On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory (she/her) interviews Phynix (he/they), a long-time KYC youth who recently aged out of Kaleidoscope Youth Center’s programming. The two discuss the importance of having space to honor all facets of one’s identity, Phynix’s experience leading KYC’s float during the Columbus Pride March this year, the ways that he has grown throughout their time at KYC – and how he tries to show younger youth the same support and mentorship they received, too.

Have a question you want answered or a topic you’d like discussed on Speaking Queerly? Send an email to [email protected].

KYC Youth Center is the largest and longest-standing organization in Ohio solely dedicated to serving and supporting queer youth. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KYC works to provide safer spaces, programming, and leadership opportunities so that youth can be free to explore who they are and empowered to become their confident, truest selves. Learn more at www.kycohio.org, and follow us on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @KYCOhio. If you like what you hear, and want to support the continued development of Speaking Queerly, send us a donation at kycohio.org/donate.

On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory (she/her) interviews Nico Lang (they/them), a longtime, award-winning LGBTQ+ reporter who has contributed to outlets such as Rolling Stone, HuffPost, BuzzFeed News, Them, and The Daily Beast. They’re also the founder of Queer News Daily. Most recently, Nico has been working on a new book, American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era, which chronicles the diverse lived experiences of seven trans youth and their families navigating life in seven different states.

Mallory and Nico delve into the stories and themes that stood out to them most in the book, swap stories of the interactions in their lives that made them feel comfortable showing up as their authentic selves and so much more.

American Teenager was released on October 8, 2024. You can order a copy from your local library and just about everywhere where books are sold!

Have a question you want answered or a topic you’d like discussed on Speaking Queerly? Send an email to [email protected].

KYC Youth Center is the largest and longest-standing organization in Ohio solely dedicated to serving and supporting queer youth. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KYC works to provide safer spaces, programming, and leadership opportunities so that youth can be free to explore who they are and empowered to become their confident, truest selves. Learn more at www.kycohio.org, and follow us on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @KYCOhio. If you like what you hear, and want to support the continued development of Speaking Queerly, send us a donation at kycohio.org/donate.

On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory (she/her) sits down with Penny Rupert (she/her), a grad student and community organizer in Columbus. The two discuss academia and the seemingly unrelated (but nevertheless intersecting) disciplines of Penny’s areas of study, and the marches, rallies and drag performances Penny has organized over the past few years. Plus, learn more about the National March and Speakout for Trans Lives that she is helping to organize in Columbus on October 19, upcoming panel discussions leading up to the event and how you can get involved in the movement.

Stay up-to-date on the National March and Speakout for Trans Lives by following their Instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/transyouthmarch. Plus, learn how you can get involved in the organizing and promotion of the event by sending a message to their account.

Have a question you want answered or a topic you’d like discussed on Speaking Queerly? Send an email to [email protected].

KYC Youth Center is the largest and longest-standing organization in Ohio solely dedicated to serving and supporting queer youth. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KYC works to provide safer spaces, programming, and leadership opportunities so that youth can be free to explore who they are and empowered to become their confident, truest selves. Learn more at www.kycohio.org, and follow us on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @KYCOhio. If you like what you hear, and want to support the continued development of Speaking Queerly, send us a donation at kycohio.org/donate.

On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory (she/her) sits down with high school senior Rachel Maletz (she/her), who has devoted her senior project to getting young voters engaged in the upcoming election. In addition to committing to register 1000 people between the ages of 18-25 to vote, Rachel has partnered with Columbus Stand Up, Pint Size Protesters, KYC and other community partners to organize a candidate forum on Sunday, September 15 at East High School in Columbus. Reset: Political Discourse for a New Generation will feature candidates for Franklin County prosecutor and the Ohio Supreme Court, giving attendees the opportunity to learn more about these offices and the individuals vying for a seat.

Register to attend at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/promoting-political-discourse-for-a-new-generation-tickets-919473920247.

Have a question you want answered or a topic you’d like discussed on Speaking Queerly? Send an email to [email protected].

KYC Youth Center is the largest and longest-standing organization in Ohio solely dedicated to serving and supporting queer youth. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KYC works to provide safer spaces, programming, and leadership opportunities so that youth can be free to explore who they are and empowered to become their confident, truest selves. Learn more at www.kycohio.org, and follow us on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @KYCOhio. If you like what you hear, and want to support the continued development of Speaking Queerly, send us a donation at kycohio.org/donate.

On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory sits down with Leobeliz Perdomo Blanco (they/them), KYC’s center based program manager, and recent graduate of The Ohio State University, Gabriella Quirch (she/her), two recipients of OSU’s premiere diversity scholarship: the Morrill Scholarship. The group discusses the impact the scholarship and scholars program had on their college experiences, the lessons they learned in the program and how others can apply for the scholarship. Plus, hear their discussion on historic student protests for social justice and the impact that current legislation moving through Ohio could have on diversity on college campuses.

Learn more about the Morrill Scholarship Program here: https://odi.osu.edu/msp-about

Have a question you want answered or a topic you’d like discussed on Speaking Queerly? Send an email to [email protected]. KYC Youth Center is the largest and longest-standing organization in Ohio solely dedicated to serving and supporting queer youth. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KYC works to provide safer spaces, programming, and leadership opportunities so that youth can be free to explore who they are and empowered to become their confident, truest selves. Learn more at www.kycohio.org, and follow us on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @KYCOhio. If you like what you hear, and want to support the continued development of Speaking Queerly, send us a donation at kycohio.org/donate.

On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory and Dee connect with producers of the I’m Feeling Queer Today podcast: Eric (they/them), Trudy (they/them) and Julie (she/her). The group talks about coming out, finding in-person queer community, their experiences creating queer media, Trudy’s upcoming musical and more.

The Future Perfect Project is a youth-produced creation of the Future Perfect Project, which is an organization that seeks to amplify queer young voices, we produce and facilitate creative workshops, media projects, and live performances of original work created by and about the current generation of LGBTQIA+ youth. You can listen to the I’m Feeling Queer Today podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts now.

Have a question you want answered or a topic you’d like discussed on Speaking Queerly? Send an email to [email protected].

KYC Youth Center is the largest and longest-standing organization in Ohio solely dedicated to serving and supporting queer youth. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KYC works to provide safer spaces, programming, and leadership opportunities so that youth can be free to explore who they are and empowered to become their confident, truest selves. Learn more at www.kycohio.org, and follow us on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @KYCOhio. If you like what you hear, and want to support the continued development of Speaking Queerly, send us a donation at kycohio.org/donate.

On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory and Dee sit down with Svetlana Harlan, PhD (she/her), the community engagement coordinator and Gay Ohio History Initiative (GOHI) project coordinator for the Ohio History Connection. Learn about the GOHI collection, GOHI’s initiative to designate more state historic sites honoring Ohio’s LGBTQIA+ history, how we can each contribute to the queer and trans history of our state and more. Learn more about the Gay Ohio History Initiative at https://www.ohiohistory.org/gohi/ Have a question you want answered or a topic you’d like discussed on Speaking Queerly? Send an email to [email protected]. KYC Youth Center is the largest and longest-standing organization in Ohio solely dedicated to serving and supporting queer youth. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KYC works to provide safer spaces, programming, and leadership opportunities so that youth can be free to explore who they are and empowered to become their confident, truest selves. Learn more at www.kycohio.org, and follow us on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @KYCOhio. If you like what you hear, and want to support the continued development of Speaking Queerly, send us a donation at kycohio.org/donate.

On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory sits down with Sean McCann (he/him) of the ACLU of Ohio and Cam Ogden (she/her) of Equality Ohio and Trans Allies of Ohio to talk about the status of gender-affirming care access now that House Bill 68 will become law. Learn more about the ACLU of Ohio’s upcoming lawsuit to challenge the enforcement of this discriminatory legislation, what you can do to provide feedback on proposed administrative rules impacting gender-affirming care in Ohio, how Cam is celebrating trans joy and how they’re all staying hopeful while fighting back against anti-trans legislation.

Submit public comments on the proposed Ohio Department of Health administrative rules by sending an email to [email protected] by Monday, February 5 at 5 p.m.

Donate to TransOhio’s Emergency Cash Assistance Fund to support trans youth and their families: tinyurl.com/transohiofund

Apply for financial support through TransOhio’s Emergency Cash Assistance Fund: tinyurl.com/transemergencyfundapp

Donate to the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project, learn more about the program and apply for a grant: https://southernequality.org/ohresources/

Have a question you want answered or a topic you’d like discussed on Speaking Queerly? Send an email to [email protected].

KYC Youth Center is the largest and longest-standing organization in Ohio solely dedicated to serving and supporting queer youth. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KYC works to provide safer spaces, programming, and leadership opportunities so that youth can be free to explore who they are and empowered to become their confident, truest selves. Learn more at www.kycohio.org, and follow us on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @KYCOhio. If you like what you hear, and want to support the continued development of Speaking Queerly, send us a donation at kycohio.org/donate.

It’s almost time to go home for the holidays, and you know what that means: observing the time-honored tradition of repeatedly answering the questions, “Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend yet?” and, “What are you going to do with the rest of your life?” On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory and Daria sit down with Gill Platek (they/them), the storytelling media organizer with the GSA Network, who helps strategize what to do when those questions and other tough conversations arise. They also discuss ways to take care of your mental health during the holidays, how a PowerPoint presentation can help you stay in touch with friends, the power of telling your story… and when it’s okay to not get in the last word.

Learn more about the GSA Network here: https://gsanetwork.org/

Become part of the Ohio GSA Network here: https://www.kycohio.org/gsa.html

Have a question you want answered or a topic you’d like discussed on Speaking Queerly? Send an email to [email protected].

KYC Youth Center is the largest and longest-standing organization in Ohio solely dedicated to serving and supporting queer youth. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KYC works to provide safer spaces, programming, and leadership opportunities so that youth can be free to explore who they are and empowered to become their confident, truest selves. Learn more at www.kycohio.org, and follow us on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @KYCOhio. If you like what you hear, and want to support the continued development of Speaking Queerly, send us a donation at kycohio.org/donate.

On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory talks to Dallas Aldridge (he/him), the executive director for the 2021 Gay Softball World Series, which took place in Columbus. During that year’s event, participants raised money for KYC – and, in doing so, helped support the creation of KYC’s new Sports Equity Fund. When it launches in early 2024, the Sports Equity Fund will provide scholarships to help young athletes pay for team fees, equipment, uniforms and more.

If you or someone you know is interested in applying for a scholarship, visit KYCOhio.org/as-a-youth to get added to the mailing list to be one of the first to know when the program becomes available.

Learn more about International Pride Softball and the Gay Softball World Series here: https://ipridesoftball.org/

Learn more about the Columbus Lesbian and Gay Softball Association here: https://www.clgsa.org/

Have a question you want answered or a topic you’d like discussed on Speaking Queerly? Send an email to [email protected].

KYC Youth Center is the largest and longest-standing organization in Ohio solely dedicated to serving and supporting queer youth. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KYC works to provide safer spaces, programming, and leadership opportunities so that youth can be free to explore who they are and empowered to become their confident, truest selves. Learn more at www.kycohio.org, and follow us on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @KYCOhio. If you like what you hear, and want to support the continued development of Speaking Queerly, send us a donation at kycohio.org/donate.