EPISODE · May 5, 2026 · 50 MIN
Ep. 205: Fighting for Queer & Trans Youth in Boston — BAGLY's Kurtlan on Community, Safety & Chosen Family
from Everything & Anything...and a bit gay Podcast · host Zach Randes-Friedman
In this episode of Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay, Zach sits down with Kurtlan (he/him), Director at BAGLY — the Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth — for an honest, funny, and deeply meaningful conversation. WHAT WE COVER: • Why Boston's LGBTQ+ community can feel cliquey and closed off — and how New England culture plays a bigger role than people realize • The current climate for queer and trans youth in America and what BAGLEY is seeing on the ground • Family rejection, housing insecurity, and BAGLY's radical direct aid initiative ($70K+ distributed annually) • Why Massachusetts has become a destination state for queer and trans youth fleeing hostile environments • The intersection of being Jewish and queer in today's political moment • How to be a safe, affirming foster home for LGBTQ+ youth • Kurtlan's personal journey: boxing, painting, Lord of the Rings soundtracks, and the muscle of being bad at something and doing it anyway • Why intergenerational LGBTQ+ friendship matters more than ever RESOURCES MENTIONED: • BAGLY (Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth): bagly.org • QT Library (Queer Trans Library) — coming to Boston • LGBTQ+ History Project (Massachusetts) If you're a young person in Massachusetts (up to age 25), BAGLY offers: ✔ Free mental health therapy with licensed social workers ✔ Direct financial aid for housing, food, and utilities ✔ Youth leadership development ✔ A community center in downtown Boston open to all — no crisis required Follow the podcast and share this episode if it resonates with someone you know. Learn more at https://www.bagly.org/ Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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What this episode covers
What does it mean to fight for LGBTQ+ youth in one of the most closed-off cities in America? Zach sits down with Kurtlan, a 14-year veteran of BAGLY — the Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth — for a wide-ranging conversation about queer community in Boston, the realities facing LGBTQ+ youth today, and what it looks like to build real safety nets for young people who have been turned away by their own families. They get into the cultural difference between New York and Boston's queer scenes (spoiler: it's not just the gays — it's a New England thing), the climate of fear trans and non-binary youth are living in right now, and why BAGLEY's radical direct aid program has distributed $70,000+ a year to young people facing housing insecurity. Plus: boxing as therapy, painting without permission to be bad at it, and Tori Amos not landing with Gen Z. BAGLY serves queer and trans youth across Massachusetts with free mental health therapy, leadership development, housing support, and more. Learn how to get involved or access support at https://www.bagly.org/.
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Ep. 205: Fighting for Queer & Trans Youth in Boston — BAGLY's Kurtlan on Community, Safety & Chosen Family
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