LGBTQ&A

Shadi Petosky talks about wanting to create a diverse and inclusive world in her animated series, Danger and Eggs. She also talks about still being confused and challenged by gender, switching up pronouns amongst friends, and why we have a great responsibility to love and honor the people in our chosen families. Shadi also talks about how she didn’t think she could have a career in television as an out transgender woman before Laverne Cox got famous. LGBTQ&A is hosted by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1 You can recommend a guest or let us know what you think about the show on Twitter or by emailing lgbtqashow@gmail.com More information: www.LGBTQpodcast.com

Michael Varrati talks about the queer undertones (both hidden and overt) in horror movies and why the recurring theme of the underdog who has to persevere in the face of adversity is so relatable. He talks about how there are many horror stories, like The Laramie Project, that we don’t consider to be horror movies because they’re based on true events. Michael also shares stories from touring the country with the legendary drag queen, Peaches Christ, and the mainstream media’s use of drag terms like “throwing shade”. Michael Varrati is a screenwriter and hosts the podcast, Dead for Filth. LGBTQ&A is hosted by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1 You can recommend a guest or let us know what you think about the show on Twitter or by emailing lgbtqashow@gmail.com More information: www.LGBTQpodcast.com

Cheryl Dunye is a pioneering queer filmmaker. She talks about the enduring legacy of her film, The Watermelon Woman (celebrating its 20th anniversary), and directing sex scenes with brown bodies, why she’s no longer interested in making the compromises necessary to be a commercial filmmaker. She also talks about supporting more films by and about queer people of color and the significance of undocumented queer history. LGBTQ&A is hosted by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1 You can recommend a guest or let us know what you think about the show on Twitter or by emailing lgbtqashow@gmail.com More information: www.LGBTQpodcast.com

Our Lady J talks about being a writer for Transparent, the power and responsibility that storytellers have, and shares the “beautiful and excruciating” moments from growing up in a predominantly Amish community. She talks about playing piano for people like Sia, as well as the discrimination she faced in the music industry after she transitioned. Our Lady J also describes the ongoing process of learning to love herself, saying she’s no longer interested in lying about her age. LGBTQ&A is hosted by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1 You can recommend a guest or let us know what you think about the show on Twitter or by emailing lgbtqashow@gmail.com More information: www.LGBTQpodcast.com

Kristin Russo (author of This is Book for Parents of Gay Kids) talks about Autostraddle’s A-Camp (where she is the co-director), the special importance of sex ed in LGBTQ communities, and social pressures she faced to identify as a lesbian instead of bisexual. She also talks about her efforts to make LGBTQ youth feel seen with her website, Everyone Is Gay, why “queer” is such a special word, and explains her religious beliefs, saying that when she and her wife are going through a difficult time, they pray together. LGBTQ&A is hosted by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1 You can recommend a guest or let us know what you think about the show on Twitter or by emailing lgbtqashow@gmail.com More information: www.LGBTQpodcast.com

Laith Ashley talks about why transgender men are less visible than transgender women in society, says people police his gender as much now as they did before his transition, and why living openly as a transgender person is a privilege that not everyone has. He also talks about people’s obsession with his (and his girlfriend’s) genitalia, the stigma around dating transgender people, and why modeling is a craft (and a lot of hard work). LGBTQ&A is hosted by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1 You can recommend a guest or let us know what you think about the show on Twitter or by emailing lgbtqashow@gmail.com More information: www.LGBTQpodcast.com

Shane Ortega is the first transgender person to serve openly in the military. He talks about how to interpret President Trump’s tweets banning trans people from serving in the military, explains why it’s so detrimental that Trump didn’t seek guidance from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and says that as of now, there hasn’t been any changes to official military policy concerning trans people. Shane also talks about why this is a human rights issue, not just concerning LGBTQ people. LGBTQ&A is hosted by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1 You can recommend a guest or let us know what you think about the show on Twitter or by emailing lgbtqashow@gmail.com More information: www.LGBTQpodcast.com

Erin Judge (comedian and author of Vow of Celibacy) talks about how overweight people are able to have active, healthy sex lives, despite how the media often represents them. She also talks about why it’s healthy to experiment sexually when you’re younger and why it should be more OK for women to talk about sex. Both Erin and her mom are bisexual, and she discusses what it’s like to grow up in an intergenerational queer household, having to keep her mom’s secret from the rest of their family, and why being polyamorous is a choice and not just something you’re born with. LGBTQ&A is hosted by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1 You can recommend a guest or let us know what you think about the show on Twitter or by emailing lgbtqashow@gmail.com More information: www.LGBTQpodcast.com

Eliel Cruz talks about why, despite the violence it’s caused, religion has remained such a large part of so many LGBTQ people’s lives. He talks about what his prayers look like, coming out in a Christian school, and what his personal beliefs are based on (hint: they’re not based on hurting other people). Eliel Cruz also talks about bi-erasure, pressures to present and act more masculinely as a bisexual man, and why bisexuals are so under-represented in the media. LGBTQ&A is hosted by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1 You can recommend a guest or let us know what you think about the show on Twitter or by emailing lgbtqashow@gmail.com More information: www.LGBTQpodcast.com

Mariana Marroquin works as an Anti-Violence Project Manager at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. We talk about her work and the discrimination that her clients face, as well as the fear that’s been stemming from the Trump administration. Like many of the people she works with, Mariana is an immigrant, originally moving her to seek asylum from Guatemala. She discusses the challenges that immigrants face, what you can do to help, Chelsea Manning, and where her love of fashion comes from. LGBTQ&A is hosted by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1 You can recommend a guest or let us know what you think about the show on Twitter or by emailing lgbtqashow@gmail.com More information: www.LGBTQpodcast.com