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In 1973, transgender activist Sylvia Rivera delivered a powerful and provocative call to action at the Christopher Street Liberation Day Rally in New York City in which she admonished the largely cisgender, white, middle-class gay and lesbian crowd for their indifference toward and neglect of the issues facing poor and POC transgender people. As the crowd shouted objections to her being handed the microphone, Rivera chided, “y’all better quiet down” and listen to the social and political plights of trans and Gender Non-Conforming (GNC) people.
WFPL’s Strange Fruit podcast co-hosts Dr. Kaila Story and Jaison Gardner are joined by professional DJ and entertainer Victoria Syimone Taylor and civil rights activist Dawn Wilson for a multimedia presentation and panel discussion on past and present POC trans leadership, activism and justice initiatives.
About Jaison A. Gardner
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Jaison A. Gardner has been a social justice activist, health educator, and community organizer for more than 20 years. He is the co-creator and co-host, with Dr. Kaila Story, of WFPL’s Strange Fruit: Musings on Politics, Pop Culture & Black Gay Life, a popular award-winning weekly podcast focusing on social justice and pop culture. Jaison is a co-founder of Black Lives Matter Louisville and is a current board member of the Louisville Pride Festival and a steering committee member of Louisville’s forthcoming LGBTQ youth homeless shelter, The Sweet Evening Breeze. He is a frequent presenter, moderator, and event emcee whose work focuses on a variety of issues, especially the intersection of racial justice and LGBTQ liberation. Jaison firmly believes that a threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
About Dr. Kaila Adia Story
Dr. Kaila Adia Story is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Women’s & Gender Studies and Pan-African Studies and the Audre Chair in Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Louisville. She is also a co-creator and co-host of WFPL’s Strange Fruit: Musings on Politics, Pop Culture & Black Gay Life, a popular award-winning weekly podcast focusing on social justice and pop culture. Her research examines the intersections of race and sexuality, with special attention to Black feminism, Black lesbians, and Black queer identity. Dr. Story has appeared on Huffington Post Live a number of times discussing issues that relate to race, sexuality, popular music, and gender. She has also been featured in the Feminist Wire’s series “Feminists We Love,” as well as been featured in Elixher’s Magazine’s “InspiHERed” series. Most recently, Dr. Story was featured in Go Magazine’s “100 Women We Love” Series.
About Strange Fruit
Dr. Kaila Story and Jaison Gardner host a five year running weekly podcast of musings on politics, pop culture and black gay life. With over 200+ episodes, “Strange Fruit,” represents what is known as the best thing about public radio. Contact #TeamStrangeFruit at lellis@wfpl.org.