On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory (she/her) interviews Phynix (he/they), a long-time KYC youth who recently aged out of Kaleidoscope Youth Center’s programming. The two discuss the importance of having space to honor all facets of one’s identity, Phynix’s experience leading KYC’s float during the Columbus Pride March this year, the ways that he has grown throughout their time at KYC – and how he tries to show younger youth the same support and mentorship they received, too.

Have a question you want answered or a topic you’d like discussed on Speaking Queerly? Send an email to Mallory@KYCOhio.org.

KYC Youth Center is the largest and longest-standing organization in Ohio solely dedicated to serving and supporting queer youth. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KYC works to provide safer spaces, programming, and leadership opportunities so that youth can be free to explore who they are and empowered to become their confident, truest selves. Learn more at www.kycohio.org, and follow us on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @KYCOhio. If you like what you hear, and want to support the continued development of Speaking Queerly, send us a donation at kycohio.org/donate.

On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory (she/her) interviews Nico Lang (they/them), a longtime, award-winning LGBTQ+ reporter who has contributed to outlets such as Rolling Stone, HuffPost, BuzzFeed News, Them, and The Daily Beast. They’re also the founder of Queer News Daily. Most recently, Nico has been working on a new book, American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era, which chronicles the diverse lived experiences of seven trans youth and their families navigating life in seven different states.

Mallory and Nico delve into the stories and themes that stood out to them most in the book, swap stories of the interactions in their lives that made them feel comfortable showing up as their authentic selves and so much more.

American Teenager was released on October 8, 2024. You can order a copy from your local library and just about everywhere where books are sold!

Have a question you want answered or a topic you’d like discussed on Speaking Queerly? Send an email to Mallory@KYCOhio.org.

KYC Youth Center is the largest and longest-standing organization in Ohio solely dedicated to serving and supporting queer youth. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KYC works to provide safer spaces, programming, and leadership opportunities so that youth can be free to explore who they are and empowered to become their confident, truest selves. Learn more at www.kycohio.org, and follow us on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @KYCOhio. If you like what you hear, and want to support the continued development of Speaking Queerly, send us a donation at kycohio.org/donate.

On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory (she/her) sits down with Penny Rupert (she/her), a grad student and community organizer in Columbus. The two discuss academia and the seemingly unrelated (but nevertheless intersecting) disciplines of Penny’s areas of study, and the marches, rallies and drag performances Penny has organized over the past few years. Plus, learn more about the National March and Speakout for Trans Lives that she is helping to organize in Columbus on October 19, upcoming panel discussions leading up to the event and how you can get involved in the movement.

Stay up-to-date on the National March and Speakout for Trans Lives by following their Instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/transyouthmarch. Plus, learn how you can get involved in the organizing and promotion of the event by sending a message to their account.

Have a question you want answered or a topic you’d like discussed on Speaking Queerly? Send an email to Mallory@KYCOhio.org.

KYC Youth Center is the largest and longest-standing organization in Ohio solely dedicated to serving and supporting queer youth. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KYC works to provide safer spaces, programming, and leadership opportunities so that youth can be free to explore who they are and empowered to become their confident, truest selves. Learn more at www.kycohio.org, and follow us on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @KYCOhio. If you like what you hear, and want to support the continued development of Speaking Queerly, send us a donation at kycohio.org/donate.