Being Lgbtq

In the second of our episodes about LGBTQ History Months around the world Sam and Rodney speak to the organisers of LGBTQ History Month Cuba and Queer History Month Berlin which both take place in May. Raúl Pérez Monzón is the organiser of the Cuba effort and Giuseppina Lettieri is the coordinator of the Berlin effort. Raúl is a historian at the University of Havana and Giuseppina has been involved with Queer History Month Berlin since 2016. She has been a political educator, community organiser and activist in the field of queer empowerment, intersectionality and anti-discrimination for more than 10 years at the 'Archiv der Jugendkulturen' in Berlin. Berlin: https://www.queerhistory.de Cuba socials: Facebook: facebook.com/lgbtqcubahistoria / Twitter: twitter.com/lgbtqhistcuba / Instagram: instagram.com/lgbtqhistoriacuba

On this episode Sam is joined by Jenee Arthur, co-host and creator of the 'Daughter-Father Dance' podcast which features funny, frank and fraught conversations between Jenee and her Dad. Jenee is the only gay person in her large Catholic family (70 immediate members!) which has had its difficulties to say the least and through her podcast series she hopes to explore different perspectives and tackle difficult issues head on. But when is an opinion just hate and can we truly address division in our society?More about Jenee - http://www.jeneearthur.com More about 'Daughter-Father Dance' - http://daughterfatherdance.com 

Felix Fern from Trans Activism UK joins Sam to talk about the ongoing situation in the U.K. as transphobic rhetoric from government and media continues to increase. A petition calling for transgender people to be included in any ban on so called conversion therapy on the U.K. Parliament website has hit 100,000 signatures meaning it must be considered for debate in Parliament. It comes after the U.K. government removed trans people from the long awaited ban on LGBTQ conversion therapy.Trans Activism UK - Trans Activism UK

LGBTQ fauthor Mario Dell'Olio talks about his latest book 'Forbidden Rome', a 'complex and timeless journey of beautiful self-discovery. Mario has written a total of five books including 'Letters From Italy' and 'Coming About: Life In The Balance'. He holds a doctorate in sacred music and has a masters in Music in Vocal Performance and Religious Education, he is also a founding member of 'Queer Indie', a writers alliance established to promote queer and ally literature. Mario chats to Sam about his writing, coming out and even getting stuck at sea!

In this episode we look at a turbulent week of transphobia in the UK which has transphobic talking points echoed by top figures in the UK government including Prime Minister Boris Johnson. It follows the removal of trans people from a proposed ban on conversion therapy abuse which subsequently led to hundreds of LGBTQ organisations pulling out of an LGBT conference set to be held by the UK government. Sam is joined by Phoenix, a trans woman who presents on 'Trans Radio UK' and runs the @LGBWithTheT Twitter page and Oscar Hoyle a non-binary voluntary LGBTQ youth worker who is the director of 'Blossom' which provides services aimed at LGBTQ young adults and those who support and live alongside them. Trans Radio UK - https://www.transradiouk.com/members/phoenix/ Blossom - http://www.blossom.lgbt/

Transgender actor and author Alexandra Billings joins Sam to talk about her new memoir ‘This Time For Me’. The memoir has been described as a celebration of endless possibilities. Alexandra is a history making LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS activist and moderated a panel on trans rights at the White House. In 2016 she was awarded the Human Rights Campaign visibility award.Find out more – https://www.schmengieinc.com/alexandra-billings/ 

Author Veronica Gutierrez joins Sam to discuss her new book ‘As You Look’, a detective story following latinx lesbian Yolanda Avila, a former LAPD police officer turned private investigator. Veronica is an LGBTQ author based between LA and San Francisco, as well as writing she is a former community organiser, civil rights attorney, and non-profit leader. In this interview we talk about the book, the demonisation of immigrants, the importance of authenticity and more.Find out more: http://www.veronicagutierrez.com 

April 2022 marks the first ever Italian LGBTQ History Month. In this special episode co-hosted by Being LGBTQ founder Sam Wise and the founder of LGBT History Month in the U.S. Rodney Wilson, we interview three of the organisers of LGBTHM Italy - Alessio Ponzio, Chiara Beccalossi and Oscar-Silvi Bertoliss. The Italian effort comes as an international committee has been setup to celebrate LGBTQ history months around the world. Find out more: http://www.lgbtplushistorymonth.it 

Marieke Nijamp is a non-binary New York Times bestselling author and joins us to talk about her latest book ‘At The End Of Everything’, a novel which focuses on a group of teenagers exiled at a juvenile treatment centre. The book is bursting with LGBTQ representation. In this interview Marieke gives more details about the book and gives her take on a number of different issues including the treatment of disabled people in society and her previous book ‘This Is Where It Ends’ which focussed on gun violence. Marieke lives and works in the Netherlands.  Find out more about Marieke: http://www.mariekenijamp.com 

In this episode we speak to a transgender activist who has been fighting for LGBTQ rights for almost 30 years. Tanya Walker is a military veteran, co-founder of the New York Transgender Advocacy Group and facilities the trans women’s group at SAGE which provides services for LGBTQ elders. She lobbied the Assembly and Senate in Albany for 17 years to pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act and in 2021 gave testimony on inequality and discrimination to the US House Committee on financial services.New York Trans Advocacy Group – http://www.nytag.org SAGE – http://www.sageusa.org 

Vico Ortiz is a non-binary actor who has appeared in many top TV shows including ‘Transparent’, ‘Criminal Minds’ and ‘Lucifer’ to name a few. In this interview we chat to them about their latest role as Jim in the HBO Max show ‘Our Flag Means Death’ which is vaguely inspired by the life of 18th century aristocrat turned pirate Stede Bonnet. One of the minds behind the series is Oscar winner Taika Waititi (JoJo Rabbit, 2019). We also ask Vico about non-binary representation and the importance of non-binary actors playing non-binary roles. Find out more about Vico: http://imdb.me/vico-ortiz 

Akiva joins us for a second podcast appearance to talk about his new book ‘The Magnus and the Fool’ which has been described as a ‘modern, queer and trans-positive retelling of The Great Gatsby’. Akiva’s first book ‘Boy In The Hole’ was released to mark National Coming Out Day in 2019. We also get Akiva’s thoughts on anti-LGBTQ legislation in the United States, and he has a few choice words for some of our elected officials! More information on Akiva: http://akivahersh.com 

Jill Gutowitz is a lesbian writer from New Jersey (now living in LA) and has been published in the likes of 'The New Yorker' and 'Vanity Fair' and she joins us to talk about her first book 'Girls Can Kiss Now' which is a collection of personal essays which focus on identity, desire and self-worth. In this episode Jill talks about the book, self-worth in the LGBTQ community, the influence of popular culture on how we see ourselves and how 'Orange Is The New Black' changed everything for her.Find out more about Jill: http://www.jillgutowitz.com 

In our second LGBTQ Elders episode Sam interviews Ken Pinkela who is a U.S. military veteran and served as a Lieutenant Colonel. Ken began serving when being gay in the military was illegal as well as during the 'don't ask, don't tell' days. Ken's story is one of a man who wanted to serve only to face discrimination and a grave injustice. Since 'leaving' the military Ken has went on to advocate for people living with HIV and wants to get rid of outdated HIV criminal laws that have not caught up with science. 

Jonathan Larkin is a writer for the British TV soap 'Hollyoaks' writing a number of high impact stories including on LGBTQ storylines. Now he's back with his first stage play in 10 years 'Cherry Jezebel' which follows three drag queens in Liverpool. The play has been described as 'hilarious and heart-breaking' and looks beyond the glitter and the makeup of drag. Sam chats to Jonathan about the play, writing for TV, homophobia in the UK and more.

Transgender author Emme Lund joins us to talk about her new book 'The Boy With A Bird In His Chest', a novel which follows Owen Tanner who literally has a bird in his chest and is forced to flee home and live with his Uncle and Cousin in Washington. Emme currently lives in Portland, Oregon and has an MFA from Mills College. In 2019 Emme was awarded an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship in Fiction. 

Ukrainian LGBTQ activist Maxim Potapovich joins us to give an LGBTQ perspective on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Maxim is based in the suburbs of Kyiv and represents 'Kyiv Pride' and says the Ukrainian spirit is pulling them through and giving them hope. Maxim shares his story, how he thinks the international community are dealing with the war, LGBTQ rights and more.

Gay underwear model Alex Gede joins us to talk about going from believing he had turned himself straight to embracing his true self. Alex moved to the U.K. from Nigeria to study and then got married and had two children, four years later Alex came out as gay and found himself a boyfriend. Sam chats to Alex about his coming out process, what it's like for LGBTQ people in Nigeria and founding his 'Club Seven Menswear' underwear brand for gay and bisexual men. 

In the first of our 'LGBTQ Elders Series' we talk to the CEO of LGBTQ elder organisation SAGE, Michael Adams about the organisation which was founded in 1978. SAGE is dedicated to improving the lives of older LGBTQ people. Sam chats to Michael about his early life as a gay man, the challenges faced by elders today including ageism and discrimination in care, the importance of remembering the past and much more.

To mark LGBTQ History Month in the U.K. we are joined by Head of Policy and Research at the LGBT Foundation Ibtisam Ahmed to discuss this years theme 'Politics in Art', in particular LGBTQ representation in superhero media from graphic novels to TV and movies. As a big superhero fan Ibtisam felt he never saw himself represented growing up and there was always a set image of what a superhero should look and act like. Also - Ibtisam reflects on the LGBT Foundation's response to recent anti-transgender sentiment from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.