Queer Queeries Nick Eibler

On the Season 2 finale of Queer Queeries, we reflect on what this past season has taught us in terms of creating a foundation for future generations to build on, being an ally v.s being an accomplice, and protecting our joy so that we can continue to fight for true equality.

Follow:
Qween Jean
Sis
Ianne Fields Stewart

Resources for Further Learning:
What's the Difference Between an Ally and Accomplice?

Show Produced by Nick Eibler

Edited by Addison McKissack

Theme Song written by Matt Gregory, Colin Egan, and Mike Hubbard 
Produced by Colin Egan and Mike Hubbard

Logo Design by David Pavón

"What are specific mental health challenges queer people deal with?" "How can we cope?" "How is the field of social work broken?" "How can we, as a community, take care of each other?"

On this final interview of Season 2, I interview healing justice practitioner, licensed clinical social workers and founder and executive director of the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network, Erica Woodland (he/him). Erica and I get into discuss journey of taking care of our mental health and that specific journey for queer people and the challenges we face. Erica shares how he knew form a very young age he wanted to of service to his communities in some capacity. he felt responsible because of the support he got and because he wanted to help correct a system that isn't set up for black folks to succeed. It was through his journey of unlearning outside of his formal schooling, which was taught through a white, cis, heterosexual, ableist lens and recognizing the need to center healing in the journey to repair the relationship between the medical field and Black and Indigenous folks, that led him to see the need for a resource that connected queer and trans folks of color to practitioners in their community. This resource being the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network. In addition to talking about the creation of NQTTCN, Erica shares his own approach to mental health in his practice and with his clients, and we discuss the idea of meaning making and understanding generational trauma, de-centering therapy as the only form of healing, the impact of this past year on all of our mental states, and what we can do moving forward to heal ourselves, community, and world.

Follow Erica:
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Website

Organization of the Week: NQTTCN
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Show Produced by Nick Eibler

Co-Produced/Edited by Addison McKissack

Theme Song written by Matt Gregory, Colin Egan, and Mike Hubbard 
Produced by Colin Egan and Mike Hubbard

Logo Design by David Pavón

"What is the inspiration for you music?" "How has your queer identity grown through your music?"  "Have you dealt with queer-phobia in the music industry?" "How can we make more space for queer recording artists?"

On this episode, I interview a singer and songwriter in the hip-hop scene, Niambi Ra (she/her). Growing up, Niambi was always exposed to the arts and an array of queer people in it, in her hometown of Washington D.C. Niambi shares specifically how she witnessed positive examples of Queer Black love and how that had a positive impact on her own coming out journey. She shares how her mother was a dancer, and it was inevitable that she would go into some kind of art. She found and fell in love with music and also acting and ended up attending NYU for musical theatre. Niambi then goes on to share how being a musical theatre performer used to be something she would hide but now it's something she owns because she recognizes the strengths it gives her. Niambi shares her own journey as a queer recording artist and how her ownership of her identity evolved as she created more music and showcased her queerness in her music videos, particularly her most recent song "Guidance." Throughout the episode, we discuss many things such as: queerness and camp in the music industry, how the act of queer people being themselves is political, double standards between men and women in the industry, the unsureness the industry has about where to put gender non-conforming folk, and much more.

Follow Niambi:
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YouTube

Organization of the Week: National Queer Theater
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Show Produced by Nick Eibler

Co-Produced/Edited by Addison McKissack

Theme Song written by Matt Gregory, Colin Egan, and Mike Hubbard 
Produced by Colin Egan and Mike Hubbard

Logo Design by David Pavón

"What is activism?" "What is the intersection of art and activism?" "How has social media affected activism and the spread of information?" "How do we all show up for Black lives?"

On this episode, I interview Marla Louissaint (she/her), a Haitian-born performer, published model, activist, abolitionist, visionary, and life-long student who is also the founder of the non-profit Claim Our Space Now. Marla didn't anticipate being an activist, or "artivist" as she likes to say. She says how it is something the ancestors chose for her because she had many things she wanted to say and people needed to hear them. Marla shares how the lynchings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and far too many black bodies at the beginning of 2020 was "the straw that broke her back." She decided from this moment that she had to do something to get those not just in her communities but all in for the fight for Black lives. Marla shares her 2020 journey: from sending a call out to various Jimmy Awards (The National High School Musical Theatre Awards alum) to call out James Nederlander (who the awards were named after) who had been revealed to have donated significant funds to Donald Trump's campaign. The goal was for him to donate funds to various Black Lives Matter organizations and to stand in solidarity with the black and brown alumni who had gone through his program. Marla shares how this initial spark led her to founding her non-profit Claim Our Space Now, who's mission is to provide resources and aid in the fight for Black lives.

We also discuss:
The necessity for all to get in on the fight against racism in all fields: medical racism, environmental racism, educational racism, etc.Questioning the systems around us and where our funds are actually going.The use of social media to spread information and also the racism that keeps Black, Brown, and Queer creators down.Claiming space and knowing who you are so you can be intentional with your life.
Follow Marla:
Instagram
Twitter

Resources for Further Learning:
How Marla Louissaint is Making the Revolution Irresistible from Playbill.com
1619 podcast

Organization of the Week: Claim Our Space Now
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Donate

Show Produced by Nick Eibler

Co-Produced/Edited by Addison McKissack

Theme Song written by Matt Gregory, Colin Egan, and Mike Hubbard 
Produced by Colin Egan and Mike Hubbard

Logo Design by David Pavón

"When did you first see a trans character in performance?" "Why is there such a lack of inclusion of trans performers in theatre?" "How do we hold institutions who have failed and done harm accountable?" "How can we grow?"

On this episode, I interview singer, actress, producer, director, writer, activist, and winner of the Human Rights Campaign Visibility award in January of 2020, Aneesh Sheth (she/her). Aneesh shares how her first exposure to queerness was when a sari (a garment from the Indian subcontinent traditionally worn by women) was put on her at a young age, and she recalls feeling very comfortable in it.  She also shares how her exposure to Hijra culture made an impression on her as to how society viewed those outside of the gender binary. It was then through her journey of working on the role of Sweetie in the musical Bombay Dreams that she learned about her own gender identity and also how trans characters and actors were viewed in theatrical spaces. Aneesh and I discuss how the theatre has progressed in terms of inclusion, how we can hold institutions accountable for making sure to do this work, the impact this past year has had on artists, and advice for trans and gender non-conforming artists who feel stifled by the inaccessible theatrical industry.

We also discuss: 
How trans characters have developed in theatre and why there is such little progressHow to be inclusive of trans, gender non-conforming, actors with disabilities, and many other minorities in revivals of shows.How to successfully develop shows with trans characters in them.The issue of accessibility in theatre...and much more.

Follow Aneesh:
Instagram
Website

Resources for Further Learning:
An Open Letter: A Statement to the Public Theatre by Aneesh Sheth
Aneesh Sheth receives HRC's Visibility Award

Organization of the Week: The Next Generation Project
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Donate

Show Produced by Nick Eibler

Co-Produced/Edited by Addison McKissack

Theme Song written by Matt Gregory, Colin Egan, and Mike Hubbard 
Produced by Colin Egan and Mike Hubbard

Logo Design by David Pavón

"How did you know you were non-binary?" "How do you explore gender?" "What is the difference between gayness and queerness?" "How can cis people be better allies to trans and gender non-conforming folk?"

On this episode, I interview actor, writer, and a light of a human, Colette March (they/them). Throughout the episode, Colette shares how for the beginning of their time identifying they identified as a gay man to eventually identifying as someone who is non-binary, more so on the trans femme side. We discuss things such as how one's queer identity isn't all we are but how it informs how we live in the world; how cis people can be better allies to trans and gender non-conforming folk; and what advice they have for those wanting to explore their gender but aren't sure how.

We also discuss:
Growing up in the age of the internet and how that was many of our first introduction to what queerness was.Homophobia in the public eye and why it's necessary for celebrities to be visible with they ally ship.Microaggresive language towards trans and non-binary people.The issue with the ideas of Normalization and Tolerance....and much more.

Follow Colette:
Instagram
TikTok

Organization of the Week: The Center
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Show Produced by Nick Eibler

Co-Produced/Edited by Addison McKissack

Theme Song written by Matt Gregory, Colin Egan, and Mike Hubbard 
Produced by Colin Egan and Mike Hubbard

Logo Design by David Pavón