March 13, 2024 • 36 mins
What does it mean to express your authentic self? Who are you when you’re alone, or when you feel your safest? In the season premiere of Queer Chronicles, we meet a group of teenagers in political battleground states across the country who show us how they find ways to live authentically, even while the world around them tries to keep them silent.
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
School of Humans.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
This is Queer Chronicles.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
This is my personal entry, Queen, this.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Is Queer Chronicles.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
Adults often assume that the next generation will automatically have
easier lives. I know I did, especially as a queer
trans woman who grew up in the late nineties and
early two thousands. I mean, it's undeniable that our culture
has shifted in the last two decades. Sis gender queer
(00:50):
people started popping up more in the media. Then trans
folks started popping up more in the media. Marriage equality
became a thing, and it seemed like today's youth had
the space to discover who they are and that our
country had finally caught up to the power of queerness.
(01:11):
But within the last few years, something else shifted. Conservative
politicians started carrying out a plan to silence and stifle us,
and their political backlash to our progress gained ground.
Speaker 5 (01:29):
There will be a new law in Arkansas banning doctors
from treating any children going through any transitioning procedures or treatment.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Republicans have now passed a bill that would ban transgender
girls from competing in female athletics.
Speaker 6 (01:46):
Look where Kentucky lawmakers have overridden the veto of a
bill regulating access to gender transition care. The bill would
ban access to certain surgeries, puberty blockers, and hormone therapy
for anyone under eighteen. It also restricts.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Which as you can hear, there's nothing easy about being young,
queer and trans right now.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Sure, there's been.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Progress, but it's clear that the ignorance, bullying, and violence
never fully went away. Now it's just being bolstered by
these louder and stronger threats to our existence. Since the
start of our production on Queer Chronicles, we have believed
that one of the greatest remedies to ignorance about our
(02:32):
community is authentic storytelling. Then, just weeks before we were
set to launch, a story emerged that we couldn't ignore,
and it was a stark reminder of the realities for
trans and queer youth across the country and why we
wanted to make this show. Recently, the death of Next Benedict,
(02:56):
a sixteen year old teen from Oaso, Oklahoma, rocked the world.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Next use he.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Him and they then pronouns, and has been identified as
non binary and transgender. According to loved Ones. Next has
also been remembered as being fiery and a talented artist.
He had a full life like any other young person.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
He had a.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Family, friends, hobbies, and a future, but it was all
whisked away. The details surrounding Nexu's death are complicated, but
we know there was bullying, violence, and someone died far
too young. Amid the heaviness of collective grief, Nexu's death
(03:45):
has reverberated throughout the US, inspiring countless vigils, and it's
shone a light on the experiences of queer and trans
youth in this moment. We hope this show can help
illuminate their inherent power. This season will do this in
honor of Next Benedict In all of the queer and
(04:09):
trans youth who deserve safety to speak their truths boldly
and unapologetically, and to express themselves fully and freely. So
let's get into it, y'all. From School of Humans, The
Outspoken Podcast Network, and iHeart Podcasts, This is Queer Chronicles,
(04:36):
a show where queer folks document their personal lives and
experiences in their own words, and I'm your host, Raquel Willis.
This season, we asked a group of thirteen to nineteen
year olds across the country to record voice memo diaries
over the course of eight weeks, they shared their perspectives
(04:58):
growing up as queer, trans, and gender not conforming while
living in mostly Red States. We also interviewed them and
held roundtable discussions so they could dig deeper, and throughout
this season we'll get to know their dreams, fears, and interests,
meet those closest to them, and step into their inner worlds.
(05:23):
In our first episode, let's dive into what self expression
means to our teens. But first let's back up. Let
me share a little bit more about who I am
and my role here. Clearly, I'm your host, but I'm
(05:44):
also a journalist and activist who spent years elevating the
experiences of queer and trans folks and media, and as
you can imagine, I have a pretty queer life myself.
I'm a black trans woman from the South Georgia specifically,
and I'm constantly inspired by how ferociously the next generation
(06:09):
of queer and trans folks express themselves.
Speaker 7 (06:13):
Self expression is one of the ways that shows people
that I am who I am. If I wasn't able
to express what it was through the things I put
on my body and face, and I wouldn't stand out
in the ways that I want to.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
For some people, self expression is about wearing that outfit that.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Makes them feel comfortable in their skin.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
For others, it's something like art or sports or sharing
this new song that just blew their mind.
Speaker 8 (06:42):
I think I just have a really strong relationship with
my hair because it's like the intersection of like my
gender but also my race.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Self expression can also be that thing that makes you
feel whole when you're all alone, like journaling to process
your feelings.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Whatever that is for you, you know it when you feel it.
Speaker 9 (07:05):
I've got to the point where I'm just like, why
don't I just exist?
Speaker 10 (07:08):
You know?
Speaker 9 (07:09):
And that's something that has been really important to me recently.
Is just like letting myself exist as I am without
trying to force it in any way.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Today you'll meet some of our incredible teens, starting with Sully.
Speaker 7 (07:23):
Being too spirited is not just my personality who I am.
Being masculine and feminine is who I am. I'm not
going to grow out of it and mature into something different.
It's always going to be who I am.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Sully is eighteen and lives in Montana. He has an
enviable beard and long flowing hair. Sully is two spirit,
which is an Indigenous term used to describe someone who
embodies gender in a beautifully expansive way. In most tribes,
these folks historically weren't considered men or women, but belong
(07:57):
to another distinct gender identity all together.
Speaker 7 (08:01):
I don't always wear things like high heels or off
the shoulder tops, because not everyday calls for it. Some
days I just feel like covering my body and pretending
I'm a blob underneath my big sweaters. But yeah, especially
myself through my clothes. I could do it through many
forms of clothing, through different pants. I wear skirts, shoes, tops, accessories.
(08:25):
I like being the odd one out. I like when
people look and stare at me and wonder why does
he do that, or he looks that way, or he
goes out of publicity like that, Because I do, I'm
not afraid to have feminine features along with the full beard.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Standing out from the crowd is important to Sally, and
it matters to plenty of other queer folks too. But
to keep it real, many of us aren't always in
spaces that appreciate, much less celebrate, our differences, and Sully
School felt entirely too restrictive for him.
Speaker 7 (09:05):
Started out with small things like my makeup was a
little too dramatic, or oh, your earrings are too long,
little nitpicky things that didn't make sense.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
Then those tiny things grew into a bigger issue, and
Sully was constantly reprimanded for not following dress code. Back
in twenty twenty two, his school was celebrating Red Ribbon Week,
a collection of events that encouraged students to live drug
and alcohol free lives. One day, students were allowed to
(09:37):
dress up in themed outfits to celebrate his native American culture,
specifically his crow heritage. Sully wore a traditional ribbon skirt.
It was pale, pink, green and blue, and the coolest
thing about it his mama made it. Unfortunately, it didn't
(09:58):
take long before he was called into the principal's office.
Speaker 7 (10:06):
She's like, still, you're a boy, you can't wear a skirt.
And I'm like, who says just the whole I'm a
guy and I need to be more masculine talk and
how what I do isn't write. I told my principle like,
I'm too spirit I have the right to dress the
way I want like this, It's part of my culture.
And she goes, you can't pull that card on me, Solomon.
I've read about two spirits and they have to follow
the institution that they're at, so you have to follow
(10:28):
what we were telling you, And I'm like, that's not right.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
So you should know that Sully was attending a private
Catholic school with a policy requiring students appearance and pronouns
to be in accordance to their biological sex. This was
implemented after Sally had enrolled. More often than not, dress
(10:53):
codes and posed in schools can lead to a discriminatory
environment for queer students, and of course we can't deny
the impact of colonization on certain standards. All of those
expectations led to judgment and isolation, and they weighed heavily
(11:15):
on Sally.
Speaker 7 (11:16):
I'm not gonna lie to take a little toll on
my mental health to realize that the things I said
might be true because they never directly said it, but
I always got the feeling that they were always thinking
the way you dress is never going to get you
anywhere in life, and that the way you act, you're
always going to be littler than people who are normal.
And I always thought, maybe they're right, Maybe I have
(11:37):
to change myself to fit into society. Maybe I'll never
get the job I want if I act the way
I am, or maybe I'll never find the person that
I truly love if I'm not who I am. They
think that I'm doing it just to grab attention on
other people, when it's to feel free. It's more than
just oh, I look really cute today. It's I feel
(11:59):
great wearing these clothes because they make me feel nice
about myself.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
The skirt incident, Sully was suspended for a week. A
little while later, he got in trouble again for wearing
high hill boots, and after months of feeling targeted by
the school staff, Sully had enough, and this time his
mom decided to unenroll him. He now attends a public
(12:27):
high school that's more affirming, and despite those earlier obstacles,
Sully remains optimistic. He's not changing who he is for
a school dress code or for anyone.
Speaker 6 (12:42):
I know.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
That's right.
Speaker 7 (12:43):
I'm glad I stick out through through self expression because
I don't want to blend in. I had to do
that so much going through high school that now how
that I have the chance to explode my wardrobe and
everything else about me going to because now I have
(13:07):
that option, I'm gonna take advantage. I'm not gonna miss
the opportunity to do that because of what makes me happy.
You know, what makes me feel comfortable in my own body. Yep,
thanks for my ted talk.
Speaker 4 (13:26):
We'll hear from some of our other teens about what
they're doing to express themselves.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
After the break.
Speaker 7 (13:54):
Hello, I'm at least I am frank.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
In the summer of twenty twenty three, we had the
opportunity to hang out with Libby, a thirteen year old
from Texas, and her family. You just heard our producer
at Elise meeting Libby's dad and petting her dogs. Libby
led us in on her idea of a perfect day,
which involved some serious thrifting, munching on dumplings, and sipping
(14:22):
boba teeth. Prepare to be a tad bit jealous because
we even got a chance to take a peek inside
Libby's closet to check out all of her favorite things.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
I wore this to the Taylor Swift concerts. Oh sure,
skeleton's on it playing music? Yeah, or they're just wearing
cowboy hats and every mine.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
That's Libby.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
One of the first things you might notice about her
is that she loves a good black eyeliner. But one
crucial aspect of her intersectional identity is that she's a
swifty Oh yeah, Taylor's that's her girl, and just like
her fave, she has big dreams for her future. She
(15:13):
wants to be a fashion designer, which makes sense because
Libby already has an iconic sense of style.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
So it's like a it's a black sweater or like
sweater best and then a white buttoned down shirt with jeans.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
But the statement piece is a clock purse with a
vintage flare, which is exactly what it sounds like, a
huge round purse with a real clock on it. Libby
loves it and quiet as it's kept. It could steal
attention on any runway.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
I got so many complements on this purse step for
run Fair, and I was like, my mom's like, don't
tell them you got it on Amazon, and I was like,
I did a kitten weather making class.
Speaker 7 (16:05):
Good to know I can get it on Amazon.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Can't get it to move like I put a battery
and everything here. It's only going to be right twice
a day.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
A lot of our teens, like Sally and Libby, talk
about personal style being central to their expression, and it
makes a lot of sense. The right clothes can do
so much for your self confidence and help you feel
safer and braver. But on top of finding clothes that
(16:39):
make her feel more herself, Libby does a little bit more,
or maybe a lot more. She makes the clothes she
wants to see.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
I really like sewing. I have made many things for myself.
I've made my entire family a bunch of stockings, I've
made my sister some dresses and skirts, and I've made
myself a teddy bear. But I especially love that fashion
(17:12):
gives us the ability to personalize our own style and
show the world who we are. I really want to
be one of those like very big like designers like
Gucci or like Christian Dior.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
Beyond a love of fashion, Libby has been involved in
activism with her family since she was seven years old.
In fact, in twenty seventeen, they made a splash when
they went to testify at the state capitol against the
bathroom bill that would have banned trans folks from using
(17:53):
public restrooms that affirmed their gender identity. It was the
first of many fights against a hateful conservative agenda. Here's
a clip of speaking at the Texas House of Representatives
in twenty twenty one.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Hi, my name is Libby, and I represent myself and
I oppose to HB twenty five. The first time I
sat in one of these rooms to ask you to
stop attacking me, I was six.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Now I'm eleven.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
I had to miss school again to come here and
ask you to just let me be a kid. Stop
attacking trans kids.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Now that's what I call power.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
It's been a couple of years since that recording, but
Libby still goes to testify at the Capitol and always
owns the mic and the adults sho's up against.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
I have been advocating for other trans kids, for myself
and other trans kids for more than half of my life.
I find advocacy empowering, but it's also honestly really hard.
I feel like no kid should ever have to do this.
(19:04):
I also know, oh nothing will change if those of
us who do have safety in our lives stay silent.
So I made a decision to keep showing up as
long as I can.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
But at her core, Lippy is still a teen with
endless ambition. Hearing her go from talking about social justice
to hopes of being a designer one day is just
so incredible. Her goals are layered, and I hope she
carries on with that exuberant spirit and sticks with whatever
(19:41):
feels right to her.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
It's super scary to face a bunch of legislators you
don't know anything about you at all. But it's also
super scary to sit back and watch them try to
just legislate us out of existence. So I keep showing up.
We will always exist and we will definitely not look
(20:05):
take away a joy no matter how hard they try.
Speaker 9 (20:13):
I have gotten to the point where I'm really happy
with myself as a person generally speaking, because I don't
like having like a name.
Speaker 7 (20:25):
For example.
Speaker 9 (20:26):
That's something that is something that I've just recently realized
that feels weird to me. Is like names for myself.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
It has entered the chat and it is a nineteen
year old living in Arizona. The best way I can
categorize it is as a free spirit.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
And you may have noticed, but it going.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
By It says a lot when gender constructs and pronouns
like he, she, and they failed it. The decision of
what to go by came into focus.
Speaker 9 (21:05):
I've gone through forty plus names, mostly online. You know,
trying to figure out what name feels right, and every
time it just felt wrong. And I realized recently that
like what if I just didn't have one? And I
had already been using its pronouns exclusively for a little while.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
For trans folks, deciding on a name can be a
major decision, and not to make it about me right now.
But when I was a drag performer in college.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I went by Rebel.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
The persona was like a mix of Roxy Heart from
Chicago and Angel and Me me from Rent with a
dash of Rihanna. But my drag name didn't feel like
the one for my true self as a trans woman,
and I did the same thing it did, wrote a
(21:58):
bunch of names down and read them over and over
until I found one that felt.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Right Rock hel Rock hel Yep that felt like me.
Speaker 9 (22:12):
And I was like, I might as well just say
my name is it and I use it it's pronouns, And
that has made me feel like more close to myself.
I think that I exist outside of identity.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
I love what it says about existing outside of identity
because we're all disrupting something in our own way. Its
name journey is reflective of its life experience too. It
has always felt in a state of flux, and this
extends to its living situation as well.
Speaker 9 (22:50):
So I am currently in transitional housing. I was in
a shelter before this, and before that, I was in
a hotel, and then before that I was CouchSurfing. I
got kicked out pretty soon after I turned eighteen, and
(23:13):
I ended up, you know, figuring out some stuff with
like where to stay for like a week or so.
For now, I have, you know, posters on the wall, flags,
my decorations and stuff that make me feel a little
more comfortable. I don't. I have not in my life
have I ever really felt consistently at home anywhere. It's
(23:38):
very much a bouncing around. So it's nice to just
kind of feel like okay for a little while.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Its circumstances are unfortunately pretty common. According to an LGBCQ
youth survey by the Trevor Project, twenty eight percent of
respondents said they experienced being unhoused or having some kind
of housing instability in their lifetime. Even though it is
currently in transditional housing, there's hope of finding a permanent
(24:09):
place soon.
Speaker 9 (24:11):
I'm hoping for the next step to be permanent assistant housing,
but I'm not sure if that's going to be completely
attainable right away. I know that the next step is
going to be a housing program of some sort, and
since I'm already in the system and everything for those
types of things, it is going to be easier for
me to find help, hopefully.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Housing instability is an additional burden for many trans teenagers
who are already grappling with understanding their queerness. Dealing with
this while living in a world that often expects conformity
can be a lot, and it tries to approach this
with a ton of grace. It is facing some incredibly
(24:55):
challenging and dancing odds, but it has remained resilient throughout
this journey.
Speaker 9 (25:01):
Something that I'm trying to embody more because I feel
like I tend to be a pushover bad and working
on trying to, you know, become a person who will
say how they feel more often than not is something
that's important to me. My identity has rapidly changed and
(25:23):
evolved over the past few years, and I think that's
natural because, first of all, you know, being only nineteen,
still a teenager. It's like, of course throughout you know,
going to high school and like dealing with like various
regular teenage things on top of being queer is obviously
gonna impact the way I see my identity.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
Its radical approach to self expression is right there in
its name.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
How beautiful is that.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
It is essentially saying to the world, there are things
I know, and there are so many more that I
don't know, and that is who I am, someone who
is most comfortable leaning into that beautiful chaos instead of
away from it.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
I would say that.
Speaker 9 (26:14):
The things that make me feel most myself are just
kind of confusing people.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
I guess.
Speaker 9 (26:24):
It helps me to feel legitimate when other people are
also as confused as I am, because I think that
I'm in like a constant state of like I don't
know what's going on like with myself. So yeah, my
identity has changed quite a lot. What makes me happy,
(26:47):
how I present myself has changed, and I'm really happy
with where I'm at right now, and I can't see
I can't wait to see where it goes in the future.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
You know, I don't know.
Speaker 8 (27:17):
I guess like for me, Hair, it's just like everything.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
And here's Safara. She's eighteen and is another one of
our youths who lives in Texas. She has a bright,
welcoming smile and an unshakable confidence.
Speaker 8 (27:33):
I'm like a natural girl, you know, and you know,
like a natural like black woman like.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
Sfar reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger.
Come to think of it, one of my first protests
as a kid was growing out my hair and avoiding
the barbershop at all costs. When I started my gender
transition around twenty, I grew my hair out again, but
(28:00):
this time it was in service to get a relaxer
because back then, just over a decade ago, the dominant.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Hair trend was sleek, straight hair.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
Think Jennifer Annison or Jennifer Lopez. Hell, all of the Jennifers.
You got bonus points if your hair was long, and yes,
those were the ideals, even for black women.
Speaker 8 (28:27):
I think I just have a really strong relationship with
my hair because it's like the intersection of like my
gender but also my race. The history that like black
hair has, especially in America, just from like the sixties,
the natural hair movement really inspired me to just like
(28:47):
love my natural hair and like learn how to properly
take care of it. You know, a lot of people
in the black community and like black people's long hair.
We always talk about like how we hate wash days,
but for me, I've realized that washed days are like
so sincerely cathartic, but they just like hold a lot
(29:10):
of emotion for me, and I've learned to like really
fall in love with my wash days.
Speaker 4 (29:17):
If you have curls or coils, you know, wash days
are no joke. And no, this isn't an ad, but
I love sofar A's connection to her hair. Taking the
time to maintain and care for it is an act
of self love and reclamation.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
And while we're talking.
Speaker 4 (29:37):
About roots, still not an ad. Sfara's name was also
important for her and she drew inspiration from her heritage.
Speaker 8 (29:48):
Sofara it means golden fire so far as like an
African name, but it's it's used in Africa sometimes and
it's just I don't know, like golden fire, like it
feels like the passion burning inside of me, like change
the world, and like just I feel like it just
represents me so well and so for me, like I
think a lot of like black revolutionaries in America changed
(30:13):
their name Asada chaqueur, Like I just think Malcolm X.
A lot of you know revolutionaries, and so for me,
I wanted to like follow in that spirit of like
choosing my own name that like represented me.
Speaker 4 (30:30):
Can I just say, so far chose the hell out
of her name. It feels singular and powerful. It's giving
me all the big mononyms Darling, Madonnas and Daya Beyonce.
She's a good company because she's not afraid to stand
(30:51):
out and make herself known.
Speaker 8 (30:56):
And so for anyone listening to this, I would say,
do your passion as much as possible, because it'll you apart.
And especially as like a trans youth. Universities are looking
for different people. They're looking for unique stories and perspectives
and unique works, and so if you just do what
(31:19):
you love, they'll see it and they'll value it. And
that's what they did with me.
Speaker 4 (31:30):
As a teen. Your life is constantly changing and evolving,
whether that's on a physical, emotional, or social tip. You
can't be expected to have it all figured out. And
trust me, we adults definitely don't have it all figured out,
nor did many of our ancestors and transcestors. There's one
(31:52):
icon though, that I think about a lot, Marcia P. Johnson,
an outspoken, unapologetic trans and drag pioneer who demanded her
dignity along with many others during the Stonewall Riots of
June nineteen sixty nine.
Speaker 9 (32:10):
Why are you here today, Darling?
Speaker 1 (32:12):
I want my gay rights now.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
I think it's good time the gay brothers and sisters
got their rights, and especially the women.
Speaker 4 (32:22):
Those riots were a queer militant uprising against the brutality
of the New York Police Department. You see, during that time,
you could be arrested simply for not wearing enough articles
of clothing that corresponded with the gender you were assigned
at birth. But Marcia had had enough of that mistreatment. Still,
(32:47):
she didn't always feel that power she felt during those nights.
In fact, Marshall once described feeling like no one, nobody
from Nowheresville in her youth. But just like our teens,
her journey was undetermined and unwritten, and her life wasn't
only about struggle. Marcia had joy and beauty throughout her
(33:10):
days too. Actually, there's this one photo and in it
she's smiling big at the camera and her head is
adorned with a beautiful flower crown full of roses, purple violets,
and Lily's complimenting her hot pink dress. Of course, around
her neck there's gold lace, shiny ribbons, and gorgeous beads.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
She looks amazing and right in her element.
Speaker 4 (33:38):
About fifty years later, this image is now an emblem
of queer and transliberation and its images like these that
have become a blueprint for what expression and joy can
look like for queer and trans folks. Through our clothing,
our hair, our accessories, and our art, we find ways
(34:00):
to express ourselves to the world.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
On our own terms.
Speaker 4 (34:04):
And that in and of itself is an active protest,
a declaration of self worth and self love. And what's
clear is that all throughout Marsha's life, she was a
person who deserved her fears, hopes and dreams. And throughout
this series we'll follow our teens and witness their fears,
(34:28):
hopes and dreams, and they've got plenty of them. For
moments like voguing at a fabulous ball there we got
lost the ball, to experiences with their gender transitions.
Speaker 7 (34:46):
I would say the voice is the main thing I noticed.
Speaker 9 (34:49):
I think it took like two weeks for my voice
to start cracking, maybe a little less than that.
Speaker 10 (34:54):
And falling in love one of the questions is a
crush oh I School and the beginning of the month.
Speaker 4 (35:09):
You're in for a journey. Thanks for listening and join
us next week. Oh and don't forget to express yourself.
Queer Chronicles is a production of School of Humans, The
(35:30):
Outspoken Podcast Network and iHeart Podcasts. I'm your host Raquel Willis.
You can find a list of resources in the show notes,
including trans Lifeline and.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
The Trevor Project.
Speaker 4 (35:44):
This show was written by Jordan Bailey, Eediis Perez, Aaron Edwards,
and me. Our story editors are Aaron Edwards and Julia Furlan,
Produced by Jordan Bailey, Julia Flan and Eedilys Perez. Our
senior producer is Amelia Brock, directed by Eily's Perez, Sound
(36:07):
design and mix by mb al Raheem. Theme song composed
by Jesse Niswanger, casting by Jordan Bailey and Julia Furlan,
fact checking by Savannah Hugley. Our production manager is Daisy Church.
Executive producers include Jay Brunson and Me from The Outspoken
(36:28):
Podcast Network, Michael Alder June and Noel Brown from iHeart Podcasts,
Virginia Prescott, Brandon Barr and Elsie Crowley from School of
Humans and the Cats Company. If you're enjoying the show,
please share it with friends and family, and don't forget
to rate and review in your favorite podcast app.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
Tune in again next week
School of Humans.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
This is Queer Chronicles.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
This is my personal entry, Queen, this.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Is Queer Chronicles.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
Adults often assume that the next generation will automatically have
easier lives. I know I did, especially as a queer
trans woman who grew up in the late nineties and
early two thousands. I mean, it's undeniable that our culture
has shifted in the last two decades. Sis gender queer
(00:50):
people started popping up more in the media. Then trans
folks started popping up more in the media. Marriage equality
became a thing, and it seemed like today's youth had
the space to discover who they are and that our
country had finally caught up to the power of queerness.
(01:11):
But within the last few years, something else shifted. Conservative
politicians started carrying out a plan to silence and stifle us,
and their political backlash to our progress gained ground.
Speaker 5 (01:29):
There will be a new law in Arkansas banning doctors
from treating any children going through any transitioning procedures or treatment.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Republicans have now passed a bill that would ban transgender
girls from competing in female athletics.
Speaker 6 (01:46):
Look where Kentucky lawmakers have overridden the veto of a
bill regulating access to gender transition care. The bill would
ban access to certain surgeries, puberty blockers, and hormone therapy
for anyone under eighteen. It also restricts.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Which as you can hear, there's nothing easy about being young,
queer and trans right now.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Sure, there's been.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Progress, but it's clear that the ignorance, bullying, and violence
never fully went away. Now it's just being bolstered by
these louder and stronger threats to our existence. Since the
start of our production on Queer Chronicles, we have believed
that one of the greatest remedies to ignorance about our
(02:32):
community is authentic storytelling. Then, just weeks before we were
set to launch, a story emerged that we couldn't ignore,
and it was a stark reminder of the realities for
trans and queer youth across the country and why we
wanted to make this show. Recently, the death of Next Benedict,
(02:56):
a sixteen year old teen from Oaso, Oklahoma, rocked the world.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Next use he.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Him and they then pronouns, and has been identified as
non binary and transgender. According to loved Ones. Next has
also been remembered as being fiery and a talented artist.
He had a full life like any other young person.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
He had a.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Family, friends, hobbies, and a future, but it was all
whisked away. The details surrounding Nexu's death are complicated, but
we know there was bullying, violence, and someone died far
too young. Amid the heaviness of collective grief, Nexu's death
(03:45):
has reverberated throughout the US, inspiring countless vigils, and it's
shone a light on the experiences of queer and trans
youth in this moment. We hope this show can help
illuminate their inherent power. This season will do this in
honor of Next Benedict In all of the queer and
(04:09):
trans youth who deserve safety to speak their truths boldly
and unapologetically, and to express themselves fully and freely. So
let's get into it, y'all. From School of Humans, The
Outspoken Podcast Network, and iHeart Podcasts, This is Queer Chronicles,
(04:36):
a show where queer folks document their personal lives and
experiences in their own words, and I'm your host, Raquel Willis.
This season, we asked a group of thirteen to nineteen
year olds across the country to record voice memo diaries
over the course of eight weeks, they shared their perspectives
(04:58):
growing up as queer, trans, and gender not conforming while
living in mostly Red States. We also interviewed them and
held roundtable discussions so they could dig deeper, and throughout
this season we'll get to know their dreams, fears, and interests,
meet those closest to them, and step into their inner worlds.
(05:23):
In our first episode, let's dive into what self expression
means to our teens. But first let's back up. Let
me share a little bit more about who I am
and my role here. Clearly, I'm your host, but I'm
(05:44):
also a journalist and activist who spent years elevating the
experiences of queer and trans folks and media, and as
you can imagine, I have a pretty queer life myself.
I'm a black trans woman from the South Georgia specifically,
and I'm constantly inspired by how ferociously the next generation
(06:09):
of queer and trans folks express themselves.
Speaker 7 (06:13):
Self expression is one of the ways that shows people
that I am who I am. If I wasn't able
to express what it was through the things I put
on my body and face, and I wouldn't stand out
in the ways that I want to.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
For some people, self expression is about wearing that outfit that.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Makes them feel comfortable in their skin.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
For others, it's something like art or sports or sharing
this new song that just blew their mind.
Speaker 8 (06:42):
I think I just have a really strong relationship with
my hair because it's like the intersection of like my
gender but also my race.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Self expression can also be that thing that makes you
feel whole when you're all alone, like journaling to process
your feelings.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Whatever that is for you, you know it when you feel it.
Speaker 9 (07:05):
I've got to the point where I'm just like, why
don't I just exist?
Speaker 10 (07:08):
You know?
Speaker 9 (07:09):
And that's something that has been really important to me recently.
Is just like letting myself exist as I am without
trying to force it in any way.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Today you'll meet some of our incredible teens, starting with Sully.
Speaker 7 (07:23):
Being too spirited is not just my personality who I am.
Being masculine and feminine is who I am. I'm not
going to grow out of it and mature into something different.
It's always going to be who I am.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Sully is eighteen and lives in Montana. He has an
enviable beard and long flowing hair. Sully is two spirit,
which is an Indigenous term used to describe someone who
embodies gender in a beautifully expansive way. In most tribes,
these folks historically weren't considered men or women, but belong
(07:57):
to another distinct gender identity all together.
Speaker 7 (08:01):
I don't always wear things like high heels or off
the shoulder tops, because not everyday calls for it. Some
days I just feel like covering my body and pretending
I'm a blob underneath my big sweaters. But yeah, especially
myself through my clothes. I could do it through many
forms of clothing, through different pants. I wear skirts, shoes, tops, accessories.
(08:25):
I like being the odd one out. I like when
people look and stare at me and wonder why does
he do that, or he looks that way, or he
goes out of publicity like that, Because I do, I'm
not afraid to have feminine features along with the full beard.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Standing out from the crowd is important to Sally, and
it matters to plenty of other queer folks too. But
to keep it real, many of us aren't always in
spaces that appreciate, much less celebrate, our differences, and Sully
School felt entirely too restrictive for him.
Speaker 7 (09:05):
Started out with small things like my makeup was a
little too dramatic, or oh, your earrings are too long,
little nitpicky things that didn't make sense.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
Then those tiny things grew into a bigger issue, and
Sully was constantly reprimanded for not following dress code. Back
in twenty twenty two, his school was celebrating Red Ribbon Week,
a collection of events that encouraged students to live drug
and alcohol free lives. One day, students were allowed to
(09:37):
dress up in themed outfits to celebrate his native American culture,
specifically his crow heritage. Sully wore a traditional ribbon skirt.
It was pale, pink, green and blue, and the coolest
thing about it his mama made it. Unfortunately, it didn't
(09:58):
take long before he was called into the principal's office.
Speaker 7 (10:06):
She's like, still, you're a boy, you can't wear a skirt.
And I'm like, who says just the whole I'm a
guy and I need to be more masculine talk and
how what I do isn't write. I told my principle like,
I'm too spirit I have the right to dress the
way I want like this, It's part of my culture.
And she goes, you can't pull that card on me, Solomon.
I've read about two spirits and they have to follow
the institution that they're at, so you have to follow
(10:28):
what we were telling you, And I'm like, that's not right.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
So you should know that Sully was attending a private
Catholic school with a policy requiring students appearance and pronouns
to be in accordance to their biological sex. This was
implemented after Sally had enrolled. More often than not, dress
(10:53):
codes and posed in schools can lead to a discriminatory
environment for queer students, and of course we can't deny
the impact of colonization on certain standards. All of those
expectations led to judgment and isolation, and they weighed heavily
(11:15):
on Sally.
Speaker 7 (11:16):
I'm not gonna lie to take a little toll on
my mental health to realize that the things I said
might be true because they never directly said it, but
I always got the feeling that they were always thinking
the way you dress is never going to get you
anywhere in life, and that the way you act, you're
always going to be littler than people who are normal.
And I always thought, maybe they're right, Maybe I have
(11:37):
to change myself to fit into society. Maybe I'll never
get the job I want if I act the way
I am, or maybe I'll never find the person that
I truly love if I'm not who I am. They
think that I'm doing it just to grab attention on
other people, when it's to feel free. It's more than
just oh, I look really cute today. It's I feel
(11:59):
great wearing these clothes because they make me feel nice
about myself.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
The skirt incident, Sully was suspended for a week. A
little while later, he got in trouble again for wearing
high hill boots, and after months of feeling targeted by
the school staff, Sully had enough, and this time his
mom decided to unenroll him. He now attends a public
(12:27):
high school that's more affirming, and despite those earlier obstacles,
Sully remains optimistic. He's not changing who he is for
a school dress code or for anyone.
Speaker 6 (12:42):
I know.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
That's right.
Speaker 7 (12:43):
I'm glad I stick out through through self expression because
I don't want to blend in. I had to do
that so much going through high school that now how
that I have the chance to explode my wardrobe and
everything else about me going to because now I have
(13:07):
that option, I'm gonna take advantage. I'm not gonna miss
the opportunity to do that because of what makes me happy.
You know, what makes me feel comfortable in my own body. Yep,
thanks for my ted talk.
Speaker 4 (13:26):
We'll hear from some of our other teens about what
they're doing to express themselves.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
After the break.
Speaker 7 (13:54):
Hello, I'm at least I am frank.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
In the summer of twenty twenty three, we had the
opportunity to hang out with Libby, a thirteen year old
from Texas, and her family. You just heard our producer
at Elise meeting Libby's dad and petting her dogs. Libby
led us in on her idea of a perfect day,
which involved some serious thrifting, munching on dumplings, and sipping
(14:22):
boba teeth. Prepare to be a tad bit jealous because
we even got a chance to take a peek inside
Libby's closet to check out all of her favorite things.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
I wore this to the Taylor Swift concerts. Oh sure,
skeleton's on it playing music? Yeah, or they're just wearing
cowboy hats and every mine.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
That's Libby.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
One of the first things you might notice about her
is that she loves a good black eyeliner. But one
crucial aspect of her intersectional identity is that she's a
swifty Oh yeah, Taylor's that's her girl, and just like
her fave, she has big dreams for her future. She
(15:13):
wants to be a fashion designer, which makes sense because
Libby already has an iconic sense of style.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
So it's like a it's a black sweater or like
sweater best and then a white buttoned down shirt with jeans.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
But the statement piece is a clock purse with a
vintage flare, which is exactly what it sounds like, a
huge round purse with a real clock on it. Libby
loves it and quiet as it's kept. It could steal
attention on any runway.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
I got so many complements on this purse step for
run Fair, and I was like, my mom's like, don't
tell them you got it on Amazon, and I was like,
I did a kitten weather making class.
Speaker 7 (16:05):
Good to know I can get it on Amazon.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Can't get it to move like I put a battery
and everything here. It's only going to be right twice
a day.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
A lot of our teens, like Sally and Libby, talk
about personal style being central to their expression, and it
makes a lot of sense. The right clothes can do
so much for your self confidence and help you feel
safer and braver. But on top of finding clothes that
(16:39):
make her feel more herself, Libby does a little bit more,
or maybe a lot more. She makes the clothes she
wants to see.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
I really like sewing. I have made many things for myself.
I've made my entire family a bunch of stockings, I've
made my sister some dresses and skirts, and I've made
myself a teddy bear. But I especially love that fashion
(17:12):
gives us the ability to personalize our own style and
show the world who we are. I really want to
be one of those like very big like designers like
Gucci or like Christian Dior.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
Beyond a love of fashion, Libby has been involved in
activism with her family since she was seven years old.
In fact, in twenty seventeen, they made a splash when
they went to testify at the state capitol against the
bathroom bill that would have banned trans folks from using
(17:53):
public restrooms that affirmed their gender identity. It was the
first of many fights against a hateful conservative agenda. Here's
a clip of speaking at the Texas House of Representatives
in twenty twenty one.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Hi, my name is Libby, and I represent myself and
I oppose to HB twenty five. The first time I
sat in one of these rooms to ask you to
stop attacking me, I was six.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Now I'm eleven.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
I had to miss school again to come here and
ask you to just let me be a kid. Stop
attacking trans kids.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Now that's what I call power.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
It's been a couple of years since that recording, but
Libby still goes to testify at the Capitol and always
owns the mic and the adults sho's up against.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
I have been advocating for other trans kids, for myself
and other trans kids for more than half of my life.
I find advocacy empowering, but it's also honestly really hard.
I feel like no kid should ever have to do this.
(19:04):
I also know, oh nothing will change if those of
us who do have safety in our lives stay silent.
So I made a decision to keep showing up as
long as I can.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
But at her core, Lippy is still a teen with
endless ambition. Hearing her go from talking about social justice
to hopes of being a designer one day is just
so incredible. Her goals are layered, and I hope she
carries on with that exuberant spirit and sticks with whatever
(19:41):
feels right to her.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
It's super scary to face a bunch of legislators you
don't know anything about you at all. But it's also
super scary to sit back and watch them try to
just legislate us out of existence. So I keep showing up.
We will always exist and we will definitely not look
(20:05):
take away a joy no matter how hard they try.
Speaker 9 (20:13):
I have gotten to the point where I'm really happy
with myself as a person generally speaking, because I don't
like having like a name.
Speaker 7 (20:25):
For example.
Speaker 9 (20:26):
That's something that is something that I've just recently realized
that feels weird to me. Is like names for myself.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
It has entered the chat and it is a nineteen
year old living in Arizona. The best way I can
categorize it is as a free spirit.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
And you may have noticed, but it going.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
By It says a lot when gender constructs and pronouns
like he, she, and they failed it. The decision of
what to go by came into focus.
Speaker 9 (21:05):
I've gone through forty plus names, mostly online. You know,
trying to figure out what name feels right, and every
time it just felt wrong. And I realized recently that
like what if I just didn't have one? And I
had already been using its pronouns exclusively for a little while.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
For trans folks, deciding on a name can be a
major decision, and not to make it about me right now.
But when I was a drag performer in college.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I went by Rebel.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
The persona was like a mix of Roxy Heart from
Chicago and Angel and Me me from Rent with a
dash of Rihanna. But my drag name didn't feel like
the one for my true self as a trans woman,
and I did the same thing it did, wrote a
(21:58):
bunch of names down and read them over and over
until I found one that felt.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Right Rock hel Rock hel Yep that felt like me.
Speaker 9 (22:12):
And I was like, I might as well just say
my name is it and I use it it's pronouns, And
that has made me feel like more close to myself.
I think that I exist outside of identity.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
I love what it says about existing outside of identity
because we're all disrupting something in our own way. Its
name journey is reflective of its life experience too. It
has always felt in a state of flux, and this
extends to its living situation as well.
Speaker 9 (22:50):
So I am currently in transitional housing. I was in
a shelter before this, and before that, I was in
a hotel, and then before that I was CouchSurfing. I
got kicked out pretty soon after I turned eighteen, and
(23:13):
I ended up, you know, figuring out some stuff with
like where to stay for like a week or so.
For now, I have, you know, posters on the wall, flags,
my decorations and stuff that make me feel a little
more comfortable. I don't. I have not in my life
have I ever really felt consistently at home anywhere. It's
(23:38):
very much a bouncing around. So it's nice to just
kind of feel like okay for a little while.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Its circumstances are unfortunately pretty common. According to an LGBCQ
youth survey by the Trevor Project, twenty eight percent of
respondents said they experienced being unhoused or having some kind
of housing instability in their lifetime. Even though it is
currently in transditional housing, there's hope of finding a permanent
(24:09):
place soon.
Speaker 9 (24:11):
I'm hoping for the next step to be permanent assistant housing,
but I'm not sure if that's going to be completely
attainable right away. I know that the next step is
going to be a housing program of some sort, and
since I'm already in the system and everything for those
types of things, it is going to be easier for
me to find help, hopefully.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Housing instability is an additional burden for many trans teenagers
who are already grappling with understanding their queerness. Dealing with
this while living in a world that often expects conformity
can be a lot, and it tries to approach this
with a ton of grace. It is facing some incredibly
(24:55):
challenging and dancing odds, but it has remained resilient throughout
this journey.
Speaker 9 (25:01):
Something that I'm trying to embody more because I feel
like I tend to be a pushover bad and working
on trying to, you know, become a person who will
say how they feel more often than not is something
that's important to me. My identity has rapidly changed and
(25:23):
evolved over the past few years, and I think that's
natural because, first of all, you know, being only nineteen,
still a teenager. It's like, of course throughout you know,
going to high school and like dealing with like various
regular teenage things on top of being queer is obviously
gonna impact the way I see my identity.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
Its radical approach to self expression is right there in
its name.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
How beautiful is that.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
It is essentially saying to the world, there are things
I know, and there are so many more that I
don't know, and that is who I am, someone who
is most comfortable leaning into that beautiful chaos instead of
away from it.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
I would say that.
Speaker 9 (26:14):
The things that make me feel most myself are just
kind of confusing people.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
I guess.
Speaker 9 (26:24):
It helps me to feel legitimate when other people are
also as confused as I am, because I think that
I'm in like a constant state of like I don't
know what's going on like with myself. So yeah, my
identity has changed quite a lot. What makes me happy,
(26:47):
how I present myself has changed, and I'm really happy
with where I'm at right now, and I can't see
I can't wait to see where it goes in the future.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
You know, I don't know.
Speaker 8 (27:17):
I guess like for me, Hair, it's just like everything.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
And here's Safara. She's eighteen and is another one of
our youths who lives in Texas. She has a bright,
welcoming smile and an unshakable confidence.
Speaker 8 (27:33):
I'm like a natural girl, you know, and you know,
like a natural like black woman like.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
Sfar reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger.
Come to think of it, one of my first protests
as a kid was growing out my hair and avoiding
the barbershop at all costs. When I started my gender
transition around twenty, I grew my hair out again, but
(28:00):
this time it was in service to get a relaxer
because back then, just over a decade ago, the dominant.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Hair trend was sleek, straight hair.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
Think Jennifer Annison or Jennifer Lopez. Hell, all of the Jennifers.
You got bonus points if your hair was long, and yes,
those were the ideals, even for black women.
Speaker 8 (28:27):
I think I just have a really strong relationship with
my hair because it's like the intersection of like my
gender but also my race. The history that like black
hair has, especially in America, just from like the sixties,
the natural hair movement really inspired me to just like
(28:47):
love my natural hair and like learn how to properly
take care of it. You know, a lot of people
in the black community and like black people's long hair.
We always talk about like how we hate wash days,
but for me, I've realized that washed days are like
so sincerely cathartic, but they just like hold a lot
(29:10):
of emotion for me, and I've learned to like really
fall in love with my wash days.
Speaker 4 (29:17):
If you have curls or coils, you know, wash days
are no joke. And no, this isn't an ad, but
I love sofar A's connection to her hair. Taking the
time to maintain and care for it is an act
of self love and reclamation.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
And while we're talking.
Speaker 4 (29:37):
About roots, still not an ad. Sfara's name was also
important for her and she drew inspiration from her heritage.
Speaker 8 (29:48):
Sofara it means golden fire so far as like an
African name, but it's it's used in Africa sometimes and
it's just I don't know, like golden fire, like it
feels like the passion burning inside of me, like change
the world, and like just I feel like it just
represents me so well and so for me, like I
think a lot of like black revolutionaries in America changed
(30:13):
their name Asada chaqueur, Like I just think Malcolm X.
A lot of you know revolutionaries, and so for me,
I wanted to like follow in that spirit of like
choosing my own name that like represented me.
Speaker 4 (30:30):
Can I just say, so far chose the hell out
of her name. It feels singular and powerful. It's giving
me all the big mononyms Darling, Madonnas and Daya Beyonce.
She's a good company because she's not afraid to stand
(30:51):
out and make herself known.
Speaker 8 (30:56):
And so for anyone listening to this, I would say,
do your passion as much as possible, because it'll you apart.
And especially as like a trans youth. Universities are looking
for different people. They're looking for unique stories and perspectives
and unique works, and so if you just do what
(31:19):
you love, they'll see it and they'll value it. And
that's what they did with me.
Speaker 4 (31:30):
As a teen. Your life is constantly changing and evolving,
whether that's on a physical, emotional, or social tip. You
can't be expected to have it all figured out. And
trust me, we adults definitely don't have it all figured out,
nor did many of our ancestors and transcestors. There's one
(31:52):
icon though, that I think about a lot, Marcia P. Johnson,
an outspoken, unapologetic trans and drag pioneer who demanded her
dignity along with many others during the Stonewall Riots of
June nineteen sixty nine.
Speaker 9 (32:10):
Why are you here today, Darling?
Speaker 1 (32:12):
I want my gay rights now.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
I think it's good time the gay brothers and sisters
got their rights, and especially the women.
Speaker 4 (32:22):
Those riots were a queer militant uprising against the brutality
of the New York Police Department. You see, during that time,
you could be arrested simply for not wearing enough articles
of clothing that corresponded with the gender you were assigned
at birth. But Marcia had had enough of that mistreatment. Still,
(32:47):
she didn't always feel that power she felt during those nights.
In fact, Marshall once described feeling like no one, nobody
from Nowheresville in her youth. But just like our teens,
her journey was undetermined and unwritten, and her life wasn't
only about struggle. Marcia had joy and beauty throughout her
(33:10):
days too. Actually, there's this one photo and in it
she's smiling big at the camera and her head is
adorned with a beautiful flower crown full of roses, purple violets,
and Lily's complimenting her hot pink dress. Of course, around
her neck there's gold lace, shiny ribbons, and gorgeous beads.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
She looks amazing and right in her element.
Speaker 4 (33:38):
About fifty years later, this image is now an emblem
of queer and transliberation and its images like these that
have become a blueprint for what expression and joy can
look like for queer and trans folks. Through our clothing,
our hair, our accessories, and our art, we find ways
(34:00):
to express ourselves to the world.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
On our own terms.
Speaker 4 (34:04):
And that in and of itself is an active protest,
a declaration of self worth and self love. And what's
clear is that all throughout Marsha's life, she was a
person who deserved her fears, hopes and dreams. And throughout
this series we'll follow our teens and witness their fears,
(34:28):
hopes and dreams, and they've got plenty of them. For
moments like voguing at a fabulous ball there we got
lost the ball, to experiences with their gender transitions.
Speaker 7 (34:46):
I would say the voice is the main thing I noticed.
Speaker 9 (34:49):
I think it took like two weeks for my voice
to start cracking, maybe a little less than that.
Speaker 10 (34:54):
And falling in love one of the questions is a
crush oh I School and the beginning of the month.
Speaker 4 (35:09):
You're in for a journey. Thanks for listening and join
us next week. Oh and don't forget to express yourself.
Queer Chronicles is a production of School of Humans, The
(35:30):
Outspoken Podcast Network and iHeart Podcasts. I'm your host Raquel Willis.
You can find a list of resources in the show notes,
including trans Lifeline and.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
The Trevor Project.
Speaker 4 (35:44):
This show was written by Jordan Bailey, Eediis Perez, Aaron Edwards,
and me. Our story editors are Aaron Edwards and Julia Furlan,
Produced by Jordan Bailey, Julia Flan and Eedilys Perez. Our
senior producer is Amelia Brock, directed by Eily's Perez, Sound
(36:07):
design and mix by mb al Raheem. Theme song composed
by Jesse Niswanger, casting by Jordan Bailey and Julia Furlan,
fact checking by Savannah Hugley. Our production manager is Daisy Church.
Executive producers include Jay Brunson and Me from The Outspoken
(36:28):
Podcast Network, Michael Alder June and Noel Brown from iHeart Podcasts,
Virginia Prescott, Brandon Barr and Elsie Crowley from School of
Humans and the Cats Company. If you're enjoying the show,
please share it with friends and family, and don't forget
to rate and review in your favorite podcast app.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
Tune in again next week
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