Speaking Queerly – Details, episodes & analysis

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.

You may have come across the news that syphilis cases are on the rise throughout the United States. On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory and Daria sit down with Chinyere Newsum (she/her) and Charles Miller (he/him) from Columbus Public Health, who answer all your questions about prevention, testing, treatment and everything in between for syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

Learn more about the resources offered by Columbus Public Health here: https://new.columbus.gov/Services/Public-Health

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 sits down with Ines (they/them) and August (they/them), two KYC youth and members of Central Ohio Youth Liberation, or COYL. Their conversation breaks down the realities of adultism, the institutionality of school, the need for “third spaces,” how people can get involved in COYL and more. COYL is a queer youth affinity group based in so-called “Columbus, Ohio,” united by art, punk, philosophy, and youth liberation. Influenced by the works of youth liberation thinkers such as Genevieve Shade, Emma Goldman, and Ashanti Alston, as well as by the organizing strategies of Youth Liberation of Ann Arbor and the Youth Liberation Front, COYL members create projects, host events, and act individually to disrupt adultism and other hierarchies within the LGBT+ community, educational institutions, and beyond.Learn more about COYL at www.coyl.org and follow them on Instagram @coyl614.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 self. 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.

This episode of Speaking Queerly features KYC’s Education and Outreach team! Daria (she/they), Lane (they/them), and KYC’s Director of Education and Outreach, Amanda Erickson (she/her) highlight the many in-person and online trainings available to schools, businesses, organizations, parents and more to help create more affirming spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults. You’ll also learn more about why you should be part of your school’s GSA and the benefits of registering your organization as part of the Ohio GSA network.Learn more about and register with the Ohio GSA Network here: https://www.kycohio.org/gsa.htmlLearn more about and schedule a training here: https://www.kycohio.org/education.htmlHave 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 self. 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.

We’re using our first episode of Pride Month to showcase one of our former KYC housing youth, Ace (he/him)! At 9-years-old, Ace discovered his entrepreneurial spirit by selling rocks to his neighbors. In middle school, he refined his business tactics by selling chips and candy to his peers (that is, until his teachers told him to stop). Now, at age 19, Ace has started his own all-natural, vegan, nontoxic, organic skincare line, inspired by his mom’s passion for high-quality skincare. On this episode of Speaking Queerly, Mallory and Isiah sit down with Ace to learn more about his experience in KYC’s housing program, the products in his skincare line, the successes and challenges of having his own business and more.Follow Ace’s business on Instagram and TikTok @CovetConcoctions, and you can purchase Covet Concoctions body butters, scrubs, candles and more at www.covetconcoctions.comRead more about Ace and Covet Concoctions here: https://thebuckeyeflame.com/2023/04/04/ine-this-19-year-old-ohio-lgbtq-entrepreneur-went-from-survive-to-thrive/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 self. 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.