Podcasts about trans equality

This episode…is part 2 of Self Defense in the Queer community series and we discuss the reality of physical and political threats to the transgender citizens in our country. Host Ti Cersley talks about threats to trans lives during the Trans Day of Visibility march in NYC. Also, a special interview with Libby Edwards and her dear friend and trans man, Conor about his experiences with threats, assaults and the reality of contemplating arming up. June is Pride and GVP month, so we've teamed up with Amnesty International and A4TE, Advocates for Trans Equality for a webinar “GUN VIOLENCE & THE EFFECT ON THE LGBTQI + COMMUNITIES” on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 8pm EST. You can register here: bit.ly/43BGzn8. IN MEMORIAM: Jonathan Joss, 59 years old, 6/1/25, San Antonio, Texas

Jordan and Brooke take a breather from blockbusters for a special Pride Month episode celebrating almost 5 years of the podcast (wtf). Cry along with us and writer Phil Iscove (Podcast Like It's...) in an episode full of personal revelations, living life to the fullest, love and withholding love, connecting with your parents as adults, realizing how much fucking paperwork is involved in death, and gushing over on-screen dog star Arthur and his cute lil subtitles.Follow us on Twitter, Bluesky, and IG! (And Jordan's Letterboxd / Brooke's Letterboxd)Follow Phil on Twitter, Bluesky, Patreon, and listen to Podcast Like It's the 2000s!In celebration of Pride Month, support Advocates for Trans Equality alongside us.For privacy & ad info, visit: audacyinc.com/privacy-policy/

On this episode of the Rules of the Game podcast (the first in an eight-part, issue-specific podcast series), we'll discuss recent headlines impacting the LGBTQ+ community and explain how nonprofits can take action with legislative, executive branch, and judicial branch advocacy. From responding to executive orders to initiating litigation, nonprofits across the country are standing up to fight for our rights. This episode will highlight their work and provide information about the rules that apply when nonprofits engage in advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.   Attorneys for this episode Natalie Roetzel Ossenfort Sarah Efthymiou Brittany Hacker   Show notes ·      Current Events/EOs: o   PFLAG Policy Matters Newsletter-federal and state-by-state legislative and litigation actions o   One EO creates Narrow definition of sex as binary male or female and has multiple other impacts §  Directs HHS secretary to end coverage for gender-affirming care through the Affordable Care Act §  Plans to move trans women in federal custody to men's prisons o   Attempting to stop gender affirming care for people under 19 o   Banning transgender people from serving in the military o   Administration terminated grants funded by the NIH focused on LGBTQ+ health issues. Planning to shut down the HIV prevention division of the CDC. o   Attacks on DEI initiatives and other generally bad EOs: dismantling department of ed, eliminating funding for nonprofits ·      Advocacy o   Non-partisan 101: cannot support or oppose candidates for office o   Educating the public: stay updated on changes to law §  Lead or attend trainings and conferences §  March 31 is trans day of visibility §  Orgs like HRC and PFLAG are doing a great job tracking and reporting on EOs and changes to laws o   Executive branch advocacy: §  EO advocacy is not lobbying under tax code definitions §  Oppose executive cabinet actions: submitting comments to proposed regulation changes like the State Department gender markers. Advocates for Trans Equality and others made easy guides and platforms on how to do this. o   Hold a rally: SCOTUS rally April 2 for case about access to Planned Parenthood services through Medicaid (Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic) o   Litigation: §  Almost all of Trump's actions affecting the LGBTQ+ community are already being heard in the courts and are currently on hold §  PFLAG v. Trump: challenging EO that withholds funds from medical providers that provide gender-affirming care for people under 19 (currently have a preliminary injunction) §  Federal judge granted preliminary injunction halting the trans military ban: NCLR and GLAD lawsuit §  Ohio state appellate court ruled the state's gender-affirming care ban unconstitutional ·      Lobbying o   Tax Code Lobbying 101: Public charities can lobby! Track and report your local, state, and federal lobbying and stay within your limits.   o   Federal trans athlete ban: was brought up and failed to advance in the Senate—lobbying win! o   Emphasize state-level work, local laws, ballot measures §  Sanctuary cities for trans healthcare §  Make protections for LGBTQ+ community greater than what the federal law requires o   Remember: §  State / local level lobbyist registration and reporting requirements may apply when engaging in legislative and executive branch advocacy. §  Ballot measure advocacy could implicate state / local campaign finance and election laws.   Resources ·      Pride and Equity: The Advocacy Playbook for LGBTQ+ and HIV Communities ·      Public Charities Can Lobby (Factsheet) ·      Practical Guidance: what your nonprofit needs to know about lobbying in your state  

In the United States, there are an estimated 1.6 million people who identify as transgender, which is about 0.6% of the population ages 13 and older.  It's about the equivalent of the population of Phoenix, Arizona; it's just about how many people said on the US Census in 2021 that they are Japanese.  Of course this population matters – AND, it's not a large percentage of our American population.  Yet the inordinate number of laws that have already been passed or changed since #47 was re-inaugurated, ones that harm the transgender community and the individuals and families in it, is astounding. In other words, although this group doesn't comprise a large percentage of our American population, it is being disproportionately targeted by this administration.  The cruelty is the point, sure. But what can we do about it? How can we be an ally? Let's start with organizations to support. If you have the ability to donate or volunteer, here are a few that we like: the Transgender Law Center, Advocates for Trans Equality, The Trevor Project, The Trans Lifeline, and GLAAD. Also, you'll want to make sure to check what organizations are available locally as well, as it will be your local communities where you can have the most impact. Next, listen to this episode - or re-listen, if you heard it come out before. Buy Schuyler's book. Tell all your friends. We have to talk about what it means to be transgender, and how the transgender lived experience differs from ours, if we want to truly be allies and not just performatively say we are. This is where we say, and mean it: all of us, or none of us. We hope you listen, and take action. What to listen for:  Intersectionality, and Schuyler's own experience growing up biracial   The importance of exploring why you are who you are, for ALL of us, when it comes to gender  The quick take-down of the arguments from people working to push trans women out of women's sports A bullet pointed list of what NOT to say to transgender folks [TIMESTAMP PLEASE] How to remind yourself of joy and a sense of thriving in the world, when it gets rough What Schuyler wants cisgender, heterosexual women to do differently, once you listen to the episode  About Schuyler:  Schuyler Bailar (he/him) is an educator, advocate, and bestselling author who made history as the first transgender athlete to compete in any sport on an NCAA Division 1 men's team. Originally recruited to swim for the Harvard women's team, Schuyler made the difficult choice to transition while potentially giving up the prospect of being a women's NCAA Champion. His story has appeared everywhere from 60 Minutes to The Washington Post and the Ellen Show. Schuyler's tireless advocacy has earned him numerous honors, including Forbes 30 Under 30 and the Out 100. In 2023, Schuyler's critically acclaimed nonfiction bestseller became the preeminent resource on trans inclusion, He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters. Schuyler's works include his middle-grade novel Obie Is Man Enough, his online gender literacy training LaneChanger.com, and his hit podcast Dear Schuyler, including exclusive interviews with trans icons and allies like Lia Thomos, Dylan Mulvaney, Rafael de la Fuente, and many more. Resources Follow Schuyler on Instagram @pinkmantaray  Consider donating to Schuyler's non-profit, which is underwriting a retreat for transgender athletes in May 2025 (and if you want more information, send us an email): https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=SKPQ7DUZXATAL How else can you support transgender lives? https://www.them.us/story/orgs-fighting-back-anti-trans-legislation 

Send us a textWho's really behind Therapy First and Gender Exploratory Therapy?In this episode, licensed clinicians Juniper & Laurel discuss the key figures leading the charge against gender-affirming care, diving deep into their backgrounds, affiliations, and influence on trans healthcare policy.From Stella O'Malley to Sasha Ayad, Lisa Marciano, and the Killarney Group, we investigate how these leaders shape the gender-critical therapy movement, their ties to anti-trans rhetoric, and their opposition to medical standards set by WPATH. Gender Exploratory Therapy has been labeled a conversion therapy and we continue to share evidence of why in this part 2 companion piece to the organizations behind Therapy First. 

Send us a textSend us a textHey friends! In this quick update episode, Laurel drops in to share where she and Juniper are in the process of producing the gender exploratory therapy series (spoiler alert…it's a lot more of an in-depth and lengthy process than we anticipated!), and lets everyone know about CMH's winter break.Don't forget that our fundraiser for Advocates for Trans Equality is ongoing! See the links below to direct you straight to where you can purchase these merch items.We hope you have the end to 2024 that you most need, and we will see you in the new year! ✨

Advocates for Trans Equality's Josie Caballero serves as the Director of Voting and Elections at the nation's leading Trans organization. She builds coalitions, develops policy, and advocates to enhance the visibility and understanding of transgender issues.

The 2024 elections are only three months away, and turning up at the polls is critical. But the complex landscape of voter ID laws across the U.S. can make voting a challenge. This week, Imara takes a look at the proliferation of these laws, and the potential disenfranchisement of trans voters whose name, gender markers, and appearance may not match voter registration records. First, she talks with NBC Out reporter Jo Yurcaba about the barriers to updating government IDs across different states and the potential impacts on everything from school board elections to the presidential race. Next, she's joined by Josie Caballero from Advocates for Trans Equality, who shares advice and resources to help make sure everyone is able to cast their ballot in November.To get more information on updating your ID, registering to vote, and casting your ballot, check out the following resources:VoterRiders: visit https://www.voteriders.org/pride/ or call/text their voter ID hotline at 844-338-8743TRANSform the Vote: https://transformthevote.org/votingTransLifeline's ID Change Library: https://translifeline.org/resources/id-change-library/Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, X, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on X (@ImaraJones) and Instagram (@Imara_jones_)Follow our guests on social media!MJ McClure: X (@seed_the_vote) and Instagram (@seed_the_vote)Jo Yurcaba: X (@JoYurcaba) and Instagram (@JoYurcaba)Josie Caballero: X (@josierosec) and Instagram (@josierosec)TransLash Podcast is produced by Translash Media.Translash Team: Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway. Xander Adams is our senior sound engineer and a contributing producer.This episode was sound engineered with help from Lucy Little. Oliver Whitney and Courtney Cobb are our social media producers.Theme Music: Ben Draghi and ZZK records. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we venture down the dusty halls of the libraries of Austermeer in Margeret Rogerson's "Sorcery of Thorns". Grimoires, sorcerers, demons and feisty teenage girls abound - join us in our discussion of this fun jaunt through the hallways of ancient libraries, enchanted houses and demon-infested mansions. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:16 - Life Updates 05:26 - The Blurb for Sorcery of Thorns 06:43 - Our Discussion of Sorcery of Thorns 01:05:41 - The Book We Will Be Discussing Next Time 01:08:37 - Outro Other Books Mentioned: Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab Crescent City Series by Sarah J. Maas Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBride Links: ⁠Margaret Rogerson⁠ on Goodreads Margaret Rogerson on ⁠Instagram⁠ Margaret Rogerson's ⁠website⁠ ⁠Reading Materials⁠ on Goodreads ⁠Lucia⁠ on Goodreads ⁠Corrie⁠ on Goodreads ⁠Reading Materials⁠ on Instagram

What is it like to serve in state government as the very first trans elected state senator in US history when transgender Americans are under brutal attack across the country? Today we find out with special guest Sarah McBride. Sarah is an activist and politician who has been a Democratic member of the Delaware Senate since January 2021. She was previously the National Press Secretary of the Human Rights Campaign.  She has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in her role as senator. She has spoken out against discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and has worked to pass legislation that would protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people. She is also the author of the memoir "Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality." The book tells the story of her life and her journey . We also talk to journalist Dawn Ennis about a faux "anti-trans expert" making the rounds on Fox News shows claiming to be a former counselor to LGBTQ teens. The only problem- none of the therapy centers she claims to have represented ever heard of her. .   With co-host Brody Levesque 

What is it like to serve in state government as the very first trans elected state senator in US history when transgender Americans are under brutal attack across the country? Today we find out with special guest Sarah McBride. Sarah is an activist and politician who has been a Democratic member of the Delaware Senate since January 2021. She was previously the National Press Secretary of the Human Rights Campaign.  She has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in her role as senator. She has spoken out against discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and has worked to pass legislation that would protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people. She is also the author of the memoir "Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality." The book tells the story of her life and her journey . We also talk to journalist Dawn Ennis about a faux "anti-trans expert" making the rounds on Fox News shows claiming to be a former counselor to LGBTQ teens. The only problem- none of the therapy centers she claims to have represented ever heard of her. .   With co-host Brody Levesque 

Masen Davis is a human rights activist who has spent the last 30 years advocating for LGBT rights. He came out as a transman in the mid-1990s and soon became active in the Southern California trans community, where he helped organize the 1999 Forward Motion conference for FTMs in Burbank and launch FTM Alliance of Los Angeles (now Gender Justice LA) with many of the conference organizers. Since then, he's served in leadership roles at the Transgender Law Center; GATE (Global Action for Trans Equality); the International Trans Fund; Freedom for All Americans; and Transgender Europe.

Today we are joined by the amazing, Miss Jai. We are here to discuss trans rights as well as learn more about Miss Jai. Miss Jai is known as a public speaker. She specializes is teaching the healthcare world more about how to support, treat and understand our transgender and non binary friends. You can find Miss Jai online at askmissjai.com, on Instagram @askmissjai, and on linkedin @missjai. Miss Jai had a lot of suggestions for trans causes you can support. There are links to each below. Trans Empowerment Initiative in Kenya supports trans youth in places where being queer can be a death sentence.  Lambda Legal provides legal resources for queer individuals and fights anti-gay legislation in court. National Center for Trans Equality provides detailed information about transgender and non-binary individuals as well as lobbies for more progressive legislation. Locally, the Thornhill Lopez Center in Tucson and the One in Ten Chapter in Phoenix provide sexual education and resources for queer youth. Both are looking for donations and volunteers.  This month we made a donation to activist Erin Reed's substack, which is doing an amazing job tracking and drawing attention to trans legislation.  Not to be bleak or anything, but we're in a genocide right now, y'all. Send her some money here. Support the show

As we honor and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month, Dr. Christina Greer gets to know Tony-nominated actress L Morgan Lee from Broadway's breakout hit 'A Strange Loop.' Lee talks about her commitment to supporting transgender youth and shares the story of a surprise Facebook message that changed her life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trans people in Pakistan often face rejection from their families and extreme poverty. Some of them resort to begging to survive and rely on trans protection centers for refuge and community.

No Person is an Island - LGBTQ+ Leaders are everywhere! We speak with Tamara Adrián, a Venezuelan lawyer, professor, author and polyglot advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Tamara was the second transgender person elected to a national legislature in the Western Hemisphere and has been involved in basically all strategic litigation concerning LGBTQ+ rights in Venezuela and Latin America. She knows that no one does this work alone and stresses collaboration among people, respect, and fighting for our common humanity. Find out how Tamara came to "cherish this idea that everyone is able to contribute to the common good." Guest Biography Tamara Adrián is a lawyer and law professor, and has been a Lawmaker in the National Assembly of Venezuela where she was elected in 2015. Tamara was the first transgender person elected to office in Venezuela, and only the second transgender member of a national legislature in the Western Hemisphere. She is a retired professor for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs at the Andrés Bello Catholic University and a professor at the Central University and the Metropolitan University of Venezuela. She is a prolific author of articles and books relating to matters she teaches, as well as LGTTTBI law. In addition, Tamara is the President for the Committee of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO-T) and is the President of the Board of Directors of GATE: Global Action for Trans Equality. Tamara served as the Co-Secretary General Alternate from 2013 to 2015 and the World Trans Secretary of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) from 2010 to 2013. She is a member of the Scientific Committee for the Chair Human Rights and Sexuality of the UNESCO and a member of the Board of Directors of WPATH.

Nicola Sturgeon has condemned some placards displayed at a rally protesting against the UK Government's veto of Scottish legislation to reform the gender recognition process. Scotland's First Minister was questioned at a press conference on Monday at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh on the signs at the Rally for Trans Equality in Glasgow on Saturday --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/talktv/support

Happy Pride Month! The month of June (and every month!) is a great time to celebrate the beauty of the LGBTQPIA+ community. In this week's episode, Alyssa notes that while we certainly have come a long way in gaining rights for the LGBTQPIA+ community, there is still very far to go in terms of achieving true equality. For example, many of our states still recognize the lethal "Gay Panic Defense". Alyssa also includes a personal note on her own experience with coming out for the first time this year.    Source Material: https://people.com/human-interest/pride-month-explained-pride-month-facts/   https://lgbtqbar.org/programs/advocacy/gay-trans-panic-defense/  Donate to the Human Rights Campaign Donate to The Trevor Project Donate to the National Center for Transgender Equality   Check out the Light After Trauma website for transcripts, other episodes, Alyssa's guest appearances, and more at: www.lightaftertrauma.com Want to get more great content and interact with the show? Check us out on Instagram: @lightaftertrauma We need your help! We want to continue to make great content that can help countless trauma warriors on their journey to recovery. So, please help us in supporting the podcast by becoming a recurring patron of the show via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lightaftertrauma   Transcript: Alyssa Scolari [00:24]: Everybody, welcome back to another episode of the Light After Trauma podcast. I'm your host Alyssa Scolari. Super excited to be here because it is Pride Month. And that is exactly what we are talking about. This episode, we are talking about Pride. We are talking about the importance of Pride, and we are talking about why we need to continue to advocate for the LGBTQ community. I'm really, actually, a little bit anxious about today's episode, because I am going to be talking about things that I have never spoken about before. And so I'm a little bit nervous as we get into it, but we are just going to dive right in. Although before we do that, just some housekeeping stuff. So if you have not done so already, please leave a review for the podcast. Reviews, ratings go such a long way in terms of helping the podcast to reach a greater audience. And I really feel strongly that everybody deserves some kind of access to free mental health education, information, and support. Alyssa Scolari [01:43]: So the more reviews and ratings we have, the greater access people can have to this podcast. And it would mean the world to me. So if you have not done so already, please do so. I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if you are interested in becoming a Patreon member, you can check out the show notes where you can just click right on the link and you can donate as little or as much as you would like to the podcast. You can become a monthly Patreon member, or you could just do a one time donation, anything would be greatly appreciated. And all of the money that you donate goes directly in to helping fund the podcast and helping to keep the machine going, essentially. It costs roughly anywhere from $800-$900 a month to fund this podcast, between all of the software that we have to pay for and the editing. That is what it costs. So, again, this is not me complaining about the price. I am really fortunate enough to be in a place where I can do this, but if you are able and willing to give any amount would be greatly appreciated. Alyssa Scolari [03:04]: I hope everyone is off to a grand old week. I am doing pretty good, had a good day today. It's kind of late when I'm recording this, it's about 9:30 at night, which is pretty late for me to be doing any sort of work. But I had a burst of energy and I felt like I had a lot to say. And I was like, "I'm just a little anxious about this discussion today. You know what, we're doing it." So I made myself a cup of hot tea and here we are chatting today. So I think that as I get into this conversation, people are going to have one of two thoughts. And I think the first thought people might have is, "Why are we talking about Pride and the LGBTQ+ community on a trauma focused podcast?" And the second question people might have is, "This podcast has been going on for almost two years and I've not heard anything like this. We've never talked about this on this podcast before. Why now? Why now?" Alyssa Scolari [04:22]: And I'm going to answer that question, but first we're going to answer the question of why is this topic on a trauma focused podcast? Truthfully, I don't know the background that you come from wherever you're listening from. I don't know. I do know this though. Some people think, they have this thought of like, "Oh, okay, it's 2022 and all LGBTQ+ people are accepted and there's no need for any of this Pride or anything like that." And then other people, I think, live in environments and communities where it's in their face every single day, just how far we still have to go in terms of getting equality for this community. Now I want to address the people who might feel like we do have equality because unfortunately we just don't. Things are becoming maybe a little bit better, although in some ways I absolutely question even that. It feels like we are going back decades. Alyssa Scolari [05:40]: I know that we're a little bit better in terms of representation, but we're still not there. Growing up, how likely are we to see, when we watch movies we see straight families. When we read books, it's about straight families. Everybody identifies as either male or female. The male and the female get together. They get married, they have children, they usually have one boy, one girl. Anytime we so much as maybe pick out Christmas cards and we're looking at stock images online and we see the same kind of family members in stock images. We see a man, we see a woman that we presume are the husband and the wife and then we see their very straight children. Non-gender, queer, male, female. What have you? It is so rare for any of us, even today to pick a movie out and have it be a movie where there are two dads or a movie where there are two moms or a movie where a child is transgender. Alyssa Scolari [06:57]: It's so rare to go on the internet and search family photos and see families that look any different than a man and a woman and their children. We still have churches who are vehemently against the LGBTQ community. I actually, today, saw an image surface as a reaction to Pride Month. Somebody who doesn't believe that LGBTQ folks should have rights, drew this photo and it's a response to the Pride rainbow flag. The rainbow that is the symbol of Pride and the symbol of LGBTQ folks. Somebody actually drew a picture of a man and a woman. Alyssa Scolari [07:47]: And in between the man and the woman, they're holding hands with their two kids. They're little stick figures and they're holding an umbrella and they're shielding themselves and their children from basically a rainbow flag, rain that looks like it's coming down. All that image is to say, "We don't believe in this. We don't respect these people. And we are going to do everything in our power to shield ourselves and our children from the LGBTQ community." It is still so dangerous out there for folks who identify as LGBTQPIA+. Homophobia and transphobia and the like have dated back for centuries and part of the reason, well, the main reason that we have Pride Month is because of what happened in the Stonewall Uprising. So for those of you who don't know, the date was June 28th, 1969 in New York City's West Village. Alyssa Scolari [09:01]: The police raided a very popular gay bar that was called the Stonewall Inn. Now this was super normal for the time. This was super normal. Police did raid gay bars and gay facilities and they got arrested and this time the patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back. And what this started was a series of riots that went on for days of people protesting these riots, from people that were saying, "I deserve to have my rights. I deserve to be seen and heard. I deserve to have equality. And I matter." This was historic. And in fact, President Barack Obama in 2016, declared the Stonewall Inn a historic landmark, which is so cool because these Stonewall Riots were historic and they paved the way for people in the LGBTQ community to achieve their equality. Alyssa Scolari [10:11]: And then the year after the uprising was when the first Pride parade began and it was in June so that is where the tradition of Pride comes from. So it is so much more than just people getting together and saying, "Oh, Hey, we like the month of June." No, this is a yearly celebration. It's a yearly remembrance. It is an honor for the people who fought for LGBTQ community members to have their rights. So nearly 10 years after that was when the Pride flag was first created and it was created by a man named Gilbert Baker. And Gilbert was asked to create a symbol of Pride by a man whose name is Harvey Milk. Now Harvey Milk was the first openly gay elected politician in the United States. So he asked Gilbert to create a flag that symbolized Pride and we have the rainbow flag. Now the rainbow flag actually started out with a few more colors and then had less colors. Today, each of the colors stands for something very specific. Alyssa Scolari [11:23]: So according to a People article, red is the symbol of life. Orange is the symbol for healing. Yellow is symbolic for sunshine. Green is symbolic for nature. The blue is representative of harmony and the purple is representative of spirit. I believe the original flag was eight colors, but it is now six. As far as we've come, though, we still have so much further to go. I want to talk to you about something called the gay panic defense, and this is going to help you really get an understanding for just how far we have to go in terms of equality and just basic human rights for LGBTQ folks. So what is the panic defense, the LGBTQ panic defense or the gay panic defense? It is a freaking legal strategy and get ready because if you haven't heard of this is going to knock your fucking socks off. The gay panic defense is a legal strategy. Alyssa Scolari [12:43]: So basically what that strategy does is it asks a jury to take into account a victim's sexual orientation or their gender identity and take into account that their orientation or their identity is to blame for a defendant's violent reaction. Victim blaming much? And yes, you heard me correctly. Basically, gay panic is a legal strategy that is asking the jury to consider the fact that somebody being gay or somebody being transgender or non-binary is the reason and a good enough reason why somebody may have attacked them in a hate crime. It's basically like the offender is saying that they went like temporarily insane. They had a gay panic or a trans-panic that caused them to violently attack the victim. Tell me that's not abso-fucking-lutely insane. Alyssa Scolari [13:57]: And what's even more fucking insane is that this gay panic defense actually fucking works. It works. It has been used to get people off in the courts. People can attack people simply because they are lesbian or gay or transgender. They can then show up in court and they can say that they panicked because of somebody's gayness or because somebody's transgender and the jury can go, "Oh, okay. That sounds reasonable. You're off the hook because you had a gay panic." It makes my blood boil. It makes my blood boil. And the worst part about it is that the gay panic defense is only banned in 17 states in the United States. Meaning the rest of the country's, or I'm sorry, the rest of the states in the United States of America, if they aren't considering passing the gay panic defense, they've already passed it. The majority of the states in this country are perfectly fine with the gay panic defense. And that right there goes to show you why we need Pride Month and why we are talking about this on a trauma focused podcast. Alyssa Scolari [15:22]: Because people in the LGBTQ community are being murdered, are being targeted, are being killed simply because of who they are and our laws are basically saying that it's okay. According to lgbtqbar.org, in 2019 alone, there were 1,656 hate crimes. And this is just what we know of because there are so many more that go unreported. But just in 2019, there were 1,656 hate crimes against people for either their sexual orientation or their gender identity. And this statistic makes up 18.8% of hate crime incidents, like single bias hate crime incidents. According to research, also from lgbtqbar.org, one out of five lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the United States will experience a hate crime in their lifetime. And more than one out of four transgender people will. We know that transgender people are targeted and they're even more likely to be targeted if they are part of a non-white race. And I got to say, lately, it just feels like things are getting worse for the LGBTQ community and we need Pride more than ever. Alyssa Scolari [16:51]: I mean, look at what's happening in Florida with the 'Don't Say Gay' bill. And in Texas, where it is now considered a social services call to have a child seek transgender affirming care. It is just an absolute nightmare. And with greater and greater access to what's going on in the world through social media, kids are bearing witness to all of this and it is very clear to so many kids that it is still not safe for them to be who they are. We need Pride because there are kids and adults out there who would rather take their own lives than be out and proud about who they are because of the hate that exists and I see it every day in my practice. I see it. It is absolutely heartbreaking. There is little to no representation in schools. Teachers will get reprimanded if they say anything about it because it's considered a taboo topic, which it absolutely shouldn't be. Alyssa Scolari [18:05]: And overall, kids just feel so isolated, growing up feeling like there is nobody who represents them, feeling like it's not okay to be a part of the LGBTQ community and it is devastating. So we need Pride more than ever. And now I think to address the second question that I talked about in the beginning of this episode. The question being, why have I waited two years to talk about this? In August, the podcast will have been alive for two years, which boggles my mind to even say, and I haven't talked about this. And trust me, it's not because I don't care and it's not because it's low on my priority list. Anybody who knows me knows that the LGBTQ community is actually top priority for me. But what I'm going to say is this, and this is going to come with a warning. So if you are listening to this and you know me personally, I would think very carefully about how much you want to know about me, because I'm going to share some stuff. Alyssa Scolari [19:35]: So think about it. Feel free to hit pause and talk to me about it, because I know I have a lot of wonderful people in my life who listen to the podcast who know me personally, and you're going to learn some stuff. All right, there is your fair warning. If you are continuing to listen to this and you know me personally, you better come talk to me about this. So anyway, part of, I think, the reason why I haven't talked about this yet is you are going to notice a pattern with me, not really a pattern, but I only talk about things as I'm ready to talk about them. I bring to this podcast a level of vulnerability mixed in with my expertise and that vulnerability is really hard for me. And I have to be comfortable sharing, I have to be comfortable. And I haven't been comfortable because I have been grappling with basically where I fall in terms of the LGBTQ community. Alyssa Scolari [20:50]: Because quite honestly, I can't deny that I'm part of it. And I think it's taken me a long time to get to a place where I've been comfortable talking about it. And so I knew that one day I would share this, but I needed to give myself time to be ready and to feel comfortable and safe and secure. I grew up in this really small conservative Catholic town. Where it is so not that okay to be gay and looking back on the way I grew up, I would've never in a million years have admitted or even given myself the opportunity to explore the fact that I might be anything other than a straight, blonde girl, who's going to find a dark, tall, handsome husband and live happily ever after. I really didn't get to explore the different parts of me until I left my hometown. Alyssa Scolari [22:14]: And then I really got to reflect back on my childhood and as I did so, it really hit me that I am so not straight, so not straight. I definitely was interested in both women and men my whole life. I remember being a kid and being interested in women, but kind of writing it off and just ignoring that part of me because in my brain it was only okay to be attracted to men. And so looking back on it, I'm like, "Oh man, I was not straight. I liked women and I liked men." I was absolutely bisexual. And I remember being in high school and playing around a little bit with my gender. There was a time in high school, I think I was a sophomore. And I went to school dressing masculine and I changed my name. Alyssa Scolari [23:31]: And people were calling me Sam and I think I was definitely experimenting at the time. I remember it being like a joke with my friends and my friends were all calling me that. And I was just pretending to be a guy, whatever that means. I was acting more masculine, listen, it didn't last long. It maybe lasted a week before I was like, "Okay, this isn't me." But looking back on it that actually wasn't a joke. I was definitely experimenting with my gender. And I think that after that, I became pretty firm in my identity as a woman, with pronouns that feel comfortable to me, which are she and her, but I was still super unclear about my sexual preference. And looking back, I did some really questionable things in my childhood and my teenage years and my young adult years that I could look back on it now. Alyssa Scolari [24:41]: And I'm like, "Yeah, I don't know how nobody saw that one." Maybe people did. I don't know. I really don't know. I don't think so. But I just think it's so funny to look back on and like, "Man, there was no part of me that was a straight woman. I definitely swung both ways and I'm okay with it. I'm okay talking about it." That's the other thing we have to talk about. [inaudible 00:25:10] I'll touch on when it comes to bisexuality. Yes, I married a man. So me coming on here and talking about my preferences and who I'm attracted to doesn't make me any less in love with my husband. My husband is the person I am a 100% committed to, 110%. There's never a question of that. So I think that a lot of people have this idea in their heads that, "Oh, you know, you're already married, but then you're coming out as bisexual. Well, what does that mean? Does that mean that you don't want to be with your partner?" Alyssa Scolari [25:45]: None of that is true. Just because you find somebody and you get married doesn't mean that your sexual preference changes. I was bisexual before I got married. I just didn't know it and I'm still the same way. But the person that I choose to spend my life with is my husband. Doesn't mean that my sexual preferences or that who I'm attracted to has to change because I've gotten married. Just because you marry somebody doesn't mean you stop finding people attractive. No, that's not the case at all. So all that's to say, people who come out a little bit later in life as being bisexual after they're married or whatever, it doesn't mean anything about their marriage. Alyssa Scolari [26:37]: It doesn't mean anything at all. People who are bisexual, if they want to get married, well, chances are they're either going to marry a man or a woman or a non-binary person. But just because they marry a non-binary person doesn't mean all of a sudden they're no longer attracted to women. Just because they marry a non-binary person doesn't mean that they're no longer attracted to men. So I hope that makes sense. It has absolutely nothing to do with my marriage. David is the best thing that ever happened to me. I think that the importance of this kind of coming out for me is about claiming or reclaiming who I was when I didn't get the opportunity to be that person. I didn't get the opportunity to come to terms with that when I was younger, but I get to come to terms with it now. And it's really exciting and anxiety provoking. And it just feels like I'm letting the inner child in me have the freedom to label herself however she wants for the first time. And that is a beautiful thing. And that is part of why Pride matters. Alyssa Scolari [28:09]: That is part of why we fight to have equal rights. That is part of why we fight to be seen and heard and respected. So that's why it's taken me a little while to talk about this. I do things at my own paces. I have a lot of respect for myself and my process. And that is why it is not because I haven't cared or acknowledged it. Again, the people who are closest to me know how passionate I am and have always been about the LGBTQ community. And now I understand why, now I understand why. So, with that being said, what can we do? We know that people in the LGBTQ community are experiencing trauma and being denied their rights every single day, still we've come a long way. We have a lot further to go. I just encourage you to get involved and I don't know what that means for you. Maybe that looks like further education and research on this community. Maybe that looks like attending town halls. Alyssa Scolari [29:24]: Maybe that looks like attending parades or marches. Maybe that looks like donating. If you are able to donate, there are some amazing organizations that you can contribute to and they include the Human Rights Campaign, The Trevor Project and the National Center for Trans Equality, just to name a few. I will link those three in the show notes and I am also going to link the two articles that I used in today's episode. You can find all of that in the show notes. I hope that you enjoy today's episode. It was a tough one for me. It's hard to be this vulnerable. I thank you for listening. I thank you for being here. I hope you have a fantastic week and I am holding you in the light. Speaker 2 [30:17]: Thanks for listening everyone. For more information, please head over to lightaftertrauma.com or you can also follow us on social media. On Instagram, we are @lightaftertrauma, and on Twitter it is @lightafterpod. Lastly, please head over to patreon.com/lightaftertrauma. To support our show, we are asking for $5 a month, which is the equivalent to a cup of coffee at Starbucks. So please head on over. Again, that's patreon.com/lightaftertrauma. Thank you and we appreciate your support.

Ryan Hope, executive producer, actor and activist works with the charity, Trans Can Work. He advocates for Trans especially after his friend Dominique was killed for being Trans. He dives into his exclusive content entitled Hollywood Houseboys on the airwaves for the LGBTQAI community. The BIPOC creator, Ryan Hope was recently honored by Warner Media with The Richard D Parsons Award for his volunteer work in the community, and interviewed on CNN by Don Lemon for the effort. Tune in for this intimate conversation surrounding the trans community and equality for all. 4:39- Thinking outside of the box around being gay and getting a story told to the public 7:26- Trans Can Work- Community Activism 11:40- Understanding Trans 20:02- Being honored by HBO/Warner Media 26:07- Never Give Up- Keep Going Tell and Tell Secrets: "One of my biggest secrets is that I am so insecure" Follow Ryan: Instagram @hollyboys_LA @aglimmerofryanhope Follow Shawn Zanotti at http://www.thejourneytold.com or http://www.exactpublicity.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/publicistshawn Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/shawnzanotti https://www.thejourneytold.com/ Facebook: https://www,facebook.com/thejourneytoldshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejourneytoldshow

We take a bite out of ALL things gender in this roundtable discussion with four members of the Midwest Institute for Sexuality & Gender Diversity team. We share our earliest memories of questioning gender, overcoming feeling like trans imposters, and what our hopes are for upcoming generations of trans, nonbinary and intersex youth. Resources mentioned in this episode's intro:  National Center for Trans Equality's blog post about federal administration policy changes supporting trans communities including TSA, Social Security and passports News article about Alabama's recently passed ban on gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth  Freedom for All Americans' legislative tracker monitoring anti-trans policies proposed across the country Check out the full video from our 2021 Transgender Justice Teach-In titled “The Next Genderation: Building Liberated Futures with Queer and Trans Youth” where educators, organizers and change-makers working directly with queer and trans youth share insight for aligning with youth needs. For questions, comments or feedback about this episode: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or at sgdinstitute.org Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality & Gender Diversity Cover art: Adrienne McCormick

New findings indicate that Pluto's ice volcanoes are even weirder than we previously thought. Plus, a killer parasite is wiping out an entire species of ant in Texas… but actually it's kind of a net positive. And US citizens will soon be able to select an X gender marker on their passport.Sponsors:The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/startDeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/EngineeringLinks:There's Something Truly Unique About Pluto's Landscape, New Study Says (Science Alert)Pluto's Huge Ice Volcanoes Are Stranger Than We Realized (Gizmodo)Ice Volcanoes Reshape Pluto and Hint at a Hidden Ocean (NY Times) A Killer Parasite Is Wiping Out Hordes of Ants—in a Good Way (Wired)Biden to mark Transgender Day of Visibility with new actions (​​AP)Finally, Some Good News On Trans Rights (Charlotte's Web Thoughts) US will now offer gender-neutral X option on passports (The Verge)Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBrideThe Anti-Trans Hate Machine: A Plot Against Equality (TransLash Media)Trans Week of Visibility & ActionWatch Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launch its first New Shepard space crew of 2022 (CNBC) Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We start a brand new campaign! Our heroes are all in the underground city of Casse-Croûte Ville attempting to get a series of blueprints. Unfortunately nobody has told them they are all after the same goal. Things quickly get out of hand and a race is afoot. But who will win and what will the need to do to survive together?To learn more about the Land of Yumm, the subclasses and races follow the link below.https://www.cheesygorditanetwork.com/blog/categories/land-of-cheese-sauceListen to the Cheesy Gordita Bunchhttps://www.cheesygorditanetwork.com/cheesy-gordita-bunchJoin the Fight for Trans Equality with Mermaid!https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/Support Drinking Gourd Farms !https://www.drinkinggourdfarms.org/Suicide Prevention Helpline1-800-273-8255Produced by Nick Ortiz and Jacob CordasMusic by Karn_Kayuhttps://www.fiverr.com/karn_kayuWritten by Jacob Cordas and Alex Mendez

This week, Alice and Kim talk about trans women authors. Follow For Real using RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. For more nonfiction recommendations, sign up for our True Story newsletter, edited by Alice Burton. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Nonfiction in the News Netflix Orders White House Mystery Drama ‘The Residence' From Shondaland, ‘For the People' Creator [Variety] New Nonfiction  Tell Me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigation by Erika Krouse Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times by Azar Nafisi I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times by Mónica Guzmán Lady Icarus: Balloonmania and the Brief, Bold Life of Sophie Blanchard by Deborah Haynes Weekly Theme: Books by Trans Women Fairest by Meredith Talusan How to Fail as a Pop Star: A Play by Vivek Shraya To My Trans Sisters by Charlie Craggs Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBride Reading Now KIM: From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy by Scott Meslow ALICE: The Lincoln Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President—and Why It Failed by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch CONCLUSION You can find us on SOCIAL MEDIA – @itsalicetime and @kimthedork. Amazing Audio Editing for this episode was done by Jen Zink. RATE AND REVIEW on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so people can find us more easily, and follow us there so you can get our new episodes the minute they come out.

Gender affects us all and matters to us all. We all have a gender story. And the societal rules about gender that are wired into us deeply affect the way we treat people. Otherwise why would it matter if you can't tell what someone's gender is? Gender journeys are something that trans people think about a lot. And if you haven't ever thought about your own, I highly encourage you to.Today Mikki Gillette is going to share with us a bit about her gender journey.She's also the best person I could think of to talk to you about how to show up advocate for your kids, hopefully changing some of the messages that they'll receive about their own gender and their worth as a transgender person in America.Mikki Gillette is the Major Gifts Officer at Basic Rights Oregon, the state's LGBTQ policy and advocacy organization. A transgender woman, she's helped organize the Portland Trans March and the City of Portland's Trans Day of Visibility event. Last year, Mikki also testified at the state legislature in support of the LGBTQ Panic Defense Ban.Mikki is also a playwright whose works have enjoyed readings across the city. She was named a 2020 Queer Hero by GLAPN Northwest.Check out the full episode to hear about:How your trans kiddo can only be the expert on how they're feeling right now Why you need to undertake your own education on trans issues, plus recommended resourcesWhy your kiddo needs to know you're on their journey with themHow connecting with other parents and getting involved can help when you feel powerlessFind out more about Mikki Gillette and Basic Rights Oregon:Basic Rights OregonBasic Rights Oregon: Fierce Families NetworkFacebook: @BasicRightsFind out more about Mackenzie Dunham:Wildheartsociety.orgwildheartsociety.org/downloadsWild Heart Society on FacebookWild Heart Society on InstagramResources:Raising the Transgender Child: A Complete Guide for Parents, Families, and Caregivers, Michele Angello and Ali BowmanBecoming Nicole: The Inspiring Story of Transgender Actor-Activist Nicole Maines and Her Extraordinary Family, Amy Ellis NuttTomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality, Sarah McBride

This week, Abbey and Autumn interview April and Kim! These two badasses started an LGBTQ+, BIPOC, women owned brand where you can find gems such as the "Sleigh My Name" Christmas sweater and other fantastic pieces.  As if giving us their time wasn't enough, WunderPop also gave us an exclusive code that gives our listeners 15% off their order until December 1, 2021! So hop on over to wunderpop.shop and use the code "Sweetbabygay15" to support this amazing business! PLUS, this quarter, 10% of their profits go to the National Center for Trans Equality. So like... even better. To learn more about WunderPop, visit their website at wunderpop.shop and follow them on Instagram @wunderpopshop~Follow us on Instagram @sweetbabygaypod~Email us at sweetbabygaypod@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Sweetbabygay)

Biden and The Queen at the G7 Summit, the Delta variant, Trans Equality, America is telling corporate where to shove it, Loki and SATC. Samantha reports. wysp.us --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/atthenewsstand/support

Kat war das Wochenende über in Cambridge und Zora hatte „Begegnungen“. Aber erstmal sprechen wir zehn Minuten über einen anderen Podcast und einen Dreh aus Zoras Vergangenheit Und wie das jetzt bitte zusammenpasst erfahrt ihr in der heutigen Folge. Ansonsten gibt's wie immer viel Gelächter, viel Durcheinander und einen Einblick in Zoras Datinglife. Männer lol. ERWÄHNUNGEN: „Mit Verachtung“ Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/mitverachtung_podcast/ Drangsal - https://www.instagram.com/drangsal/ Casper - https://www.instagram.com/xocasperxo/ Lisa Volz - https://www.instagram.com/robinsparkle/ Jamie Ferkic - https://www.instagram.com/p/66fZL7PYqq/ BVG „Hauptstadtpoesie“ Spot - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILYbqr9-fqQ BVG „Ist mir egal“ Spot - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvcpy4WjZMs Degenesis - Sacrifice Everything Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Tw3KaMr8wk?autoplay=1 Mitarbeiter gone wild - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eqLCzpTcHk Reflecktoren Knick Bändern Dingens - https://www.kaufland.de/product/321605647/ Unsichtbare Frauen von Caroline Criado-Perez - https://tidd.ly/2RFj77m * Männer lol - https://www.instagram.com/p/CNct6vJMTbx/ Michi Buchinger Buchpromo Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHrcEfMHHDE Buchingers Tagebuch - https://spoti.fi/3wbWl6j R.I.P.D. Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt59JjtWFSU Pride Month - https://www.bravo.de/pride-month-was-du-wissen-musst-381806.html Pride Month bei Penguin Random House Teen - https://www.instagram.com/p/CP53_BLBEb5/ Was bedeutet LGBTI*? (tagesschau) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZmko23eb5I ————————— „Wenn Sie sich in einer akuten Krise befinden, wenden Sie sich bitte an Ihren behandelnden Arzt oder Psychotherapeuten, die nächste psychiatrische Klinik oder den Notarzt unter 112. Sie erreichen die Telefonseelsorge rund um die Uhr und kostenfrei unter 0800-111 0 111 oder 0800-111 0 222. Außerdem können Sie sich an unsere https://www.deutsche-depressionshilfe.de/krisentelefone wenden oder nach https://www.deutsche-depressionshilfe.de/depression-infos-und-hilfe/wo-finde-ich-hilfe/krisendienste-und-beratungsstellen in Ihrer Nähe suchen.“ - https://www.deutsche-depressionshilfe.de/ ————————— BUCHEMPFEHLUNGEN PRIDE MONTH: Sarah McBride - Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality (2019, KNV Besorgung) https://tidd.ly/3pDTEYJ * 
Penguin Teen - https://www.instagram.com/penguinteen/ 
* Affiliate Link (Thalia) HIER FINDET IHR UNS: Kat - https://instagram.com/katcomatose/ Zora - https://instagram.com/ichbinszora/ Eure Buchempfehlungen gerne in die Kommentare - https://apple.co/2NX1rBW Email-Kontakt: londoncallingpodcast (at) googlemail (dot) com

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments: a Christmas gift and a reading shift Current Reads: we’ve got a few unintentional book flights in this set of six and we love that! Deep Dive: we are pulling back the curtain with reading goals for 2021 and business goals for 2021, and letting you know how you can help! Book Presses: a crowd-pleaser and productivity to start the year off right As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don’t scroll down!  New: we are now including transcripts of the episode. These are generated by AI, so they may not be perfectly accurate, but we want to increase accessibility for our fans! *Please note that all book titles linked below are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!*   . . . . Bookish Moments: 1:56 - Lego Bookstore (looks to be out of stock lots of places but Lego is accepting backorders) 2:34 - Kaytee’s Instagram Lego Bookstore tour 3:56 - Sarah’s Bookshelves Winter Book Preview Current Reads: 6:03 - The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson (Kaytee) 6:16 - Fiction Matters’ Patreon 7:18 - Dark Matter by Blake Crouch 9:07 - The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry (Meredith) 12:44 - The Crimson Petal and the White by Michael Faber 13:19 - Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn (Kaytee) 16:28 - The Unadoptables by Hana Tooke (Meredith) 16:36 - Diving In Podcast 19:34 - The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune 20:08 - A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler) 21:10 - Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBride (Kaytee) 23:39 - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (Meredith) 25:48 - Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz 26:07 - A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman Deep Dive - Reading Intentions and Business Goals: 33:56 - Are you following us on Instagram? Can you help us reach our goal? 36:50 - Are you a Patron/Bookish Friend? Would you consider becoming one? If you are, tell us what you love or what you’d like to see over there. If you are not, what would make it worth it to you? 40:30 - Are there guests you’d love to hear from on Currently Reading? Tell us about them! Email us or tag us on Instagram or tag them on Instagram in our posts to start the conversation! Books We Want to Press Into Your Hands: 43:17 - Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts (Kaytee) 43:54 - The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum 45:13 - What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Laura Vanderkam (Meredith) Connect With Us: Meredith is @meredith.reads on Instagram Kaytee is @notesonbookmarks on Instagram Mindy is @gratefulforgrace on Instagram Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast.com @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com Support us at patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast

This week Alice and Kim give kudos to nonfiction authors with election victories and talk about good YA nonfiction options to read when you’re exhausted. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life., Henry Holt & Co., and Whatbook. Subscribe to For Real using RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. For more nonfiction recommendations, sign up for our True Story newsletter, edited by Alice Burton. Nonfiction in the News Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change by Stacey Abrams Our Time Is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America by Stacey Abrams Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBride New Nonfiction We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence by Becky Cooper Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America: Essays by Kiese Laymon Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May YA Nonfiction The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People, adapted by Jean Mendoza and Debbie Reese The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century by Sarah Miller Reading Now The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

YEP. We all know what this podcast is about. What's up with JK, what does it mean for readers, and are we canceling her? Email us at restrictedsectionpod@gmail.com to tell us what you think about this subject or even what you think of us! We'd love to read your email on the show. Be sure to subscribe to know right away about new episodes, and rate and review! IG: https://www.instagram.com/restrictedsectionpod/ TW: https://twitter.com/restrictedpod FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rspoddetentioncrew/ This episode featured: Haley! Haley plugged the Animorphs book series. The author is mom to a trans child and very supportive of the trans community! They're also diverse and also just good books. Danni! Danni plugged Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBride and Is Gender Fluid?: A Primer for the 21st Century by Sally Hines. Christina! Christina plugged White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo. Follow Christina on IG @yagirloftheworld and TW @tinafontina If you or anyone you know is hurt by JK Rowling's transphobic tweets or anything else and needs help, please visit Trans Lifeline or call at 877-565-8860.

Supreme Court Advocate Jayna Kothari and Tejas AP talk about trans rights, important legal judgments in India, the US and elsewhere in recent years, and the path towards gender equity and inclusion.  This is the first of two episodes hosted by Tejas on gender equity, and here Jayna unpacks the recent US Supreme judgment on LGBTQ workers’ discrimination, the decriminalisation of Section 377 in India, the 2014 NALSA vs. Union of India judgment on gender-based discrimination in India, and more. They discuss how India needs to now move beyond decriminalisation and start affirming positive rights for LGBTQ+ individuals, and pass new equality laws.  Jayna Kothari is a Senior Advocate who practices in the Supreme Court of India. She is the co-founder of the Centre for Law and Policy Research in Bangalore. Jayna had argued in the Supreme Court in the recent constitutional challenges to Section 377 and adultery, which were both decriminalized. Tejas AP (he/him/his) lives and works in Bangalore. He heads Research Communications at Azim Premji University. He works with researchers to present their findings in as engaging and accessible a manner as possible to a general audience. He is an urbanisnt to the core, indulges in fantasy cartography, and tirelessly advocates for over consumption of filter coffee.

This week, we discuss the ethics of counting, come up with some alternatives for the English word "tribe," and discover that the Torah believes in West Coast, Best Coast. Plus, we decide that two leaders are boyfriends just because. Full transcript here. You can buy Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde from your local independent bookstore. The etymology for the word "tribe" can be found here. You can also check out this report on nuclear waste signage. Also, we reference the Shrieking Shack briefly; they're "a Harry Potter re-read podcast for lapsed fans," which include us, as people who grew up with the books and the fandom and also cannot stand JK Rowling for many reasons (not least of which is the transmisogyny). Anyway, here's the episode we referenced. On a more serious note, you can also check out the results from the 2015 US Trans Survey, and the open letter from the National Center for Trans Equality's former staff on why they left. Support us on Patreon! Send us questions or comments at kosherqueers@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter @kosherqueers, and like us on Facebook at Kosher Queers. Our music is by the band Brivele. This week, our audio was edited by Lulav Arnow and our transcript written by DiCo and Jaz. Our logo is by Lior Gross, and we are not endorsed by or affiliated with the Orthodox Union.Support the show (http://patreon.com/kosherqueers)

EPISODE 5 - GILLIAN BRANSTETTER & TRANS EQUALITY On today's show we talk to Gillian Branstetter, Media Relations Manager for the Washington DC based NATIONAL CENTER FOR TRANSGENDER EQUALITY, about a variety of issues facing Trans folks in America, including the pending and critically important "Title VII" civil rights case appearing before the Supreme Court on October 8th 2019, working to uphold protections for Trans persons from being fired, simply for being Trans. For those unaware, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has traditionally protected #LGBTQ folks nationwide from workplace discrimination, even if they work in states that do not presently offer those protections, and the law is presently under attack from the present administration, and we are thrilled to hear how organizations across the country are working together to help protect and expand #TransRights! Gillian works tirelessly to help share and connect folks to the most current information regarding issues faced by transgender people today, including health care access, employment protections, identification documents, and many more. She additionally works with transgender people from around the country to promote their stories and ensure news coverage of their experiences is both accurate and fair. To learn more about Gillian and the National Center for Trans Equality, please visit https://transequality.org Please rate today's program, share your comments, and send us questions, feedback, or your own personal stories at: shoutbox@kaiharding.com. (or visit us at: www.KaiHarding.com/shoutbox) Today’s program was recorded by Matt Sauro at Bam Studios (www.bamstudios.com). The program was edited and mixed by Sven at Blue Box Studio, and our show's theme music was written and performed by Melody Jane Wachtel of the band This is a Stickup!

B. Bad Bits If you've been wanting to listen to the podcast, but didn't know where to just in, this is the perfect place to get started! I utilized this episode to lay the foundation for the need for Self Actualization. Through breaking down white supremacist capitalist patriarchy in plain language. To showcase how and why we are lead away from tapping into ourselves. This episode will serve as a year to date recap, and a foundation of the series to come! Links Instagram: www.instagram.com/bbadpr/ Twitter: twitter.com/bbadpr B. Bad Blog: www.bbadblog.com Monthly Series: www.bbadblog.com/series Subscribe to My Newsletter: www.bbadblog.com/newsletter BLK + GRN: blkgrn.com BLK + GRN IG: www.instagram.com/blkandgrn National Center for Trans Equality: https://transequality.org/issues/anti-violence List of Trans Resources from Sex Education, & Gender Justice Distruptor, Ericka Heart: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17971690879147920/ Say their Name Dana Martin Jazzaline Ware Ashanti Carmon Claire Legato Muhlaysia Booker Michelle 'Tamika' Washington Paris Cameron Chynal Lindsey Chanel Scurlock Zoe Spears Brooklyn Lindsey Denali Berries Stuckey

This week Kenny and Lance discuss the tragic shootings at the two mosques in Christ Church, New Zealand; the state of LGBTIQQA+ rights under Trump; what Project Blitz and why it scares Lance; and it's rounded with a discussion of a game Kenny and Lance love to play, and what is coming up next week. The word sh*t is standard for the couple, so just be aware if you let the kids listen. Swearing is pretty regular, if we are honest about it. New Zealand- USA Today; LGBTIQQA+ Rights in America under Trump- National Center for Trans Equality, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State; Project Blitz- The Guardian, Religion Dispatches, The Humanist Magazine, Blitz Watch; Anthem, the Video game by BioWare and EA- Anthem How to contact us: Twitter or @TheRendezbrew, FaceBook, Email: Rendezbrew@protonmail.com Where to listen to us: Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Breaker, Castbox, Pocket Casts, PodBean, RadioPublic, Stitcher, Our RSS Feed --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rendezbrew/support

You know that complex emotion, when you have to change out of your real presentation and go back to your assigned presentation?  It feels worse than just changing clothes. It's so unspeakably bad/ sad/ wrong/ unfair. Kath and Faith try to come up with a name that encompasses all these nasty painful facets.   Big thanks to listener Xan for the question.  She recommends Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBride.   Baby Faith looking super-cute back in the day.   Boy Meets Girl is Michelle Hendley's awesome movie.  Girl Meets Boy is... not.   Support us on Patreon to help us keep making great content, and to get some cool rewards—like drinks with us at Stonewall Inn! Check out our website for our latest episodes!  And watch the brand new Gender Rebels TV Youtube Channel!    Like us on  FaceBook so we can haunt your feed.    Faith's book, American Transgirl, available now!   Music by one of our favorite bands, the super cool, all-female punk band Jasper the Colossal. Download their new album "Take Your Time" and all their tracks on iTunes.   

In conversation with State Representative Brian K. Sims, former staff counsel for policy and planning at the Philadelphia Bar Association. Sims recently stepped down as both the president of the board of directors of Equality Pennsylvania and as chairman of Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia (GALLOP). Sarah McBride made history in 2016 as the first openly transgender American to address a major party convention. Also one of the first transgender people to work at the White House, she helped influence the Obama administration's stances on trans issues, served as an aide to Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, and currently serves as National Press Secretary at the Human Rights Campaign. McBride's trailblazing story has been featured in a variety of periodicals, including The New Yorker, the Washington Post, Rolling Stone, and Cosmopolitan. Tomorrow Will Be Different takes a deep dive into her tale of love, loss, and accomplishment as a doorway to a larger discussion of identity and LGBTQ rights. Watch the video here. (recorded 6/7/2018)

#amberalert, #brooklyn, #dragqueen, #jewbalations, #mysonwearsheelsJulie Tarney is an author, speaker, and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) youth.Her memoir, MY SON WEARS HEELS (University of Wisconsin Press, 2016) shared what she learned about gender identity, gender expression, and self-acceptance from her only child, Harry, and what her parenting journey with Harry, from toddler to adulthood, taught her about herself. Sharing that experience in public appearances, Julie has touched the lives of so many in diverse settings. She is devoting her life to reaching as many people as possible, with an emphasis on gender identity related topics. Her mission is to make the world safer and the future more inclusive for LGBTQ+ youth.Julie Tarney serves on the board of the It Gets Better Project, guest writes for HuffPost, and is a contributing advice columnist for My Kid Is Gay. She volunteers regularly as a speaker for PFLAG NYC‘s Safe Schools Program and is also a member of the National Center for Transgender Equality’s Families for Trans Equality network. Julie was named a “Favorite Queer Hero of 2016” by HuffPost and one of BlogHer’s “Voices of the Year” in 2015.“There are thousands of people who are just beginning this journey right now,” Tarney said. “They include parents, extended family, neighbors, educators, and co-workers. Almost all are either learning about or trying to get comfortable with issues related to gender identity. They have questions about how those issues effect the people they care about, work with, or interact with in their lives and communities. I want those people to know they’re not alone. And I’ve seen how my story can help them.”Julie has spoken to a variety of audiences in academic, workplace and other settings. She has also been a guest at LGBTQ Pride events to share her experience and expertise.A longtime resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Julie now lives in Brooklyn, New York. She can often be found cheering in the audience at her creative director and sometimes-drag-artist son Harry’s performances.

Julie Tarney is an author, speaker, and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) youth.Her memoir, MY SON WEARS HEELS (University of Wisconsin Press, 2016) shared what she learned about gender identity, gender expression, and self-acceptance from her only child, Harry, and what her parenting journey with Harry, from toddler to adulthood, taught her about herself. Sharing that experience in public appearances, Julie has touched the lives of so many in diverse settings. She is devoting her life to reaching as many people as possible, with an emphasis on gender identity related topics. Her mission is to make the world safer and the future more inclusive for LGBTQ+ youth.Julie Tarney serves on the board of the It Gets Better Project, guest writes for HuffPost, and is a contributing advice columnist for My Kid Is Gay. She volunteers regularly as a speaker for PFLAG NYC‘s Safe Schools Program and is also a member of the National Center for Transgender Equality’s Families for Trans Equality network. Julie was named a “Favorite Queer Hero of 2016” by HuffPost and one of BlogHer’s “Voices of the Year” in 2015.“There are thousands of people who are just beginning this journey right now,” Tarney said. “They include parents, extended family, neighbors, educators, and co-workers. Almost all are either learning about or trying to get comfortable with issues related to gender identity. They have questions about how those issues effect the people they care about, work with, or interact with in their lives and communities. I want those people to know they’re not alone. And I’ve seen how my story can help them.”Julie has spoken to a variety of audiences in academic, workplace and other settings. She has also been a guest at LGBTQ Pride events to share her experience and expertise.A longtime resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Julie now lives in Brooklyn, New York. She can often be found cheering in the audience at her creative director and sometimes-drag-artist son Harry’s performances.

Igor speaks with Sarah McBride, a transgender activist and author of “Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality.” McBride talks about what it was like coming out to her parents on Christmas Day; losing her husband, Andrew Cray, a transgender man, to cancer just four days after they were married, and the lessons in advocacy, politics, and relationships she has learned since. Then she speaks to the prejudice and harmful policies that the Trump administration has shown to the transgender community throughout year one and what is still ahead in the fight for LGBTQ rights.

March 8, 2018 at the Boston Athenæum. In April 2012, when transgender issues had yet to break onto the national scene, Sarah McBride made headlines—and history—when she came out publicly as a transgender woman while serving as American University’s student body president. With a viral Facebook post that announced her identity, she suddenly found herself on the forefront of a movement, fighting for positive change. Since that day in April, Sarah has continued to make history, eventually becoming the first openly transgender person to address a major party convention. Before she became the first transgender person to speak at a national political convention in 2016 at the age of twenty-six, Sarah McBride struggled with the decision to come out—not just to her family but to the students of American University, where she was serving as student body president. She’d known she was a girl from her earliest memories, but it wasn’t until the Facebook post announcing her truth went viral that she realized just how much impact her story could have on the country. Four years later, McBride was one of the nation’s most prominent transgender activists, walking the halls of the White House, advocating the passing of laws, and addressing the country in the midst of a heated presidential election. And, she’d found her first love and future husband, Andy, a trans man and fellow activist, who complimented her in every way... until cancer tragically intervened. Informative, heartbreaking, and empowering, Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality is McBride’s story of love and loss, a powerful entry point into the LGBTQ community’s battle for equal rights and what it means to be openly transgender. From issues like bathroom access to health care, McBride weaves the important political and cultural milestones into a personal journey that will open hearts and change minds.

This week we are honored to talk to the one and only Sarah McBride! In July 2016, she was a speaker at the Democratic National Convention, becoming the first openly transgender person to address a major party convention in American history. She is an American LGBT rights activist and political figure. She is currently the National Press Secretary of the Human Rights Campaign. She made national headlines when she came out as transgender to her college while serving as student body president at American University and is largely credited with the passage of legislation in Delaware banning discrimination on the basis of gender identity in employment, housing, insurance, and public accommodations.   We will talk to her about her brand new book Tomorrow Will Be Different,  Love , Loss and the Fight for Trans Equality .   Featuring our panelists Brody Levesque and Dawn Ennis.

This week we are honored to talk to the one and only Sarah McBride! In July 2016, she was a speaker at the Democratic National Convention, becoming the first openly transgender person to address a major party convention in American history. She is an American LGBT rights activist and political figure. She is currently the National Press Secretary of the Human Rights Campaign. She made national headlines when she came out as transgender to her college while serving as student body president at American University and is largely credited with the passage of legislation in Delaware banning discrimination on the basis of gender identity in employment, housing, insurance, and public accommodations.   We will talk to her about her brand new book Tomorrow Will Be Different,  Love , Loss and the Fight for Trans Equality .   Featuring our panelists Brody Levesque and Dawn Ennis.

On this week's episode of Talking Radical Radio, activist Jan Buterman talks about the struggles of trans people in Canada's most conservative province, and about his own fight against employment discrimination. For a more detailed description of this episode, go here: http://talkingradical.ca/2013/07/10/trr-tesa/

#91: Building a Speaking Career Based on Passion with Michaela Mendelsohn   Jenn T Grace:              You are listening to the Personal Branding for the LGBTQ Podcast, episode 91.   Introduction:              Welcome to the Personal Branding for the LGBTQ Professional Podcast; the podcast dedicated to helping LGBTQ professionals and business owners grow their business and careers through the power of leveraging their LGBTQ identities in their personal brand. You'll learn how to market your products and services both broadly, and within the LGBTQ community. You'll hear from incredible guests who are leveraging the power of their identity for good, as well as those who haven't yet started, and everyone in between. And now your host. She teaches straight people how to market to gay people, and gay people how to market themselves. Your professional lesbian, Jenn - with two N's - T Grace.   Jenn T Grace:              Well hello and welcome to episode 91 of the podcast. I am your host, Jenn Grace, and today, guess what? I have another interview. So we are on quite a streak. I'm actually trying to see how long I can make this streak last at this point, so we're doing pretty good. So we're on episode number 91 and I have another interview for you, and it is with Michaela Mendelsohn. I have to say this was such an incredible interview to have. Michaela is absolutely amazing in terms of the amount of work she is doing to move forward the trans community, and the exposure, and the education, and the awareness of the trans community. So she is a transgender activist, she's a public speaker, she's also been a business person for over forty years running one of the largest franchises in the western region of the US, and she's recently founded the California Transgender Workplace Program which is designed to promote transgender employment opportunities. So she literally has been involved in so many incredible things, which it was so great to talk to her because she's just so humble about the amount of things that she's accomplished. And one of the cool things that we started to talk about toward the end of the interview is the fact that she consulted with the producer of Orange is the New Black on Laverne Cox's character, and that was about five or six years ago she was saying. So she's definitely had her involvement in a lot of different things around the trans community, and we can attribute some part of how Laverne's character came out in the show to a lot of the consulting that Michaela was doing behind the scenes. So I think that's kind of a fun little fact, and we do talk a little bit about Caitlin Jenner toward the end, and what she's been doing in regards to advancement of the LGBT community, specifically the trans community, but these are two things that we just kind of briefly touch upon. We really kind of go deep into the mindset, and transitioning, and what that looks like, and transitioning even from being a business owner to being a speaker, and really it was just an amazing conversation. So if you are listening to this and you want to check out the links to Michaela's website, or to any of the organizations that we talk about, you can head on over to my website and go to www.JennTGrace.com/91, that is for episode number 91. And yeah, you can find Michaela's contact information, her website, we talk about the Trevor Project, we talk about a lot of things so there's a lot of information to be had. So without further ado, please enjoy my interview with Michaela, and reach out to her and give her some social media love because this was just an incredible, incredible interview. Enjoy the show, thanks so much.   Michaela M:                I transitioned about nine years ago, and it was a difficult transition as it is for many people who are late transitioners who have families involved, and we can come back to that if you want to hear more about it. But first I'll talk about the transition itself. You know I lived my whole life mentally feeling inside different, and when I realized that what I had to do finally after years of suppressing it and trying to make it go away, that wasn't going to work anymore because I was getting very sick. I moved forward with my transition, like I said about nine years ago. The first few years of my transition were very confusing for me in that I'd gone from- and I think this is pretty common too, I'd gone from one box to another. So here before I was confined in a place and a body that wasn't mine, but then we have a tendency I think in transitioning to then try and become that perfect billboard, in my case of a woman. So here I am, you look at women in the news, in a magazine or billboard and think, 'Hey this is who I'm supposed to be,' and you're trying to- you worry so much about what you wear, how you talk, how you dress, your mannerisms, how you look, your makeup, your hair, and even worrying about every thought I had. You don't go from being a macho male, I did a great job of that for over fifty years to cover up, and to changing all your thoughts and who you are in an instant.   Jenn T Grace:              It's a process for sure.   Michaela M:                Yeah, so it's a tough thing to do. So I created this new box for myself, and found after a few years of getting totally frustrated with that, it was even more confining than what I was in before. Until I finally was able to go inside and through some deep meditation, and working on myself, I was able to just accept all parts of myself and stop judging myself, labeling myself anymore. I really like the term that young people are using these days called gender nonconforming. I think the word transgender will even be obsolete within ten years from now because it's just another box that I think many of us put ourselves into to try and be something, some other gender in a perfect way rather than just being who we are.   Jenn T Grace:              Yeah, absolutely. So in looking at the information that I have about you that Mona was so gracious to send over, how do you go from what you're describing where it's a rough transition, because you're going from essentially one box that you've been in for fifty years, now kind of jumping into another box? I know that one of the things that she noted was that you took part in Miss Senior California. How do you go from kind of being a little bit uncomfortable in this new box to really putting yourself so out there in something like that?   Michaela M:                Well I went through extreme bullying as a child, and the chip on my shoulder that lasted, which isn't too bad most of the time, is that whenever there's a challenge presented to me, and if I'm feeling afraid of it, it tends to really motivate me where I say, 'You've got to go through this.' It makes me want to just walk through the fire. And so that was one of those things where I was doing some modeling, and one of the models had done Miss Senior California the year before and suggested it to me, and I thought, 'Well this is a great challenge, something that no transgender person had done it before,' and of course it was another mountain to climb, but also it was a way to open doors for other trans women, and that became really important to me. [Inaudible 00:07:25] and to normalize things, and to create a socio and economic playing field that's more level that we can all step into, that we don't have to feel- you know, we can break down barriers.   Jenn T Grace:              Yeah and so I know that you are now a public speaker, you've been a business person for over forty years. So how did you go- again because I think this is kind of a different type of transition in terms of a career transition. So how do you go from owning one of the largest franchises from what I'm reading, to transitioning into being an activist, and being a public speaker, and really putting yourself out there for a living at this point? So what did that feel like and what was that transition like?   Michaela M:                Well first of all I've been through so much in my life that I've always had a Buddhist philosophy that our challenges are what makes us stronger and wiser. And so I feel very fortunate that I'm at this place in my life that when I look at so many of the other trans women especially that are suffering, I just feel like I have to give back. I made a decision to devote the rest of my life to things that I would feel I could help as many people as possible. And so that's kind of my motivation right now for waking up every morning, is what I can do to help, and it just fills me up.   Jenn T Grace:              So are you still running your franchises? Or is that kind of part of your past and you're really just pursuing this?   Michaela M:                My day would make you dizzy, but I usually get in the morning about 6:00 to my little one coming in and waking me up, but that's how early my day starts and it usually goes to about 12:30 at night. I'll take about three hours out for family time from 5:30 to 8:30, and other than that I've just got so many things that I'm involved in, and running my business is still one of them, but I'm so fortunate to have great people that work for me that can do so much of that so that I can focus on these other things.   Jenn T Grace:              And speaking of other things that you're focusing on, I see that you are launching the California Trans Work Project. Can you talk about that a little bit? Because I'm sure that that is something that can make a huge, huge impact.   Michaela M:                Okay well CTWP, California Trans Workplace Project is something I started- well the idea formulated in my mind about four years ago when one of my managers hired our first trans employee, and then I sat down with her and I heard her story where she had worked for another large franchisee of a different chain, and she was even though clearly identifying as a woman was forced to use the men's restroom, and was actually molested. And then she kind of felt like, 'I've got to keep this job, I can't get another one, it's so hard for trans women to get jobs even in California.' And she was told, "Okay you can use the women's restroom but make sure no one else is in there." One day she had someone scout it out, no one was in there, she went in but afterwards another woman had gone in and went out and told her husband, "I think there's someone in there that might be a man," so he got upset and pushed the manager until the manager fired her. So that opened my eyes to the problem. I'm just lucky being a boss, of course it was emotionally a difficult thing for me to come out to 500 employees which I did all at once at a Christmas party after having disappeared for a year, but I don't have to worry about being fired or getting a job. And so these- especially trans girls who may not fit in as easily as trans men that walk into a job, I've found the more I learn and I've hired 8% of my employees now are trans, by the way.   Jenn T Grace:              That's awesome.   Michaela M:                And I started actually hiring trans people and found that they're so appreciative to be on a level playing field, many of these girls had been out there looking for a job for a year, and they were very hirable people but people would come up with different excuses of why not they were going to hire them. So California Trans Workplace Project is taking that experience now that I've had for the last four years of hiring trans people, and what it takes to create an inclusive trans environment in the workplace, and going out and educating employers. Right now we're working for instance with the California Restaurant Association, they have 90,000 restaurants here in California, 1.8 million employees. And we've put on seminars for large groups of employers, and some may bring their managers, and then once they're into that and we help educate them in seminars about trans laws and creating that environment, and then we have- we just got a grant from the state of California to do this, and we're putting together a training video, and we use that to train their managers and get them ready to start connecting them with job seekers. Our mission is to make California truly a trans positive work environment and then spread that throughout the rest of the country. We're using California as a model.   Jenn T Grace:              Wow, and my question would be for someone listening to this- my audience are primarily business owners and there's a good amount of LGBT people, but also really kind of staunch allies to the community. So for a business owner listening to this who may not have ever considered hiring a trans person; not because someone applied and they said, "No I'm not going to hire a trans person," but just because they haven't proactively thought about it. What do you think that first step could be, regardless of what part of the country they're in, what do you think that first step could be for them to educate themselves or open up the awareness to hiring someone part of the trans community?   Michaela M:                Well of course one of the things we find most effective in any of these seminars we do, is the stories, it opens hearts and minds. But the other thing is let me talk for a minute about the business case because as employers right now we can't afford to exclude any talent pool of employees. It's the hardest to find- I know in the restaurant industry, which I've been in for thirty years and I was president of a national franchise association for nine, and very involved in that industry, and I know that the statistics show that it's the hardest to find employees in the last fifteen years even with minimum wage going up. So we can't afford to exclude a talent pool. And we also have a problem in our industry especially with turnover, and now here I am bringing in people, yes trans people that have- are really very appreciative to be on a level playing field, they're wonderful with our customers, we get more customer compliments on them than any other employees, and less turnover because they're loyal and appreciative of the work, they're treated well. And no I'm not just doing it because it's the right thing to do, I'm doing it because it's great for my business.   Jenn T Grace:              Do you have any-?   Michaela M:                And I think the business owners hearing that, I hope that they'll think about that positive business side of doing this as well as doing it from the heart.   Jenn T Grace:              Yeah, absolutely it's both directions for sure. Do you have plans on raising that number for yourself personally from 8% and as far as the mission of this new organization are you trying to kind of set benchmarks and numbers to get people rallied up around to achieve those goals?   Michaela M:                Well I think 8% is already so much higher percentage than [Inaudible 00:14:13] in our population. But I think for me it's more now- we may go up or down, but for me it's more now about getting people hired and getting employers- open their hearts and minds and train their management to create that trans inclusive workplace, and to get people hired. My dream, my overall dream of doing everything I'm doing with speaking, and my work with the Trevor Project, and my work with the California Trans Workplace Project is to live to see the day where trans people are on a socioeconomic level playing field with the rest society and they can start moving past the fears they have that cause them to live day to day to survive, and the living a normal lifestyle. I mean I feel so fortunate to have a family, to have a wonderful partner, and to have a child, and three grown kids. I have my two families now have come together after years of difficulty and love each other, and I'm so, so fortunate to have that, and I think that's the life we should all have.   Jenn T Grace:              I absolutely agree. So when you're out speaking and kind of spreading this message of inclusion is really what we're talking about, what types of organizations are asking you to come speak? What type of topics are you talking on? Are they varied? What is that part of your new day-to-day look like?   Michaela M:                Well I tailor my speaking to the group. I mean, okay so I might be- like this last weekend I spoke at a Jewish congregation synagogue and I was talking about my journey not only as a trans person, but as a spiritual person, and then creating that as a metaphor for everyone in the audience to look into their own journeys because as I point out we're all in transition in our lives, and we all have things that we're afraid of, or embarrassed of, or a fear of failure that we can pull out of ourselves and become happier in our lives. My experience is just a metaphor. But if I'm speaking to a group of educators, I might be speaking to 100 school principals, and administrators from a large school district, I'm going to talk about what it was like for me growing up so they can understand the experience, to humanize it, and relate it to the kids and the parents that they're dealing with at the school and the situations they have. And it's wonderful these days that kids that are supported by their parents can actually choose their puberty because puberty is when most of these kids that commit suicide, or attempt it because they're going through a period of time that's totally adverse to who they are. They're becoming something they hate. And now parents that are supportive- and they're my real champions, these supportive parents, that help their children, they'll bring them to clinics, they'll help block the puberty that they were going to go through, and then when they're ready give them the hormones to go through the one that they were meant to. And I've been with these kids and they are just amazingly happy to have that opportunity to be who they are.   Jenn T Grace:              Yeah, especially when they're allowed to go through it when they should be going through it, versus even your transition of having to wait fifty years before that was something that was possible for you.   Michaela M:                Yeah the late transitioners that we hear so much about now, the Caitlin Jenner's and all, are going to get fewer, are going to get fewer as time goes by because we're more open to it now. I had now idea- when I was growing up the word transgender wasn't even discussed and there was no Internet or talk shows, I had no idea. I was just very confused about what I was feeling.   Jenn T Grace:              I find that I know a lot of people within the trans community, and a lot of older people, and that's so exactly what I hear all the time where it's just there was no terminology around this. There were no role models, there was no one to look to, to see that, 'Oh yeah that's what I'm feeling.' So I can totally understand what you're saying. And yeah now kids, some of them anyway, have the benefit of not having to kind of carry that burden with them for so many years of just living an inauthentic life.   Michaela M:                Yeah, we still need to get past a lot of ignorance. I don't want to get into politics but just to get help frame it, the bathroom things that are going on and the twelve states that are suing the US government over this. And when you go to these states, and a lot of them are in the south, people have very little knowledge about what transgender means. In fact many of them believe that it's all a rouse, that it's manufactured, it's a devious state of mind, or people are talked into it, or people are using it to become predators. And all of that is just so far from the truth, and if they really experience the stories- that's why I want to go out and speak more in the south because when you're in front of a group of people, and you tell your story, they get to know who you are, it's hard for them to deny the reality and the experience, and it opens their mind. But yeah, there's tremendous ignorance. In some of the churches down there that are considering gay and lesbian affirming are still not on board with trans. They say God makes no mistakes and trans people must just be [Inaudible 00:19:09] the devil.   Jenn T Grace:              I can't even wrap my head around the logic that people come up with. So when we're talking about the bathroom bills, and all of just kind of the chaos that's ensuing at least in the twelve states, can you I guess- especially from your vantage point, for somebody listening to this who may not be fully clued in as to what that's all about, could you actually spend just a couple of minutes explaining it? Because I find that a lot of people, they just have a lot of misinformation. They just see whatever picture was on Facebook or on Instagram, or whatever it is and they don't actually know the facts of what's actually happening.   Michaela M:                Well when someone is transgender they're often tempted to live in the gender who they feel they are, so they'll present- let's say it's someone who's born biologically a male and they're now dressing and presenting as a female because that's who they feel they are. If they walk into a restroom- a male restroom like that, they're in danger and thousands of them have been sexually molested like that in doing so. In a female restroom they feel safe and comfortable as long as the women there are accepting. But they're certainly in any case feel better and safer than they were in the male restrooms. The people that are against it are using scare tactics saying it's invading their privacy, and these people could be doing this- it's opening the door for sexual molesters, and child molesters, and this is all so far from the truth. Like I said there's been thousands of cases of trans people being molested, but there's never been a case where a trans person has gone into a bathroom and it's been documented that they've molested anybody. And because it's the furthest thing from their mind. A simple way to say it is they just want to pee, but they also want to be accepted and just pee. It's like statistics go off and get used against the LGBT community like when Prop 8- as a metaphor for this, when Prop 8- you're familiar with that, right?   Jenn T Grace:              Oh yeah.   Michaela M:                When California-   Jenn T Grace:              Yes, absolutely.   Michaela M:                So during the campaign they had all these commercials showing things like we're getting teachers, and PE teachers, and coaches, and Boy Scout leaders, and people that are going to molest our kids because they're gay. Right? Because they're all- gay people are all predators. When I speak, I talk about statistics. The FBI statistics, and they're not a particularly gay affirming organization, are that 97% of sexual predators, sexual molesters are heterosexual men. So the other 3%-4% are women and all others. And we preclude heterosexual men from doing anything that could be in contact with children? So it's all such a misnomer, it's all scare tactics, but it's based on fear, it's based on ignorance.   Jenn T Grace:              What do you think the outcome of these pending lawsuits against the government are going to be? Where do you think if we were to flash forward a year from now, or two years from now, what is that going to look like?   Michaela M:                Well it depends on who gets elected as president, and then who gets [Inaudible 00:21:59].   Jenn T Grace:              Yeah.   Michaela M:                Like I don't want to talk too much about politics on your show but-   Jenn T Grace:              No it's fine.   Michaela M:                Hillary's speech last night, and I actually was a Bernie supporter but I liked everything that Hillary stands for and I was thrilled by her speech, and I'm hopeful that Hillary becomes president, and that the right people stay on the Supreme Court, and if that's the case I feel that it's like any other ignorant- you know we have a Constitution- we have a Declaration of Independence and we have a constitution, and the reason for it is so that the majority can make decisions who segregate and hurt people that are in the minority just because they don't understand them, and they don't like them because they're different. And I think that we have a government now that's not letting that happen, and if things move the way I hope they will, that will continue. We've made more progress in the Obama administration for transgender people than we have in the last forty years combined.   Jenn T Grace:              It's amazing, isn't it? Do you find that it's startling sometimes to think that we're in 2016 right now and we're having the conversations that we're having, not even exclusive to LGBT, but just even race conversations? Just to see almost how backward we feel like we're going sometimes?   Michaela M:                I think for so many of us it's so disturbing to turn on the TV these days, and to see the Donald every time you turn it on, and the kinds of things that he's saying. But the amount of people that have rallied behind those messages, the messages of hate and exclusion rather than inclusion. And maybe it's just I try to step back and say a lot of this is just pushback the ones that really- behind those racial comments, that are just pushback of people that feel like their way of life is being threatened because things have moved so quickly in the last four years in terms of gay marriage rights and other rights for LGBT people that are antithesis of how they were raised and the lifestyle they feel that's under attack. But I think the young generation is really the hope. I mean the younger generations are not buying into it. It's like in the schools when the principals will tell me, "Well we have kids that come in that are supported by the parents, and they come in as first and second graders changing their genders and much, much happier." And the other kids, it takes them one day where they'll just question. They'll just say, "Well I thought he was a girl. Or I thought she was a boy." And teachers explain it, and after a day of playing with their friend and their new gender, everything is fine. But then a week later the parents rally and there's a huge thing going on because parents are upset.   Jenn T Grace:              It's ridiculous.   Michaela M:                It's the younger generation I think gets it.   Jenn T Grace:              You know what's going to be interesting, is your vantage point from the perspective that you have grown children now, and now you also have an almost three year old. So to see kind of the differences and the social acceptance and the social norms of just what's happening in your son's lifetime at this point versus your other children's. I feel like that's going to be so interesting to kind of see, to see how matter of fact this young generation- the future leaders are going to be around all of these things.   Michaela M:                Well yes it is. My wife and I were always very open minded and supportive of the uniqueness and we- you could say we leaned as liberal. And we raised our kids to be that way, and my older kids are 24, 30 and 32, and they're doing things with their lives that are very socially oriented and I'm very proud of them. I feel a lot of it had to do with their upbringing. And so there isn't going to be a huge difference from what I saw and am seeing now, but I will say that while I was transitioning, my kids because of society at large, they felt very embarrassed and worried that their life was going to turn upside down. So they hid me, you know I had to stay away from everybody that knew anything in their lives, and hide when their friends came over and such. And I think that was a sign of those times. That was a sign that they were living in a world that was different than what we were teaching them.   Jenn T Grace:              Versus how you're now youngest son, how that would have played out if we fast forwarded fifteen or twenty years.   Michaela M:                Yeah I mean now it's like he goes to preschool, and after we're done I'll take him over there, and there I'm his mommy, and it's totally okay that he has two mommies to all the kids, to all the teachers, to all the parents. I went through a ceremony at my congregation- we're Jewish, and I went through a religious ceremony this last weekend where I decided I wanted to be renamed in the Jewish religion because at eight days old a Jewish boy gets their name at a birth ceremony and I wanted to get my renamed in the Jewish religion even though seven years ago I legally had my name just changed. And then I got to speak to the congregation to kind of come out to them because I've only been with this congregation a year, and it was such a wonderful experience. The warmth, and the love, and people in the congregation who'd been there for 22 years said it was the greatest night of that whole synagogue.   Jenn T Grace:              That's amazing.   Michaela M:                And we had a trans chorus sing some songs, we did a whole pride Shabbat around it- a Shabbat, and it was a magical experience, and I don't know how possible that would have been thirty years ago. A lot of people are changing thank goodness, although this might be a little different than most. This wasn't in West Hollywood, this was in suburbia so it was so refreshing. And there were people in the congregation in their eighties that were hugging me and crying.   Jenn T Grace:              Amazing.   Michaela M:                I'm getting emotional talking about it. I cried the whole night.   Jenn T Grace:              I can see why. You know what, I think the thing is, is that we look at the media and we're horrified by what we see because the media is controlled by just a couple of people, and the reality in so many ways is what you're talking about, where there's such inclusion even in suburbia in L.A. County. Like to have that type of experience, and to be so embraced, I feel like the media would twist that around and make it look like some hate-filled act, when really all you experienced was love which is so amazing.   Michaela M:                Well I think the media here in southern California is mostly open-minded and maybe somewhat liberal minded about these things. I mean they're very supportive of this direction. I don't know how if that had taken place someplace else in the country, I think it'd be a lot more of what you're saying, yeah.   Jenn T Grace:              And how do you feel about not media's representation from a news standpoint or anything like that, but from a what we're seeing on television lately, or what we're seeing in the movies as it relates to the trans community? How are you feeling about what you're seeing and its impact on trans visibility kind of more broadly?   Michaela M:                Well a close friend of mine just nine months ago started the first trans talent agency in the country, and the roles that she's getting for people now, there's so much more interest in it now and to get it right. I actually did the consulting for Laverne Cox's character in Orange is the New Black and at that time I met with the creator, Jenji Kohan and her team of writers, and I said, "Look I-" and this was like six years ago and I said, "I don't need to be paid for this, and I don't need any credit, but I ask two things. That you get it right because so many roles have been stereotyped and make trans people look crazy or sick or sexually perverted. And the second thing was to hire a trans actress to play the role which doesn't get done hardly at all." We use people that are not trans to play trans roles in Hollywood. And to her credit, she didn't have to do either because I don't have any power over that production, but she did both and I think that character being so successful and getting so much attention- I mean Laverne Cox was on the cover of Time magazine.   Jenn T Grace:              Which is amazing.   Michaela M:                The trans tipping point. And I think that started, opened the door, and we're seeing more and more roles and interest in roles in both television and in movies and film that are real to life and not stereotype. You'll still occasionally get characters that are kind of caricatures but I think it's getting better. I think it's getting better. And the film industry is somewhat liberal minded so I don't think the judgment was there, but they do reflect a lot of what the public wants of course, it's how they make money, and it's things like Hollywood often leads the way to doors opening and minds opening. So I hope that's a good thing.   Jenn T Grace:              Yeah absolutely. And how does it feel for you to have been able to consult on such a blockbuster type of series that I feel like when- I don't know that anyone knew how big the show was going to be. So how does it feel to know that you had such an integral piece to making sure that trans representation really truly came through as it was intended?   Michaela M:                Well I have no idea. I thought the show would be successful because Jenji and her track record, and she seemed to have a great group of writers. But just I'm really pleased to see how well it went over and how that role made a difference. I'm not taking any credit for it, I think it's Jenji who made the right decisions and to do it right. And she made the role a little bit bigger than it was in the book, which to her credit I think she wanted to make a statement.   Jenn T Grace:              And I feel like Laverne Cox is such an incredible voice for the community, and I think just knowing how many people love that show, just the amount of impact that she herself is making. It's incredible to watch in so many ways just to see the power that one person has, even yourself, the amount of influence and power that you yourself have because this is something you've dedicated yourself to, to really just bringing about awareness and change across the board. It's just- it's powerful to witness.   Michaela M:                Well first of all I just feel incredibly fortunate that I can be in this position and do these things, but it's Laverne- I think was the right person at the right time, and I know she's got other big roles coming up. She's certainly taken advantage of that first well known role to become a spokesperson, and one that we greatly admire. Yes, she's made a real impact.   Jenn T Grace:              Yeah I think it's because she's using her voice for good. I feel like there's a lot of people who are kind of thrust into the limelight and they may not be the best representation for a particular community, and then they do more harm than good, and in this case I feel like Laverne has really just kind of amplified such a strong message which is so exciting. And like you said, being on the cover of Time is just such an amazing kind of nod.   Michaela M:                You know when a magazine takes that chance and does that, they're part of the tipping point. They help move it in that direction. But yeah, she's been great. I'm good friends with Candis Cayne, she's had some roles, and I'm acquaintances- I see her often at events and we sit and talk with Caitlin, and I know there's a lot of controversy in the community about whether she's doing good or bad. But she does want to help, she does enjoy being in a role where she can make a positive impact.   Jenn T Grace:              I've heard a lot of controversy in regards to just things that she's said and done, and my response always to that is that everybody is on their own journey, and it's not for me to say what her journey should be, nor is it my place to say what yours should be. So I feel like we all have to just remember that for what good there is, the fact that she is a public figure, that's great, but at the same time I'm sure transitioning in some kind of quieter manner may likely have been her preference, and it's not fair that we're just kind of holding the spotlight on her and judging her for her every move. So I feel like in a lot of ways she's just kind of been hit with a lot of unfairness from a lot of people, including people within the LGBT community.   Michaela M:                Yeah well I agree with a lot of that. I think she wants to use that position though of being in the limelight. I think she knew- she tried, as she told me she was initially trying to transition in her thirties and she was so afraid because she was so in the limelight of what was going to happen. But I think at this point in her life, she hit her sixties she realized it's now or never, and that she knew she was going to be in the limelight. And so I think she embraced that as best she could to try and do- use it to do some good, and I think it is a purpose for her, and it's a calling she feels to do some good with this. Of course she makes a lot of money with the show, and people are going to look at that and say she's doing it all for the money, but I can't deny that part of it. But I also know that I believe from my talks with her that she's doing a lot of this because she wants to do some good.   Jenn T Grace:              And you know ultimately her money and influence is what has gotten her on TV's in very rural parts of America to expose them to what the trans community looks like, and she might be the first experience somebody ever has, and that is not a bad thing because there is an evolution, there is a journey for getting people to understand, and awareness and education around the trans community and the LGBT community as well. And I feel like for that alone, just being able to get people to listen and pay attention to her, even if she does screw up here and there, she's still helping make an impact on some level.   Michaela M:                More than anybody in this country, she's responsible for bringing the T out of the closet and for better or for worse because we talked about the pushback, of people pushing back against this. [Inaudible 00:35:09]. She has increased exposure tremendously.   Jenn T Grace:              And how are you feeling about the support from the LG and B of our community as it relates to the trans movement right now? Because I feel like there's a lot of variables in terms of what parts of the country you're in, what types of end goals people have, but I feel like there's still such a disconnect in so many ways between our community broadly.   Michaela M:                Well there needs to be- and now there are more every month, organizations that are strictly focused on trans health for children, trans development advocacy and policy like the National Center for Trans Equality, which is amazing what they've accomplished. And on the other hand we still have a lot of- every time you see a major center in a city and it's called the LGBT Center, and the T has for many years felt like the weak cousin of LGB. And to some degree that's changing. I know a board member of the Trevor Project, a lot of focus is going on trans because of the realization of the needs of the trans community being so great right now. These suicides- are you familiar with the Trevor Project?   Jenn T Grace:              Yes, but if you could give kind of a super quick overview for the listeners in case they don't, that'd be great.   Michaela M:                Oh yeah, so the Trevor Project, they are the largest organization in the United States working to eliminate suicides in the LGBT youth, ages 13 to 24. And suicide is the second leading cause of death in teenagers to begin with, in gay lesbian transgender kids it's much higher, and in those that are not supported by their families they're eight times more likely to commit suicide. So it's an epidemic, it's at its highest level ever because as all this pushback goes on and kids are thrown out of their family and their places of faith, they're feeling hopeless. And so the Trevor Project works to connect these people with their lifeline. I volunteer myself on the Trevor Crisis Line, and every day we're taking hundreds of calls of kids that are in crisis. So the point I was going to make was that about half of our- what we call our high risk crisis calls are coming from trans youth, and that's a much, much higher proportion than kids now that are trans compared to gay and lesbian. And so they're realizing at the Trevor Project the great need for increasing counseling, increasing their outreach and services to the trans community. And I think in every LGBT organization out there, this is what's happening. They're realizing the needs of trans, and so I don't think we're so much the weak cousin anymore as we used to be. Like I said there are the needs for the trans only organizations, but I think for a long time there was like, 'We need to separate the T, we need to not be LGBT anymore.' I don't agree with that. I think it's working just fine.   Jenn T Grace:              Which is amazing. So as we kind of conclude here, what is next for you? What are your plans? Like what does your future look like for even five years from now- or a year from now, or five years from now?   Michaela M:                Well I don't know if I can keep up this intensity, but certainly my California Trans Workplace Project is really first getting off the ground and I hope that's going to continue to develop in a way that I could have people- staff that- I'm used to building organizations and I want to build this as an organization that doesn't require me to be 80% of its energy, and then keep that moving. Like speaking of taking it to a different level, I've just launched my website, www.MichaelaSpeaks.com to elevate my speaking to move into areas of the country and internationally that I hadn't been speaking before. To not always be speaking- less to the choir so to speak and more to groups that need to hear the message. And so that's another thing, I think I'll be traveling more and my partner and I have to figure out how that's going to work because my family life is so important to me. But you know, I continue to run my business and I think that will still be there because I need a source of income, especially to do all these things. And I live now in Los Angeles, and I don't know if I'll still be here in five years from now, I'd like to experience what it'd be like to live in other areas of the country and the world, but those are things that are on my plate.   Jenn T Grace:              That's amazing. This has been such a great interview, I really appreciate your time. I know that you just mentioned that people can go to www.MichaelaSpeaks.com. Are there any other ways in which you would prefer people to connect with you if they want to know more about what you're up to?   Michaela M:                You know they can check out my Facebook. For right now, I just have one Facebook and it's my personal and my public profile, but we will be upgrading that into another one that works off of the website. So Michaela Mendelsohn, that's my full name, and they can find me on Facebook. Eventually there will be a separate Facebook just for my community work.   Jenn T Grace:              Excellent, and in the meantime they can go to www.MichaelaSpeaks.com and check out what you're up to, and potentially hire you to come in and speak. That would be amazing, right?   Michaela M:                That's great, thank you for putting that out there.   Jenn T Grace:              Yeah, my pleasure. Thank you again, this has really been such a great and educational conversation. I so appreciate all the work that you're doing.     Thank you for listening to today's podcast. If there are any links from today's show that you are interested in finding, save yourself a step and head on over to www.JennTGrace.com/thepodcast. And there you will find a backlog of all of the past podcast episodes including transcripts, links to articles, reviews, books, you name it. It is all there on the website for your convenience. Additionally if you would like to get in touch with me for any reason, you can head on over to the website and click the contact form, send me a message, you can find me on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter all at JennTGrace. And as always I really appreciate you as a listener, and I highly encourage you to reach out to me whenever you can. Have a great one, and I will talk to you in the next episode.