The Intersection: Diverse Folx Converse

Join us for The Intersection: Diverse Folx Converse Season 2, Episode 5, Part 1 "BE YOU & Unapologetically Out Loud: GenderCool Helps TG and NB Youth Tell Their Own Stories."

With Gearah Goldstein, She is the Founder of GenderCool and Diversity Equity and Inclusion Expert, wife, parent, and proud transgender person.

In this beautifully spoken episode, Gearah Goldstein universalizes the youth experience and explains to us how trans and non-binary kids and teens are youth just like any others. She also helps us better understand WHO trans kids and non-binary kids are. And the importance of the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation.

Gearah explains the recent trans bans especially when pertaining to trans kids and teens is the age-old practice of scapegoating onto those whom you don't understand. And turning that into fear and hate. As well as the saddest aspects that this is being done to children.

Getting beyond the trauma scripts many of us carry as marginalized people and groups, Gearah speaks in these episodes about how children deserve and need consistency, positivity, and stability. And she teaches us how to learn the best ways to become more present, and to become allies and advocates to trans and non-binary kids and teens. Let's think of ourselves not only as LGBTQ siblings to one another. But also how we can be the mentors, supporters, and caregivers to our trans and non-binary youth out there.

This episode is important for ALL of us but especially for parents or caregivers or family of trans and NB kids and teens. And for anyone in education or who works with kids!

Listen to these lovely stories told by GenderCool's founder and she-ro!

This episode includes Part 1 & Part 2. Both are equally amazing and distinctly educational for those of us in the LGBTQIA+ community as well as allies, co-conspirators, and advocates.

*******

Dr. Shannon Wong Lerner is the host of The Intersection: Diverse Folx Converse, programming made by and for QPoC and GNC people. She is also a Communication Coach & Consultant, Thought Leader, Keynote Speaker, DEI & Communication Skills Trainer.

See Dr. Shannon's website here: https://drshannonwl.com

*******

OUR MISSION: The Intersection is a not-for-profit project that tells the stories of QPoC and GNC people. I started The Intersection because I didn’t see anyone open a platform to represent us accurately. And to take the time to ask, “What do you want to talk about?” And whatever that was, to make that happen!

SUBSCRIBE and PARTICIPATE: please subscribe to our YouTube and Apple Podcast or Spotify channels. See these links on our IG Bio and leave comments, likes, and Tell Your Friends! The more visibility, the more people we will reach!

*******

MAKING a DONATION (can be small, $1, $5, $10) to our GoFundMe page HERE 💰👩🏼‍🎤👨🏽‍🎤🦄 we have $870 left to go for our quarterly goals! These are for production costs ONLY.

https://gofund.me/05aa6a24

Love, Dr. Shannon 👩‍🎤🎙and the Intersection Community 👨🏻‍🎤🦄🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

I'm going live using StreamYard! Before leaving a comment, please grant StreamYard permission to see your name at streamyard.com/facebook

In this special episode, I sat down with Ryan Cassata to talk about what it means to be so publicly visible while feeling like you have to hide parts of who you are. Season 2, Episode 4, “Growing Up In the Trans Spotlight: Transcending Expectations with Ryan Cassata” is specifically Ryan’s story but it is also many of ours too. Of taking on the pressure of what society has put on us for far too long, confronting that, and making our lives unapologetically our own. Both our public and personal lives.

Ryan Cassata came into the trans spotlight at 15 when he was interviewed on Larry King and since then has made his dreams come true with multiple acclaimed albums, as a leading actor in independent film, and as an award-winning LGBTQ activist, speaker, and writer. This first part of his podcast, he discusses more what it’s been like to be seen and expected to present himself as if he were perpetually that same 15-year old when he’s been an adult legally for the last 10 years.

As a 28 year old trans celebrity 28, Ryan speaks freely about what his life is like now. And his departure from his older image. He explains the kink and BDSM culture in his recently-released music video “Coffin.” And we both talk about how other celebrities who have a primarily youthful fan base such as Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X have dealt with their own fame and their responsibility to their fans. In this section “Kink / BDSM Culture” we discuss body positivity and staying grounded and feeling safe and healthy in a queer / trans body, sex positivity, and the historical lineage and importance of kink and BDSM in LGBTQ culture.

The second section of Part 1 “Creating Alternatives to Transnormativity and Transmedicalism” describes how heteronormativity, homonormativity has effected the trans community and trans youth by confronting transnormativity and the harmful beliefs of transmedicalists. Ryan offers healthy alternatives to this perspective for trans and gender non-conforming youth which is loving yourself and being around people whom you trust. As well as being unapologetically yourself in whatever gender identity and expression and orientation feels right to you!

*******

Ryan Cassata is an Accomplished Singer-Songwriter, Award-Winning LGBTQ Activist, Speaker, Writer, and Actor. You can find info on Ryan’s music, events, and appearances here: https://ryancassata.com

*******

Dr. Shannon Wong Lerner is the host of The Intersection: Diverse Folx Converse, programming made by and for QPoC and GNC people. She is also a Communication Coach & Consultant, Thought Leader, Keynote Speaker, DEI & Communication Skills Trainer.

See Dr. Shannon's website here: https://drshannonwl.com

*******

OUR MISSION: The Intersection is a not-for-profit project that tells the stories of QPoC and GNC people.

SUBSCRIBE and PARTICIPATE: please subscribe to our YouTube and Apple Podcast or Spotify channels.

*******

MAKING a DONATION (can be small, $1, $5, $10) to our GoFundMe page HERE 💰👩🏼‍🎤👨🏽‍🎤🦄 we have $870 left to go for our quarterly goals! These are for production costs ONLY.

https://gofund.me/05aa6a24

Love, Dr. Shannon 👩🏼‍🎤🎙and the Intersection Community 👨🏻‍🎤🦄🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

In this special episode, I sat down with Ryan Cassata to talk about what it means to be so publicly visible while feeling like you have to hide parts of who you are. Season 2, Episode 4, “Growing Up In the Trans Spotlight: Transcending Expectations with Ryan Cassata” is specifically Ryan’s story but it is also many of ours too. Of taking on the pressure of what society has put on us for far too long, confronting that, and making our lives unapologetically our own. Both our public and personal lives.

Ryan Cassata came into the trans spotlight at 15 when he was interviewed on Larry King and since then has made his dreams come true with multiple acclaimed albums, as a leading actor in independent film, and as an award-winning LGBTQ activist, speaker, and writer. This first part of his podcast, he discusses more what it’s been like to be seen and expected to present himself as if he were perpetually that same 15-year old when he’s been an adult legally for the last 10 years.

As a 28 year old trans celebrity 28, Ryan speaks freely about what his life is like now. And his departure from his older image. He explains the kink and BDSM culture in his recently-released music video “Coffin.” And we both talk about how other celebrities who have a primarily youthful fan base such as Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X have dealt with their own fame and their responsibility to their fans. In this section “Kink / BDSM Culture” we discuss body positivity and staying grounded and feeling safe and healthy in a queer / trans body, sex positivity, and the historical lineage and importance of kink and BDSM in LGBTQ culture.

The second section of Part 1 “Creating Alternatives to Transnormativity and Transmedicalism” describes how heteronormativity, homonormativity has effected the trans community and trans youth by confronting transnormativity and the harmful beliefs of transmedicalists. Ryan offers healthy alternatives to this perspective for trans and gender non-conforming youth which is loving yourself and being around people whom you trust. As well as being unapologetically yourself in whatever gender identity and expression and orientation feels right to you!

*******

Ryan Cassata is an Accomplished Singer-Songwriter, Award-Winning LGBTQ Activist, Speaker, Writer, and Actor. You can find info on Ryan’s music, events, and appearances here: https://ryancassata.com

*******

Dr. Shannon Wong Lerner is the host of The Intersection: Diverse Folx Converse, programming made by and for QPoC and GNC people. She is also a Communication Coach & Consultant, Thought Leader, Keynote Speaker, DEI & Communication Skills Trainer.

See Dr. Shannon's website here: https://drshannonwl.com

*******

OUR MISSION: The Intersection is a not-for-profit project that tells the stories of QPoC and GNC people.

SUBSCRIBE and PARTICIPATE: please subscribe to our YouTube and Apple Podcast or Spotify channels.

*******

MAKING a DONATION (can be small, $1, $5, $10) to our GoFundMe page HERE 💰👩🏼‍🎤👨🏽‍🎤🦄 we have $870 left to go for our quarterly goals! These are for production costs ONLY.

https://gofund.me/05aa6a24

Love, Dr. Shannon 👩🏼‍🎤🎙and the Intersection Community 👨🏻‍🎤🦄🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Season 2, Episode 3, Why I Won’t Give Up on Anyone: How to Create Unlikely Queer–Straight Coalitions During the Holidays, with Special Guest Steve Petersen

Part 1 & Part 2

"There are bursting through members that would self identify everywhere from redneck to woke and everything in between. And that is, you know, that is awesome. And that's amazing to me and I am nothing but honored about that." –Steve Petersen, Founder of Bursting Through

The Intersection: Diverse Folx Converse prides itself on its programming made by and for QPoC and GNC individuals. And we have a particular set of topics we cover that are a part of our everyday lives. So when I met Steve Petersen, I knew his work with Bursting Through filled a gap in our narrative that has to do with allyship. And the kinds of people with whom we have access and those whom we don't.

Recently, I had a terrible exchange with someone who seemed to be so compatible with my identification and political views. And quickly realized (because they admitted it too) that this person being in a "closely knitted bubble" had distanced me from them more than helped us relate. The Intersection is all about supporting and validating QPoC's and GNC people's experiences, perspectives, struggles, and trauma. But also it's about uplifting us by exploring all areas of our lived social worlds and truths. Steve's episode helps us because he as the title says "Won't Give Up on Anyone." As a white gay man in his 50's who has commanded areas of the corporate world, he has access to a different set of potential allies than we do. And his commitment to ALL of them intrigues me.

What can we learn about how unlikely allyship works or the ways in which as queer people, we can benefit from queer–straight coalitions? I explore all of this and more in this conversation. Including the ways in which we can engage our straight family members during difficult times, such as holidays.

Here are the topics we cover in Part 1 and Part 2:

*PART 1: December 3rd, 4PM PST

--Looking Like the Enemy: Becoming an Ally

--It's Past Time for Straight People to Come Out (as Allies)

*PART 2: December 17, 4PM PST, FRIDAY

--Interrogating Discourses of LOVE

--Queer Christmas and Queer Holidays

*This month we will continue with the schedule of 1st and 3rd Fridays at 4PM PST for Diverse Folx Converse, and 2nd and 4th Fridays at 12PM PST. January we will switch to 2nd and 3rd weeks for our conversations, and 1st and 4th weeks for tutorials.

Season 2, Episode 3, Why I Won’t Give Up on Anyone: How to Create Unlikely Queer–Straight Coalitions During the Holidays, with Special Guest Steve Petersen

Part 1 & Part 2

"There are bursting through members that would self identify everywhere from redneck to woke and everything in between. And that is, you know, that is awesome. And that's amazing to me and I am nothing but honored about that." –Steve Petersen, Founder of Bursting Through

The Intersection: Diverse Folx Converse prides itself on its programming made by and for QPoC and GNC individuals. And we have a particular set of topics we cover that are a part of our everyday lives. So when I met Steve Petersen, I knew his work with Bursting Through filled a gap in our narrative that has to do with allyship. And the kinds of people with whom we have access and those whom we don't.

Recently, I had a terrible exchange with someone who seemed to be so compatible with my identification and political views. And quickly realized (because they admitted it too) that this person being in a "closely knitted bubble" had distanced me from them more than helped us relate. The Intersection is all about supporting and validating QPoC's and GNC people's experiences, perspectives, struggles, and trauma. But also it's about uplifting us by exploring all areas of our lived social worlds and truths. Steve's episode helps us because he as the title says "Won't Give Up on Anyone." As a white gay man in his 50's who has commanded areas of the corporate world, he has access to a different set of potential allies than we do. And his commitment to ALL of them intrigues me.

What can we learn about how unlikely allyship works or the ways in which as queer people, we can benefit from queer–straight coalitions? I explore all of this and more in this conversation. Including the ways in which we can engage our straight family members during difficult times, such as holidays.

Here are the topics we cover in Part 1 and Part 2:

*PART 1: December 3rd, 4PM PST

--Looking Like the Enemy: Becoming an Ally

--It's Past Time for Straight People to Come Out (as Allies)

*PART 2: December 17, 4PM PST, FRIDAY

--Interrogating Discourses of LOVE

--Queer Christmas and Queer Holidays

*This month we will continue with the schedule of 1st and 3rd Fridays at 4PM PST for Diverse Folx Converse, and 2nd and 4th Fridays at 12PM PST. January we will switch to 2nd and 3rd weeks for our conversations, and 1st and 4th weeks for tutorials.

Season 2, Episode 2, PART 2: “I'm Bulletproof, and I Don't Give a F_ck": Queer Women of Color Scholar, Dr. Karma Chávez Talks, Mentorship, Tokenism, and Intersectionally Queering Our Workspaces.

The podcast will be delivered this month as a PART 1, and a PART 2. Always released 1st and 3rd Friday of each month:

PART 1 premieres Friday, November 5, 2021 at 4PM PST and includes the following topics covered:

--Tokenism & Adrian Piper's "Cornered" (1988)

--QWoC Swagger & Desire of Speech

--Some QPoC and PoC mentorship advice

PART 2 premieres Friday November 19, 2021 at 4PM PST and includes the following topics covered:

--Borders of AIDS: Race, Quarantine, and Resistance

--QWoC and PoC Mentorship

SUMMARY:

Part 2: In the second installment of this podcast, Karma and I discuss QWoC and PoC mentorship and her new book just released earlier this year: The Borders of AIDS: Race, Quarantine, and Resistance. In this podcast, we discuss some of what we have been through as lighter-skinned QWoC and what others like us, and different from us have experienced. We also talk about migration in the US and how more marginalized migrants, such as Black, queer, and trans migrants have been unfairly treated in the US. Her most recent book, The Border of Aids: Race, Quarantine, and Resistance (published by University of Washington Press) tells the story of how disease becomes an opportunity for the nation state or the tells the story of how disease becomes an opportunity for the nation state or US violation of human rights. Such as using prisons or concentration camps or internment camps or hospitals or deportation or bans that we're seeing right now with Haitians and COVID-19 bans.

Dr. Karma Chávez is University of Texas-Austin, Department Chair and Associate Professor of Department of Mexican American & Latino Studies. See Dr. Karma's full biography here: https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/mals/faculty/kc32638

Dr. Shannon Wong Lerner is the host of The Intersection: Diverse Folx Converse, programming made by and for QPoC and GNC people. She is also a Communication Coach & Consultant, Thought Leader, Keynote Speaker, DEI & Communication Skills Trainer.

See Dr. Shannon's website here: https://drshannonwl.com

Season 2, Episode 2, PART 1: “I'm Bulletproof, and I Don't Give a F_ck": Queer Women of Color Scholar, Dr. Karma Chávez Talks, Mentorship, Tokenism, and Intersectionally Queering Our Workspaces.

When I first saw her publication list and the lengths to which she went to tell marginalized people's stories globally, I realized that Dr. Karma Chávez is a force to be reckoned with! I was so pleased when she said YES to The Intersection: Diverse Folx Converse. I knew it would be such an important resource for other QWoC and PoC in academia as well as the workplace.

With QWoC swagger, Karma spoke the first part of her podcast title “I'm Bulletproof, and I Don't Give a F_ck" when I asked her, "How are you writing about these topics?" Karma is a leading voice and liberatory voice in migration studies focusing many times on the story that hasn't been told of Black migrants, queer migrants, and trans migrants.

The podcast will be delivered this month as a PART 1, and a PART 2. Always released 1st and 3rd Friday of each month:

PART 1 premieres Friday, November 5, 2021 at 4PM PST and includes the following topics covered:

--Tokenism & Adrian Piper's "Cornered" (1988)

--QWoC Swagger & Desire of Speech

PART 2 premieres Friday November 11, 2021 at 4PM PST and includes the following topics covered:

--Alienating Logics–The Border of Aids: Race, Quarantine, and Resistance

--QWoC and PoC Mentorship

Podcast episode summaries:

PART 1: We begin this story from a personal angle to talk about identity and what it was like for both of us to navigate academic and professional work spaces as lighter-skinned queer women of color. We talk about tokenism and the institutions of anti-Black white supremacy, and the particular form of racism we have endured and the ones we have been spared from. We also feature Adrian Piper's art installation "Cornered" (1988) that addresses miscegenation and racism beyond otherness. And brings white viewers into accountability of the possibility of their own Blackness. We end this episode talking about our own desire of speech as bi-racial and mixed-race queer women of color, and discuss QWoC swagger a bit.

Part 2: In the second installment of this podcast, Karma and I discuss QWoC and PoC mentorship and her new book just released earlier this year: The Border of Aids: Race, Quarantine, and Resistance. In this podcast, we discuss some of what we have been through as lighter-skinned QWoC and what others like us, and different from us have experienced. We also talk about migration in the US and how more marginalized migrants, such as Black, queer, and trans migrants have been unfairly treated in the US. Her most recent book, The Border of Aids: Race, Quarantine, and Resistance (published by University of Washington Press) tells the story of how disease becomes an opportunity for the nation state or the tells the story of how disease becomes an opportunity for the nation state or US violation of human rights. Such as using prisons or concentration camps or internment camps or hospitals or deportation or bans that we're seeing right now with Haitians and COVID-19 bans.

Dr. Karma Chávez is University of Texas-Austin, Department Chair and Associate Professor of Department of Mexican American & Latino Studies.

Come join us for The Intersection: Diverse Folx Converse not-for-profit programming made by and for QPoC and GNC individuals.

In this second part of Season 2, Episode 1, A Personal Liberation Journey of Relationships, Dr. Daniel and I talk about their 6-part course specifically created for trans students and BIPoC trans students. By taking away the formalities of dance, rhythm, athleticism, and aesthetics, Daniel's students can take back ownership of their bodies, desires, and regain their own patterns of movement in the personal and public sphere.

In this episode, we talk about how as queer BIPoC we might take back all aspects of embodiment, leadership, and learning by calling out the white supremacy that has set in our bodies and minds. Come join us and be immersed in a personal liberation journey of ours and your own.

Dr. Daniel Coleman is Assistant Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at UNC-G, and a Community-Focused Artist / Scholar. We are so grateful to have had Dr. Daniel as our special guest for this 2-part episode to kick off Season 2 of The Intersection Podcast.

We start Season 2 of The Intersection Podcast: Diverse Folx Converse with Special Guest, Dr. Daniel Coleman, “A Personal Liberation Journey of Relationships, Part 1: Black Queer / Trans Loving.”

In this episode Dr. Daniel and I discuss how he laid the groundwork for his personal liberation journey, intergenerational loving, and how he sustained his personal liberation journey!

We cover so many juicy topics in this episode such as intergenerational love, and Afro-diasporic spiritual and intersectional support of polyamory, and non-monogamous love as a way to de-center the toxic idea of "chemical" accidental romantic love that we see so often in white supremacist narratives or heteronormative or homonormative narratives.

This podcast was so good, I had to split it into two parts! This first part focuses on intersectional Black queer / trans polyamory and non-monogamous love. The second part focuses on Black queer / trans recognition, embodiment, and agency!

Dr. Daniel talks all about his personal liberation journey as a Black queer / trans person and we converse with my limited knowledge of polyamory and non-monogamy as someone who is more newly out as queer / gay.

Dr. Daniel Coleman is Assistant Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at UNC-G, and a Community-Focused Artist / Scholar.

This is a wonderful episode that I'm so pleased to host and present to all of you. It makes us question how subliminally we might be reenacting white supremacist, anti-Black, and heteronormative and homonormative patterns in the most intimate of situations and relationships.

This episode is central to our September campaign: QUEER LOVE IS NOT JUST SEX

To think about the social, political, personal, libratory, and agentive aspects of queer love. Especially with those of us who have been most stigmatized or excluded.

The Intersection Episode #12–De-Centering Black Queer Self-Censorship with Eboné Bell

We invite you to Episode 12 of The Intersection: Diverse Folx Converse Podcast, featuring Eboné Bell, editor-in-chief of Tagg Magazine to learn more about Black queer self-censorship

Titled: De-Centering Black Queer Self-Censorship in the Face of Public Shaming, Racial Profiling, and Violence with Queer Women of Color Media and Programs

Eboné and I curated this episode together after she came to me with the horrible incident of a young Black woman being dragged by her hair down stairs of a LGBTQ establishment, Nellies Sports Bar in Washington DC during PRIDE 2021.

Keisha Young was a victim of racial profiling, underwent extreme violence and public humiliation, and we spoke together about how such incidents are some of the culprits of Black queer self-censorship.

Eboné brings up multiple points on how to ally and co-conspire with Black queer people to stop incidents like this from occurring but also how to validate Black queer people's and women's experiences, as well as that of QPoC and QWoC.

She then discusses her rise to fame with Tagg Magazine, her plans for the future, and what it's like to see representation for Black queer women, QWoC, and trans individuals missing in public culture.

And then to become at the forefront of this representation! Not only as editor-in-chief but as a speaker, thought leader, and social leader.

Listen to this important conversation that is vital to understand our past of intersectional racism, our present events, and Eboné's plans for the future to continue to uplift QPoC and "everyone under the rainbow."

*******

Eboné Bell's offerings can be found on her website, https://www.ebonebell.com Dr. Shannon Wong Lerner's info and Intersection GOFUNDME page: https://linktr.ee/DrWongLerner