"Here We Are"

Emerson; Millennial, White trans man, youth educator and Memphis native.Always, having known his gender body didn't match up as a kid. Yet, Emerson made his way as best as could be. Having fully accepted his status and gender identity in young adulthood. He found dedication and purpose in listening and being a sounding board in guidance as a youth counselor at a local outreach organization for queer youth as they discovered and made their own way. Send a textSupport the show

“Here We Are” indulges in GenX fandom this episode as we interview Mike Doughty: the lead singer and founder of the alternative band “Soul Coughing”, one of my favorite musical jams from the tail end of the last century.We find out what it actually like being a professional music touring group …is it really sex, drugs, and rock and roll? We discover tales of  mostly hard slogging in creative fervor and the resulting madness.Send a textSupport the show

Jonathan: Black Queer millennial man , former hospital executive. Tells us he has known his queerness since childhood. Throughout his youth and his family’s Black Baptist chuch upbringing he repressed his true nature and strived for outward signs of success and material (wealth). Only recently in his mid-life is Jonathan becoming his own true self; queerness and all.Send a textSupport the show

Luke: White Queer trans male millennial cook and Memphis native, from his earliest grew up knowing he was queer and graviated to things gendered to boys. Born and raised in the city's more affirming ‘gayborhood’ areas. Luke had the advantage of looking up to out Queer role models in music and media. He’s lived and traversed the world as an adult, as an out Queer trans man in the South speaks of having recently experienced queer life outside of the conservative South and was left wanting.Send a textSupport the show

We interview Daniel: a white Queer millennial male who's gone from graduating college to dealing meth and serving time in federal prison. Now, a recovering addict living on this side of life.From a deeply Southern Baptist cloistered background. Daniel came into queerness and attraction to other boys from an early age. Acting upon those attractions he suffered admonishment and rebuke for responding to who he naturally was.Navigating such a life and choices made, he survived to tell his tale of how he was taught, and how he eventually accepted being Queer.Send a textSupport the show

This episode of “Who Taught You to be Queer?” Here We Are ; interviews Cassie a White, lesbian GenZ postdoctoral scientist.Cassie was raised in a sheltered religious background in Texas. Knowing her queerness and attraction to other females at a very early age she tried to fit in and even unqueering herself with an engagement to be married to a man. Finally, she chose to be happy, accepting her true essense as queer lesbian, in spite of her family’s acceptance, or not. We both shared advice that queer youth just simply needing to 'stay alive' long enough for the rest of life to sort itself out.Send a textSupport the show

Robert: a white Queer male seminary student; pastor in training. He gives us details of his following faith and his calling from God whilst knowing and acknowledging his same sex attraction. Robert continued making his way despite a conservative upbringing and the Church’s admonition to queerness till now, still strong in his faith, true to his calling, being a queer beloved child of God.Send a textSupport the show

This episode of Here We Are; Who Taught You to be Queer? We interview E; a White Gen Z trans male, poet and rapper.E tells us how he discovered seeing himself different and queer at first though characters as a youth. Navigating through bisexuality and further on coming out as nobinary and eventually transgender. Often experiencing ‘coming out’ as a continuous ongoing process. Despite current social-political climate, this generation E represents will not be denied.Send a textSupport the show

 Listen as “Here We Are” interviews Ms. J, Black Queer, bisexual millennial HBCU graduate as she details first coming out to her grandmother and  in there finding the love, acceptance and strength to guide her going forward. Watch out world!Send a textSupport the show

“Here We Are “  Interviews Monica; Millennial, Queer Lesbian bisexual, formerly incarcerated recovering addict and caregiver for her grandfather. Monica who’s known of herself being Queer since the age of 11, made and is making her way in Queer relationships and bisexuality as well. She uplifts us as she speaks of Queerness in her experience as no big thing, as it should be!Send a textSupport the show

"Here We Are" interviews Chris; White GenX gay man whose day job and night too, is flying Boeing 777s and Airbus 300s for a major freight carrier. He details how from his youth playing the role of cheerleader as the other boys got rough playing football, he navigated (ironic pun) his way to discover and accept his Queerness, while not receiving to most positive reactions from his family. Chris confident in his being Queer found family, support and comfort within the greater gay community in spite of his biological family not embracing all of who he was made to be.Send a textSupport the show

Randle; White Queer boomer, retired college professor.Shares with us on "Here We Are", his discovery of queerness in closeted non- affirming places and spaces growing up. He weathered life and being gay nonetheless to have a fulfilling career and loving romantic relationships. Send a textSupport the show

"Here We Are" interviewed David; White male Queer millennial nurse and choir soloist. Who shares his God- given uplifting voice on many a Sunday service blessing congregants of believers. He shares with us his growing beyond his conservative religious upbringing to discover that the Divine has led him to keep his faith and his queerness and using that same queer sensibility to shine were the Good Lord takes him. Enjoy and be blessed.Send a textSupport the show

I interview a Black Queer millennial computerist and avid gamer; Toni. He helped get this podcast started with his vast technical skills.He shares with us his unique experience growing up queer in 21st century America navigating family and school life and how the early internet community help shape the proud person he's becomeSend a textSupport the show

Episode 2 exploring this relevant topic our friend and guest was astonished to even be delving into his own origins of the question; Who Taught You to be Gay? Summing up the interview, it just have been the Goddess herself that purposefullyplaced a young Jessie in the choir singing the Gospel as a queer.Send a textSupport the show

1st in the series, "Who Taught You to Be Queer?". They say LGBTQ+ folks 'groom' innocent youth to be gay against their will and nature. "Well...not so fast, people!" We find the truth for ourselves, from 'ourselves'. The first from a gentle community elder, part of our many varied stories...hope this is an enjoyable if not enlightening ride. Send a textSupport the show

This episode interview deals in the realm of a specific geography; the Memphis streets and how this ex active addict took it upon himself, with help of many others, to make an effort to give back and make RIGHT to Memphis and its community/ites some of what he helped to degrade in his own addiction. He and his family have helped other addicts, convicts, former prostitutes and returning veterans heal, recover and be human again and a helping part of OUR community.Send a textSupport the show

This fabulous Black Queer refers to herself as 'all the above'. Listen as I interview this fascinating, wonderfully spiritual acquaintance who is as well raising a boldly strong daughter to be equipped for this century.Send a textSupport the show

If you have heard the term "A hit dog hollar!" It sums up why there has been so much of the anti-Trans rhetoric and political musings of late.  The fact that this sector of Queerdom no longer willingly accepts second-class human being status, could explain why. I interviewed a young Trans person, who identifies as he, him, and learned more than I could have expected.Send a textSupport the show

Part of leaning into our coming American demographic future. We are, and frankly always have been, more diverse than what would appear 'officially'. This interview delves into the intersectionality of us.Send a textSupport the show

Discussing hopes and vision of the majority-minority American future with a Generation Z, biracial Dominican aspiring animator.Send a textSupport the show

Visibly White appearing (with red hair) Venezuelan-born American details growing up and the differences in race and culture in two places in the Western Hemisphere, as he experienced it.Send a textSupport the show

Interview of a somewhat rare; Black Female, US Army (retired) Lieutenant ColonelSend a textSupport the show

INTERVIEW WITH AN OVER-THE-ROAD COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVER WHO IS ALSO QUEER.What's it like being a trucker today.Send a textSupport the show

Interview of Bennett Foster of political action group "Memphis For All" Send a textSupport the show