Queer Queeries

"What are some of the most extreme forms of intolerance?" "What happens at a conversion therapy camp?" "Is that still allowed?" "How do you survive?" "How do you continue surviving?"

On this episode, I interview my dear friend, talented lighting designer, and overall wonderful human being, Justice (they/them, he/him) where we discuss their experience of going to a "restorative therapy camp" (also known as a conversion therapy camp), as well as the lasting effects this can have on a Queer person. Justice--like the experience of many Queer people--was born into a heavily Christian and Texan family who believed that loving someone of the same-sex was a mental illness that could be fixed through "proper treatment." It was after their mom discovered their internet browser history and what they had been looking at that they were awakened in the middle of the night and forced to go somewhere where they had no knowledge of the horrors they would endure.

This unfortunate narrative is common for many Queer people and a very real part of Queer history. It was in 1973 that homosexuality was deemed not a mental illness or sickness by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). However, Queer people and allies are still fighting to this day for this to actually be a reality. Twenty-Nine states still have no laws that ban conversion therapy; qualified transgender Americans are banned from serving in the military; and it wasn't until recently that Title VII included discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identification. In listening to this episode, I, Justice, and countless other Queer people who face discrimination hope you not only love and nurture Queer people but actively work to protect us and our rights as well.

Follow Justice:
Website
Instagram

Organization of the Week: National Center For Lesbian Rights Born Perfect campaign
Born Perfect
NCLR
Donate

Resources for further learning:

• Watch Boy Erased
• "When Gay Was Not Okay with the APA: A Historical Overview of Homosexuality and its Status as Mental Disorder"
• "The Lies and Dangers of Reparative Therapy"
• "Frequently Ask Questions on the Transgender Military Ban"
• Join The Trevor Project to End Conversion Therapy

Show Produced by Nick Eibler

Edited by Addison McKissack

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

Logo Design by David Pavón

"What does ideal visibility look like?" "How does ideal visibility lead to more freedom to explore gender expression and sexual identity?" "Why do bisexuals need visibility?" "Why was The Prom more important than people realized?"

On this episode, I have a Prom reunion with the two incredible leading ladies--Caitlin Kinnunen (she/her) and Izzy McCalla (she/her)--who made national television history when they shared the first same-sex kiss in The Prom's performance on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Queer stories are increasingly becoming more visible in all entertainment mediums and that is extremely important considering how long the Queer community was only exposed to "straight" narratives or stereotypical portrayals of Queer characters. However, sometimes people can see all this increased visibility as a check in a box and not feel the need to keep fighting for it to be better. Sometimes people, even the most "progressive," can fail to acknowledge the privileges that come with living in a liberal bubble. Caitlin, Izzy, and I talk about why The Prom was so important because not only did it help so many people, including themselves, feel comfortable in their sexual identity, but it also showed many living in these bubbles that these stories about overcoming adversity, even in a more progressive world, still exist. We also discuss the importance of visibility and acceptance of all sexual identities; too often Queer people are defined by the relationships they are in and not by what they say they are. We talk about the idea of bi-erasure and how gender and sexual profiling can cause Queer people to struggle to accept themselves in a world that tells them what they are instead of listening to what they say they are.

Follow Izzy and Caitlin:
Izzy
Caitlin

Resources for Further Learning:
"If I’m Not Gay Enough, & I’m Not Straight Enough, Then What Am I?" by Lauren Patten 

Organization of the Week: Black Trans Femmes in the Arts
Follow
Learn
Donate

Show Produced by Nick Eibler

Edited by Addison McKissack

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

Logo Design by David Pavón

"What does Queerness look like on stage?" "How is Queer representation evolving?" "What does a more equitable space look like in the theatre?"

On this episode, I interview TJ Young (he/him), an award-winning playwright, who's works include No. 6, Lyon's Den, Ruby's Baby Blue, Hell is Empty, just to name a few. In a day and age where the amount of Queer representation is becoming increasingly more visible on our screens and on the stage, TJ not only aims to continue to place Queer and Black characters at the forefront of his stories, but he aims to challenge the traditional narratives we are used to seeing; toying with the time and space of his worlds, having a character's queerness be a fact as opposed to the main focus. We discuss how TJ got into playwriting, how he has seen his work evolve over time, how the depiction of Queer characters in media has evolved, the importance to showcase more underrepresented identities from the Queer alphabet, and so much more. Also, in considering the Black Lives Matter Movement in relation to the theatre, we discuss how we, as industry, can work to create a more equitable working environment as well as more space for black creatives and voices.

TJ Young is a Texas born award-winning playwright based in Pittsburgh, PA where he serves as co-representative for the Dramatists Guild - Pittsburgh region. Some of his plays include NO.6, Lyon’s Den, Ruby’s Baby Blue, Hell is Empty, to name a few. He is the recipient of the 2017 Ken Ludwig Playwriting Scholarship, the 2019 Spotlight Artist of Throughline Theatre Company in Pittsburgh, PA, and is also the NPP Vice-Chair for Region 2 of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. He is also a member of subTEXT Solutions Dramaturgy Group and with the groundbreaking Entertainment Engineering Collective.

Follow TJ:
Instagram
Website

"How Do I Keep Going As A Black Man? Easy. I Prepare For Death." by TJ Young

Organization of the Week: The Starfruit Project
Learn
Donate

Resources for further learning:
Queer Black Playwrights to Support Volume 1
Volume 2
Entertainment Engineering Collective
subTEXT Solutions Dramaturgy Group

Show Produced by Nick Eibler

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

Logo Design by David Pavón

"What was it like growing up gay in a Catholic household?" "What does religion look like to you now?" "Why was it important to tell a queer narrative in your music?"

On this episode, I'm joined by Nashville-based, singer/songwriter Katie Pruitt (she/her) to answer "queeries" such as these. In February of this year, Katie released her debut album Expectations: written as a Queer autobiographical narrative in which she tackles topics ranging from her sexuality and mental health to family and faith. Between going to Catholic school, being a part of a Christian theatre group, and living in a religious household, Katie was not able to "come out" easily. It actually wasn't until she went away to college that she states she really came into herself as a queer woman. Music was always a huge part of her life and in the creation of her album she was able to not only help her parents understand her truth, but she was finally free to live it herself. We discuss things such as her album and the process/inspiration for it as well as growing up in a religious Southern environment, the importance of queer visibility in the music industry, and how the idea of God has changed for us over time.

On her album Expectations...
"An album informed by love in its many forms, Expectations presents a bracing portrait of self-destructive love with “Grace Has a Gun” (a hypnotic and heavy-hearted track featured on NPR’s "All Songs Considered”). "It’s about a girl I dated in college who was dealing with a very intense mental illness at the time, and about me trying to be some kind of cure for her,” Pruitt explains. On "Out of the Blue," the album slips into a languid reverie, with Pruitt’s lyrics channeling a classic-pop romanticism (e.g., “What a lovely day for loving you”). And on “It’s Always Been You,” Expectations closes out in a moment of understated glory, the song’s gently plucked strings and wistful piano melodies magnifying its tender mood. “That one’s a love song to my girlfriend,” says Pruitt. “It’s the first time in my life I’ve experienced a genuinely healthy relationship, and I wanted to show those moments that are so mundane but beautiful, like making out on the porch or play-fighting with baguettes in the grocery store—all those normal, everyday things that feel so heightened by love."
--from https://katiepruitt.com

Follow Katie:
Website
Instagram
Twitter

Listen to Expectations:
Apple Music
Spotify

Resources for further learning:
Explore: Religion and Faith resources
Transfaith

Organization of the Week: National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network
Learn
Donate

Show Produced by Nick Eibler

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

Logo Design by David Pavón

"What does Queer mean?" "Is it your gender?" "Is it your sexuality?" "Is it neither?" "I thought I was gay, but am I Queer?"

On this episode, I'm joined by my dear friend and "once upon a time" prom date, Ati (she/her, they/them), who is a New York City based actor who identifies as queer. Ati's journey, like many others who identify as queer, started with exploring the spectrum of her sexuality. Do I like girls? Do I like boys? Do I like both? How should I act? Why do I have to pick and choose? She didn't feel compelled to put herself in any sort of box or under any label which is when she was introduced to the word and identity of being queer. We discuss what the word Queer means in today's context: how has it evolved? What does it mean to different people? How can I get in touch with my queerness? We'll answer "queeries" such as these and so many more. Dang that's a lot of Queer, but you asked for it ;)

Follow ATI:
Instagram
Twitter

Organization of the Week: The Brown Boi Project
Learn
Donate

Resources for further learning:
"What Does Queer Mean?"
"How to Express Your Queer Identity"
"Queer 101: Identity, Inclusion, and Resources"
"If I'm Not Gay Enough and I'm Not Straight Enough, Then What Am I?"

Show Produced by Nick Eibler

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

Logo Design by David Pavón

"Am I going to die?" "Can I sleep with someone who has HIV?" "How do I get to an undetectable status?" "How do I get help? How do I tell my family? My friends?"

On this episode, I'm joined by Hernando Umana (he/him), Broadway actor (Kinky Boots/School of Rock) and HIV activist, who helps to answer "queeries" such as these and many more. Growing up in a religious environment, he was not allowed exposure to sex education, not to mention gay sex education. At 20 years old, he was diagnosed with HIV and had no idea what that meant for his life. "Am I going to die?" was the first thing he asked the doctor. However, after educating himself, realizing that an HIV diagnosis wasn't a death sentence, and that he could live a normal and healthy life, he decided to go public with his status. He has since gone on to be featured in various Queer magazines, as well as be a part of the 2019 U=U campaign to end stigma and raise awareness. We discuss why he decided to go public and be a face for HIV awareness; the lack of knowledge and stigma around those living with HIV; the lack of queer sex education in our schools; as well as Hernando's other passions, Cannabis and Dogs, and how the intersectionality of the two led to a profitable business endeavor.

Follow Hernando:
Instagram
Twitter
CBD Dog Health

Organization of the Week: Black AIDS Institute
Learn
Donate

Resources to learn more about HIV/AIDS, testing, prevention (PrEP, PEP), and care:
How to Survive a Plague Documentary
GMHC
Whitman-Walker Health
Trillium Health

Show Produced by Nick Eibler

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

Logo Design by David Pavón

Welcome to "Queer Queeries": an interview style podcast hosted by actor Nick Eibler that aims to CELEBRATE Queer identity by bringing visibility to this incredible community and EDUCATE those within and outside the community about the unique experiences Queer people have in life and what has made them a fearless and fabulous group of people over the course of history. Trust me, we are more than just rainbows, clack fans, and tea. We will cover the gambit of Queer experience and identity, from discussing things such as the process and need for a Queer person to “Come Out” to Queer representation in entertainment to Racism and Homophobia within the community to living with HIV and the stigmas that surround it. This podcast aims to have these tough conversations in hopes to not only educate but also to normalize these sensitive topics in a way to heal and help us all learn, become better humans, and a more accepting society. Hope you're ready for the fabulous ride. Let's go!

Rate, Subscribe and Follow us on Instagram, like our Facebook Page, and check out our website.

Email suggestions, topic and guest ideas:
[email protected]

Show Produced by Nick Eibler

Edited by Addison McKissack

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

Logo Design by David Pavón

Welcome to "Queer Queeries": an interview style podcast hosted by actor Nick Eibler that aims to CELEBRATE Queer identity by bringing visibility to this incredible community and EDUCATE those within and outside the community about the unique experiences Queer people have in life and what has made them a fearless and fabulous group of people over the course of history. Trust me, we are more than just rainbows, clack fans, and tea. We will cover the gambit of Queer experience and identity, from discussing things such as the process and need for a Queer person to “Come Out” to Queer representation in entertainment to Racism and Homophobia within the community to living with HIV and the stigmas that surround it. This podcast aims to have these tough conversations in hopes to not only educate but also to normalize these sensitive topics in a way to heal and help us all learn, become better humans, and a more accepting society. Hope you're ready for the fabulous ride. Let's go!

Show Produced by Nick Eibler

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

Logo Design by David Pavón

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Email suggestions, topic and guest ideas:
[email protected]