WHAT IS QUEER
Parker Sargent
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WHAT IS QUEER is a podcast that explores various topics and issues in our LGBTQIA+ community. Intercultural, intergenerational and inter-gender-ational. Hosted by filmmaker Parker Sargent, each episode welcomes new guests, as well as regular show contributors to discuss our collective queer experiences.
Available episodes
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Oldest first
Jul 16, 2023
S1E22: GAYBORHOODS
To begin our series of special episodes about Cherry Grove that we will be posting over our Summer Vacation, we thought it might be a good introduction to first explore the queer communities that we’ve created in New York City, which have directly impacted the life of Fire Island.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Guest: Gil Neary and Daniel Nardicio
Parker welcomes New York City realtor Gil Neary to discuss his experiences with the ebb and flow of gayborhoods in Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs. From cruising Christopher Street to bar hoping in Hells Kitchen and partying in Fire Island, Gil has seen it all. Then the King of New York City nightlife Daniel Nardicio joins us to ponder the power of "the gay bar" in helping to forge queer communities and the idea that gay men might be the biggest problem of all for the gentrification of many urban areas.
*Red Eye NY*
"Women's House of Detention" by Hugh Ryan
"When Brooklyn Was Queer" by Hugh Ryan
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Jun 28, 2023
S1E21: CREATING A SAFE(R) SPACE
We're going to further a recent discussion with our guest Emery Grant about an amazing new youth project called CAMP BEYOND BINARY, which operates in Ithaca New York throughout the month of August.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Guest: Emery Grant
Parker chats with LGBTQ historian Emery Grant about being part of the Admin Team developing a radical new project to provide transgender and non-binary youth with an environment to explore their identity and teach them core goals to become strong community members. Camp Beyond Binary is a fabulous example of how we as a queer community can create safer spaces.
*Camp Beyond Binary*
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Jun 22, 2023
S1E20: LET'S TALK ABOUT PRIDE
Over the past year the LGBTQIA+ community has endured many battles against our social freedoms and civil rights, so this year's pride month should be even more important than it has been in quite a long time.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Chris Hampton, Alex Borsa and David Gilleo
Guest: DJ Lina Bradford
Parker chat about the world famous New York City Pride Parade with show contributors koitz, Alex Borsa and Chris Hampton. Then Parker cozies-up with dancing diva DJ Lina Bradford to talk about the roots of the New York City Pride Parade, what it was like for her growing up in NYC and experiencing the event through the 90's, what pride means to Lina today and she dishes on getting her records ready for her Residency as the DJ for NYC Pride 2023. We wrap up the episode chatting with Davida about the recent wins for non-binary performers at this year's Tony Awards.
*Lina Bradform Instagram**
**In the Dollhouse with Lina*
*Pride Live Stonewall Day 2023**
**NYC Drag March**
**The Queer Liberation March**
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Jun 7, 2023
S1E19: TRANS INCLUSION
On this episode we will be chatting with our guests about how our queer communities can improve their allyship to their transgender and non-binary siblings.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Nia Nottage
Guests: Emery Grant and Sis Thee Doll
Parker welcomes trans-youth camp director *Emery Grant* to discuss their experiences facilitating trans inclusion in queer spaces through the 90s and creating a safe space for queer youth. Then Broadway actress *Sis Thee Doll* joins us to talk about her mission to make the theaters of Broadway more inclusive on the stage and in the seats. Parker wraps up with show contributor Nia Nottage, to talk about acceptance and inclusion of trans and non-binary people in the queer Millennial communities.
*Camp Beyond Binary
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*Thee Open House Project**
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May 31, 2023
S1E18: COLLECTIVE QUEER TRAUMA
This is the first in a series of episodes we will be doing about this concept of shared trauma…we will be talking with various guests and specialists about the affects of LGBTQ bullying and how we can heal our wounds.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Alex Borsa and Chris Hampton
Guests: Howard Rosenman and Boudoir LeFleur
Parker presents her unofficial theory that we as a queer collective have shared emotional baggage that is unique to our community and she chats with show contributor Alex Borsa about seeing ramifications of this trauma in his sociology research. Drag Witch Boudoir LeFleur joins us to talk about growing up gay and being bullied at home and in school, before finding queer community and starting to work through their issues. Show contributor Chris Hampton shares her experience working with queer youth and how bullying is still affecting LGBTQ kids.
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May 25, 2023
S1E17: FIRE ISLAND FAIRIES
Fire Island is a strip of sand just off the coast of Long Island in New York that has been a safe haven for the LGBTQIA+ community since the early 1900's. Fabulous parties, gorgeous nature, and an environment that celebrates queer sexuality. This is the first in a series of special episodes about Cherry Grove that we will be doing through the summer, exploring the various aspects of this queer Mecca.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: David Gilleo and Alex Borsa
Guests: Jack Parlett, Kay Davis
Parker sets the scene and walks us through a brief history of the two queer communities of Cherry Grove and the Pines. Chatting with author Jack Parlett to discuss his book Fire Island: Love, Loss and Liberation in an Amercian Paradise, we explore Fire Island's queer past and present. Cherry Grove DEI Project Chair Kay Davis joins us to talk about their work to make Fire Island a more inclusive space and then show contributor Alex Borsa chats about what the gay vacation destination means to young queers today.
*Fire Island: A Century in the Life of An American Paradise**
**The Poetics of Cruising: Queer Visual Culture from Whitman to Grindr**
**Same Blue, Different You**
**Koitz Gay Fire Island**
**Cherry Grove, Fire Island: Sixty Years in America's First Gay and Lesbian Town**
**The Panzi Invasion**
**SNAP- Year of a Queen*
*Historic Houses**
**Bella's Dish**
**Founding Families**
**Grove Girls**
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May 17, 2023
S1E16: NEW BEGINNINGS
It seems like since we've started this podcast in February, the world has changed 2 or 3 times…especially in our LGBTQ communities. Whether its starting a new job, or ending one...getting into a new relationship or getting out of one...all of us can relate to the excitement and feeling of being overwhelmed when it comes to embarking on a new beginning.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: David Gilleo
Guests: Shauna Brooks
Parker gets into the fallout of becoming "clickbait" and the inspiration of activism with Shauna Brooks, who has used her online platform to build a new life for herself and help the queer community in the process. Then show contributor David Gilleo spills the tea on the newest controversy for the Tony Awards.
*SHAUNA BROOKS*
*Indecent Proposal (TV Show)*
*GINA YASHERE tickets**
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Apr 26, 2023
S1E15: FINDING THE POSITIVE
With all the negativity pointed at the LGBTQIA+ community, it can start to feel overwhelmingly unwelcoming and unsafe to be queer. Finding moments to focus on the positive is our best defense against being weighed down by the troubles in our world.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Guests: Barbara Rosenblat
Parker chats with actor Barbara Rosenblat (best known for her role as Miss Rosa on "Orange Is The New Black") about how her unique life has taught her to cherish the positive moments and how to create good energy in your every day life.
*Midnight Mass Podcast: The Wiz**
*ALSO CHECK OUT:
S1E10: Banning Drag with Esther Newton & Mariyea Jackson
S1E9: The Anti-Oscars with John Cameron Mitchell
S1E5: Queer Cult Classics with Peaches Christ*
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Apr 19, 2023
S1E14: SHOOTING STAR- THE MUSICAL
As the understanding of LGBTQIA+ stories is expanding, we begin to see our representation in the mainstream world with actors, educators and popstars pushing our presence into movies, television and even Broadway.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: David Gilleo
Guests: Florian Klein, Coleman Cummings, Zuri Washington, Juan Danner, Spencer Petro and Dennis Corsi
Parker chats with the creator and cast of *SHOOTING STAR- A REVEALING NEW MUSICAL* about what its like to work on a production that is embodied by and representing queer voices. Davida also joins us to discuss the ever growing number of trans and non-binary actors working in Broadway shows this season...and how that will impact the conversations about non-binary nominations at the Tony Awards.
ALSO CHECK OUT:
S1E9: The Anti-Oscars with John Cameron Mitchell
S1E5: Queer Cult Classics with Peaches Christ
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Apr 12, 2023
S1E13: ALL ABOUT ANAL SEX
For some of our regular listeners, this episode might not be your cup of tea.
But the reality is, most queer people have at least experimented with ass play at some point. And for many, its part of their regular sexlives…but few of us know much about it.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Guests: Dr. Evan Goldstein
Parker chats with Dr. Evan Goldstein, a queer sexual health and wellness expert, who is an anal surgeon with his own private practice called Bespoke Surgical in Manhattan and the Co-founder of Future Method, a science-based sex care brand.
In this interview we talk about the stigma of anal sex…how to properly play…why it feels good to get fucked...what’s happening when it feels bad and what to do about it, to make it feel better.
*BESPOKE SURGICAL*
*FUTURE METHOD Products*
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Apr 5, 2023
S1E12: ABOUT THEM PRONOUNS
Living in the non-binary has been a subculture of every community through the ages, sometimes celebrated and often misunderstood and villainized. As more queer people find themselves embracing aspects of all genders, the push to add the THEY/THEM pronoun to our common vocabulary is more important than ever.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Nia Nottage
Guests: Jay Pryor
Parker chats with show contributor Nia Nottage about their preference for the THEY/THEM pronoun and why it helps our community be more inclusive. Then we welcome our special guest Jay Pryor who is an advocate and educator for inclusivity and gender consciousness, as well as the host of The Gender Reveal Party Podcast. We’ll be talking about their journey of self-expression and living in the non-binary.
*The Gender Reveal Party Podcast** (YouTube)
**Pronouns 101**
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Mar 29, 2023
S1E11: GAY FOR THE GOLDEN GIRLS
There is a queerness to the iconic 80's sitcom "The Golden Girls" that has managed to reach LGBTQIA+ audiences over several decades, because of the queer awareness that was infused into the writing and humor of the show.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Guests: Anthony Giorgio, Kerri Dougherty, H. Alan Scott, Zack Hudson, Anthony & David
Parker talks with a line-up of special guests to discuss the series' special place in queer hearts and how the legacy of the show lives on through stage productions like *The Golden Gays*, social events such as Golden Con and through podcasts like *Out On The Lanai*. And we'll chat with a queer couple who got engaged at *Golden Con* 2022, as we explore the queerness of "The Golden Girls".
The Golden Gays
Out On The Lanai Podcast
Finally Aaron Instagram
Golden Con: Thank Your For Being a Fan
Anthony's GOLDEN GIRLS TIKTOK
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Mar 22, 2023
S1E10: BANNING DRAG
There's no shortage of coverage about the "bans on drag" on television, podcasts, and online articles...but as queer people, we need to ensure that our voices are part of those conversations. In this episode we will look at what these legal battles mean and how it can truly effect our entire LGBTQIA+ community.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Chris Hampton and David Gilleo
Guests: Esther Newton and Mariyea Jackson
As we all struggle to understand what the drag bans mean, Parker turns to famed queer Anthropolgist Esther Newton, to discuss the history of drag and how far we have (and haven’t) come since her documentation in the 1960s.
Then Mariyea Jackson, who is a young performer living in Brooklyn, joins us to chat about her worries working as a queen who is also a trans woman.
We'll also talk to show contributors Chris Hampton about the new Drag Defense Fund from the ACLU, and David Gilleo about his experience with drag-bias in the workplace.
*SNAP- Y…
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Mar 15, 2023
S1E9: THE ANTI-OSCARS
John Cameron Mitchell joins us to discuss that-time-of-the-year where queer pearls are being *clutched* for what celebrities are wearing to the awards shows and who is (and isn't) winning...and no event is bigger than the Academy Awards.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: David Gilleo
Guests: John Cameron Mitchell
Parker chats with John Cameron Mitchell about her lack of enthusiasm for the Oscars and gets his thoughts on the proposition of genderless categories at awards shows, as well as dissecting the current *gender-fear* that seems to be sweeping the nation. Our producer koitz shares his experiences covering the Oscars in previous years...and then everything takes a hard turn when Miss Davida Jones lures Parker into hosting an Oscars viewing Party, determined to turn our host into an Oscar-loving convert.
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Mar 8, 2023
S1E8: QUEER/STORY- HOUSE OF D
Sharing our queer history is vital to knowing where we stand today as a community and understanding how to continue our struggle for equality. We explore the roots of queerness in Greenwich Village, the center of gay life in NYC, with the author of "Women's House of Detention".
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Chris Hampton, Nia Nottage and David Gilleo
Guests: Hugh Ryan
Parker chats with show contributors Nia Nottage and Chris Hampton to share their thoughts on the importance of learning our LGBTQIA+ history, then author Hugh Ryan joins us to discuss how the "House of D" turned the Village into one of the most queer places in the world. More than simply the story of a prison, Hugh's work uncovers the lives of queer women and trans people held there and it examines the policing of queerness and radical politics in the twentieth century.
"Women's House of Detention" by Hugh Ryan
"When Brooklyn Was Queer" by Hugh Ryan
Gay Fire Island by Koitz: http://www.ga…
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Mar 1, 2023
S1E7: HEALTHCARE FOR QUEERS
For many in the LGBTQIA+ community the United States Healthcare system has had its pitfalls. What can we do to help get the best care we can as queer people in the straight world of healthcare providers?
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Chris Hampton and Alex Borsa
Guests: Dr. Toni G. Cesta and Nicholas Galiardi CPhT
Parker invites a few of her friends working in the medical field to discuss queer experiences in the healthcare industry. Sociologist and WiQ show contributor Alex Borsa explains the importance of being out to your doctors and seeking mental healthcare. Then we chat with Dr. Toni G. Cesta about queers being highly closeted when in care environments in the 1980-90's and why that can be problematic for a patient. Nicolas Galiardi explains the state of healthcare for many queers, how to get the best service and why some doctors don't want to process patients' PrEP treatment. Parker talks to activist and WIQ show contributor Chris Hampton to wrap-up…
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Feb 24, 2023
S1E6: WiQ MOVIE NIGHT
In this "Queer Cult Classics: Bonus Episode" our show contributors discuss their favorite flicks and LGBTQIA+ representation in cinema.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Chris Hampton, Nia Nottage, David Gilleo, Alex Borsa
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Feb 22, 2023
S1E5: QUEER CULT CLASSICS
There are movies that exist within the queer zeitgeist that are renowned as staples to the LGBTQIA+ experience, ranging from campy films with old Hollywood starlets to gritty and honest portrayals of queer lives. Through cinema we can find our identities and voices, even in movies that aren't directly about our community.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Chris Hampton, Nia Nottage, David Gilleo
Guests: Peaches Christ
Parker pulls up to the cauldron with the Mother of Midnight Mass *Peaches Christ* to conjure up a conversation about flicks that queers adore, to ponder the role of the iconic screen femmes in gay identity and why Jinkx Monsoon is becoming a cult classic in her own right.
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Feb 15, 2023
S1E4: GAYS AND GODS
As the Pope softens on homosexuality and some churches open their doors to LGBTQIA+ members, where do queer people find a safe space to express their spirituality?
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: David Gilleo, Ray Bagnuolo, Kir Beaux
To explore the reality of queer status in the religious realm, Parker welcomes *Ray Bagnuolo*, an openly queer Minister at the Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ, to discuss his work striving for equality within the Presbyterian faith. Queer psychic witch and spiritual counselor *Kir Beaux* joins us to chat about spirituality, meditation and why they believe witchcraft can help queers find happiness.
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Feb 8, 2023
S1E1: THIS IS QUEER
Welcome to WiQ! Meet podcast host Parker Sargent to begin our journey of LGBTQIA+ awareness, casual shit-talking and informative inspirational experiences, as an ongoing exploration of the question- “what is queer“.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Alex Borsa, Nia Nottage, David Gilleo, Chris Hampton
Guests: Alex Borsa, Nia Nottage, David Gilleo, Chris Hampton
Parker is joined by the WiQ family to discuss our mission to create an inclusive environment for the entire LGBTQIA+ community. Alex Borsa from the Harvard GenderSci Lab talks gay-identity and multi-generational understanding of queerness. Artist Nia Nottage discusses activism and whats on the minds of queer millennials. Chris Hampton shares her personal story of fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights that led her to working with the ACLU.
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Feb 8, 2023
S1E3: THE DATING GRIND(R)
No matter if you’re using Grindr, Tinder or Match…the trials and triumphs of finding a connection in today’s geosocial world is an experience faced by all generations of queers looking for love in 2023.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Alex Borsa, Nia Nottage, David Gilleo
Guests: Harron Walker, David Minns, Lamont White
Parker chats with a panel of daters (Nia Nottage, Alex Borsa, Harron Walker) to find out whats happening in the world of queer courtship. Then David Minns joins us to discuss his work creating niche dating apps (such as Butterfly), which leads to a conversation with “The Gay Dating Coach” Lamont White (from Better Way to Meet) about finding your perfect partner (and keeping them).
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Feb 8, 2023
S1E2: OUR QUEER FAMILIES
For many queer people the subject of “family” can be a sensitive issue. How we handle our relationships with both our birth and chosen queer families has a massive impact on our own happiness and prosperity.
Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Alex Borsa, David Gilleo, Chris Hampton
Guests: Suga B. Real, Miranda and Jen
LGBTQIA+ family comes in many different forms. In this episode, we explore the tradition of creating chosen family with Alex Borsa, fundraising for queer community with the Imperial Court Empress Suga B. Real, and raising children with lesbian moms Miranda and Jen.
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