Transcript
Speaker: At... One institute, we have a program called Youth Ambassadors for Queer History. These high school students, they really know who they are. They are hungry to learn about their place in history.
Speaker: Dad. they didn't just come out of nowhere that there are these stories of heroism from people that they identify with, They are... excited about learning about their history and they're excited ah about sharing what they learn in their communities.
Speaker: Hello and welcome to Power Beyond Pride, a weekly queer change -making podcast bringing you voices and ideas from across our fierce and fabulous spectrum to transform our world. I'm Shane Lucas, a lifelong harm reductionist, activist owner of A Great Idea, and pet dad to two puppies.
Speaker: And I'm Melody KG, a Minneapolis -based artivist, provocateur. consultant, writer, all around badass. We are your co -hosts on today's Queer Cast journey. And today we're talking to Tony Valenzuela. He is the executive director of the One Institute, the longest continuously operating LGBTQ plus org. In the country.
Speaker: In the country? In the country? That's a pretty tall... that's ah That's a... That's Matt. So we're going to dig into the One Institute. We want to learn more about the One Institute. Thank you so much for joining us at Power Beyond Pride, Tony. It is is is such a joy to be able to spend time with you. I'm lucky that I've known Tony. for On and Off for many, many years. And before we get into the legacy of the One Institute, Tony, first of all, welcome to the show.
Speaker: Thank you. Thank you for having me, Shane and Melody. I'm excited to be here. Yay. And coming, coming to us all the way from California. So we're excited about that. I would love to know what first drew you into working with the One Institute. And working with queer history, like what made you say this?
Speaker: This speaks to me. Well... I think that I've just been interested in queer culture for a long time. and When I. worked at Lambda Literary. many years ago. I had previously done queer. arts and culture work, but.
Speaker: I'd mostly been in like social service nonprofits. and things like that. And I worked at an LGBT center. But there's something about working with... queer artists and Folks who are.
Speaker: sort of academics and educators. Folks who are sort of... pushing or educating about the way we live and the way we've lived. Just... It resonates more with me than the kind of social service kind of work that you do in other kinds of nonprofits.
Speaker: And so... I say that because... Because I had been at... Lambda Literary, then Foundation for the AIDS Monument. And I had started to sort of build this resume. ah being centered in queer arts and culture spaces.
Speaker: And so when the One Institute opportunity came up. I thought, wow, a queer history organization. I could do anything there. ah Because...
Speaker: What we do basically is we... educate about queer and trans history through arts and humanities programming. And that's out. Very. Rod. range of possibilities in that.
Speaker: So I was really more drawn to. an organization that was working in the cultural sphere more than one institute itself. That said...
Speaker: One Institute is a fascinating place. it's been. um around since 1952 in LA. As. You said in your and introduction, it's the oldest continually operating.
Speaker: queer organization in the country. um and has had many sort of iterations from being this. institute in the 1950s that That.
Speaker: produced a magazine called The One Magazine, which was the first widely distributed queer publication. in the country and it's famous for its letters to the editor.
Speaker: which are letters from one, which were this. sort of window into the life of. of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people in the 1950s and 1960s. And those letters, which are.
Speaker: I'm sorry, the magazine, which is... at the One Archives at USC libraries. is this. Beautiful. They produced it beautifully. It's very sort of mid -century modern. it has a lot of really Gorgeous illustrations in it.
Speaker: And anyway. So. That was the... beginning of one institute. But where it got especially interesting was that. In 1954, so this is a year after it's been out in publication.
Speaker: The local L .A. Postmaster General sees the magazine from. distribution in charge. One, at the time called One Ink, One Incorporated. Charge the organization with...
Speaker: Obscenity And. So. didn't allow it to be distributed. and There was nothing obscene about the magazine. It wasn't like a... ah pictorial it wasn't like muscle guys it was actually like poetry, and in fact it was a poem about about Sappho. Which was the... the ins the the I guess to them.
Speaker: What was obscene? Oh my gosh, that seems like they're just asking us to do more after that. Bye. There was so there was like poetry and like. theater reviews and these letters to the editor.
Speaker: And so that... was when The organization was charged with obscenity. The founders. I took... them to court. And interestingly found this.
Speaker: Street. ally. A lawyer named Eric Dubler. who represented one institute. Four years for four years. And then finally...
Speaker: The one kept losing, actually, in lower courts, and they kept Going back and. and fighting it. Bye. It reached the Supreme Court in 1958. And the Supreme Court overturned all the lowercase courts. and One. We won.
Speaker: Institute when that tastes. on free speech grounds. And they said that there was. that the magazine did not was not obscene. And that was a decade before Stonewall.
Speaker: And that's really what set this organization on its path. All the while, it was developing the archive. this sort of The founders were really interested interested in collecting.
Speaker: queer materials. And so they have amassed this. Matt, this... huge archive over many decades. And then The work of one institute, its programmatic work, the magazine, for a while it was doing kind of like these. design These annual conferences, like at the Biltmore downtown LA.
Speaker: They published a journal, an academic journal but That. Sure did. became less important because other parts of the movement were doing those things.
Speaker: I'm Mark. more and more interestingly And so the magazine, sorry, so the archive became the most important. part of the organization. And today that archive is the largest queer archive in the world.
Speaker: It lives at USC Libraries. We gifted it the collection to them. In 2010, And since then, we've become a queer history education organization.
Speaker: And so we do exhibitions and public programs and youth programs. And that's really what we do. And I love that kind of work. We're always organizing public. programs.
Speaker: that really focus on... queer artists and educators and activists. And so I love that kind of work. And I found a great. fit here.
Speaker: at one institute. Because it just feels like a continuation of the other organizations. I've run. So. Anyway, I'm less than four years into the position.
Speaker: but really, really love it. That sounds so incredible, Tony. I mean, I'm thinking about all of the ways. that this org has contributed to queer change -making from being initial storytellers.
Speaker: to being legacy, like story holders. to even fighting. fighting and and maybe having some like impact litigation around. Around queer censorship, obscenity is one of those things.
Speaker: for For folks who don't know. is is something that legally has been used against queer folks, sex workers. Anyone on the margins trying to do their own storytelling for so long? So I love to hear.
Speaker: that you all were kind of like... the The first to bring that to the Supreme Court and like overturn that, I think. especially now in this age of... like really regressive. online censorship.
Speaker: I'm wondering if if you... could unpack for us like Where you think. Your. your sort of role. You as Tony, but then you as... the ED of of one institute.
Speaker: How are you? Finding. I guess my question is... how are How are you finding the current? like cultural climate around talking about queer issues, educating the public. I mean, are you, how are you being in l LA? Are you facing any sort of Current censorship, backlash, or or are folks... generally pretty receptive to your programming.
Speaker: I mean... Folks are generally pretty receptive. I'm always... trying to push the envelope. I don't feel like I'm, I don't feel like I'm intending, like purposely pushing the envelope. But for example,
Speaker: This year, we do this annual Circa Queer Histories Festival. We just... did our third one I just ended. It was all of October LGBTQ plus history month.
Speaker: And it's been important. For me. to include. programming about sex work and the history of sex work. And I mean, in part because I used to be a sex worker and because I believe.
Speaker: that the sort of the way that sex workers are oppressed and the stigma that sex workers. experience, so it shares the same DNA as anti -queer stigma. Right.
Speaker: And so. I know that. you are You understand that very well. But I think a lot of folks don't. and Even though. I believe.
Speaker: younger generations are starting to incorporate the the lives and the and the the ways that... Sex workers are marginalized. More so than...
Speaker: 30 years ago. There's still a long way to go. And this is the first organization where I have felt like. I could really incorporate that kind of programming and that kind of community building.
Speaker: ah And where I hadn't. It hadn't felt like I could do that before. Lambda Literary is very specific in its literary focus, and sometimes there was stuff that was sex work.
Speaker: related But here, like I said, I can do whatever I want. And it's not just me. Like, obviously, like. There's a staff here that participates in these in the division. Bye. But I've really made it a ah ah ah part of the organization. so No one has said anything. My board members haven't said anything. No one in the community. We still get funded by elected officials.
Speaker: We have youth programs and... No one has said, how dare you have youth programs and also do programs for sex workers. None of that has ever come up. And because it shouldn't. We have adult programming and we have youth programming.
Speaker: And so. In some ways, it feels like here in L .A., as I'm sure in other larger cities. but We're not getting a bunch of... But so much pushback.
Speaker: What? That being said, This year has been. as you all know, really challenging. I have noticed. a kind of chilling effect among allies.
Speaker: In. a supporting the kind of work that we have done. That we do? And. We've had to sort of organize and organize this coalition of queer arts and culture people people here in LA.
Speaker: because of the executive orders, because of the cuts in funding. And because we want to make sure that. funders and elected officials here. Don't forget. Queer Arts.
Speaker: when they're creating budgets, when they're considering what to cut. So. I have felt this year has been... more challenging and than other years. Well.
Speaker: censorship. We still have not experienced that. And it's not, I don't think it could be coming. Of course I do. Bye bye. You know, when we're at this like. The current.
Speaker: problems are like anti -immigrant and anti -queer. And so. There's no way we're going to stop programming around. the trans community. It's not going to happen. And so.
Speaker: So far. that hasn't causes problems. But I still love a day ride when... We have to say, well, fuck your grant or fuck your whatever, not signing paperwork.
Speaker: Because we won't. And. Well, you know, I... There are fortunately a lot of others who are doing this kind. Upward. So... Anyway. Yes, I do think that this year has been...
Speaker: More of a challenge, but so far we've been able to do. our work like we have in the past but It's all unpredictable. I don't know what next year will be. In the incredible work that, again, One Institute's been doing for so long and how important that is and obviously the changing temperature at the moment.
Speaker: Thinking back in your own story and your own work and kind of your own journey. as an advocate and and as an activist. I would love to know. If you feel like provocation is necessary.
Speaker: And that maybe we've stepped a little bit away from it in the last decade or so. because we we we kind of weren't provoking enough some of the conversations. to essentially bring queer bodies, queer people, queer stories into these spaces. And we kind of...
Speaker: In some ways, I guess I feel like. It has been a little bit more lax in the last little bit to to not provoke systems that still had not reached the point of equity. Do you feel like in your own journey, because again, when you started.
Speaker: at the AIDS monument, right? Like that's ah that's a provocation in some ways to some communities. in this work about queer history is a provocation in some ways. Do you feel like we should?
Speaker: be provoking? Do you feel like that's been part of your journey? Well... I kind of feel like. It depends on what you mean by provoking because... As an ED of a nonprofit.
Speaker: we are careful, right? Because We have a spectrum of supporters and you're funded by a lot of donors or... or funders. And so. I'm more, I would say these days.
Speaker: Just. like super inclusive and no one's going to tell me who i can't include right and so So for me. i'm just We are just creating festivals that are...
Speaker: that obviously include LGBTQ+. But like I said, also sex workers also work, also programs about the Palestinian. queer Palestinians, also programs about queer Jewish folks.
Speaker: It's sort of this. feeling like We're. We're really. I feel like it's my responsibility to... to I guess create a big tent, but to make sure that.
Speaker: The folks in that tent. Aseril. speak authentically about. their experiences and not. need to censor themselves. that no one's going to tell me you can't do you can't include this part of our community.
Speaker: because they are a part of our community. So I think I'm more like these days under the radar about this. Bye. It's still, if people were to look at our... Circa Festival lineup, you'd be like, oh, there's a lot of...
Speaker: I'm not, I'm not saying unusual, but. Not everyone's festival is has six programs on sex work. on cruise sector. And so. So I don't know I have been in my 20s more provocative.
Speaker: And so that's, I guess, what I'm comparing it to. Which was like last year, right? Like it was last year. Exactly, yeah. Just like last year, yeah. It's just been a few years. So...
Speaker: So I guess ah that's really the word I'm getting stuck on is I don't. I'm not being provocative for... for provocative being provocative's sake. Bye. I'm also not.
Speaker: wanting to have a really safe lineup. of the kinds of programming we do here in LA. Yeah. And and again, when I be say provocative, I think I just mean pushing at the borders when people are trying to push in. Right. Like we kind of have to continue to push at the borders because they're going to continue to push. They're going to try to keep us smaller. and we kind of have to continue in my i guess i think of it as pushing out we have to we have to be able to push that because they're gonna They're gonna they're gonna they're gonna they're gonna try and make us smaller I guess is the yes to the way yeah
Speaker: Exactly. We're going to take a quick break and we've got so much more to talk about because we have yet to even dig into your incredible work. Get in the line of literary as well as your own journey. So we look forward to that. So stay tuned in this episode of Power Beyond Pride, where we are in conversation with the fantastic. and amazing and change maker, Tony Valenzuela.
Speaker: Welcome back. This is Power Beyond Pride, a queer change -making podcast. And I'm Melody KG. here with my co -host, Shane Lucas. Strolling down memory lane?
Speaker: With Tony Valenzuela. Before the One Institute, you were also the executive director at Lambda Literary, Tony. Amazing work, amazing orgs. In that time, you founded, right, the LGBTQ.
Speaker: Writers in Schools Program. In New York City? I... That's incredible. There's been a lot of political tension around. what can be taught in in the classrooms, especially around queer history, queer theory.
Speaker: i'm I'm wondering if you can... walk us through and maybe unpack for us how how that journey has been and how You thank educators and mentors, especially in the public school system.
Speaker: can still find ways to keep our queer stories alive. Yeah, I mean, you know. The battleground is K -12 schools and in so many ways. And when...
Speaker: these battles started, I thought, wow, that's progress. Like we weren't talking about being able to. have queer picture books for kindergartners 25 years ago. and Maybe that's when it just started talking about it. but ah But yeah, that's still an area where I think that there's a lot of work to do, that even in liberal cities and liberal liberal school districts.
Speaker: There's a lot of caution, I think overly cautious. There's not enough. push back on these sort of parents rights groups which are Just a bunch of homophobes.
Speaker: End. probes. I mean, for the most part. Granted, maybe there are some who just... want to be educated, but they're usually not siding with. the Moms for Liberty types. and So I do think that there's a lot of work to do there because. People are.
Speaker: in some ways, understandably cautious around kids and parents. But... That just... leaves queer and trans people with the short end of the stick because we Arse.
Speaker: our history. um Our stories are still not taught in most school district districts by far. And even in California. In...
Speaker: Sure do. Some studies, the thing is LAUSD. doesn't participate in the studies and LAUSD can... is Can be very good. I mean, there are so a lot of progressive teachers who want to teach to these materials.
Speaker: But for the most part, It's still very touchy and. And there's still a long way to go. In California, there's this law. called the Fair Education Act that mandates the teaching of queer history.
Speaker: ah in history classes and social studies classes. All right. the contributions of queer people. not just queer people other marginalized communities but inclusive of queer people And in fact, that law, which is from 2011.
Speaker: is what motivated the New York City LGBT Writers in Schools program that Lambda Literary did because In California, this law passed.
Speaker: It's still the implementation is really what's key. The law passed, but It's still... not implemented in most places.
Speaker: And so we are part of a coalition of youth -serving organizations. That is. helping districts. both create lesson plans that can be taught.
Speaker: but also teaching educators how to teach these materials. Those things I have a long way to go to happen. Bye. At least they're... on their way. In New York City, the there was a ah queer council member named...
Speaker: Daniel Drom Coop. Somehow I was introduced to him. This is back in the early... 20 teens. And he brought up. The Farajik. Farajik.
Speaker: Fair Education Act. And he said, I'd love to do something like that in New York City. He was going to retire in a few years and he wanted a legacy project. And so. That's really important when you have. Someone. who's a council person.
Speaker: championing A project like this, that goes a long way. And so we work. For years, with... the New York City Department of Education and with Daniel Drum and with a lot of educators.
Speaker: To begin to offer the. I mean, as an elective, but nonetheless. ah but There were hundreds of participants. teachers. Where we would just simply pair.
Speaker: a queer or trans author with an educator. We would provide the texts for all the students and the teachers. And we did that often in partnership with publishers who would either Discount them or give them to us free.
Speaker: And. And then we so we sort of launched this program. And at the beginning, this is early 20 -teens. There was fear by the district. like Will there be backlash? Will there be student...
Speaker: Today, probably there would be. be more. But back then there was hardly any. And and people really enjoyed the program and it continues to this day. It's like. many, many times larger than it was when I left it. So that was the first.
Speaker: We're an educational initiative in New York City public schools. I'm sure they've... they' They've progressed since then. But it was important for that reason. and I think that the district in New York City and the Department of Education realized that.
Speaker: A lot of it parents did want their kids. learning about. queer experiences and reading materials about queer life because a lot of their kids were queer or trans and wanted to um be able to relate to these stories. And so...
Speaker: Maybe that was a surprise to people, but for a lot to a lot of people, it wasn't. What it allowed us to do is in Lambda Literary is that there's so many... queer and trans, young adult, middle grade, and children. So the writers who who were able to have actually get their books read in school districts.
Speaker: And that felt really important. So it was great. And. here at one institute. That's one of the main things we do. we Developed curriculum for K -12.
Speaker: and We released these lesson plans that are aligned to California standards. And then we are also sort of. advocate for supports in school districts so that Like I said, so that these.
Speaker: Lesson plans and and the... the teaching of these materials. is implemented in more and more. school districts and that the educators feel supported. to do that because in these the last few years There's been, people are really afraid of apparent backlash.
Speaker: I want to roll back the hands of time a little bit, Tony, because I think on hearing you share. the really powerful impact that having queer stories for young people can can can have on their development, on their seeing the world as ah as a place with all of these all of these different individuals of their own journeys.
Speaker: I'm curious about your own journey. I'm curious, having known you all these years, i I don't think I've ever asked you this, so I want to ask you this. Was there a moment where you really felt like... Not only were you sort of recognized who you were and and sort of your authentic self and what you wanted to bring into the room, but also your role as an activist. Was there a moment that really shaped you?
Speaker: Well, there was actually when. I was in. college, an undergrad at UC Santa Barbara. I... was Starting to come out.
Speaker: I was still very much in the closet, but like I was going to the gay support group, the gay rap group. on campus and And of course, I was like cruising the tea rooms. and And kind of like discovering my sexuality, but my world my queer world was tiny.
Speaker: And. So... I was because I was like a writer since high school. I would journal a lot and I was journaling a lot of about all this. I had.
Speaker: but The summer previously, I discovered Club San Diego, the bathhouse. And I was like, I was literally a kid in the candy store. And that experience opened up this world I never knew existed.
Speaker: And. ah Then the summer ended and I went to school. And. I just felt, wow, there's a world out there that I don't know about and I want to get to know. And I was writing all this stuff in my journal. and My...
Speaker: Roommate That year. Which they pair you with these roommates. on campus. He... Long story, but he ended up.
Speaker: finding my journal and making a copy and showing people in our eight -story residence hall. So for... a month, I didn't realize that my Most intimate.
Speaker: No. secrets. They were still secrets because i not even my best friend knew this. Was shared with. people in our whole building. And so that so. the The important part of it was that. My best friend who lived upstairs was the last person to find out.
Speaker: And so when I got to my dorm, when... Afternoon, I saw a note on my door that said to come up and speak with her. So I did. She said it was important, so I did.
Speaker: And. She was in a room and she sat me down and she's like. Tony, I don't know. had a tell you this, I'm just going to tell you.
Speaker: She said, Have you ever been to a bathhouse? And so when she asked me this question. I thought. The only... person in the world who knows this.
Speaker: Well, other than the people who were at that bathhouse. It wasn't a person, it was my journal. And. How is it possible that... He knows what's in my journal. And I said, yes. And she's like, oh. Then it's true.
Speaker: Luca found your diary, made a copy, and showed people in our building. And so. My whole world, I just felt like I was sitting on the... on her Part B. In her dorm room.
Speaker: And I felt like myself. disintegrate into into the floor, right? And. The thing is, is that It was this. moment where I thought, wow.
Speaker: All of my secrets are out. I've been living with these. Guys and. in and girls in this building for months, and they all knew. No one ever said anything to me.
Speaker: And. I thought. What am I going to do? So... I don't know No. I think. Today, this makes most more sense, but... I was like a wallflower in high school. I was like...
Speaker: I was not involved. I was an introverted. I was not the person who I am today in many ways. and So I didn't have any experience or tools to kind of be like, I'm going to do this.
Speaker: but Somehow that's what I did. And I went to my. Resident Advisor went to be RA. And I said. This happened. I want to do something about it.
Speaker: And. I said, I'd like you to call a hall a meeting. And I want to tell my side of the story. So... She did that. She called the hall meeting. It was like finals week, so it was like hard to get people to go.
Speaker: And so my like best friend and her best friend. Just like. got everyone to come we said Tony's going to talk to everyone. You have to go to this. and Everybody showed up. There's like.
Speaker: What a lot of people. in this hall. And. And it was my first coming out story. I said... I heard. I said, I know there's rumors about me being gay.
Speaker: energy. Brule. And I'm not ashamed of myself. And I never brought up my roommate. i I was like... I'm not going to stoop to his light level. I'm just going to tell my story. And the thing is, this this is 1980. 8.
Speaker: And. And so that's a very different world. But it was also a hugely important lesson because When I was done sharing my story at 19,
Speaker: People applauded. They got in line to give me hugs and shake my hand. and and As many boys as... Girl, right? And. That was... how I became an activist. I was like. along the way.
Speaker: Because I thought, wow. first of all, I like change the narrative, right? Took my story back from my roommate. And this thing had happened that is the last thing in the world I would have expected.
Speaker: And so. That was... What? changed my worldview. I was like, I can't believe someone did this to someone else, first of all.
Speaker: And I want to make sure this doesn't happen to people. And so it was after that that I started becoming an activist. And so. Okay. The rest is history. And that was really my turning point in my life.
Speaker: That's incredibly powerful. Yeah. I mean, it is. And what a way to... to to have that conversation, but also. I'm really glad to hear the embrace that you had among the community, among I think that response.
Speaker: It means a lot. It takes a lot of courage to step into that space. It takes a lot of courage to be in there, especially. When you're you're. Kind of compelled due to and for a lot of people who are pushed out of the closet.
Speaker: or who have things disclosed before they are prepared. to be able to bring that courage into the space is is a lot. And to take from that and build the kind of the kind of work and leadership and modeling that you've done and in terms of modeling leadership and and across communities.
Speaker: I mean again, it's really incredibly impressive. We're going to take a short break. We're going to come back and with a speed round of questions. because We've gotten to know you a bit, Tony, but now we're gonna get to know you even more. right after this break.
Speaker: Welcome back to Power Beyond Pride, where we're talking with Tony Valenzuela. I'm Melody KG here with my co -host, Shane Lucas. And we're having the best conversation with Tony.
Speaker: Tony, before we get to our speed round. I was wondering if you could... Tell us your perspective. when When you see young people... in our community leaning in, wanting to know.
Speaker: where they come from. and who came before them. really understanding. our queer history, how do you think? How do you think that hunger for history will shape the next chapter of our movement? and How receptive are...
Speaker: the kids today in in wanting to be part of this legacy. um Well. Bye. One institute, we have a program called Youth Ambassadors for Queer History.
Speaker: And. the it's In fact, it's... It's a fall semester program, so I just had the privilege of spending the day. with the kiddos, as my director of education says.
Speaker: at our gallery because they meet every other week. there, but in other places like next, next. time they're going to go down to the one archives at USC libraries and learn to do archival research. And so these high school students, there's 12 of them in this cohort.
Speaker: K2 -12 I'm sorry, no, they're 9 through 12. Grades. And. ah And. Hanging out with them this past Saturday.
Speaker: was Yay. Amazing in that. They really know who they are? And granted it. Probably. it's a like a it's just like a special kid that's gonna Seek out.
Speaker: a program like this one. whose parents are signing their permission slip. And. And. who can experience something like this in a city like Los Angeles.
Speaker: What? They. Know who they are. They. are hungry to learn about their place in history. That. They didn't just come out of nowhere.
Speaker: That there are these stories of. heroism from people that they Identify where... They were doing many presentations this last Saturday. And so they were.
Speaker: presenting on Sir Lady Java and Marsha P. Johnson and some other... Folks, most of the kids were kids of color, lots of non -binary trans kids. And they were talking about their high school life. And depending on what high school they go to, it's a little bit different. like Hollywood high, super progressive.
Speaker: A kid who's in the Palisades. is... has a fairly progressive school. So. They're talking about their friendship groups, their... they're what they learn about queer history in high school.
Speaker: So. Really dope to answer your question. These kids... Know who they are. They are. excited about learning about their history.
Speaker: um And they're exciting ah about sharing what they learn in their communities. I mean, the whole part of the program, Youth Ambassadors, is that They're bringing back, some of them them are already student activists, like heads of GSA. Others are just students. regular kids.
Speaker: Who are. in high school. and who are... dating and studying and all the rest of it. I mean, it sounds it sounds like this younger generation is... and And wouldn't we all want that? I think this idea.
Speaker: I don't know when I came out and i'm i I came out. 30 years ago. So it was ah it's about, it's been a minute. But there was so little opportunity to hear about the landscape in which I existed other than to live within the HIV crisis, right? Like there wasn't enough language that really helped me understand.
Speaker: So many of the other leaders and individuals, the sort of many ways, centuries of work. that had been done, sometimes quietly, sometimes very loudly. over all those years. And I love that young people are getting representations.
Speaker: be it Bayard Rustin, be it Sylvia Rivera, be it yeah many of the different leaders who whose work... has helped inform generations. And I think that's incredibly... powerful to hear young people excited about that because it also gives them a sense that there is both a past, the present, and a future.
Speaker: And I think yeah that's really what I think I love about what you're doing with One Institute. and certainly in bringing young people into that conversation is to think about the future. Because they are they are seeing this timeline in which they are part of it.
Speaker: But see, you have a timeline too, Tony. And now it is time for our speed questions round, where we're going to get to know you even better. And we're going to dig into that.
Speaker: Timeline your story. just a little bit more. It's where we ask you questions and you don't get any time to think about it. You just have to give us the first answer that comes to you it comes to your brain. And then we're totally going to analyze it because that's what we do here. But we're going to do that. No pressure.
Speaker: Are you ready? I'm ready. First question. If you could have dinner with any queer icon from history, living or gone, who would it be? James Baldwin James Baldwin. Such a good one.
Speaker: That's oh my gosh. Could you imagine it'd be like. I don't know. i would It would have to be like the most amazing. What would you, okay, so during this. Coffee, tea, or something stronger.
Speaker: What would you have with James Baldwin? Well, I mean... cocktails, smoke a joint. I don't know. Yes. But you switch it. muscular brain. All right. That.
Speaker: And I love he i love well his writing, of course. but I love you. his interviews. He's just so... intelligent and analytical and still...
Speaker: resonates with today in a way where I feel like I wish. I wish there were someone like him. a alive right now. Okay, what was the last movie that turned you on?
Speaker: I... recently saw A horror movie. I'm so terrible with names. I'm sorry. Describe it for us. We will act it out for you. It's Australian move horror movie where. The kids have to hold this hand thing.
Speaker: and it possesses them. Talk to me. Talk to me. Yes, I love that movie. I'm a big horror fan. I just thought it was really, really frightening and smart. Love it. Love it. There you go. Yeah. Horror is such a great genre. I, as a kid, I was so scared of it. And now I just dig in out all the time, all the time. Well, if your life...
Speaker: had us. title. Tony. What would it? not what I don't know what we're doing. I'm the worst candidate. I'm just like the worst for this kind of. The answer.
Speaker: This is so so corny, but I would say something like I'm still here. I don't know It's just. kind of As a writer... I'm still here for... Titles are my worst.
Speaker: I'm sorry. He was. When you write something, is your title first or last? Alas. Absolutely. Yeah, I feel like you don't know what it's about until you're done.
Speaker: Fair. And your life's not done. so It's hard to hard to come up with a title. Totally get it. but What's one word your friends would use to describe you?
Speaker: Hardworking. It's two words. But I'm always working. She could be hyphenated. Hyphenated. We're not even at it. Which is better, shaved or furry?
Speaker: Furry. Yes. Okay. Love a bit of fur. Awesome. What's a small joy that keeps you grounded after a long day of advocacy and storytelling?
Speaker: Oh. watching YouTube videos. Yes. Okay, i think it's weather you know what kind of videos? Are you cat videos? Are you people fallen down?
Speaker: videos What's your jam? I love watching. dance choreography videos, but not just like modern and contemporary, but like.
Speaker: Global. Like. I love watching. Dance from around the world. I don't know why I just, that's one of the joys of YouTube is that you.
Speaker: can find these things that... You. didn't realize you loved. Love that. that's that's That's awesome. First of all, I didn't know there was falling down videos as a whole channel, but I guess now I learned something. And two, Dance Party, if you ask me, sounds like a great idea. yeah Favorite queer book everyone should read at least once.
Speaker: Hmm. It's really good My god. Well... There's a lot of them, but I'll just pick one. One.
Speaker: Book I love is... We the Animals by Justin Torrance. Because it is... ah Beautiful. and poignant and really short.
Speaker: But it's really gorgeous about these. Do you guys know it? I haven't read it. and Now I'm going to have to, so I appreciate that. So now we all have assignments. These three Puerto Rican brothers living in a...
Speaker: Just like a family that's both loving but also can be neglectful. and I just think it's... I think it's beautiful. And I love Justin Torrance. Amazing. That sounds great.
Speaker: um We should put that in the show notes. I know. It's really nice. We'll do our little book club. Yes. Little book club. Love it. Okay, who do you think had the best queer fashion era?
Speaker: The 70s, the 80s, like Club Kids or the 2000s Divas. I don't know what the 2000s Divas are. Like. I would say like early 2000s, we had like...
Speaker: Brittany, we had... Late stage Madonna. We had... The Demon's Day. Beyonce, yeah! I'd say 70s. Work.
Speaker: Yeah, 70s. 70s because of the sexual revolution. There was just a lot of... A lot more free forum and the bell bottoms rang big. So there's that. Yeah, exactly. right yeah And lots of glitter, right? more more Not glitter, but you know what is it, silver pants? What is that all sort of?
Speaker: When that Polly, Polly pant, those are, those are so good. Those are so, those are still so fun. like eighty got I don't know. What like what was it called what is it called? the LeMay? Is that what you were thinking? LeMay! Yeah. up And also because like, that well. The leather scene in the seventies, even though I'm not a leather person.
Speaker: I just love, ah like... a full like the the Like, they took it seriously. In that decade. yeah That's true. That's true.
Speaker: So what does power beyond pride mean to you? Well, I... Think it means... That we're. that our career lives is are not just about fight, that we're...
Speaker: complex people. who can be flawed. And. early and who can The... Joe Izzo. But also...
Speaker: assholes sometimes. I think that. Um, When you first asked me like what I loved about Lund Institute... Really, what i loved about what I love about working in queer arts is that We get to be whole.
Speaker: Complex. people. When I worked in... Incident. social service nonprofits or sort of like policy nonprofits. works There was kind of like...
Speaker: a party line, put your best foot forward. Talking points. And I hate all that. I feel like I want... I want to be. seen as a Fully complex.
Speaker: Push in. that doesn't fit some kind of, you know... model citizen kind of thing. or model or role model. We're going to leave and we'll hold back for a second. I have them, but... I don't define them in that way.
Speaker: And that's really what I think Power Beyond Fight is, is that... You got to be as complex as everybody else. I love that. I love that. Where can people find and follow your work? oneinstitute .org. And yeah continue to follow. Are you going to be publishing things as well?
Speaker: Oh we'll come back to that. Not yet. Not yet, but I'm working on it. yeah Oh, that's awesome. Okay. Some foreshadowing. Sorry? Yes.
Speaker: We heard it here first. Well... No, I mean, people have heard it a long time, but. I'm... Bye. Well into. I'm well into a book. Ciao. Amazing.
Speaker: Well, we look forward to To... reading that and to following you and your work, Tony. Would love to have you back on the podcast. And again, everyone can follow Tony at oneinstitute .org.
Speaker: Thanks for being here again, Tony. I've been your co -host Melody KG. You can follow me on Instagram at Melody KG. or on Substack at melodykg .substack .com.
Speaker: And I am your other co -host. I am... i am i am a Just in awe. of Tony, thank you so much for joining us today. Your work, your your contributions all these years have been such a gift. They continue to be such a gift.
Speaker: So again, thank you for joining us today, sharing your story. We do hope you are back here again. We would love, we have so many more questions for you to ask. We have so much, but only so much time. It's not the, not the fast questions. yeah but got it You got it. which Yeah, exactly. But no, Shane, I'm a big fan of you too. And Melody, i'm it's such a pleasure getting to know you. I look forward to learning more.
Speaker: Thank you so much. Well, thanks so thank you again. Again, I'm Shane Lucas and I am the Lifelong Harm Reductionist. owner of a great idea, an activist, and again, pet dad, which I'm really proud of. And if you can remember, and you can follow me at shanelucas .com, or you can follow me on all the great idea handles. Remember to subscribe and get your friends to subscribe to Power Beyond Pride on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And check out our site at powerbeyondpride .com.
Speaker: Power Beyond Pride is a project from a great idea, a queer owned design and content agency. You can learn more about them at a great idea dot com. This episode is produced by Shane Lucas, that'd be me. Maddy Bynum is our project developer. Hi, Maddy. Our editor is Jared Redding. Hi, Jared. And with support from me Ian Wilson. Hi, Ian. And we appreciate them all.
Speaker: We are both part of this podcast's awesome host team and we invite you to send in your questions. and comments to powerbeyondpride .com. At our mail slot, by the way, we have named it our mail slot. So check it in. Ooh, dirty. Mail slot. Exactly. You can check out those new episodes each week. We look forward to Queer Changemaking with you next time. Thank you from all of us at Power Beyond Pride.
