In the first episode of this intergenerational queer podcast, we delve into notions of identity and community, teasing apart the community acronym and its various incarnations – 2SLGBTQIA* – who decides what’s included, and for whose benefit?
The episode opens with Jordan Campbell performing his poem before host Vanessa Dunn introduces the main discussion of the episode – a group of queer folks discuss the community acronym, bringing their own experiences and perspectives to bear on the different letters that have come to represent our community. We end off with a snippet of a “speed history” session – pairings or small groups of queer youth and elders chatting on a given topic – in this case, sex and dating.
Glossary + additional reading
Here are some of the queer references, and local Toronto terms you’ll come across in the episode, with links to more reading:
- Buddies. Located in Toronto’s Gay Village, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is the world’s largest and longest-running queer theatre in the world – founded in 1979 by Sky Gilbert, Matt Walsh, and Jerry Ciccoritti. Read more about our history, here.
- Hijra: In the Indian subcontinent, Hijra are eunuchs and transgender people who perform a specific social role in their communities. , as of 2014 they are legally recognized by India as a third gender.
- Inside Out: Inside Out is a not-for-profit registered charity that exists to challenge attitudes and change lives. They do this through the promotion, production and exhibition of film made by and about lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people of all ages, races and abilities. They have annual festivals in Toronto and Ottawa.
- The Mattachine Society: The Mattachine Society, founded in 1950, was one of the earliest gay rights organizations in the United States. Communist and labor activist Harry Hay formed the group in Los Angeles to protect and improve the rights of gay men.
- Oasis Aqualounge: Oasis Aqualounge is a water themed adult’s playground in downtown Toronto. They strive to provide its members with an upscale, sexually liberated and clothing-optional space that caters to the needs of women and their partners.
- Radical Faeries: a loosely affiliated worldwide network and countercultural movement seeking to redefine queer consciousness through secular spirituality. Some of their shared values include feminism, respect for the Earth, and individual responsibility rather than hierarchy.
- The sisters: The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are a charity, protest, and street performance organization that uses drag and religious imagery to call attention to sexual intolerance and satirizes issues of gender and morality
- YEP: An acronym used to refer to the Youth/Elders Podcast, as well as Youth/Elders Projects, which encompasses Buddies’ intergenerational initiatives.
Listen, subscribe, and share!
Read the full episode transcript here, and find the episode (and subscribe to the podcast) on Apple Podcasts, Google Music, Spotify, and Stitcher.
Hosted by Vanessa Dunn. Opening poem created and performed by Jordan Campbell.
The Youth/Elders Podcast – for more information and to sign up for podcast updates, visit the podcast’s homepage at buddiesinbadtimes.com/podcast
