Life Through a Queer Lens

Jenene & Kit
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Life Through a Queer Lens is where queer history, lived experience, and cultural critique collide, unapologetically and with heart. Co-hosted by Jenene (she/they) and Kit (he/they/it)—two queer activists from different generations with shared values and distinct voices. This podcast brings raw, nuanced conversations to life through a blend of education, storytelling, intersectionality, and just the right amount of sass. Together, we unpack the complexity of queerness in today’s world while honoring the legacies and liberation work that brought us here. We dive into topics like evolving queer language, body autonomy, disability justice, gender euphoria, artistic expression, grief, protest, neurodivergence, and chosen family. Whether it’s deep-diving into queer-coded characters in the arts, spotlighting underrepresented voices in our LGBTQIA+ umbrella, or making sense of headlines and harmful legislation, we’re here to ask the hard questions and hold space for real answers. Kit brings firsthand insights as a disabled, autistic, trans masc non-binary person; Jenene brings an artistic and strategic lens from their work in queer performance spaces and nonprofit leadership. Together, we hold a commitment to uplift all marginalized communities, knowing that no one is free until we all are. We speak to those who’ve lived it, those who are living it, and those ready to listen deeply. No rainbow capitalism here. Just real, messy, brilliant queer truths. If you’re craving layered conversations that honor the past, question the present, and dream toward liberation, pull up a chair. This is radical, curious, layered, liberatory queer storytelling. Queer, allied, learning, unlearning, or somewhere in between, you’re welcome here. This is Life Through a Queer Lens. Welcome.

  1. 06/23/2025

    EP73: The Pink Triangle's Legacy

    The pink triangle, a symbol of Nazi persecution of homosexuals, has been reclaimed and transformed into powerful monuments worldwide, from Amsterdam to San Francisco to Paris. • Amsterdam's Homomonument (1987) was the world's first and largest LGBTQ+ memorial, with a triangular design pointing to significant locations including Anne Frank's house • Berlin's Holocaust Memorial at Nolendorfplatz station (1989) features an upside-down pink triangle plaque commemorating homosexual victims of National Socialism • San Francisco's annual giant pink triangle on Twin Peaks began in 1995 as a nighttime activist project and has evolved into an official Pride weekend tradition • The Pink Triangle Memorial Park in San Francisco features 15 granite pylons representing 15,000 men killed in concentration camps • Sydney's monument (2001) incorporates both pink and black triangles forming a fractured Star of David, with elements that glow at night symbolizing hope • Paris unveiled a new memorial in May 2023 featuring a wand with a star that has both black (representing grief) and mirrored sides (reflecting changing public opinions) • Most memorials serve multiple purposes: honoring victims, educating the public, and transforming symbols of hate into emblems of pride and remembrance Check out our linktree If anyone is seeking a safe place for chiropractic care on Long Island, you're welcome at Sound Chiropractic in Oakdale, NY. For Chiropractic care or information, check out our link tree here directly to website here

    21 min

  2. 06/09/2025

    EP72: Triangle of Terror, Symbol of Strength: The Pink Triangle

    The pink triangle evolved from a symbol of Nazi persecution to an emblem of queer liberation and activism. This episode traces its journey from concentration camps through the AIDS crisis to modern Pride celebrations, revealing how it was reclaimed by the queer community as a powerful symbol of resistance. • Nazi Germany used color-coded triangle badges to identify prisoner groups in concentration camps, with gay men forced to wear pink triangles • An estimated 65% of gay men in concentration camps died, and survivors were often transferred to prison after "liberation" as homosexuality remained illegal • Allied forces deliberately left anti-gay Nazi laws intact when denazifying Germany • Germany didn't fully repeal its anti-homosexuality laws until 1994 • Joseph Kohut's memoir "The Men with the Pink Triangle" (1972) was one of the first accounts from an LGBTQ+ concentration camp survivor • Germany's first gay rights organization reclaimed the pink triangle in 1973 as a symbol of liberation • The Silence = Death poster adopted the pink triangle a year before ACT UP was formed • The symbol now appears in memorials and Pride events worldwide Join us next episode as we explore monuments and memorials that use the pink triangle in their design, honoring victims of both the Holocaust and the AIDS crisis. Check out our linktree If anyone is seeking a safe place for chiropractic care on Long Island, you're welcome at Sound Chiropractic in Oakdale, NY. For Chiropractic care or information, check out our link tree here directly to website here

    32 min

  3. 05/26/2025

    EP71: Queerness Before Gravity, Sir Francis Bacon's Hidden Story

    Sir Francis Bacon, born in 1561, was the Lord Chancellor of England, a philosopher, author, statesman, and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community who developed what we now call the scientific method. His story demonstrates that queerness isn't new but has existed throughout human history, even before we had the terminology to describe it. • Bacon served as Lord Chancellor from 1608 to 1621 and spoke in Parliament • He conceptualized the Baconian method (scientific method) based on observation and classification • Contemporary accounts clearly document his homosexuality, though most biographers ignore this • His relationships with men were known, including connections to the Marquis of Buckingham • Both his brother Anthony and brother-in-law Mervyn were charged with homosexuality • Mervyn was found guilty and beheaded in 1631, while Anthony was acquitted • Bacon died of bronchitis after catching a chill while experimenting with refrigeration • For his complete life story, read "Hostage to Fortune: The Troubled Life of Francis Bacon" (1999) Visit our link tree to find the "Dying Queer" tab with resources about ensuring you're remembered correctly after death, including living wills and advanced directives. Check out our linktree If anyone is seeking a safe place for chiropractic care on Long Island, you're welcome at Sound Chiropractic in Oakdale, NY. For Chiropractic care or information, check out our link tree here directly to website here

    29 min

  4. 05/05/2025

    EP70: The Dance is What We're Fighting For

    Joy is a powerful form of resistance during difficult times, especially when combined with community care and practical safety measures. Survival itself becomes an act of defiance when we remember that what we're fighting for is the right to experience joy and connection. • Crisis resources include the 988 Suicide Hotline and specialized warm lines like Trans Lifeline (877-565-8860) • Self-care activities like gaming, nature walks, and creative expression are essential for maintaining resilience • "You cannot pour from an empty cup" - caring for yourself is prerequisite to caring for others • Practice online safety by being careful what you post and considering removing photos from political events • When attending protests, follow safety protocols including going with trusted friends and letting someone know your location • Build local community connections as your safety net - libraries often provide free meeting spaces • There are always people willing to listen and support you, sometimes from unexpected places Stay safe, stay queer, we'll see you next time. Check out our linktree If anyone is seeking a safe place for chiropractic care on Long Island, you're welcome at Sound Chiropractic in Oakdale, NY. For Chiropractic care or information, check out our link tree here directly to website here

    17 min

  5. 04/28/2025

    EP69: The Education Underground; Navigating Dept. of Ed. Dismantling

    We explore accessible educational alternatives in response to the executive order dismantling the Department of Education, focusing on resources families can use immediately to support learning outside traditional school settings. • Administration's March 2025 executive order is beginning the dismantling of the Department of Education • ACLU website details consequences to students' civil rights and access to equal education • Groups most affected include disabled students, low-income families, BIPOC students, ESL students, and LGBTQ+ students • Ways to fight back include donating to ACLU, contacting representatives via Five Calls app, signing petitions, and organizing community education programs • Big History Project offers free learning resources with more in-depth options for educators and students • World History Project connects past to present with high school AP-level content • PBS provides extensive free educational content for all ages through PBS News, PBS Kids (508 free games), and parent resources • "LGBTQ+ History Book by Big Ideas, Explained Simply" offers accessible queer history education • X-Men movie used real coming out experiences to frame mutant revelation scenes Follow trans journalist Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorning) for up-to-date information about gender-affirming care and trans healthcare across the United States. Check out our linktree If anyone is seeking a safe place for chiropractic care on Long Island, you're welcome at Sound Chiropractic in Oakdale, NY. For Chiropractic care or information, check out our link tree here directly to website here

    16 min

  6. 04/21/2025

    EP68: Solidarity Not Charity; Why Mutual Aid Is Essential for Our Collective Future

    Mutual aid represents the foundation of human civilization, beginning with our ancestors' willingness to care for each other and continuing through indigenous practices that have existed for centuries before the concept was formally named. • Origins of mutual aid as a philosophical concept from Peter Kropotkin, countering social Darwinism with the idea that cooperation, not competition, is key to survival • Distinction between charity (which reinforces us/them dynamics) and mutual aid (based on solidarity and "we're all in this together") • Historical examples including Indigenous communities, the Black Panther Party's Breakfast for Children program, and Food Not Bombs • Corporate charity reinforces the same power structures causing harm, while mutual aid challenges these systems • The first sign of human civilization was a healed femur bone, showing communal care existed before agriculture • Resource recommendations including Dean Spade's "Mutual Aid" book and websites like Big Door Brigade and Indigenous Mutual Aid • Historical fact: Recently freed African Americans created mutual aid communities in the 1700s, many later destroyed and turned into places like Central Park Check out these resources, visit your local library, and start implementing mutual aid in your own communities. The tools are on your table—now it's time to run with them. Check out our linktree If anyone is seeking a safe place for chiropractic care on Long Island, you're welcome at Sound Chiropractic in Oakdale, NY. For Chiropractic care or information, check out our link tree here directly to website here

    23 min

  7. 04/14/2025

    EP67: When They Say They've Seen This Before, We Should Listen; Learning From Our Queer Elders

    Our queer elders have crucial wisdom to share about navigating difficult times, having been through similar challenges in previous decades. • Find and get involved with your local LGBTQ center, even in small towns  • Build physical community networks of people who can actually help if things get worse • Centers provide safe spaces, resources, event information, and connections to elders • Legacy organizations like ACT UP, Lambda Legal, and the National LGBTQ Task Force continue fighting for equality • The Matthew Shepard Foundation offers abundant resources for education and support • Learn from queer history through books like "The Book of Pride" and "The Stonewall Reader" • Watch documentaries like "Paris is Burning" and "Forget Us Not" to understand our community's past • If you're scared to take the first step in getting involved, "do it scared" Check out our linktree If anyone is seeking a safe place for chiropractic care on Long Island, you're welcome at Sound Chiropractic in Oakdale, NY. For Chiropractic care or information, check out our link tree here directly to website here

    17 min

  8. 04/07/2025

    EP66: Love and Stone; Buried Queer esp Trans & Gender Non-Conforming Folx

    Death comes for us all, but as queer people we must take extra steps to ensure our identities are respected after we pass. This episode explores end-of-life planning specifically for LGBTQIA+ individuals with practical guidance on protecting your identity in death. • Iconic LGBTQIA+ graves including Leonard Malkovich's Gay Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Patricia Cronin's "Memorial to Marriage" • The formation of the "Gay Corner" in Congressional Cemetery in Washington DC • Step-by-step instructions for creating an advanced directive (living will) • How to designate a healthcare proxy and funeral agent who will respect your identity • The importance of sharing your end-of-life plans with multiple trusted people • Resources for finding LGBTQIA+ friendly funeral homes and services • Common questions about dying queer answered by lawyers and funeral professionals • Tips for ensuring your correct name and gender identity are honored regardless of legal documentation Make a day of end-of-life planning with your queer friends - gather together, have some drinks, watch movies, and complete these important documents. All the resources mentioned are available for free through our link tree under "End of Life Planning." Check out our linktree If anyone is seeking a safe place for chiropractic care on Long Island, you're welcome at Sound Chiropractic in Oakdale, NY. For Chiropractic care or information, check out our link tree here directly to website here

    33 min
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About

Life Through a Queer Lens is where queer history, lived experience, and cultural critique collide, unapologetically and with heart. Co-hosted by Jenene (she/they) and Kit (he/they/it)—two queer activists from different generations with shared values and distinct voices. This podcast brings raw, nuanced conversations to life through a blend of education, storytelling, intersectionality, and just the right amount of sass. Together, we unpack the complexity of queerness in today’s world while honoring the legacies and liberation work that brought us here. We dive into topics like evolving queer language, body autonomy, disability justice, gender euphoria, artistic expression, grief, protest, neurodivergence, and chosen family. Whether it’s deep-diving into queer-coded characters in the arts, spotlighting underrepresented voices in our LGBTQIA+ umbrella, or making sense of headlines and harmful legislation, we’re here to ask the hard questions and hold space for real answers. Kit brings firsthand insights as a disabled, autistic, trans masc non-binary person; Jenene brings an artistic and strategic lens from their work in queer performance spaces and nonprofit leadership. Together, we hold a commitment to uplift all marginalized communities, knowing that no one is free until we all are. We speak to those who’ve lived it, those who are living it, and those ready to listen deeply. No rainbow capitalism here. Just real, messy, brilliant queer truths. If you’re craving layered conversations that honor the past, question the present, and dream toward liberation, pull up a chair. This is radical, curious, layered, liberatory queer storytelling. Queer, allied, learning, unlearning, or somewhere in between, you’re welcome here. This is Life Through a Queer Lens. Welcome.

Information

  • Creator
    Jenene & Kit
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Life Through a Queer Lens
  • Show Website
    Life Through a Queer Lens