The Atlanta Letters

Earlier this year, Ariana and I collaborated with the team at Pineapple Street Media to bring you an episode of a Netflix podcast called Prism: Tales of your City. The show features queer stories from across American cities and we have the Atlanta Episode. The story you’re about to hear is a is the continuation of our last episode, The Atlanta Letters. The story starts over again but is told a different way, and follows Diane back to Atlanta, the place where the story first started.  This story was produced and narrated by Erin McGregor. Editing and sound design by Ariana Martinez. Editorial Oversight from Josh Gwynn and Anne Hepperman at Pineapple Street. Scripting help from Josh Gwynn. You heard music from The Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Phoebe Petrovic and Melissa Rucci for their support in the making of this story.  And listeners if you want us to make more episodes, consider becoming a Patron on Patreon. You can donate as little or as much as you want. We think $5 a month is fair for the work that we do for free and out of our own pockets, but in all honesty, we can’t do it without you. Invest in us the way we invest in bringing you stories from real life queer life. Become a patron today.  Until next year, follow us on Twitter, and Instagram. Follow me at on twitter at erinmcgregorPHL for updates on stuff I am working on outside of Queer Public. Lots of other gay stuff!  I am your host, Erin McGregor. Thanks for being here.

Diane Giles wrote letters to a volunteer on the Atlanta Gay Helpline, a woman she had never met, from May to December 1984. This episode is a reading of those letters. Queer Public is produced by Erin McGregor, and edited and sound designed by Ariana Martinez. A transcript of this episode is available at www.queerpublic.org/transcripts  Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.  SUBSCRIBE and tell your friends about us. 

This week on the show I am pulling a story from the queer public archives. I recorded and released this content in 2015 and a ton of people downloaded it. It’s actually how I knew that people wanted more real-life queer life in their earbuds. Dani and Scott’s story was one of the first I reported on - but it’s remained entirely relevant.  You see, I’ve always been curious about what makes two people candidates for friendship after a breakup. My politics about staying friends with exes formed while I was a tiny liberal arts school in Quebec, barely out and with a very small friend circle of queer friends and lovers. I thought it was a no brainer, we stay friends with our exes because there weren’t that many of us queers around. But now that I live in a large city and not a tiny liberal arts school, I’m more critical of that concept because sometimes it’s not a good idea, sometimes people aren’t good for each other. Sometimes not enough time passes and it gets messy. But more often than not, a relationship without romance and intimacy is just a really solid friendship. That’s what we miss in a breakup. The companionship. The mutual support and respect. Someone to confide in. We miss having a teammate. I think Dani and Scott are the perfect example of that. This is Friends with Exes. All the music you heard this episode is by them under their bandname Team Mate. You heard “Hi” “All heart” “Don’t let me let you go” and this song - called “Sequel” which chronicles their journey together. Follow Teammate on Instagram and stream them now on Spotify and Apple Music.  This story was produced by me, Erin McGregor and the interview was edited by the multi-talented multimedia producer Andy Alseri.  I want to hear from you, dear listeners. Slide into our IG DM’s or holler at us on Twitter. I want to know who is listening!  I want to know if you know a story we should report on. I want to know what you want more of, which episodes resonate with you the most.  Help us know you!  Hit us up on on instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.   

You Can’t Kill a Poet is a poetry series that features the work of queer and trans poets here in Philadelphia. I want to share with you event tape from the You Can’t Kill a Poet Five year anniversary show. And because it’s event tape it’s pretty long but totally worth it if you stick around until the end. Maybe put it on while you’re having a quiet night at home and need some literary inspiration. There are 8 amazing poets to hear from, a few of which I talked to get more insight into their poetry practices and how their poems come to life.    Social Media Links:  YCKAP Creator and Host: Boston Gordon @towheegordon Performer: Kat Bugg @wheelyshoes Performer: Lii Shu Performer: Berry Grass @berry.grass Performer: Cashmere Harper @authorcashmere Performer: Quinnrodriguiz @quinnxrodriguez Performer: Genese Deal @gen_x_cell Performer: Laura Kochman @laurakochman Event Hosted at Tattooed Mom’s @tmoms Just a quick word about helping us out. We always want you to do the usual things - review us on Itunes to help people find the show, donate to our Patreon. We are independent and we are scrappy and we wanted to make it a little easier to spread the word about Queer Public so if you have a local coffee shop or community board, I can send you fliers in the mail lto leave in those spaces with information about the show. It’s a super easy way to help us out. Get fliers in the mail, drop them off at your favorite queer or feminist bookstore, coffee shop or DIY space. 

Today we’re talking about all the places we go looking for ourselves. And right at our fingertips is the world of television—the good, the bad, the guilty pleasures and the transformative works of art. And in this technicolor world, sometimes we see ourselves, and sometimes—even in 2019–we don’t. Today we’re asking, what do we do as queer people, to transform the media we consume into truer, fuller representations of ourselves? In this episode, we’re talking to a bunch of rad queers. And None of us are pop-culture critics, and we’re not here to tell you what to watch or what not to watch. We’re here, as friends, to talk about some things we’ve loved and bonded over as queer people.   Resources Here is a nifty spreadsheet of articles, youtube videos and reading that inspired this episode. Thank you to Ariana for putting it together!    Music from the episode Mise Darling: “Alive doing it right” on Freemusic Archive SuperKnova: “Splendor Dysphoria” on Spotify and  Instagram   Friends of QP Gender Reveal is a podcast where they try to figure out what the heck gender is. Gender Reveal is hosted by Tuck Woodstock. Season 4 is out now!    QP Team  Editor and Sound Designer: Ariana Martinez. Follow them on Instagram and Twitter.   Produced and Narrated by: Erin McGregor. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.   Help us make more episodes! Help us tell queer stories by becoming a patron on our Patreon page. You can gain access to never heard before content and our secret behind the scenes Instagram account. We also have adorable stickers and pins!    Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.    Sign up for our mailing list and find transcripts of our episodes at queerpublic.org 

Prism: Tales of Your City    Listen to the Atlanta episode on the Netflix series Prism: Tales of Your City.    The music you heard was by “This City is for Losers” by Modern Huge    Make Queer Public a thing: Visit our Patreon page and become a sustaining member today. You can gain access to our secret behind the scenes Instagram account, prizes and so much more. Become part of the QP family. Become a patron today.    Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  Sign up for our mailing list and find transcripts of our episodes at queerpublic.org

We look up to public figures for guidance and inspiration. We celebrate their work, their art, and their actions. Queer youth especially need that; they need people to look up to. We also know that when you’re 16, you love your idols with your whole heart. Today we meet Emma, who fell in love with an indie band when they were 15. We’re asking what is the responsibility of public figures, especially those who appeal to our queer youth? Resources + Show Notes Link to Gender Reveal Episode that inspired this story Link to the Tiny Desk Concert Link to PWR BTTM Statement 1 Link to PWR BTTM Statement 2   Articles  Spin “PWR BTTM Accusations Fallout Essay”  Pitchfork “Queer Kids Deserve Better than PWR BTTM” Village Voice “How PWR BTTM Fans are dealing with the troubling allegations against the band” Jezebel “Member of Queer Punk Band PWR BTTM Accused of Sexual Assault”  The conversation on Reddit   Music from the Episode Chris Zabriski “I want to fall in love on Snapchat” on Freemusic Archive Eden Hain on Instagram and Youtube Emma Denend on Instagram  SuperKnova: “Splendor Dysphoria” on Spotify and  Instagram Foxgluvv: “Crush” and “Nothing” on Soundcloud, Spotify and Instagram Mise Darling: “Plastic Love” on Freemusic Archive   Friends of QP:  Gender Reveal is a podcast where they try to figure out what the heck gender is. Gender Reveal is hosted by Molly Woodstock. Season 4 is out now!  Eden Hain is now in a band called The Tenth Donate to Keep us Alive! Help us make Queer Public by becoming a patron on our Patreon page. You can gain access to never heard before content and our secret behind the scenes Instagram account. You can get adorable stickers and pins in the mail, a love letter from the QP team, and much much more. Make a donation so we can keep bringing you stories of the Queer Public.    Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  Sign up for our mailing list and find transcripts of our episodes at queerpublic.org

In today’s episode, we’re talking about something that we all have to deal with, learn to manage, and that shapes queer identity. We’re talking about Hair. Good Gay Hair. In queer circles, hair is political. It defines how we want to be seen, where we sit in our queer identity and the ease of which we can navigate the world. I’ve been obsessed with what makes a good gay haircut for the better part of a decade. So what is good gay hair? In my search, I found a place where hair dreams come true. Where amazing stylists will talk hair politics with you. They’ll talk hair health. And about gender expression. And about real-life queer life.   Follow the Folklore Salon family on Social Folklore Salon Pony Lee Joyce Personal, Joyce Queer Hair and Hair by Joyce Madin Lopez Project Q Coral Sparrow, Sparrow Hair   Waiting Room Reading + Resources Folklore Salon Racked LA “True Story: Folklore Opens it’s doors in Echo Park” Voyage LA: “Meet Pony Lee of Folklore Salon” Project Q   Queer Music from the Episode Shi Da Buzzard: “Keep Pushing” on Spotify and Instagram Mise Darling: “Plastic Love” on Freemusic Archive Foxgluvv: “Crush” and “Nothing” on Soundcloud, Spotify and Instagram   Support Us! Help us make Queer Public by becoming a patron. Visit our Patreon page and you can gain access to never heard before content and our secret behind the scenes Instagram account. We also have adorable stickers and pins up for grabs.    Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.   Sign up for our mailing list and find transcripts of our episodes at www.queerpublic.org  

Rachel is a professional cuddler who identifies as asexual. Rachel teaches consent and agency in her cuddling sessions but there are also real therapeutic benefits to cuddling. Rachel’s predominantly cis-male clients benefit from her sessions, but she knows that her practice isn’t reaching her full potential. So she goes on the search to find a queer to cuddle.   Visit the website where Rachel got started Rachel on Instagram Queer Philadelphians: Email Rachel Here   Articles about cuddling: The Inquirer “Men’s Cuddling Group Healing Trauma and Mental health” March 25, 2019   The Ranker “What are professional Cuddlers”   Washington Post: I went to get hugged by a Professional Cuddler and here’s how it felt” April 24, 2018   Listen to music from the episode: Cuddle Formation: “For people who make music instead of dreaming at night” and “life’s blood” on Soundcloud and Instagram Chris Zabriski: “I want to fall in love” on Freemusic Archive Kai Engle: “Sustains meekness” on Freemusic Archive   Help us Out? Visit our Patreon page today. You can gain access to our secret behind the scenes instagram account, prizes and so much more. Become part of the QP family.   Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Sign up for our mailing list and find transcripts of our episodes at queerpublic.org

Ten years ago, Amber Hikes started a queer nightlife production company. Today, she’s the Executive Director of the Office of LGBT Affairs in Philadelphia. She’s on the front lines, fighting racism and discriminatory practices in the Philadelphia’s gay neighborhood. Join us as we take a walk through the Gayborhood, down the streets between Chestnut and Pine, Broad and 11th and into Philadelphia’s City Hall.   Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs on Instagram Amber Hikes Instagram @dapper_Stemme Community Conversations Initiative   MAP: The Gayborhood   iCandy owner Video:https://youtu.be/A3hOVbKGpfs Apology Video: https://youtu.be/5SiCwvm3zi4   Articles about Philadelphia's Gay Neighborhood: Philly Mag, “Racism in the Gayborhood: A Progress Report” Philly Voice “Exclusive iCandy owner breaks silence on video that launched racial firestorm in Gayborhood” Philly Mag “Video iCandy Darryl Depriano N Word” Philly.com “He paid for his mistakes” Philly Voice “One Year Later Strides Made Gayborhood Racism Work Still to be Done” Mic “Philadelphia’s Queer People of Color have Fought Racism for Years, Now the City is Paying Attention” More Color More Pride Flag Press: More Color, More Pride Website Hello Tierney Design Yes Magazine “Why Philly’s New Pride Flag has Black and Brown Stripes” Vox “Gay Pride Flag Philadelphia Fight Explained” Medium “We Don’t Need a New Pride Flag” Time “Lena Waithe Rainbow Pride Flag Met Gala”   Wait… Another New Pride Flag?   Listen to Music from the episode: Shi Da Buzzard: "Keep pushing" “City Lit”  “For the block” on Spotify and Instagram SuperKnova: “City Glow” on Spotify and  Instagram Elle de Luna “Gaslight” on Instagram   Keep Queer Public Alive: Visit our Patreon page and become a sustaining member today. You can gain access to our secret behind the scenes Instagram account, prizes and so much more. Become part of the QP family.   Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Sign up for our mailing list and find transcripts of our episodes at queerpublic.org