📍SHOW TRANSCRIPT
Hi everybody. Welcome to Activist Collective. Um, it's been a few minutes since I've been able to do an episode because life is busy, but today we are so lucky and I'm so excited to have, uh, Joanna Whaley with us. Joanna is running in the second state congressional district, Joanna. House District, excuse me, state House District. Um, and she is one of my favorite people. I, she doesn't know that. I've been following her for, for at least over a year now. I've been following Joanna for over a year now, because you're actually, um, I think you're security team is my best friend's company. my Yeah. Yeah. So, um, she told me about you and I've been following you ever since. And Joanna, I just gotta tell you, your, your, your platform, how, however simple it is, it actually reaches. So many working Americans. So I wanna introduce Joanna Whaley to you all so that you all get, um, a glimpse of who this amazing woman is. And hopefully if you're in her district and you get to see this, you get a better idea of who she is. So Joanna, um, why don't you go ahead and introduce yourself and then I'll start asking you some questions. world that you know. I know it's sad that I have to have a security team, right. But, uh, but I do, um, one of my. Second biggest campaign expenses is armed security. Fun, Wow. for a house race. Wow. Um, but hi everybody. I'm, I'm Uh, I am running for the Michigan House of Representatives. Uh, the four cities that are in my district are Allen Park, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, and Southgate. Um, and cities are, you know. many in our community kind of treat them as drive through cities. As cities, you kind of drive through to get to other things. our city has, our communities have so much heart and they have so much to give and they're such wonderful people. And I have really getting getting to know the people of my district, uh, way. Um. But I have a wild background. Uh, yes. I, I am a trans woman, uh, came out almost five years ago. We're coming up on five years, uh, next month. And, uh, or no, this month, oh my gosh, this weekend. well, congratulations. be out. Thank you. I'll be out five you know, I, uh, I, I did what every, uh, closeted trans girl does. I became an evangelical pastor, and. And, uh, had a long career in the evangelical megachurch Wow. um, and was trained deeply in Christian um, by many of our state's, most influential pastors. And so, you know, I, I. is where I came from. So you can imagine, uh, many people are already starting to do the math of what an evolution that had to be to go from evangelical Christian nationalist to transgender progressive candidate for I can't get my jaw off the floor. I'm like. Yeah. And, and we're that timeline and why, why that timeline matters right now. And I think, um, my community is ready for that type of leadership, uh, that understands the full spectrum of the political, um, the political world. We, we all Do you still practice as clergy in any way? I, so I left congregational work when I came out. I, I shouldn't say I left. I got shoved right. of congregational work. I I was forced to fired from my job, which. Just so everyone knows in all 50 states, if you work for a religious nonprofit, they can discriminate against you based on gender and sexual orientation. Um, and so I got fired for my job here in Michigan, one of the biggest mega churches in the state. And, uh, and so what I did is over the years, I, I had to pick my life up. I ended up going to seminary. I studied what's called liberation theology. I went to a very progressive seminary. Um, and I went to Wartburg Theological Seminary in Iowa, which is progressive in Iowa. Right. Um, and I studied liberation theology, which is the marginalized people within divine systems and, uh. so I, studied that. and I became a clinical chaplain. So I a lot of our area hospital systems as a clergy member, uh, doing spiritual care for people in trauma and end of life ICU settings. I, I do hospice work. I am with people, um, in some of the worst moments of their life. And I, so I'm still a clergy member, That's amazing. but I do it That is that, that is such a, a massive give back to your community. Um, that I don't know if you get recognized for. So as an atheist, I will say thank you for doing that for the people who need it. That's amazing. I I had no idea. That's I reaction. when a Ooh, I mean, ooh, I don't, right. I don't know if I would say, uh, but I, I, the, the fact that you, where you came from. To where you are now, that is such a, a, a complete three. Like is it a 180 a total turnaround? We don't wanna do 360 'cause you're back where you started. Right. But a, a total 180. I mean, that is amazing. Um, so are you Christian or Catholic or say? um, is Okay. It is my, it is what I consider to be language, um, spiritually, um, as a clinical chaplain, I. I study and I work with inside of a lot of different religious spaces, but I, my, my identity is still Okay. Um, and so, uh, to me that it's um, that I hold onto that. 'cause I think that God is so unexplainable. Um, and, and to some, if you're an atheist, you're like, is that unexplainable, I, and I have, I have the most respect for people in their religions. And, um, I think people like you who are holding onto their Christian identity is important because of so many people who are trying to rebrand it, I guess in this hateful, as you stated, Christian nationalist way. And that's kind of, it's, it's like this dark cloud that's just like seeping into our, our country and, and. I don't know that there's a, an end in sight, and so I think people with your, uh, true background knowledge and understanding of it is important to keep talking about it. And I like right now, if we look around the, our political world, we have so many politicians trying to use the name of Jesus to make people go into compliance with their doctrine. We, and, and on the left, we do not have people who are prepared and equipped to fight that fight theologically. And this is a theological battle for many Republicans. have to have to have people on the left who can theologically fight um, yep. and, and I'm, I'm telling you, the State House, the like Matt Hall and his, his little queens are not ready to argue the Bible with a progressive trans woman. I, God, I would pay to see that Joanna. I, if it's, to see that, make that happen. 'cause I would pay, Yes. Matt Hall is a monster. I'm gonna say that out in public. Matt Hall is an absolute monster. You don't have to agree or say anything. Um, this is my own personal opinion. I think he is diabolical and, uh, he, it, him being there was the worst thing Michigan ever did. I mean of its history. Yes. lot of intentionally, I believe. Intentionally. Yep. He's trying to turn Michigan and the Republican portion into like this, this arm of maga and he's trying to copycat everything that he did, but him. I have, I have questions for you, Joanna. I woke up yesterday morning. Um, and I, the first thing that I saw, and I don't know why this was on my, was an article about you and how you had been, I'm, I'm calling it an attack because that's, there's no other way to put it, but somebody had filed a complaint with the clerk about. You saying that you didn't put the right name or you, you didn't change your name legally the right way, and therefore you either needed to be dead named on the ballot or kicked off the ballot. And I was shocked at who it was because it is a member of the Democratic Party and his name was Frank Ti. I had never heard of this man in my life and I have done some research since. This is a business owner. He's a local, him and his brother, I believe they have a family business. Um, he, he was, um, uh, he held a seat in the 13th District, so I think that's what it was. And out of nowhere, because he's running for the same seat you are. Is that correct? Yeah, that he just erroneously decided that he knew everything about your life and filed this complaint, and how, what, what has the, what has it been like since yesterday chaos. Um, you know, uh, same thing. I, I was on a morning call with one of my, um, campaign team early in the morning, uh, before we all clocked into our day jobs. And in the middle of the meeting I saw, this email come through and it was the county clerk saying that. My name was being removed from the ballot unless I proved, that I filled out my affidavit correctly. And so, yeah, I was on the phone like the day off Day This cost me a, a day of right to this, right? Um, and so, for me, me. uh. I was shocked because I this from Yeah. I, I expected this from the other side of the Mm-hmm. but I did not expect it from my own party, I did not expect it from him. and so, you know, this is a guy who's been, uh, part of our community, part of this community for a really long time, has been an establishment name, you know, very known. And overnight really has tarnished his Yeah. by going after me. Yeah. and you me, I I am, I'm thankful that this has happened and I'm, I'm thankful that it's me because I, I, I want to. I'm ready to fight this and we're ready to fight this at every turn. and if they're attacking me, they're not attacking other trans folks. And so, um, for me, I, I was on the phone with the party Mm-hmm. I was on the phone with Curtis Ortel. I was on the phone with Curtis Hertel is the head of the Michigan Democratic Party. Right. Okay. worked with a lot of folks ar across the party who were who were in Mm-hmm. Um, and we were talking to all of our endorsers just make sure we had the support. Um, and yeah, and the A CLU got us a lawyer Wow. uh, that lawyer this morning filed all Um, and we do expect to be right back on the ballot. Come early next week. 'cause of course we filed it on a Yeah. so we have to wait till Is there any recourse against Mr. Otti for this? I mean, because it's absolutely false. He had nothing to go on other than, uh, I, I, I mean, I don't even know what he went on. Um, but it was erroneous. It was, it was wrong. It was false information, and they just allowed him to file this without any evidence. is Winning in AP in August, winning on August 4th. That's going to be the recourse. And I, I will say this, thank you to Frank Otti for doubling our cash on hand in 24 Yes, yes. For those of you who don't know, if you'd like to donate to Joanna Whaley, uh, which will help her pay for the security that she needs, um, in all of my, in all of my bios, there's, there's a link tree and her, her website is the very top one. Go click on it and donate a few bucks because no other candidate has to pay for armed security. I just wanted to get that out there. That's crazy. guards on hand because there was so many threats. But, you know, Jesus. That's crazy. we are, we are feeling will be the voters and the voters are beginning to speak. People are angry yeah, and because we expect our party we're trying to move, the Democratic party is moving yeah. It's. is the growing pains are tough yeah. There's of growing pains in our Mm-hmm. are a moving forward and have spoke up today that this is not okay and we're ready to move forward That's, I, I'm so incredibly glad to hear that. Um, I'll tell you this, I wish Curtis Hertel would've put out a statement, um, besides just inside that article. He made a statement to that one publication and I tried finding, like if he said something on Instagram or on his ex, and I couldn't find anything. And I know that Lori Poky and the L-G-B-T-Q caucus made it very bold and, and it, it condemnation and I was so glad to see that. But Curtis Hertel, I feel like, and I know you don't have to say anything bad, but I am, I am one of the Democratic party's biggest, um, thorns. Because I expect so much of them, and I, I am a coach. Right, right. throwing Look at if there were chairs they'd be thrown. There's no question. I am, um, one of their biggest thorns. But, um, I just wish that he would've made a more. Grandiose, um, statement, but the L-G-B-T-Q caucus and Lori Po Husky, who I'm a big fan of, um, made a a great big condemnation against Frank Lib, and I do believe that this will, um, this will be what causes him to lose. Absolutely. And I will not be shutting up about it, just so you know, until August I will be reminding the people about what he did. Um, and I just hope that you have the, the, community support, um. oh you know, to rally around you. And I know that you said you're glad it's you because you can take it, you can take it, and I'm, I'm gonna play like big sister here and I don't know how old you are, it doesn't matter, but I feel that you shouldn't have to take that. I don't, I don't feel like you should have to take, um. The beatings at all. Nobody should. And I mean, I appreciate your strength and your honesty and your, um, your drive and determination to bust through this no matter what, but um, if, I've been dealing with this. I mean, 15 years of a conversion therapist trying to me who I can and can't be, um, deal like persevering through that. Um, persevering through five years Christians and yelling and trying to save my soul and telling me, That there's something inherently wrong with me and that I will be eternally separated from God. this is just another Friday for me, and, and, and I've, I've been through some of the biggest battles that trans folks have to go through. so I, I'm ready to run through this wall so people can walk through later. you are an amazing woman, absolutely amazing, and you are exactly who I think the Democratic Party should be. You should be honest. You should truthfully be for the working people. You should love everybody for who they are, uh, not what they are. Um, and you, you embody that. You truly do. And I want more people to know you. I want more. I don't want just the people in your district to know you. I want Michigan and I want more people to know you because you, you really do embody all of those things. Um, I didn't even know you were as. Spiritual and religious as you are, and I think that that just adds another layer of amazing because you have that knowledge of deconstructing the evangelical and still holding onto something so close to you. Um, so important to you in being able to say what that is isn't really Christianity, that's not the God I know. And you can help people. You can still help people who are, who are, there's a lot of people falling away from it. And, you know, you could be a, you know, you, you are a good, um, beacon, if I can use the word beacon. I don't know if you wanna be a beacon, but, um. We should, we should. you're making me feel so good. Well, you're welcome. good big sister stuff. Well, you're welcome. Um, so tell me, um, let's talk about your, um, platform. Um, what is, what is it that you are, um, uh, I guess you're, you, you most want to accomplish? If you win, when you win, when you win, let's put it out. When you win. that in the right. Um, so the number one thing is we to get our DTE bills and our water bills down. Um, I wanna bring DTE Consumers Energy. I want Great Lakes Water Authority to become accountable to the voters. Um, I do believe we need to expand and elect the MPSC. They need to be, they need to be accountable to. Us, the voters, not to politicians who are bought and paid for by these companies. Uh, that's, that's my number one thing. I am going to be a thorn in the ass of our utility companies, um, because. are gouging us, and we are getting, we are getting gouge at every corner. It's 1% here, it's 2% here, it's 3% here, it's $6 gas here, it's It is And I, I can't keep my bank, I can't keep money Right. And I work three jobs, you know, so like that is, that is the reality that we're facing. The second thing is we need single payer healthcare in the state of Michigan that the federal government cannot act. I'm going to be supporting C Rep, Carrie Regan's, plan of MyCare to get a single payer healthcare program here in the state of Michigan. Um, and insurance companies are not going to Yeah. and that's okay because this has to happen. As a that is my profession. I have the heartbreaking conversation with people each and every day who make decisions and say, well I could fight this disease. Go bankrupt and leave my kids with nothing or I can die and leave my kids with my life savings. And that conversation is horrible and God. gotta stop that conversation from having is one of the biggest conversations I when I'm in palliative care conversations. This is wrong and it is immoral make people pay to live. And so we've gotta fix that. Yeah. and you know, I, I am going a staunch and kind of the foundation of my platform is civil rights. I am going to. Every turn, fight for civil rights, no matter who you are, who you love, how you show up in the world, where you were born, how much money's in your bank account, you are going to be, uh, welcome and you're gonna have the opportunity to thrive in this country. Um, and so, you know, my, my community is high foreign born yeah. uh, high middle Eastern, high Hispanic communities. they are nervous now. Rightfully so, this, Yep. this administration has gone, um, much further than any line I had ever imagined would be crossed. And I had some of the worst thoughts when this all came to be. When he won. I was like, I was thinking the worst things. And he has exceeded those worst things. We're scared people like you and me. I mean, I'm, I'm a lesbian, you're a trans woman. Um, and we're, I mean, we, we had to, we updated our passports, um, just before he got elected on purpose. 'cause we didn't know we have a go bag. We have all of our documents and a burn proof bag that if we have to go, we to just grab. I mean that seriously, I never thought in my own country that that's what where we would be, the thought that it could get worse. Yes, it could. And it could and it will get worse. Especially with the, um, I could talk for hours about this, so I don't wanna bore you with it, but the Supreme Court, who is completely illegitimate, bought and paid for, and working for Donald Trump, I mean, they're ruling outside of the Constitution. They need to go. They are out of control. Exactly. Yep. They need to be, and I know you can impeach them and they need to be impeached as well. Um. So, Joanna, I, I don't wanna keep you too long. Um, I know you are a busy woman, but I wanna say a few things. You are a beautiful woman. I am so glad to know you. Um, I would, I would really like your permission to help your campaign. I will do it for free. I will, I will make videos for your campaign for free, um, and help you raise money because nobody should have to pay for armed guards. Um. Just to run for office because of who they are. I think it's absolute garbage. Um, I'm so glad Frank Otti did what he did because it put you on the map and um, it made him look like a pile of dog s**t. And I can, we can swear here. So I, is there anything you. given me Is No, I, I'm absolutely going to, uh, make videos for you. Um, but I want you, you know, off, off here, you can let me know, um, certain things you want and need and I will absolutely push those for you. Um, is there anything you wanna end on, um, if we could get this out to your community, um, and Michigan, is there anything you'd like to say before we go? um, I'll speak to my community and then I wanna speak to the entire state, first to Allen Park and Lincoln Park and Melvindale and Southgate. Um, you are getting a present leader with me. You're getting a leader who cares? You're getting a leader who understands empathy. and you're getting a leader who doesn't get distracted um, the trends in a party or, uh, who does not get distracted when punched in the face. I'm gonna get up and keep going after the things that you care about. I think that is the number one thing I want you to know about. Whether you like my politics or not, I'm going to show up for you. I made a career of serving people even if they didn't like me. And yes, even as a pastor, there are people who didn't like you, but you serve, you show up and you serve them. And I've made a career of that. Um, and so will do that and to the entire state. if you can't vote for me with a, with your vote, you can vote with a dollar and you can vote with your money and you can help us win this race because here's why me getting elected in downriver matters to you in Petoskey. reason it matters is because we have got to have leaders in the Democratic Party who are ready for this moment. We have gotta have leaders across the state. Who have the backbone and, and, and have the readiness to fight, I think the biggest existential threat our state is facing. talk about budgets, you can talk about whatever you want. It is Christian nationalism, and I am a leader equipped to fight this moment in our state. And I, I'm ready for it. Um, and and so I want you. you to know. That the way people are on the right side of the aisle is not right, there are progressive Christians coming. We're coming to be in government and to fight back and to get government the hell out of our laws. so, or I'm sorry to get religion the hell out of our laws. Um, that's what we need. And I think it's going to take someone who's theologically trained to hear this stuff coming a hundred miles away before it gets on top Yeah. And so I am here, if you if you're a queer person. Somewhere across the state. If you're in Traverse City and you're listening to this and you have, you might have a homophobic representative, just know that I will represent That's amazing. and we're like, I will show up if there's rep won't do it. I will. I will That's amazing. I will That's amazing. Joanna, I wanna thank you for your time. I wanna thank you for, uh, the bravery that you exude every single day, coming out here and doing what you do because it, it is brave. It. I, when, when my friend, uh, told me you were running, I don't wanna say her name 'cause I don't know how she feels about it, but, I was like, Gabi I mean the name right. Gambino Security. That's right. of your If you need protection. transphobic hater If need protection, contact Gabo Gambino Security. I should drop the phone number. Um, anyways, yeah. when she told me you were running, I was like, oh s**t, she's gonna, she's gonna have a hard time. And that's when I started following you and I was like, maybe she isn't gonna have such a hard time, after all. She's pretty tough. Um, so thank you for your time. I'm going to help your campaign, uh, for free. and we're, we're gonna get you elected. It's period, period. Full stop. You're gonna be elected. right. Alright. Let's do this. I'm gonna let you go. You have a good weekend. Thank you for your time, Joanna. All right. Have a good one. Bye. amazing having Joanna Whaley, um, on with us today. It was, um, an absolute pleasure getting to meet her and to get to know her further. Um, if you live in the Allen Park, Lincoln Park, Melvindale South Gate area of Michigan, um, you have a fighter. And Joanna Whaley. And, uh, you would be making a big mistake if you cast a vote for anybody other than somebody with such heart and, and, and honesty. Um, I hope that everybody will share this, this, uh, podcast out. Um, Melvin Dale and El Ellen Park in Lincoln Park in Southgate. We're gonna put you on the map today because you have a superstar, uh, running for office to, to be your voice. And not a lot of people can say that, um, I would trust Joanna to vote the right way. Every single. Time. So, uh, I wanna thank everybody for sticking around and meeting Joanna. Um, spread the word, right. Um, there's a lot of people out there that don't know. The primaries are coming up in August, and the primaries are so incredibly important. Talk to everybody, you know, make sure everybody is, uh, registered to vote and get out there and do your civic duty and vote. And if you live in Joanna's State House District two, how lucky you are to get to vote for somebody. So amazing. Everybody go off and have a fantastic weekend. Remember, I do this for free. Uh, so any donations, uh, that you might want to give, um, at the end of this, I will, uh, show you some QR codes. You can scan or you can go to the link tree in any of my bios and you will find, uh, my cash app and PayPal, I'm sorry, my cash app and Venmo. So any donations are appreciated. Um, remember if you'd like to donate to Joanna Whaleys campaign. Her, uh, link is also in my link tree in my bio. Um, and make sure we got, we have to give to the people who are going to be doing the work for us if we want truth and honesty and politics and to get money out of politics. Uh, Joanna does not take corporate PAC money and she does not take utility money. So winter all around what? I mean, you would be a dummy to vote for anybody else. All right, everybody go off and have a good weekend.
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