This episode is sponsored by a private donor. Thank you!!!

Interested in the Corporate Guide to LGBTQ+ Events? Watch the recorded launch party on LinkedIn! You can now buy the guide here.

In this week’s episode, Jesse Freidin (he/him) shares about his former photography projects and how he's surprised himself by working on a new series that hits close to home. The "Are you OK?" series addresses the current wave of anti-trans legislation by interviewing trans and gender nonconforming youth with their families all over the States. Jesse talks us through some of what it takes to work on such a project, including building trust with the local communities, families, and youth themselves. We also get into the steps to maintain his own safety, especially as his work has him road-tripping all over. We discuss how concepts like "being an adult" and age overall may be different for trans folks. Learn about how he decides what kind of life he wants for himself outside of the noise of any narratives our society can place upon us, including the boundaries he maintains. Jesse reflects on what the series would have meant for him as a young person and marvels at the access trans youth have to each other present day.

🎙️ Connect with Jesse to learn more about + support his work:

• Jesse Freidin’s website
• Are You OK? | Series website; please financially support the project if you have the means
• When Dogs Heal and Finding Shelter series websites
• Facebook page
• Instagram
• Twitter

💻 Sources and resources from this episode:

• Nondiscrimination Laws - Housing | Movement Advancement Project
• Will LGBTQ+ Retirees End Up Back In The Closet? | Forbes
• LGBTQ+ seniors fear having to go back in closet for the care they need | The 19th*
• LGBTQ+ Aging stats and resources | SAGE USA
• National Honor an LGBTQ+ Elder Resource Guide | You can see other LGBTQ+ awareness and related event dates here; National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day is May 16th yearly
• PFLAG’s glossary
• Lambda Legal’s Help Desk
• Housing Discrimination and Persons Identifying as LGBTQ | HUD’s interpretation of the Fair Housing Act
• LGBTQ Retirement Communities and Cities in the US | Host Charlie also recommends Palm Springs, California
• LGBTQ+ Social Support and Mentorship | Charlie’s list of mentoring opportunities

🧳 Traveling while LGBTQ? Some bonus resources from Charlie:

1. Everywhere is Queer | A map of LGBTQ+ owned businesses
2. Refuge Restrooms | Map of safe restroom access for transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming individuals
3. Yelp also allows you to access LGBTQ+-owned businesses and shows if a place has a gender-neutral restroom

Host Charlie Ocean, MSW (they/them), has a background in LGBTQ+ training, community organizing, and technology. Guest episodes feature at least one allyship tip, including tailored questions based on the guests' unique intersecting identities. You can follow Charlie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack. *You will hear Charlie's former name in this episode and previous ones.*