, really empowering the other 378 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:10,960 Speaker 2: voters is not the same thing because we've also seen, 379 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:13,640 Speaker 2: you know, where people get in positions and forget who 380 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:15,520 Speaker 2: they are or forget where they came from, or forget 381 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 2: who they're actually there to be in service too, and 382 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:24,560 Speaker 2: so then we stay in the same predicament. So this 383 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 2: has to be a continuous movement, a continuous fight on 384 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:34,440 Speaker 2: a three party system or opening up to it all 385 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 2: being you know, individuals and independents. 386 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:39,159 Speaker 3: But we can't just be mad. 387 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:43,119 Speaker 2: After the election for three months and then you forget 388 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:45,560 Speaker 2: about it, you know, and you can't be like, well 389 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:49,119 Speaker 2: my vote doesn't matter, Okay, Well then if you don't, 390 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 2: then we're going to get the same thing again. So 391 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:55,199 Speaker 2: and even if you do, then you do that with 392 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:59,160 Speaker 2: your anger and then you actually put action behind it 393 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:04,440 Speaker 2: in the fight. I mean, Joe was my first one 394 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,640 Speaker 2: because I was like, what else is happening here? 395 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 3: Right? What am I going to do with this? 396 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:13,480 Speaker 2: And I heard about you two weeks ago, And again 397 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:17,359 Speaker 2: I think it's we're not cross promoting enough, we're not 398 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 2: talking about other candidates enough, and when we do, it's 399 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:25,680 Speaker 2: so little, so late. Because I think also what people 400 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 2: don't think about is. 401 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 3: Every state's voting laws is different. 402 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 1: Yep. 403 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 2: So you can vote this day in Michigan, that's not 404 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 2: the same as when you can vote in Ohio and 405 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 2: that's not the same deadline is when you can register 406 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:42,439 Speaker 2: to vote. So if we're only talking about people in 407 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 2: things two and three weeks before presidential elections, well some 408 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 2: of these people's cycles of being able to register or 409 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:53,400 Speaker 2: being able to switch their ballots have since passed. 410 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:55,840 Speaker 3: Because it's not a continuum. 411 00:24:55,840 --> 00:25:00,280 Speaker 2: It's like that I'm angry in the moment and not 412 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:02,400 Speaker 2: for the whole time. 413 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, Geo, you you make so much sense. 414 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 1: And everything that you're saying is right, which is that 415 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:14,520 Speaker 1: you know, I I battle sometimes, right, I've been inside, 416 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 1: I've been outside, you know I I've never been on 417 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:20,199 Speaker 1: the sidelines though, And that and and that is the 418 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:22,680 Speaker 1: thing is that when people say, you know, I don't 419 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: care about politics, you know, I don't talk about politics. 420 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 1: You know there there there was a woman in here, 421 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 1: uh you know, in an interview before Sarah Popper who said, 422 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 1: you know, you don't care about politics. Politics, suorre as 423 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 1: hell cares about you. 424 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 3: That's the truth, you know. 425 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:38,439 Speaker 1: So you don't want to you don't want to do 426 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 1: anything about it. They going to do something about you. 427 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 1: And I think that that that to me, is the 428 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: message that people need to take home, which is that 429 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:50,160 Speaker 1: you know, we don't get to like everything right right. 430 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 1: And you know, and I may not love Joe Biden. 431 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:57,359 Speaker 1: I may not even like him right now, but he 432 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:00,400 Speaker 1: is the choice that we have between that or fascism, right, 433 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:02,439 Speaker 1: So what are you going to choose? 434 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 2: G O. 435 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 1: Please tell people how they can find out more about 436 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 1: your organization, how they can support your organization. 437 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 2: Yes, you can go to www. Dot Meta, m e 438 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:16,159 Speaker 2: t Acenterinc. 439 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 3: Dot org. 440 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 2: I am a one man show, funded out of my 441 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 2: own pocket, so we love a donation to help the youth. 442 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,119 Speaker 2: Also we have we're on social media with the same 443 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:31,119 Speaker 2: name everywhere. But yeah, I just think the state of 444 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:33,960 Speaker 2: Ohio needs as much support as it can get right 445 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 2: now because trans youth, trans adults, OGBTQ people in general 446 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:43,439 Speaker 2: are under attack because the state legislator has created a 447 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 2: problem and then created a solution to their own problem. 448 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:50,479 Speaker 2: And you know, we live in Ohio because we have 449 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 2: to fight the fight, and if we leave, then who's 450 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 2: going to do it? So support those of us who 451 00:26:56,119 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 2: are in the state of Ohio fighting it out right now. 452 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: Appreciate you, thank you, thank you so much for making 453 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: the time for wok oh Thank you, thank you for 454 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:10,520 Speaker 1: having me That is it for me today. Dear friends 455 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:14,359 Speaker 1: on wok f as always, power to the people and 456 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:17,960 Speaker 1: to all the people. Power, get woke and stay woke 457 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:18,440 Speaker 1: as fuck.