Stonewall veteran Christy Henderson-Jenkins’ epic life story includes a run-in with MLK, surviving the serial killer known as the Grim Sleeper, and an institutionalization at Bellevue Hospital that galvanized her dear friends Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. We’re closing out this series by centering the knowledge of the legal system that comes from lived experience.

Stay in touch with us @theoutwordsarchive for more news, events, and conversations with queer elders!

Bamby Salcedo is the founder of the TransLatin@ Coalition, as well as the first trans Latina to testify in front of Congress. She lays out the “American nightmare” for many trans women who immigrate to the United States, the relationship between immigration detention and the carceral system, and how TransLatin@ Coalition is fighting back.imm

Intersex activism power couple Anne and Suegee Tamar-Mattis met in the San Francisco Street Patrol, intervening in homophobic hate crimes. Together, they unpack the legal hurdles to ending intersex surgeries, the role of the trans community in the early intersex movement, and how “backlash is baked into any progress.”

“Tío” Marcus Arana has been a force of nature in transgender, Two-Spirit, and intersex activism for decades. He shares how different tribes are re-integrating the sacred role of Two-Spirit community members, the intrinsic link between trans liberation and Two-Spirit liberation, and his plans for using the bathroom in federal buildings - and also, why to plant flowers.

Dr. Marci Bowers has been called “The Beyoncé of Bottom Surgery,” among other honorifics. She gets into the biological fallacy of binary sex, and the history of medical transition.

The first transgender judge in California, Victoria Kolakowski, had to file a brief to even be allowed to take the bar exam. She breaks down the intersections between disability, intersex, and trans rights; what an executive order even is; the importance of trans representation in the courts; and so much more.

OUTWORDS is proud to present Queering Precedent, a new podcast dropping on May 22! Get a jolt of hope, history, and how-to with the LGBTQ+ elders who have shaped law and politics for trans, gender expansive, two spirit, and intersex communities. We’ll get up close and personal with both the legal system and with the legendary changemakers fighting for us.

Jude Patton found the medical resources he needed to transition because his colleague at the dog grooming salon just happened to be one of the first 6 Americans to have FTM gender-affirming surgery. This chance encounter launched him into advocacy to ensure that trans people wouldn’t need to rely on sheer luck to access healthcare. In the Golden Queers Season 1 finale, M.R. and Jude explore their intersectional identities, the importance of intergenerational dialogue, and the need to increase visibility for elders.

The Golden Queers is produced, hosted and edited by Jae Singh and M.R. Raquel, with music provided by Karl Casey at White Bat Audio. Find the Golden Queers online at thegoldenqueers.org. Executive producers for The Outwords Archive are Jack MacCarthy and Bliss, and OUTWORDS’ executive director is Mason Funk. OUTWORDS captures, preserves, and shares the stories of LGBTQ+ elders, to build community and catalyze social change. More info at theoutwordsarchive.org. The Golden Queers is funded by a generous grant from the California State Library’s Oral History Project.

Special thanks to this week's storyteller: Jude Patton. Additional thanks to Lynnore Goldfarb.

From growing up walking past MLK’s house in Atlanta, to running Harvey Milk’s media campaign in San Francisco, Gwenn Craig’s lifetime of activism is next-level. Jae and Gwenn dive into their unique challenges as women of color, Gwenn’s journey, and why white nuns are “always on some extra stuff.”

The Golden Queers is produced, hosted and edited by Jae Singh and M.R. Raquel, with music provided by Karl Casey at White Bat Audio. Find the Golden Queers online at thegoldenqueers.org. Executive producers for The Outwords Archive are Jack MacCarthy and Bliss, and OUTWORDS’ executive director is Mason Funk. OUTWORDS captures, preserves, and shares the stories of LGBTQ+ elders, to build community and catalyze social change. More info at theoutwordsarchive.org. The Golden Queers is funded by a generous grant from the California State Library’s Oral History Project.

Special thanks to this week's storyteller: Gwenn Craig. Additional thanks to Gordon Tan and Jude Patton.

Juggling both an AIDS and Klinefelter's Syndrome diagnosis, plus the responsibilities of a devoted intersex activist, David Strachan understands the importance of self love. Jae and David talk surviving the AIDS crisis in San Francisco, the importance of comprehensive sex ed, third genders in South Asian cultures, and why parents should not have have autonomy over their children’s sex organs.

The Golden Queers is produced, hosted and edited by Jae Singh and M.R. Raquel, with music provided by Karl Casey at White Bat Audio. Find the Golden Queers online at thegoldenqueers.org. Executive producers for The Outwords Archive are Jack MacCarthy and Bliss, and OUTWORDS’ executive director is Mason Funk. OUTWORDS captures, preserves, and shares the stories of LGBTQ+ elders, to build community and catalyze social change. More info at theoutwordsarchive.org. The Golden Queers is funded by a generous grant from the California State Library’s Oral History Project.
Special thanks to this week's storyteller: David Strachan. Additional thanks to Gordon Tan.

After decades of burying her trans identity, attorney Mia Yamamoto deliberately publicized her transition as she came out to her clients, her colleagues, and the world. From a surprising moment of tenderness from a hanging judge, to the parallels between trans rights and reproductive rights, M.R. and Mia unpack the power of visibility and advocacy.

The Golden Queers is produced, hosted and edited by Jae Singh and M.R. Raquel, with music provided by Karl Casey at White Bat Audio. Find the Golden Queers online at thegoldenqueers.org. Executive producers for The Outwords Archive are Jack MacCarthy and Bliss, and OUTWORDS’ executive director is Mason Funk. OUTWORDS captures, preserves, and shares the stories of LGBTQ+ elders, to build community and catalyze social change. More info at theoutwordsarchive.org. The Golden Queers is funded by a generous grant from the California State Library’s Oral History Project.
Special thanks to this week's storyteller: Mia Yamamoto.

After growing up in India, Arvind Kumar came to the United States, where he eventually co-founded Trikone, a support network for gay and lesbian South Asian community. Jae and Arvind talk about queer representation in Bollywood, the complications of coming out to family, how Trikone connected Arvind to his husband, and so much more.

The Golden Queers is produced, hosted and edited by Jae Singh and M.R. Raquel, with music provided by Karl Casey at White Bat Audio. Find the Golden Queers online at thegoldenqueers.org. Executive producers for The Outwords Archive are Jack MacCarthy and Bliss, and OUTWORDS’ executive director is Mason Funk. OUTWORDS captures, preserves, and shares the stories of LGBTQ+ elders, to build community and catalyze social change. More info at theoutwordsarchive.org. The Golden Queers is funded by a generous grant from the California State Library’s Oral History Project.
Special thanks to this week's storyteller: Arvind Kumar.

From standing up to the governor at 13 years old, to helping create the San Francisco Protocol Implementation Task Force to educate the city on how to treat trans people, Afro-Latinx trans artist and health educator Yoseñio V. Lewis is a lifelong activist. In this conversation with host M.R. Raquel, Yoseñio shares how he strives to become both a role model for and collaborator with younger generations to shape the future. In response, M.R. shares the importance of welcoming perspectives outside their "bubble," and M.R. and Jae reflect on the complications of "looking queer."

This limited-series audio endeavor is sponsored by California State Library and hosted by bilingual Storycorps veteran M.R. Raquel and “Unapologetically Us” producer Je’nae Singh (a.k.a. Jae). Listen in as M.R. and Jae do some deep engaging and listening with a rich array of California LGBTQIA2S+ elder activists and luminaries, reflecting on our community, our movement, and what older and younger generations have to learn from each other.

The Golden Queers is produced, hosted and edited by Jae Singh and M.R. Raquel, with music provided by Karl Casey at White Bat Audio. Find the Golden Queers online at thegoldenqueers.org. Executive producers for The Outwords Archive are Jack MacCarthy and Bliss, and OUTWORDS’ executive director is Mason Funk. OUTWORDS captures, preserves, and shares the stories of LGBTQ+ elders, to build community and catalyze social change. More info at theoutwordsarchive.org. The Golden Queers is funded by a generous grant from the California State Library’s Oral History Project.
Special thanks to this week's storyteller: Yoseñio Lewis. Additional thanks to Lynnore Goldfarb and Julie Roley.

5th-generation Mormons Gary and Millie Watts thought their lives were perfect. Then their son Craig came out to them -- and their world turned upside down. Through much turmoil and pain, Gary and Millie discovered an entirely new definition of family.

Producer: Cameron Tenner
Featuring: Gary and Millie Watts
Music: Across the River by Podington Bear, Falling Falling by Podington Bear, Morels by Podington Bear, Chicxulub by Podington Bear, Forces by Podington Bear, Cloudbank by Podington Bear

OUTWORDS presents the stories of five LGBTQ individuals from South Carolina to Oklahoma to Los Angeles, and the unique, courageous, and sometimes hilarious ways they navigated the tricky path of growing up queer in America. (This episode was first published in 2018.)
Tune in for The Golden Queers, launching on June 24, 2022: thegoldenqueers.org
To learn more about OUTWORDS, visit theoutwordsarchive.org

Producer: Cameron Tenner
Featuring: Donna Sachet, Charlotte Wilson, Crisosto Apache, Rodney Church, Marianne Diaz, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy
Music: Trilobite by Podington Bear, Skeptic by Podington Bear, Turquoise by Podington Bear, Mensa by Podington Bear, Lanky by Blue Dot Sessions, The One Shot by Blue Dot Sessions, Shadows in the Moonlight - Instrumental by Josh Woodward, Coast of Daylight by Gilman Mom, The Ally by Ikebe Shakedown, Southern Man by Sylvester, Ice Cream by Leo Rossa, Smolder by Podington Bear, Cold Summers by Blue Dot Sessions, Clouds Pass Softly Deux by Podington Bear, Floating in Space by Podington Bear, Rebel Blues by Sul Rebel, DJ by Jahzzar, Quittin’ Time by Patrick Lee

Previously with OUTWORDS: OUTWORDS presents the story of Doc Duhon, polyamory educator and long-term HIV survivor. (This episode was first published in 2018.)
Tune in for The Golden Queers, launching on June 24, 2022: thegoldenqueers.org
To learn more about OUTWORDS, visit theoutwordsarchive.org.

Producer: Cameron Tenner
Featuring: Doc Duhon
Music: Clouds Pass Softly Deux by Podington Bear, Smolder by Podington Bear, Trilobite by Podington Bear, Our Digital Compass by Blue Dot Sessions, Crow by Podington Bear, Faceless by Jahzzar, The One Shot by Blue Dot Sessions, Loam by Podington Bear, Cold Summers by Blue Dot Session, Slow Dial by Blue Dot Sessions, Lochley Fells by Blue Dot Sessions, Grapefruit by Podington Bear, Out of Love by The Gays.