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This Queer Universe with Ozzy Irving Gold-Shapiro
🎙️ Welcome back to Queer for Cities! Episode 6—we made it!! We’re back with a captivating conversation with Ozzy Irving Gold-Shapiro, “a curious historian, Yiddishist, cultural worker, and raconteur living on Nipmuc, Pocumtuc, and Nonotuck land in so-called western Massachusetts.” Josh and Ozzy talk about their work at the intersections of identity and community engagement and how Ozzy is transforming how neighbors engage with each other, including lessons on ways to practive grief in public. We’re diving into Ozzy’s life story and the queer world they grew up in and how that shapes the work they do today.

In This Episode:
🌈 Getting to Know Ozzy:

• Your host, Joshua Croke, introduces Ozzy Irving Gold-Shapiro, highlighting their extensive work in community organizing and art in Northampton, Massachusetts.
• Reflections on Ozzy’s life growing up in a pretty queer world and how those experiences shapes some of how they engage in broader community resilience and collective power work.

🏳️‍🌈 Community Engagement and Queerness:

• Insights into the transformative power of community-oriented art projects in community, featuring stories from Ozzy's experiences.

📚 Cultural Heritage and Queer Narratives:

• Discussion on the influence of Ozzy’s cultural heritage on their work, especially their Jewish identity and its intersection with queerness.
• Reflections on the historical context of queer communities in Northampton and its designation as "Lesbianville, USA."

🗣️ Host: Joshua Croke, Queer For Cities

👥 Guest: Ozzy Irving Gold-Shapiro, Historian, Yiddishist, Cultural Worker

🎧 Tune in: Listen to Queer for Cities wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5 FM, Worcester’s only NPR affiliate station. Catch us on Wednesday at 6 PM when we have new episodes and find more episodes at QueerForCities.com. When we’re not airing new episodes of Queer For Cities, you can listen to our comeback show, Public Hearing, all about interesting and timely conversations about our home city, the second largest city in New England, Worcester, MA. Public Hearing is now under the very gay umbrella of Queer For Cities, yass!

👕 Support Queer For Cities with Merch! BUY MERCH HERE

📣 Supporters & Shoutouts:

• Volturno Pizza: Fab pizza, delicious bevs, great people. Learn more at volturnopizza.com.
• Love Your Labels: Supporting LGBTQ+ youth through creative expression. Discover how to get involved at loveyourlabels.org.

Thanks for listening! Please share with your fave queers, allies, and someone who maybe needs to learn a thing or two :) 

Queer For Cities is about life at the intersections and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive. Follow us @QueerForCities and QueerForCities.com. Hosted by Joshua Croke. #QueerForCities

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Join Josh, your host, as they dive into the vibrant celebration of Queer AF, an art and fashion show that doubles as a fundraiser for Love Your Labels. This episode takes you behind the scenes with insightful interviews from key figures involved in organizing and participating in this unique event that champions queer and trans youth through art, fashion, and design.

What You'll Hear:

• Introduction: Joshua shares exciting updates about the podcast and the impact of a new grant on the show's production (thanks NAS & the Barr Foundation!). 🎙️
• Main Event: Deep dive into the Queer AF art and fashion show, featuring discussions on community impact, personal journeys in fashion, and the celebration of diverse identities. 🧵👗
• Guests Spotlight: Interviews with Natasja Hirabayashi and DaishaDore Famous, discussing their roles in Queer AF and personal insights into community building and identity. We also speak to Aggy and Caelum, two former Threads students (Love Your Labels youth fashion and identity program), who are also designing/modeling in Queer AF, about their experiences, shaking the nerves, and excitement for the show on Friday, September 6 at Mechanics Hall in Worcester! 🌟

Key Points:

• The role of fashion in personal identity and liberation for queer and trans folks. 👚👔
• Community-driven initiatives that support and uplift queer and trans youth. 👬👭
• The significance of creating inclusive spaces beyond traditional bar and adult-centered venues. 🏳️‍🌈🚪

Guests:

• Natasja Hirabayashi: Program Manager at UMass Chan Medical School, involved in Queer AF as a model and planner, leading Model & Designer Coordination. 📋
• DaishaDore Famous: A prominent figure in the Worcester drag community, discussing the importance of visibility and education in queer spaces. 🎤👠
• Threads Alumni: Aggy and Caelum from Love Your Labels’ Threads fashion program sharing their experiences and aspirations. 🧶👗

Event Details:

• Queer AF Date: Friday, September 9th at Mechanics Hall, Worcester. 📅
• Tickets and Information: Available at queeraf.org 🎟️

Resources and Links:

• Love Your Labels: Learn more about their programs at loveyourlabels.org 🏳️‍🌈

Listen and Engage:

• Tune In: Available on WICN 90.5 FM and wherever you get your podcasts. 📻
• Join the Conversation: Follow us on Instagram @queerforcities or email Josh at [email protected]. 💌

This episode not only highlights the joy and creativity within the queer community but also emphasizes the ongoing need for supportive and inclusive spaces for all ages. Don't miss this deep dive into the heart of queer community building and artistic expression through fashion. 🌟👑

Queer For Cities is about life at the intersections and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive. Follow us @QueerForCities and QueerForCities.com. Hosted by Joshua Croke. #QueerForCities

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The F Word is Fascism

🎙️ Welcome to Queer for Cities! In this episode, your host, Joshua Croke, features a wrap-up conversation with our last guest Aaron Greiner, who shares valuable perspectives on designing public spaces that truly center and uplift queer identities and talks about ways cities can build a foundation for inclusive community engagement. We also talk with Soledad Gonzalez and Gaby Batista and dive deep into the struggles and tactics against fascism faced by students at New College of Florida. Get ready for a poignant exploration of activism, resilience, and the crucial role of queer spaces in combating oppressive changes.

In This Episode:

🌈 Introduction and Host Welcome:

• Joshua's reflections on Queer For Cities being delayed this Pride Month and the importance of rest and rejuvenation for activists.
• Updates on Love Your Labels and anticipation for the Queer AF art and fashion show in September.

🏙️ Episode Theme: Tactics of Fascism:

• A deep dive into the harsh realities of fascism as experienced firsthand by students resisting oppressive educational reforms under Governor Ron DeSantis.
• Soledad and Gaby's insights into student-led resistance and the establishment of counter spaces amidst adversity.

🚦 Mission and Acknowledgments:

• Reaffirming the mission to make queer a joyful norm and the significance of building inclusive communities.
• Acknowledgment of the Nipmuc people's land and the historical and ongoing exploitation of marginalized labor.

🏳️‍🌈 Inclusive Placemaking Tactics:

• Discussion on placemaking and its potential for queer communities, featuring insights from previous guest, Aaron Greiner, with CultureHouse and Fruit Stand.
• Examination of the role of queer spaces and events in fostering inclusivity and safety, highlighting the innovative efforts.

📚 New College Takeover and Student Resistance:

• Detailed coverage of the conservative takeover at New College, its impact on the student body, and the transformative power of student activism against systemic oppression.

🗣️ Host: Joshua Croke, Queer For Cities
👥 Guests: Soledad Gonzalez and Gaby Batista, Student Activists; Aaron Greiner, Urban Planner, Founder at CultureHouse, Co-founder of FruitStand

🎧 Tune in: You can listen to Queer For Cities loud and queer wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5 FM, Worcester’s only NPR affiliate station. Tune in on Wednesdays at 6 PM and Sundays at 11 PM and find us at QueerForCities.com. Queer For Cities is created and hosted by Joshua Croke. Our Assistant Producer is Jack Tripp. Our Audio Engineer & Music Producer is Giuliano D’Orazio.

👕 Buy Queer For Cities Merch!

📣 Supporters & Ad Shoutouts:

• VolturnoPizza.com
• Love Your Labels: Supporting queer and trans youth through art, fashion, and design. Learn more about our programs and how you can support at loveyourlabels.org.

📘 Sources & Researc

Queer For Cities is about life at the intersections and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive. Follow us @QueerForCities and QueerForCities.com. Hosted by Joshua Croke. #QueerForCities

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Let’s Be Queer in Public with Aaron Greiner

🎙️ Welcome to Queer for Cities! Join your host, Joshua Croke, for a dynamic dive into the intersections of queer identity, urban planning, and public space with special guest Aaron Greiner. Aaron is an innovative urban designer dedicated to crafting more inclusive cities, and he's here to share his insights on how queer urbanism benefits everyone.

In This Episode:

🌈 Introduction to Queer for Cities:

• Mission: Making queer a joyful norm and creating equity-centered, liberated communities.
• The importance of allyship and foundational concepts like equity and intersectionality.
• Land and labor acknowledgments honoring the Nipmuc people and enslaved workers whose labor built the nation.

🎨 Meet Aaron Greiner:

• Aaron's journey from engineering to urban design, sparked by his studies in Copenhagen.
• Founding CultureHouse and Fruit Stand to reimagine urban spaces and foster queer-inclusive events.

🏙️ Queer Urbanism and Public Space:

• The pivotal role of decision-makers in urban planning and its impact on city design.
• How heterosexist perspectives shape our cities and public spaces.
• The need to center identity and adaptability in urban design to create truly inclusive spaces.

🚦 Safety, Comfort, and Expression:

• Exploring the intersection of safety and public space for queer people.
• Highlighting inclusive spaces like Provincetown and their role in enhancing queer visibility and safety.
• The profound significance of experiencing and expressing queerness in public.

🏳️‍🌈 Challenges and Opportunities:

• The decline of traditional queer spaces like gay bars and the rise of inclusive queer events.
• Strategies for building more queer-inclusive spaces by prioritizing marginalized communities.

Get ready for a thought-provoking and energizing conversation that unpacks the essence of queer urbanism and the transformative power of inclusive city planning. Tune in now to discover how we can build cities that celebrate and uplift queer identities, making them better for everyone.

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Host: Joshua Croke, Queer For Cities

Guest: Aaron Greiner, Urban Planner, Founder at CultureHouse, Co-founder of FruitStand

You can listen to Queer For Cities loud and queer wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5 FM, Worcester’s only NPR affiliate station. Tune in on Wednesdays at 6 PM and Sundays at 11 PM and find us at QueerForCities.com. Queer For Cities is created and hosted by Joshua Croke. Our Assistant Producer is Jack Tripp. Our Audio Engineer & Music Producer is Giuliano D’Orazio.

Buy Merch! Join us on Patreon!

Shapeshifters: Custom-made chest binders. Upcoming pride festival appearances and online store at shapeshifters.co.

Love Your Labels: Non-profit supporting queer and trans

Queer For Cities is about life at the intersections and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive. Follow us @QueerForCities and QueerForCities.com. Hosted by Joshua Croke. #QueerForCities

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In this episode of Queer for Cities, host Joshua Croke discusses the intersection of identity and place, with a focus on the contributions of queer and trans people in designing inclusive and equitable communities. The episode features conversations with activist and community organizer, MG Xiong, who shares their experience as a Hmong Transmasculine and non-binary individual working in transgender advocacy and community building. The discussion touches on navigating challenging conversations, envisioning inclusive futures, and combating barriers to equitable living. The episode also highlights the importance of accountability, love, and support within the queer and trans communities to foster a more inclusive, joyful, and normative societal view of queerness. Additionally, there's an exploration of the challenges in philanthropy and resource distribution that impact transformational work for queer and trans rights.

00:00 Welcome to Queer for Cities: Making Queer a Joyful Norm

00:42 Spotlight on MG Xiong: A Journey of Identity and Advocacy

03:55 First Event: A Gathering for Trans and Non-Binary Folks

06:28 Featuring Derek Austin: Poetry and the Power of Words

08:48 Love Your Labels: Empowering Queer and Trans Youth

10:22 Envisioning a Liberated Future: Housing and Community Building

17:00 Challenging the Philanthropic Industrial Complex

34:18 MG's Podcast Preview: True Story, Trans Realities

43:27 Building Inclusive Communities: Accountability and Joy

49:35 Closing Thoughts and Community Engagement

You can listen to Queer For Cities loud and queer wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5 FM, Worcester’s only NPR affiliate station. Tune in on Wednesdays at 6 PM and Sundays at 11 PM and find us at QueerForCities.com. Queer For Cities is created and hosted by Joshua Croke. Our Assistant Producer is Jack Tripp. Our Audio Engineer & Music Producer is Giuliano D’Orazio.

Buy Merch! Join us on Patreon!

Nipmuc Nation

MG Xiong / Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition

The Trans Community of New England

Derrick Austin

Love Your Labels

Stonewall Foundation

The Faggots & Their Friends Between Revolutions

adrienne maree brown

Taj Smith  / Rooted Respite

Queer For Cities is about life at the intersections and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive. Follow us @QueerForCities and QueerForCities.com. Hosted by Joshua Croke. #QueerForCities

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Queer for Cities' inaugural episode, hosted by Joshua Croke, delves into the significance of creating inclusive, equitable, and joyful urban spaces for queer and trans folks. Josh introduces the show's mission to advocate for queer urbanism as a means to improve cities for everyone. The podcast highlights the challenges that marginalized groups, especially queer and trans folks, face in urban settings, emphasizing the importance of intentional design in making cities more inclusive. It also touches on the intersectionality of various marginalized identities and the compounded effects of discrimination. The episode features guests MG Xiong and Taj Smith, who discuss their personal journeys and the broader significance of visibility, belonging, and connection for queer and trans people. Additionally, the show explores the intersections of queer identity with religious beliefs, the importance of affirming spaces, and the potential of science fiction in imagining inclusive futures. Tune in next week for part 2!

00:00 Welcome to Queer for Cities: Unveiling the Vision

00:27 Introducing Joshua Croke: Queer Urbanist

00:55 The Mission: Building Inclusive Cities for All

02:12 Why Language Matters: Embracing Queer and Trans Identities

03:35 Setting the Stage: Values and Goals for Our Community

07:26 Acknowledging the Land and Its People

12:19 Exploring Queer Urban Life: Guests Share Their Stories

24:52 Navigating Family and Religion as Queer Individuals

37:14 Imagining Trans Futures in Religion and Beyond

44:05 Poetry and Hope: Envisioning a World That Values Life

You can listen to Queer For Cities loud and queer wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5 FM, Worcester’s only NPR affiliate station. Tune in on Wednesdays at 6 PM and Sundays at 11 PM and find us at QueerForCities.com. Queer For Cities is created and hosted by Joshua Croke. Our Assistant Producer is Jack Tripp. Our Audio Engineer & Music Producer is Giuliano D’Orazio.

Buy Merch! Join us on Patreon!

Creative Reaction Lab

Facing History and Ourselves

Nipmuc Nation

The Trans Community of New England / First Event

Taj Smith  / Rooted Respite

Love Your Labels

Tamiko Beyer

Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition

Queer For Cities is about life at the intersections and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive. Follow us @QueerForCities and QueerForCities.com. Hosted by Joshua Croke. #QueerForCities

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The design of our communities is an intentional act that often excludes and doesn’t center folks at the margins. Queer For Cities is a podcast about life at the intersections of identity and place and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive.

When we build queer-inclusive cities, we build better cities for everyone.

Hosted by Joshua Croke, a queer and nonbinary designer, facilitator, and mixed-media artist working at the intersections of community justice, urban development, and creative placemaking, this podcast is a journey into the heart of New England's cities and beyond. We’re diving into the heart of queer urban life, from community health to the creative economy, and everything in between.

We’re out to make queer a joyful norm. 

In our debut season, we’re exploring what makes a city not just livable but a truly affirming and joyful place for queer and trans folks. We're bringing together voices from across the spectrum — from activists and artists to urban planners and architects — to share their stories, challenges, and triumphs in creating spaces where queer people thrive.

We’re coming in loud and queer. Hit that Subscribe button to follow and listen to Queer For Cities wherever you get your podcasts. Follow our journey, and let's envision and create cities where queer is a joyful norm.

Queer For Cities is about life at the intersections and designing equity-centered, liberated communities where LGBTQ+ folx thrive. Follow us @QueerForCities and QueerForCities.com. Hosted by Joshua Croke. #QueerForCities