1 00:00:00,316 --> 00:00:02,266 ♪ Hi, hi, Holly, Holly, hi, hi ♪ 2 00:00:02,301 --> 00:00:04,267 ♪ But everyone is minus you can call me multiply ♪ 3 00:00:04,308 --> 00:00:06,979 Ian and I have been traveling around the world, 4 00:00:07,007 --> 00:00:08,405 exploring queer culture. 5 00:00:08,438 --> 00:00:10,173 Woo! I'm kind of dizzy. 6 00:00:10,216 --> 00:00:12,116 We've witnessed some incredible things... 7 00:00:12,150 --> 00:00:13,777 Thank you so much. But have also seen 8 00:00:13,816 --> 00:00:16,129 that many countries still have a long way to go 9 00:00:16,129 --> 00:00:18,053 in the fight for LGBTQ rights. 10 00:00:18,086 --> 00:00:20,383 - Don't let down your hopes. - And nearly everything 11 00:00:20,406 --> 00:00:22,631 we've experienced has made us think of home. 12 00:00:23,005 --> 00:00:25,179 So now, we're going cross country 13 00:00:25,201 --> 00:00:27,560 and bringing "Gaycation" back to America. 14 00:00:47,826 --> 00:00:51,538 "Gaycation: America" in Saskatchewan! 15 00:00:52,226 --> 00:00:54,199 Ahh! 16 00:00:54,691 --> 00:00:55,709 Okay. 17 00:00:55,725 --> 00:00:58,945 So, full disclosure: We're actually in Canada. 18 00:00:59,065 --> 00:01:01,090 But this all used to be one land 19 00:01:01,108 --> 00:01:03,031 before the white man divided it up. 20 00:01:03,948 --> 00:01:06,295 We are starting our trip at a First Nations 21 00:01:06,307 --> 00:01:10,069 two-spirit gathering with tribes from all across North America. 22 00:01:12,517 --> 00:01:13,936 - Hi. - Hi. 23 00:01:14,428 --> 00:01:16,446 Could you just explain 24 00:01:16,737 --> 00:01:18,788 what two-spirit means? 25 00:01:19,078 --> 00:01:21,460 We didn't have a word for our, 26 00:01:21,515 --> 00:01:24,165 as you guys call, gay/lesbian people. 27 00:01:24,629 --> 00:01:27,826 And... and so we coined that word 28 00:01:27,860 --> 00:01:30,583 as an umbrella for all our tribes. 29 00:01:30,703 --> 00:01:32,888 We never said, "Well, you're transgender. 30 00:01:32,925 --> 00:01:34,789 You're bisexual. You're lesbian." 31 00:01:34,791 --> 00:01:37,016 We never knew those terms. Those are all 32 00:01:37,038 --> 00:01:40,537 from Western culture, you know, LGBTQ and all that. 33 00:01:40,571 --> 00:01:43,343 So, on some level, it's about getting rid of labels? 34 00:01:43,354 --> 00:01:45,870 - Yes. - Those terms were forced upon us. 35 00:01:45,887 --> 00:01:46,820 Yeah. 36 00:01:46,940 --> 00:01:49,392 You know, like, a lot of people think I'm trans. 37 00:01:49,875 --> 00:01:52,479 And I said, "No, I'm not transgender." 38 00:01:52,599 --> 00:01:54,773 I said, "I'm just me. I'm just Steven." 39 00:01:55,980 --> 00:01:58,585 And I've seen a lot of people 40 00:01:58,599 --> 00:02:00,631 that were non-natives say, "Oh, I'm two-spirit." 41 00:02:00,636 --> 00:02:02,615 Right. You know, and I... 42 00:02:03,037 --> 00:02:05,086 - Excuse me. No, you're not. - Yeah. 43 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:06,539 But I says, 44 00:02:06,573 --> 00:02:09,057 "We've had our lands taken from you people." 45 00:02:09,106 --> 00:02:10,939 "We've had our culture taken, 46 00:02:10,953 --> 00:02:13,225 - our language taken." - Mm-hmm. 47 00:02:13,238 --> 00:02:14,848 "And that was all stolen from us. 48 00:02:14,857 --> 00:02:17,876 Now, you wanna steal our terms we picked for our own people?" 49 00:02:17,889 --> 00:02:18,434 - Mm-hmm. - Mm-hmm. 50 00:02:18,447 --> 00:02:21,130 I said, "You really need to go back and look into your... 51 00:02:21,197 --> 00:02:23,576 your own history, your own culture 52 00:02:23,648 --> 00:02:25,901 and find out your own word for that"... 53 00:02:25,933 --> 00:02:26,662 - Mm-hmm. - Yeah. 54 00:02:26,689 --> 00:02:29,126 "And don't use ours because it's ours." 55 00:02:29,202 --> 00:02:29,913 Yeah. 56 00:02:31,899 --> 00:02:33,719 I can remember, when I was younger, 57 00:02:34,050 --> 00:02:35,700 it was never talked about. 58 00:02:35,820 --> 00:02:38,485 You just lived the way you wanted to live. 59 00:02:38,521 --> 00:02:39,921 - And you are who you are... - Mm. 60 00:02:39,939 --> 00:02:42,894 Without anybody trying to tell you, 61 00:02:43,774 --> 00:02:46,113 like, "Don't live as a woman. You're a man." 62 00:02:46,430 --> 00:02:47,986 That wasn't talked about. 63 00:02:48,106 --> 00:02:49,721 For me, it doesn't really matter. 64 00:02:49,784 --> 00:02:51,716 - Right. - You can call me what you want. 65 00:02:51,752 --> 00:02:54,282 Just don't call me down. 66 00:02:55,596 --> 00:02:56,947 What does two-spirit mean, 67 00:02:56,974 --> 00:02:58,369 specifically from you, what does it mean? 68 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,057 It's having the male spirit, having the female spirit... 69 00:03:01,075 --> 00:03:02,912 - Mm-hmm. - And having both characteristics 70 00:03:02,935 --> 00:03:06,270 and just, um, combined in one and being one person. 71 00:03:06,301 --> 00:03:07,075 - Mm-hmm. - Yeah. 72 00:03:07,097 --> 00:03:09,007 I'm actually Miss Montana Two Spirit. 73 00:03:09,020 --> 00:03:11,207 My crown and stuff are just sitting right over there. 74 00:03:11,238 --> 00:03:13,586 - You guys can look at them. - It's so beautiful. 75 00:03:13,890 --> 00:03:15,169 The term "two-spirit" 76 00:03:15,209 --> 00:03:17,499 was reappropriated in 77 00:03:17,517 --> 00:03:19,497 to represent people who are queer 78 00:03:19,542 --> 00:03:21,720 and indigenous within the Nations 79 00:03:21,737 --> 00:03:24,473 without displacing each tribe's unique term. 80 00:03:24,593 --> 00:03:26,893 According to the organizers of the event, 81 00:03:26,942 --> 00:03:29,169 it is believed that every tribe and nation 82 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:33,166 recognized two-spirit people prior to colonization. 83 00:03:35,316 --> 00:03:37,454 Tonight, we're attending a powwow. 84 00:03:37,481 --> 00:03:39,411 It's a safe space, where two-spirit 85 00:03:39,413 --> 00:03:42,489 can express themselves through dance and celebration. 86 00:03:46,413 --> 00:03:47,437 Yeah. 87 00:03:56,159 --> 00:03:59,234 These individuals were called the gifted ones 88 00:03:59,354 --> 00:04:03,210 and considered healers that could restore balance in the universe 89 00:04:03,259 --> 00:04:06,429 with both their male and female energy, 90 00:04:07,381 --> 00:04:10,679 a far cry from modern labels and judgments. 91 00:04:16,462 --> 00:04:18,376 To me, the two-spirit thing 92 00:04:18,496 --> 00:04:20,830 is just such a clear example 93 00:04:20,863 --> 00:04:24,117 of how being gay or being trans 94 00:04:24,167 --> 00:04:28,789 is just a natural part of human existence. 95 00:04:29,091 --> 00:04:31,584 And to have an example of 96 00:04:31,903 --> 00:04:35,748 people who lived in North America before, 97 00:04:35,972 --> 00:04:38,694 shall I say, we showed up, 98 00:04:39,091 --> 00:04:41,105 existed in a way that was free. 99 00:04:41,131 --> 00:04:43,188 It's, to me, a clear example 100 00:04:43,233 --> 00:04:45,658 and negates all the people that say things like, 101 00:04:45,675 --> 00:04:47,559 "This is a Western construct. 102 00:04:47,679 --> 00:04:49,129 This is a modern, 103 00:04:49,180 --> 00:04:51,623 uh, privilege to even be thinking about, 104 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,844 you know, your sexual identity or whatever," which I've heard before. 105 00:04:54,905 --> 00:04:57,422 And it's like the only Western construct 106 00:04:57,464 --> 00:04:59,825 is actually homophobia. 107 00:05:00,683 --> 00:05:01,918 That's what... 108 00:05:02,087 --> 00:05:03,536 that's what we brought. 109 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:09,228 But recently, it seems like we might be breaking down 110 00:05:09,273 --> 00:05:12,166 the boundaries we once imposed on ourselves. 111 00:05:13,489 --> 00:05:15,935 A historic day here at the Supreme Court, 112 00:05:15,970 --> 00:05:19,736 ruling that same-sex marriage is a nationwide 113 00:05:19,743 --> 00:05:21,929 Constitutional right. 114 00:05:21,992 --> 00:05:25,060 On June 26, 2015, 115 00:05:25,095 --> 00:05:26,970 history was made in America. 116 00:05:27,037 --> 00:05:30,054 This ruling will strengthen all of our communities 117 00:05:30,256 --> 00:05:34,484 by offering to all loving same-sex couples the dignity 118 00:05:34,491 --> 00:05:36,579 of marriage across this great land. 119 00:05:36,613 --> 00:05:38,466 In a five-four decision, 120 00:05:38,514 --> 00:05:42,665 the Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage legal under the Constitution. 121 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:45,607 And 2 days later in New York, 122 00:05:45,654 --> 00:05:48,453 we really have something to celebrate at Pride. 123 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:54,896 Oh! 124 00:05:59,582 --> 00:06:01,678 It's a pretty unbelievable time for 125 00:06:01,798 --> 00:06:03,987 LGBT people in America... 126 00:06:04,188 --> 00:06:06,463 and everybody, for that matter. 127 00:06:06,676 --> 00:06:09,811 And we're celebrating the joy of being friends. 128 00:06:09,879 --> 00:06:11,247 Yeah. And queer. 129 00:06:11,281 --> 00:06:12,611 And queer. 130 00:06:14,149 --> 00:06:15,082 Hi. 131 00:06:15,116 --> 00:06:16,792 Hi. Can we get your... 132 00:06:16,912 --> 00:06:18,235 That's Juno! 133 00:06:22,217 --> 00:06:23,494 Thank you. 134 00:06:30,425 --> 00:06:32,482 Like, how do you feel about the Supreme Court decision? 135 00:06:32,505 --> 00:06:34,382 You know, it's every gay kid's dream, I guess. 136 00:06:34,502 --> 00:06:35,969 I totally want to get married. 137 00:06:36,038 --> 00:06:38,123 - She's the... - So I'm... I'm, like, the little romantic. 138 00:06:38,135 --> 00:06:41,008 I love it due to the fact that I can do the same thing 139 00:06:41,128 --> 00:06:42,769 my heterosexual partners can do. 140 00:06:42,808 --> 00:06:45,429 It's a sigh of relief that we can finally say, 141 00:06:45,468 --> 00:06:47,184 "Okay, this is my husband." 142 00:06:47,949 --> 00:06:50,671 I think being gay is just validated in, like, 143 00:06:50,728 --> 00:06:52,538 a whole new way that's pretty major. 144 00:06:54,322 --> 00:06:57,037 While Ian and I can enjoy living open lives 145 00:06:57,048 --> 00:06:59,933 in big cities like New York and Los Angeles, 146 00:06:59,977 --> 00:07:03,794 there are still many places where the atmosphere for LGBT people 147 00:07:03,816 --> 00:07:05,074 is not the same. 148 00:07:05,141 --> 00:07:07,721 We're visiting a former Google data scientist 149 00:07:07,769 --> 00:07:10,006 and a New York Times contributing writer, 150 00:07:10,037 --> 00:07:12,390 who is researching just how different life is 151 00:07:12,394 --> 00:07:15,309 for queer people in other parts of the country. 152 00:07:15,710 --> 00:07:17,093 Do you do all of your research here? 153 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:17,997 And you just hang out at home? 154 00:07:18,001 --> 00:07:20,179 And I'm, like, a 99th-percentile introvert. 155 00:07:20,215 --> 00:07:21,288 - So... - Yeah. 156 00:07:21,324 --> 00:07:23,465 Uh, this is, like, the extent of my human interaction 157 00:07:23,492 --> 00:07:24,999 for the last week, so... 158 00:07:25,075 --> 00:07:27,964 So maybe tell us more about your studies on sexuality. 159 00:07:28,013 --> 00:07:30,057 One of the studies was, how many 160 00:07:30,177 --> 00:07:31,810 men in the United States are gay? 161 00:07:31,837 --> 00:07:34,247 As the surveys tell us, only about 1 percent or... 162 00:07:34,261 --> 00:07:36,104 of... of men are homosexual. 163 00:07:36,117 --> 00:07:38,175 And it's clear from the data that 164 00:07:38,179 --> 00:07:39,919 it's more in the range of about 5 percent. 165 00:07:39,977 --> 00:07:41,233 So what does this suggest? 166 00:07:41,278 --> 00:07:43,147 This suggests a lot of men in the least 167 00:07:43,161 --> 00:07:45,304 tolerant parts of the country are in the closet. 168 00:07:45,540 --> 00:07:47,959 So let's look at pornographic search data. 169 00:07:48,017 --> 00:07:50,293 So is it true that only about 1 percent 170 00:07:50,293 --> 00:07:52,480 or... of... of men are gay in Mississippi? 171 00:07:52,521 --> 00:07:54,108 - Mm-hmm. - But about 4 percent 172 00:07:54,117 --> 00:07:56,463 of pornographic searches are for gay male porn. 173 00:07:56,764 --> 00:08:00,529 We can also look at what men search right after gay porn. 174 00:08:00,556 --> 00:08:01,553 Mm-hmm. 175 00:08:01,673 --> 00:08:03,077 And one of the most common searches, 176 00:08:03,089 --> 00:08:04,467 particularly in intolerant states, 177 00:08:04,485 --> 00:08:05,690 is "gay test." 178 00:08:05,759 --> 00:08:07,512 You can think through the mind set of a guy 179 00:08:07,561 --> 00:08:09,408 who searches for gay porn and then ra... 180 00:08:09,422 --> 00:08:10,897 and then right afterwards a test 181 00:08:10,915 --> 00:08:12,597 probably trying to convince himself 182 00:08:12,851 --> 00:08:14,255 he's not gay. 183 00:08:14,568 --> 00:08:16,267 Another thing you see in the data: 184 00:08:16,336 --> 00:08:18,874 What's the most common completion for the phrase, 185 00:08:18,879 --> 00:08:20,609 "Is my husband," on Google? 186 00:08:20,622 --> 00:08:22,617 By far, it's, "Is my husband gay?" 187 00:08:22,943 --> 00:08:24,808 My data would suggest about 80 percent 188 00:08:24,831 --> 00:08:26,449 of gay men are in the closet, 189 00:08:26,458 --> 00:08:27,835 uh, to some degree and... 190 00:08:27,853 --> 00:08:29,275 and often a large degree, 191 00:08:29,476 --> 00:08:31,972 uh, to the degree they're... they're marrying women. 192 00:08:31,985 --> 00:08:34,297 I totally Googled things like, "Am I lesbian?" 193 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:35,899 and stuff when I was younger, like trying to... 194 00:08:35,926 --> 00:08:36,932 - Oh, yeah. Yeah. - You know, "Am I gay?" 195 00:08:36,956 --> 00:08:38,952 or, "Why don't I like men?" or, 196 00:08:39,319 --> 00:08:41,657 "How do you go down on a girl?" you know, stuff like that. 197 00:08:41,657 --> 00:08:43,625 - Mm-hmm. - It helps. 198 00:08:44,630 --> 00:08:47,551 New York is one of the most open-minded 199 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,782 places for LGBT people in the country. 200 00:08:49,795 --> 00:08:51,298 Even though there's acceptance and 201 00:08:51,324 --> 00:08:54,177 we have the U.S. Supreme Court decision, and it seems like, 202 00:08:54,186 --> 00:08:57,513 you know, America is at the center of a progressive situation, 203 00:08:57,768 --> 00:08:58,944 you have a backlash. 204 00:08:58,957 --> 00:09:01,210 And you do have people that are more aggressively 205 00:09:01,273 --> 00:09:03,084 in the opposite direction. 206 00:09:04,016 --> 00:09:06,469 The backlash to the Supreme Court decision 207 00:09:06,500 --> 00:09:08,535 is most apparent in the so-called 208 00:09:08,575 --> 00:09:10,154 religious liberty laws. 209 00:09:15,082 --> 00:09:17,515 We will never accept homosexual marriage. 210 00:09:17,547 --> 00:09:20,077 I don't care what Supreme Court justice says what. 211 00:09:20,091 --> 00:09:21,631 Among other things, 212 00:09:21,656 --> 00:09:24,433 these laws allow people and businesses 213 00:09:24,450 --> 00:09:26,851 to discriminate against same-sex couples 214 00:09:26,856 --> 00:09:28,720 on the grounds that it's against their faith. 215 00:09:28,757 --> 00:09:30,506 There are at least three states 216 00:09:30,555 --> 00:09:31,977 where judges and clerks 217 00:09:32,013 --> 00:09:34,531 have turned away couples seeking marriage licenses. 218 00:09:34,557 --> 00:09:36,945 Our country was founded on religious freedom. 219 00:09:36,981 --> 00:09:38,876 But now, that principle is being bent 220 00:09:38,881 --> 00:09:41,130 to suit an antiequality agenda. 221 00:09:41,189 --> 00:09:43,590 County clerk Kim Davis went to jail 222 00:09:43,751 --> 00:09:46,228 for refusing to give marriage licenses 223 00:09:46,242 --> 00:09:47,543 to same-sex couples. 224 00:09:47,588 --> 00:09:49,859 It's a major issue for many Americans. 225 00:09:49,868 --> 00:09:51,353 So we're off to hear what the mood 226 00:09:51,375 --> 00:09:52,953 is like in the Heartland. 227 00:09:57,835 --> 00:09:59,576 - Hey, Ian. - Hey. 228 00:09:59,617 --> 00:10:01,660 - How's it going down there? - We're in Iowa. 229 00:10:01,780 --> 00:10:05,023 In the ramp-up to the 2016 presidential election, 230 00:10:05,037 --> 00:10:08,140 Iowa is a battleground for votes and the first place 231 00:10:08,162 --> 00:10:10,416 to hear the candidates on the soapbox. 232 00:10:11,127 --> 00:10:13,855 We're here to talk with one of the country's most prominent 233 00:10:13,878 --> 00:10:15,965 conservative critics of gay rights, 234 00:10:16,212 --> 00:10:18,406 Texas Senator Ted Cruz. 235 00:10:18,836 --> 00:10:21,116 So we're gonna try and have some form 236 00:10:21,148 --> 00:10:22,663 of interaction with him, but 237 00:10:23,437 --> 00:10:24,349 we'll see. 238 00:10:25,757 --> 00:10:27,242 - So sorry. - So how this is... 239 00:10:27,273 --> 00:10:28,745 - Thank you. - High school kids... 240 00:10:29,076 --> 00:10:30,453 - Hi. - Hi. 241 00:10:30,471 --> 00:10:32,210 Are you Ted Cruz fans? 242 00:10:35,527 --> 00:10:37,514 Uh, no. Not yet. No. 243 00:10:37,756 --> 00:10:40,493 What is appealing about Ted Cruz for you guys? 244 00:10:42,590 --> 00:10:43,449 Yeah. 245 00:10:43,744 --> 00:10:45,645 In what sense do you feel you are? 246 00:10:51,775 --> 00:10:52,973 Right, right. 247 00:11:01,035 --> 00:11:02,636 Okay. Watch out, watch out. 248 00:11:02,828 --> 00:11:04,398 Thank you very much. 249 00:11:04,633 --> 00:11:06,816 God bless the great state of Iowa. 250 00:11:09,189 --> 00:11:10,608 Here's a quick primer 251 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:13,497 on Senator Cruz's position on queer rights: 252 00:11:13,509 --> 00:11:15,210 He opposes marriage equality... 253 00:11:15,241 --> 00:11:16,596 I have been proud 254 00:11:16,865 --> 00:11:18,734 to defend traditional marriage 255 00:11:18,738 --> 00:11:21,779 as the union of one man and one woman my entire life. 256 00:11:21,806 --> 00:11:23,750 He has urged states and individuals 257 00:11:23,782 --> 00:11:25,284 to ignore the court's ruling. 258 00:11:25,517 --> 00:11:28,755 He voted against workplace protections for queer Americans. 259 00:11:28,875 --> 00:11:30,799 He supports those who deny services 260 00:11:30,817 --> 00:11:32,552 to the LGBTQ community 261 00:11:32,583 --> 00:11:34,542 on the basis of religious liberty. 262 00:11:34,662 --> 00:11:36,093 And most recently, 263 00:11:36,213 --> 00:11:38,745 he campaigned alongside Kevin Swanson, 264 00:11:38,766 --> 00:11:42,117 a pastor who preaches on the execution of homosexuals. 265 00:11:42,136 --> 00:11:44,124 Romans chapter one verse 32, 266 00:11:44,138 --> 00:11:45,765 the Apostle Paul does say 267 00:11:46,257 --> 00:11:48,354 that homosexuals 268 00:11:48,918 --> 00:11:51,104 are worthy of death. 269 00:11:51,126 --> 00:11:52,857 And among Republicans, 270 00:11:53,114 --> 00:11:55,661 he's a top choice for our next president. 271 00:11:55,701 --> 00:11:57,396 Thank you! And God bless you! 272 00:12:00,754 --> 00:12:02,655 I thought he was gonna answer questions. 273 00:12:03,415 --> 00:12:05,230 Probably shouldn't talk. 274 00:12:08,695 --> 00:12:11,331 While we're waiting for the senator's next appearance, 275 00:12:11,331 --> 00:12:13,722 Ian and I have been invited aboard the tour bus 276 00:12:13,731 --> 00:12:15,712 of the Bontrager Family Singers. 277 00:12:15,832 --> 00:12:17,817 - Hi. - Hi there. Come on in. 278 00:12:18,010 --> 00:12:20,439 They're an Evangelical Christian musical group 279 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:23,176 performing at today's rally for religious freedom. 280 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,126 They tour the country as an expression of their faith. 281 00:12:26,418 --> 00:12:28,985 So it'll be interesting to hear their perspective. 282 00:12:30,665 --> 00:12:32,458 You have many more family members, 283 00:12:32,472 --> 00:12:33,432 but they're all sleeping? 284 00:12:33,433 --> 00:12:34,086 - That's right. - Over here? 285 00:12:34,095 --> 00:12:36,867 Sleeping or resting or s... something of the sort, yes. We have 10 children. 286 00:12:36,890 --> 00:12:38,571 We're farm folks. We have a farm... 287 00:12:38,691 --> 00:12:40,257 - Yeah. - And spend about 6 months 288 00:12:40,260 --> 00:12:42,690 of the year on the farm and the other 6 months on the road, 289 00:12:42,699 --> 00:12:44,291 - touring with our music. - Awesome. 290 00:12:44,322 --> 00:12:45,243 Awesome. 291 00:12:45,363 --> 00:12:47,238 Are you homeschooled? Is that how that works? 292 00:12:47,256 --> 00:12:48,145 Road schooled. 293 00:12:48,145 --> 00:12:50,535 Road schooled. Well-said. Bus schooled. 294 00:12:50,536 --> 00:12:52,085 Wherever. Yeah. 295 00:12:52,205 --> 00:12:54,079 But, I mean, uh, clearly, we're here because I think 296 00:12:54,083 --> 00:12:55,787 it just seems like people are really passionate 297 00:12:55,801 --> 00:12:57,142 about religious liberty. 298 00:12:57,143 --> 00:12:58,659 And there are people that are really passionate 299 00:12:58,681 --> 00:13:00,192 about LGBT issues. 300 00:13:00,206 --> 00:13:01,887 I mean, I'm just kind of wondering your opinion 301 00:13:01,904 --> 00:13:04,502 about how those two things exist in our country and, like, what... 302 00:13:04,515 --> 00:13:06,445 I... is there a battle between the two? 303 00:13:06,476 --> 00:13:09,359 There is a bit of a battle. But I think the media plays a lot of that up. 304 00:13:09,418 --> 00:13:11,962 Okay? A hundred years ago in our U.S., 305 00:13:12,409 --> 00:13:14,127 this issue wasn't a big issue. 306 00:13:14,159 --> 00:13:16,171 And as a country, 307 00:13:16,332 --> 00:13:18,576 my feeling is, is farther we drift away from God, 308 00:13:18,603 --> 00:13:20,204 the more this has crept in. 309 00:13:20,398 --> 00:13:22,181 Sure. I... I think a lot of people 310 00:13:22,194 --> 00:13:24,703 would say about why it seems like there's gay people 311 00:13:24,707 --> 00:13:26,371 more now is because, 312 00:13:26,491 --> 00:13:28,169 you know, back 50, 100 years ago, 313 00:13:28,173 --> 00:13:30,065 it... you know, they were so persecuted, 314 00:13:30,097 --> 00:13:32,713 so it was hard to live openly. 315 00:13:32,941 --> 00:13:34,760 Yeah. I think... I think, overall, you know, 316 00:13:34,832 --> 00:13:37,034 you look at the Bible. And it talks about, like, 317 00:13:37,037 --> 00:13:38,380 the issue that you're talking about, 318 00:13:38,449 --> 00:13:40,382 um, in that way as being unnatural. 319 00:13:40,451 --> 00:13:41,924 God didn't create us like that. 320 00:13:41,953 --> 00:13:43,963 I think that's what a lot of people misunderstand. 321 00:13:44,263 --> 00:13:46,065 God created everything perfect. 322 00:13:46,457 --> 00:13:48,068 We're the ones that messed it up. 323 00:13:48,703 --> 00:13:50,285 Here's the thing I think, you know, 324 00:13:50,638 --> 00:13:52,969 I believe people are born gay, right? 325 00:13:53,295 --> 00:13:56,702 And I want you guys to be able to believe whatever you want. 326 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,461 But it makes me sad when I sit here 327 00:13:59,479 --> 00:14:02,819 as a gay person and I know that you think I'm unnatural. 328 00:14:03,610 --> 00:14:08,413 And what that does is it creates a climate that is, 329 00:14:08,823 --> 00:14:11,932 I think, really hard for young gay kids to grow up in 330 00:14:11,999 --> 00:14:14,883 because they're being told, "You're just not the same. 331 00:14:14,885 --> 00:14:17,862 And, in fact, you're not... you're not equal." 332 00:14:19,254 --> 00:14:21,904 There's so much despair, I... I know that... 333 00:14:22,125 --> 00:14:23,688 in that whole community, 334 00:14:23,693 --> 00:14:26,561 in your homosexual community that you're talking about. 335 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:29,629 I don't see peace or happiness or joy. 336 00:14:29,702 --> 00:14:32,049 - Mm. - And I don't believe it's because 337 00:14:32,169 --> 00:14:35,051 they can't get married in this certain church. 338 00:14:35,171 --> 00:14:36,795 I think it's because they're not living 339 00:14:36,846 --> 00:14:38,906 - according to God's plan. - I'm just trying to... 340 00:14:38,929 --> 00:14:41,000 to understand the religious perspective on, 341 00:14:41,011 --> 00:14:42,712 if you ever had a transgender person 342 00:14:42,712 --> 00:14:45,395 or a gay person in your family, have you thought about what... 343 00:14:45,587 --> 00:14:47,787 what would happen or what... 344 00:14:48,136 --> 00:14:49,784 what you would do in that situation? 345 00:14:49,852 --> 00:14:50,623 Well, 346 00:14:50,837 --> 00:14:53,127 no, I haven't thought about it a lot. I'll be honest with ya. 347 00:14:53,723 --> 00:14:57,218 I guess I would take him back to the scripture. 348 00:14:57,293 --> 00:15:00,173 If they follow the Bible and believe what the Bible says, 349 00:15:00,500 --> 00:15:02,069 - I don't think it'll be an issue. - Mm-hmm. 350 00:15:02,189 --> 00:15:03,219 You know, 351 00:15:03,272 --> 00:15:05,754 I believe, in America, you should be able to believe whatever you want. 352 00:15:05,826 --> 00:15:08,987 But in our culture today, we've gone and said, you know, 353 00:15:09,001 --> 00:15:10,150 "We don't need the Bible anymore." 354 00:15:10,190 --> 00:15:12,238 Well, then, let's say there's a 20-year-old guy 355 00:15:12,287 --> 00:15:14,420 - who falls in love with a 10-year-old girl and... - Or a dog. 356 00:15:14,465 --> 00:15:15,762 Or... or a dog or a cat. 357 00:15:15,784 --> 00:15:16,996 And... and the thing about the 10-year-old girl... 358 00:15:17,018 --> 00:15:18,163 Well, that would be rape. That's... 359 00:15:18,163 --> 00:15:19,825 But who said... That's what our law defines. 360 00:15:19,848 --> 00:15:21,610 Yeah, to compare a dog to... 361 00:15:21,616 --> 00:15:23,546 - The same thing. - Gay people getting married... 362 00:15:23,552 --> 00:15:24,968 Well, I'm not saying it's the same thing. 363 00:15:24,995 --> 00:15:26,891 - What I'm saying is... It... - You are... you are, 364 00:15:27,069 --> 00:15:28,362 - in one... - Okay. 365 00:15:28,384 --> 00:15:30,075 - Fell swoop... - But it does kinda... 366 00:15:30,079 --> 00:15:30,902 - Comparing the two. - I'm just saying... 367 00:15:30,919 --> 00:15:33,517 - It does kinda go down that path. - Yeah. 368 00:15:38,934 --> 00:15:40,733 As hard as that was to hear, 369 00:15:40,853 --> 00:15:43,319 they're ultimately entitled to their beliefs, 370 00:15:43,538 --> 00:15:46,923 but turning those beliefs into laws is a different matter. 371 00:15:47,308 --> 00:15:49,217 That's exactly what's motivating us 372 00:15:49,226 --> 00:15:51,350 to talk to Senator Cruz today. 373 00:15:52,865 --> 00:15:55,204 We're on the search for Ted Cruz right now. 374 00:16:04,658 --> 00:16:05,953 Is there a line? 375 00:16:06,222 --> 00:16:07,501 Where are we going, Ellen? 376 00:16:07,533 --> 00:16:08,601 Uh, we're going... 377 00:16:08,763 --> 00:16:11,097 Ted Cruz is, like, getting some pork or something. 378 00:16:11,123 --> 00:16:14,356 So we're gonna go try and talk to him. 379 00:16:14,368 --> 00:16:16,488 - Sorry. - Where are you going, ma'am? 380 00:16:16,515 --> 00:16:17,861 - This is a food line. - Um, yeah. 381 00:16:17,870 --> 00:16:19,994 I'm going with these guys to talk to Ted Cruz. 382 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:27,003 He's gonna be right here. Excuse me. 383 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:32,140 Pork burgers. 384 00:16:32,207 --> 00:16:33,920 Sena... How's the pork, Senator? 385 00:16:33,956 --> 00:16:34,819 - Huh? - Is it good? 386 00:16:34,868 --> 00:16:35,744 - Oh, it's fabulous. - Yeah? 387 00:16:35,780 --> 00:16:36,531 - Awesome. - It's... 388 00:16:36,593 --> 00:16:37,873 I highly recommend it. 389 00:16:38,253 --> 00:16:39,313 - This is the place to be? - Uh, can we a... 390 00:16:39,326 --> 00:16:41,937 - can we ask you questions right now? - It's... it's incredible. 391 00:16:44,807 --> 00:16:46,964 Thank you for having me here. 392 00:16:48,789 --> 00:16:50,343 Uh, hey... 393 00:17:01,816 --> 00:17:04,935 Religious liberty laws have been key in the backlash 394 00:17:04,958 --> 00:17:07,763 to the Supreme Court's marriage-equality decision. 395 00:17:07,802 --> 00:17:09,999 And now, I'm gonna ask Senator Cruz 396 00:17:10,050 --> 00:17:12,436 about his position on them. Uh, hey. 397 00:17:13,470 --> 00:17:14,594 Hey, Senator. 398 00:17:14,616 --> 00:17:16,057 I was wondering if I could ask you a question 399 00:17:16,083 --> 00:17:17,804 - about the religious liberty rally. - Yeah. 400 00:17:17,823 --> 00:17:20,286 Um, I think, uh, a lot of 401 00:17:20,357 --> 00:17:23,322 people, particularly, like, in the LGBT community, 402 00:17:23,474 --> 00:17:25,401 are worried just 'cause, in the past, 403 00:17:25,437 --> 00:17:29,004 during Segregation Era or when women were trying to, 404 00:17:29,029 --> 00:17:31,678 you know, get the right to vote, 405 00:17:31,798 --> 00:17:34,298 religious liberty was often used to 406 00:17:34,418 --> 00:17:36,959 defend and justify that discrimination. 407 00:17:37,079 --> 00:17:39,451 So a lot of people in the LGBT community 408 00:17:39,479 --> 00:17:42,319 just have this fear due to the past examples 409 00:17:42,363 --> 00:17:43,665 that that's what's gonna happen. 410 00:17:43,671 --> 00:17:45,244 So I was wondering if you could speak to that. 411 00:17:45,312 --> 00:17:47,448 Well, you know, it's interesting you bring up that example. 412 00:17:47,515 --> 00:17:49,733 If you actually look at the history in this country 413 00:17:49,765 --> 00:17:51,066 - of defeating slavery... - Mm-hmm. 414 00:17:51,102 --> 00:17:53,311 You look at the history of defeating Jim Crow... 415 00:17:53,338 --> 00:17:54,600 - Mm-hmm. - It was leaders in the church 416 00:17:54,618 --> 00:17:55,727 that played a critical role. 417 00:17:55,754 --> 00:17:58,356 Yeah. But a lot of religious people also used the Bible 418 00:17:58,391 --> 00:18:01,928 to defend segregation, to defend slavery. So 419 00:18:02,048 --> 00:18:03,721 all I'm... So I'm just saying, like, 420 00:18:03,752 --> 00:18:05,832 I think religious freedom's so important. 421 00:18:05,849 --> 00:18:08,313 It's so crucial for all religions. 422 00:18:08,733 --> 00:18:10,285 LGBT people are worried 423 00:18:10,303 --> 00:18:12,422 that they will directly be discriminated against. 424 00:18:12,439 --> 00:18:14,358 - And, you know... - But... but we don't have a right 425 00:18:14,381 --> 00:18:16,188 to force anyone to abandon their faith. 426 00:18:16,242 --> 00:18:18,195 It is one of the foundational commitments 427 00:18:18,244 --> 00:18:19,393 of who we are as Americans 428 00:18:19,407 --> 00:18:20,897 - to respect diversity. - Sure. 429 00:18:20,910 --> 00:18:22,462 But for example, still, in a lot of states, 430 00:18:22,484 --> 00:18:25,435 LGBT people can be fired for just being gay 431 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:27,084 or for just being trans. 432 00:18:27,204 --> 00:18:29,007 Um, that's totally legal. I mean, 433 00:18:29,043 --> 00:18:29,986 how do you feel about that? 434 00:18:30,009 --> 00:18:31,766 That just doesn't sound very American to me. 435 00:18:31,925 --> 00:18:33,586 Well, we're saying 436 00:18:33,823 --> 00:18:36,053 Bible-believing Christians are being persecuted. 437 00:18:36,173 --> 00:18:37,694 So for example, one of the couples... 438 00:18:37,708 --> 00:18:39,470 Yeah, for discriminating against LGBT people. 439 00:18:39,497 --> 00:18:40,977 No, for living according to their faith. 440 00:18:41,013 --> 00:18:42,081 - So for example... - Yeah, but you... 441 00:18:42,090 --> 00:18:44,571 People would've used that argument in Segregation Era. 442 00:18:44,598 --> 00:18:46,152 - I... I... I'm happy to answer your questions - Okay. 443 00:18:46,155 --> 00:18:48,279 - but not to have a back-and-forth debate. - Go... go for it. Go for it. Yeah. 444 00:18:48,323 --> 00:18:50,139 So we are a country 445 00:18:50,179 --> 00:18:52,791 that respects pluralism and diversity. 446 00:18:52,812 --> 00:18:55,428 And there is this liberal intolerance 447 00:18:55,746 --> 00:18:57,804 that says that anyone that dares 448 00:18:57,822 --> 00:18:59,580 follow a Biblical teaching of marriage, 449 00:18:59,615 --> 00:19:01,699 that is the union of one man and one wom... woman, 450 00:19:01,819 --> 00:19:03,058 must be persecuted, 451 00:19:03,058 --> 00:19:04,574 - must be fined... - I... I disagree. 452 00:19:04,579 --> 00:19:06,039 - And must be driven out of business. - I think there's just more 453 00:19:06,055 --> 00:19:07,780 tolerance for LGBT people, 454 00:19:07,785 --> 00:19:10,271 who have constantly been persecuted in this country. 455 00:19:10,296 --> 00:19:11,621 It used to be illegal. 456 00:19:11,634 --> 00:19:14,412 - They were thrown in jail. - Who's been thrown in jail? 457 00:19:14,573 --> 00:19:15,945 Gay people used to be thrown 458 00:19:15,972 --> 00:19:17,466 - in jail when it was illegal in this country. - Well, you know, it... it... 459 00:19:17,502 --> 00:19:19,826 - it... it is interesting right now. - Do you know 460 00:19:20,148 --> 00:19:22,514 where gay people are being persecuted right now? 461 00:19:22,540 --> 00:19:23,842 - ISIS... - All over the world. 462 00:19:23,873 --> 00:19:25,040 - Is... But ISIS... - All over the world. 463 00:19:25,063 --> 00:19:26,932 Is executing gay people. 464 00:19:26,941 --> 00:19:29,485 - Iran is executing homosexuals. - Yes. 465 00:19:29,514 --> 00:19:30,732 And on the left, 466 00:19:30,852 --> 00:19:33,052 - you hear complete silence. - That's not true. 467 00:19:33,075 --> 00:19:35,279 Christians in Russia, Christians in Uganda, 468 00:19:35,293 --> 00:19:37,797 Christians in Jamaica all persecuting, 469 00:19:37,811 --> 00:19:40,739 uh, gays to a really, really violent extent. 470 00:19:40,752 --> 00:19:42,599 And why does the Obama administration 471 00:19:42,612 --> 00:19:44,441 - not stand against it? - I don't know. 472 00:19:44,459 --> 00:19:45,810 I would... would love to talk to Obama about it. 473 00:19:45,832 --> 00:19:46,928 - That'd be great. - Well, good. 474 00:19:46,959 --> 00:19:48,332 Then, we're agreed on that. Thank you, ma'am. 475 00:19:48,346 --> 00:19:49,964 Whoa. Whoa. We're... we're not. Don't do that. 476 00:19:50,224 --> 00:19:51,369 We're... we're agreed on it. 477 00:19:51,449 --> 00:19:54,029 Ma... ma'am, we've had a... a long discussion. 478 00:19:54,071 --> 00:19:55,827 Yeah, I appreciate it. Yeah. 479 00:19:55,885 --> 00:19:57,280 - So... - Okay. 480 00:20:10,352 --> 00:20:11,900 Wow. That worked out real well. 481 00:20:11,936 --> 00:20:13,626 - Good work. - I kinda killed it, right? 482 00:20:13,658 --> 00:20:15,533 Well, you had... I was like, "She has got to keep this together." 483 00:20:15,551 --> 00:20:16,999 - And you did. - I did, right? 484 00:20:17,028 --> 00:20:17,661 You really did. 485 00:20:17,686 --> 00:20:20,197 It's gonna be all over the Internet. Oh, shit. 486 00:20:21,517 --> 00:20:23,148 It's gonna be all over the fucking Inter... 487 00:20:23,199 --> 00:20:25,278 I didn't even think about that when it was happening. 488 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:26,589 Oops. 489 00:20:26,826 --> 00:20:28,914 Ellen Page went head-to-head with 490 00:20:28,982 --> 00:20:31,077 Ted Cruz at the Iowa State Fair. 491 00:20:31,197 --> 00:20:33,487 Page says the Republican presidential candidate 492 00:20:33,531 --> 00:20:36,764 discriminates against the LGBT community. 493 00:20:37,130 --> 00:20:39,983 Turns out we did create a bit of a ruckus. 494 00:20:40,064 --> 00:20:41,960 By the way, Ellen, 495 00:20:42,693 --> 00:20:45,402 you won that debate at the Iowa State Fair. 496 00:20:47,790 --> 00:20:49,105 We need a hug. 497 00:20:49,392 --> 00:20:51,273 We've had a long day. 498 00:20:51,661 --> 00:20:53,226 Well, you caused quite a stir. 499 00:20:53,295 --> 00:20:54,335 I did? 500 00:20:54,596 --> 00:20:56,450 - Yeah! - You just caused a stir today. 501 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:57,939 Oops. 502 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:00,242 We're stopping by Blazing Saddle, 503 00:21:00,287 --> 00:21:01,853 Des Moines' oldest gay bar, 504 00:21:01,884 --> 00:21:05,720 to meet lifelong activists Sumitra, Donna, and Mongo. 505 00:21:05,971 --> 00:21:09,661 Well, thank you for talking about LGBT equality 506 00:21:09,858 --> 00:21:13,064 with Mr. Pork chop-eating Ted Cruz. 507 00:21:13,077 --> 00:21:14,660 Oh, man. We'd like to hear about your thoughts 508 00:21:14,678 --> 00:21:16,642 on what's going on with religious liberty. 509 00:21:16,655 --> 00:21:19,768 We've been part of the movement for about 30 years. 510 00:21:19,777 --> 00:21:21,838 When, uh, the radical religious right 511 00:21:21,847 --> 00:21:23,891 first began to fuel the Culture War, 512 00:21:23,927 --> 00:21:25,787 they tried to amend the Constitution 513 00:21:25,907 --> 00:21:28,582 to create a second-class citizenship 514 00:21:28,702 --> 00:21:30,728 for lesbian and gay people 515 00:21:30,848 --> 00:21:34,444 that would have declared us wrong, abnormal and perverse. 516 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:35,549 Now, this is in the early '90s... 517 00:21:35,580 --> 00:21:36,747 - In the early '90s. - Which is not, 518 00:21:36,770 --> 00:21:37,798 - you know, long ago. - No. 519 00:21:38,003 --> 00:21:39,407 It changes your life. 520 00:21:39,814 --> 00:21:41,196 It really changes your life. 521 00:21:41,209 --> 00:21:43,266 I never wanna live through anything like that again. 522 00:21:43,274 --> 00:21:46,307 The thing that makes me so mad: 523 00:21:47,015 --> 00:21:49,410 I was born and raised a very devout Christian. 524 00:21:49,414 --> 00:21:52,840 I have been to most every Christian church known to man. 525 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:54,893 God made all of us. 526 00:21:54,911 --> 00:21:56,222 He loves all of us. 527 00:21:56,290 --> 00:21:59,910 And I'm tired of everybody trying to run a Bible down my throat 528 00:22:00,406 --> 00:22:02,388 by misquoting. 529 00:22:02,663 --> 00:22:05,697 The reality is... this Culture War continues. 530 00:22:05,711 --> 00:22:07,729 And it's people like Ted Cruz, who's throwing... 531 00:22:07,752 --> 00:22:10,072 - He's throwing gasoline on the fire. - Mm-hmm. 532 00:22:10,262 --> 00:22:13,276 And one of the things I feel like we keep saying is, 533 00:22:13,947 --> 00:22:16,246 why do you care? 534 00:22:16,309 --> 00:22:18,402 You know, what it is about me potentially 535 00:22:18,455 --> 00:22:20,696 marrying someone I'm in love with someday 536 00:22:20,741 --> 00:22:22,342 that is hurting you so much? 537 00:22:22,364 --> 00:22:23,947 I like to say to people 538 00:22:23,983 --> 00:22:27,256 nobody went to hell in a handbasket because I married my wife. 539 00:22:27,296 --> 00:22:29,469 You know? The world went on. 540 00:22:29,489 --> 00:22:31,370 So what... what did that mean for you 541 00:22:31,383 --> 00:22:33,104 when you were then allowed to be married? 542 00:22:33,122 --> 00:22:35,726 I mean, we could talk about all the rights 543 00:22:35,761 --> 00:22:37,903 and responsibilities. You know, 544 00:22:38,023 --> 00:22:39,441 we had friends, 545 00:22:39,561 --> 00:22:42,173 they'd been together for 15 years. 546 00:22:42,222 --> 00:22:43,595 Francine heard something 547 00:22:43,602 --> 00:22:45,821 and ran into the bathroom, and Shelley was slumped 548 00:22:45,838 --> 00:22:47,484 in the... in the... in the tub. 549 00:22:47,516 --> 00:22:49,336 They got to the hospital. 550 00:22:50,543 --> 00:22:52,233 And they wouldn't let Francine in 551 00:22:52,260 --> 00:22:53,905 'cause she had no legal rights. 552 00:22:54,180 --> 00:22:56,495 And so while they were working on Shelley, 553 00:22:56,615 --> 00:22:59,983 Francine, in the middle of the night, is calling her lawyer. 554 00:23:00,019 --> 00:23:02,272 And while she was on the phone, 555 00:23:02,626 --> 00:23:05,162 her life partner died alone. 556 00:23:05,524 --> 00:23:08,225 That's why being married is important. 557 00:23:08,260 --> 00:23:12,268 And we've worked so hard for our rights. 558 00:23:12,298 --> 00:23:13,793 And for us also. 559 00:23:13,838 --> 00:23:14,795 - So thank you. - Oh, yeah. 560 00:23:14,813 --> 00:23:16,148 Do you know what I mean? Like... 561 00:23:16,268 --> 00:23:18,493 Well, thank you for your work too, 562 00:23:18,537 --> 00:23:19,978 both of you. 563 00:23:24,293 --> 00:23:26,297 Welcome to America! 564 00:23:26,312 --> 00:23:27,687 That looks kinda fun. 565 00:23:28,146 --> 00:23:29,910 That's right, girl, that's righ. 566 00:23:29,923 --> 00:23:33,285 At the end of the day, the biggest issue isn't religious freedom 567 00:23:33,299 --> 00:23:35,518 or even the institution of marriage. 568 00:23:35,677 --> 00:23:37,376 Woo! 569 00:23:37,407 --> 00:23:40,622 It's about everyone being treated as equals under the law, 570 00:23:40,636 --> 00:23:42,299 accessing benefits and rights 571 00:23:42,327 --> 00:23:46,095 that are guaranteed no matter who we are or who we love. 572 00:23:46,163 --> 00:23:48,094 It's not a competition. But I feel like I won. 573 00:23:48,132 --> 00:23:50,665 - Yeah. - So opposite arm. 574 00:23:50,674 --> 00:23:52,226 Opposite leg. 575 00:23:55,780 --> 00:23:58,471 She won it! She did it! 576 00:23:58,538 --> 00:24:00,622 - Yeah. - And you get a raccoon. 577 00:24:00,654 --> 00:24:02,345 What are you gonna name your raccoon, Ian? 578 00:24:02,413 --> 00:24:04,306 I feel like he looks like a Henry. 579 00:24:04,610 --> 00:24:06,249 I'm naming this Peanut. 580 00:24:06,369 --> 00:24:09,029 - I love fairs. - Fairs are amazing. 581 00:24:09,149 --> 00:24:11,854 What's more American than a state fair? 582 00:24:11,922 --> 00:24:12,879 Truly. 583 00:24:13,067 --> 00:24:14,203 Catch Peanut. 584 00:24:25,869 --> 00:24:28,337 You can't talk about gay rights in America 585 00:24:28,346 --> 00:24:30,304 without going to San Francisco. 586 00:24:30,424 --> 00:24:33,032 This sexually and socially liberated city 587 00:24:33,058 --> 00:24:37,244 is a stark contrast to the conservative atmosphere we've just experienced. 588 00:24:37,449 --> 00:24:38,853 We're meeting a woman 589 00:24:38,907 --> 00:24:41,017 who was raised in the religious right 590 00:24:41,062 --> 00:24:44,144 and sought out the inclusivity of San Francisco. 591 00:24:45,364 --> 00:24:49,089 Syd Blakovich is an artist and fetish wrestler. 592 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:51,410 What we specialize in 593 00:24:51,454 --> 00:24:53,317 is combining really high-skilled, safe, 594 00:24:53,319 --> 00:24:56,060 professional grappling for people that have kind of a... 595 00:24:56,077 --> 00:24:57,241 a little bit of a kink for it. 596 00:24:57,294 --> 00:24:59,619 So there's not a place where they can safely 597 00:24:59,739 --> 00:25:01,149 experience it or express it. 598 00:25:01,154 --> 00:25:03,594 And so that's why they come in here and we kind of provide 599 00:25:03,594 --> 00:25:04,717 that experience for them. 600 00:25:05,504 --> 00:25:06,988 Yeah. Yeah. 601 00:25:07,926 --> 00:25:09,675 Specifically, people like to kind of 602 00:25:09,702 --> 00:25:11,526 be trapped by their necks with thighs. 603 00:25:11,566 --> 00:25:12,943 And to my left thigh, 604 00:25:13,001 --> 00:25:14,558 I'm gonna slide it under the head like a pillow. 605 00:25:14,584 --> 00:25:15,756 And then bring the other one over. 606 00:25:15,783 --> 00:25:17,643 And extend your legs and pinch your knees together. 607 00:25:18,908 --> 00:25:20,049 More. 608 00:25:21,869 --> 00:25:23,626 A lot of people just want to be trapped and pinned. 609 00:25:23,746 --> 00:25:26,913 Oh, this is interesting. I've gotta say, honestly... 610 00:25:26,963 --> 00:25:29,180 I think that's the closest you've ever been to my crotch. 611 00:25:29,189 --> 00:25:31,318 Pretty much, yeah. This... right, yep. 612 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:32,566 - Right now. - Yeah. 613 00:25:32,946 --> 00:25:34,319 I... I'm wondering, um, uh, 614 00:25:34,332 --> 00:25:36,927 what you personally get out of doing this kind of work. 615 00:25:37,215 --> 00:25:38,693 I love wrestling. 616 00:25:39,163 --> 00:25:41,318 I wrestle commercially. I wrestle for fetish. 617 00:25:41,363 --> 00:25:44,350 And I'm also, you know, grew up in this whole sex-positive, 618 00:25:44,356 --> 00:25:46,531 like, very, like, queer feminist movement. 619 00:25:46,540 --> 00:25:47,538 And it's about, like, 620 00:25:47,559 --> 00:25:50,090 empowering ourselves and our bodies. And so 621 00:25:50,210 --> 00:25:51,830 - that's what I'm gonna do. - Yeah. 622 00:25:51,896 --> 00:25:53,364 - Yeah. - I'm just kind of curious 623 00:25:53,365 --> 00:25:55,367 about how your family feels about your path. 624 00:25:55,390 --> 00:25:57,281 I actually was raised a born-again Christian. 625 00:25:57,299 --> 00:25:59,329 And so when I went off to come to college, 626 00:25:59,338 --> 00:26:01,019 it blew my mind, blew my mind 'cause I was, 627 00:26:01,050 --> 00:26:03,796 like, a registered Republican. I had a promise ring. 628 00:26:03,808 --> 00:26:05,657 I was, like, so repressed growing up. 629 00:26:05,677 --> 00:26:07,536 And I'm like, "Oh, my God. What else is out there?" 630 00:26:07,554 --> 00:26:09,244 just, like, went, "Let's find out." 631 00:26:09,289 --> 00:26:12,092 When I got to the Bay area, like, I started to do porn. 632 00:26:12,117 --> 00:26:13,383 I was polyamorous. 633 00:26:13,398 --> 00:26:15,658 I wouldn't say that it was destructive. But it wasn't healthy. 634 00:26:15,931 --> 00:26:17,995 And when you grow up in an environment 635 00:26:18,022 --> 00:26:20,157 of such either self-hatred or anger, 636 00:26:20,157 --> 00:26:21,390 that's gonna feel normal. 637 00:26:21,459 --> 00:26:22,745 - And so when you... - Mm-hmm. 638 00:26:22,865 --> 00:26:24,675 Move away from it, you're still gonna 639 00:26:24,695 --> 00:26:26,472 be looking for something that makes you feel that. 640 00:26:26,495 --> 00:26:28,096 - Mm. - And that became 641 00:26:28,350 --> 00:26:30,814 a constant state that I might have been replicating. 642 00:26:30,834 --> 00:26:32,938 Even when I switched from being really religious 643 00:26:32,970 --> 00:26:34,903 to doing lots of porn, like, it's... 644 00:26:34,972 --> 00:26:37,088 - Mm. - The foundation wasn't 645 00:26:37,289 --> 00:26:38,608 set for me to be healthy. 646 00:26:38,617 --> 00:26:41,980 It was set for me to be not allowed to explore who I am, 647 00:26:41,993 --> 00:26:44,929 not allowed to find a healthy way of growing up. 648 00:26:45,382 --> 00:26:48,352 - So well-said. - Really well-said. Yeah. 649 00:26:56,187 --> 00:26:57,838 For nearly half a century, 650 00:26:57,855 --> 00:27:01,107 San Francisco has been the capital of queer activism 651 00:27:01,107 --> 00:27:02,511 in the United States. 652 00:27:02,828 --> 00:27:05,923 It was once a refuge for World War II soldiers 653 00:27:05,969 --> 00:27:08,862 who were dishonorably discharged for their sexuality. 654 00:27:09,406 --> 00:27:12,222 Then, as the gay populations in the Castro 655 00:27:12,238 --> 00:27:14,898 and the Haight grew, so did their political power. 656 00:27:15,596 --> 00:27:19,876 And in 1977, Harvey Milk became the nation's first 657 00:27:19,898 --> 00:27:22,027 openly gay elected official 658 00:27:22,036 --> 00:27:25,486 and passed strict gay rights protections citywide. 659 00:27:25,555 --> 00:27:27,831 There is no law that says two human beings 660 00:27:27,849 --> 00:27:29,374 cannot love one another. 661 00:27:29,741 --> 00:27:32,612 His murder the next year left the city in agony 662 00:27:33,086 --> 00:27:35,076 but inspired tens of thousands 663 00:27:35,098 --> 00:27:36,712 to take to the streets in mourning 664 00:27:36,732 --> 00:27:38,299 and continue his fight. 665 00:27:41,737 --> 00:27:43,241 However, today, 666 00:27:43,469 --> 00:27:45,388 violence directed at the queer community 667 00:27:45,408 --> 00:27:47,471 is still a nationwide problem. 668 00:27:47,677 --> 00:27:51,201 And transgender women of color face the most brutality, 669 00:27:51,747 --> 00:27:54,009 with an average life expectancy 670 00:27:54,433 --> 00:27:56,240 of only 35 years. 671 00:27:57,018 --> 00:28:00,971 This is one of the biggest civil rights issues of our generation. 672 00:28:01,042 --> 00:28:03,444 I am disappointed in my community, 673 00:28:03,459 --> 00:28:05,009 as a queer black woman, 674 00:28:05,250 --> 00:28:07,280 with the nonresponse 675 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:09,243 to our black trans sisters 676 00:28:09,279 --> 00:28:10,849 being murdered out here. 677 00:28:13,277 --> 00:28:14,654 We are lucky enough to meet 678 00:28:14,663 --> 00:28:16,801 with Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, 679 00:28:16,823 --> 00:28:19,505 a trans activist for the last 40 years. 680 00:28:19,711 --> 00:28:21,616 We're here. And we're not going nowhere. 681 00:28:21,644 --> 00:28:24,627 I am not going down without a goddamn fight. 682 00:28:26,508 --> 00:28:29,874 She was one of the leaders of the Stonewall riots 683 00:28:29,897 --> 00:28:33,668 and has been key in advancing the struggle of trans Americans 684 00:28:33,670 --> 00:28:35,928 within the broader gay rights movement. 685 00:28:37,758 --> 00:28:39,569 - Thanks for having us. - Sure. No problem. 686 00:28:39,591 --> 00:28:41,107 We really appreciate meeting you and being here. 687 00:28:41,129 --> 00:28:43,167 What do you feel are sort of the next steps 688 00:28:43,198 --> 00:28:45,188 or the next moves that should be taken? 689 00:28:45,308 --> 00:28:46,471 Reading about it 690 00:28:46,489 --> 00:28:49,105 and hearing it in the media is really nice. 691 00:28:49,225 --> 00:28:51,184 But they're not taking it to heart. 692 00:28:51,304 --> 00:28:53,288 Yes, we've gotten more visibility now. 693 00:28:53,294 --> 00:28:55,891 Well, that's nice. But that doesn't make it safer. 694 00:28:55,946 --> 00:28:57,820 So I worry every time I go out 695 00:28:57,846 --> 00:29:00,869 that someone is gonna run up behind me, hit me in my head... 696 00:29:01,082 --> 00:29:03,010 - Mm-hmm. - And I'm not gonna make it home. 697 00:29:03,350 --> 00:29:05,944 And to have to live your life like that every day, 698 00:29:06,020 --> 00:29:08,816 24 hours a day, every time you step out your house, 699 00:29:08,861 --> 00:29:09,992 - it's hard. - Mm-hmm. 700 00:29:10,207 --> 00:29:12,121 And how would you compare the climate now 701 00:29:12,144 --> 00:29:13,458 to the climate in... 702 00:29:13,481 --> 00:29:17,000 in the '60s, when your, you know, activism began? 703 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:18,797 You know, at that time, 704 00:29:18,860 --> 00:29:21,011 you couldn't go out till it was after dark. 705 00:29:21,131 --> 00:29:23,585 Uh, the bars that you were able to go to, 706 00:29:23,638 --> 00:29:25,338 you would use the back door 707 00:29:25,458 --> 00:29:27,637 so that no one would see you go in the front door 708 00:29:27,676 --> 00:29:29,077 to know that you were in there. 709 00:29:29,104 --> 00:29:31,031 It's better today than it used to be. 710 00:29:31,094 --> 00:29:33,347 But it's not where it should be, you know? 711 00:29:33,370 --> 00:29:35,763 That a majority of us are still struggling, 712 00:29:35,821 --> 00:29:37,717 still going in and out of prison. 713 00:29:37,786 --> 00:29:39,251 We're a small community. 714 00:29:39,287 --> 00:29:40,549 And all we've got is each other. 715 00:29:40,593 --> 00:29:41,564 - Yeah. - You know? 716 00:29:41,684 --> 00:29:43,777 And if we don't care about each other, no one else 717 00:29:43,791 --> 00:29:46,263 is gonna give a damn about us one way or the other. 718 00:29:46,796 --> 00:29:50,878 You have to create a nice, safe social network, you know? 719 00:29:50,932 --> 00:29:53,213 Like, for me, some of the girls call me Mom. 720 00:29:53,225 --> 00:29:54,599 Some call me Grandma. 721 00:29:54,607 --> 00:29:57,295 So we've created our own sense of family. 722 00:29:57,572 --> 00:29:59,875 And so the fight continues. 723 00:30:00,273 --> 00:30:02,678 That's all I know to do, is to keep fighting. 724 00:30:05,334 --> 00:30:09,613 Well, Miss Major has helped and supported and saved, 725 00:30:09,859 --> 00:30:11,800 you know, countless lives. 726 00:30:12,408 --> 00:30:14,832 And I'm humbled by the individual, 727 00:30:14,855 --> 00:30:17,509 face-to-face activism she does by 728 00:30:17,554 --> 00:30:19,382 supporting other trans women. 729 00:30:19,583 --> 00:30:21,376 And what an amazing thing. 730 00:30:28,205 --> 00:30:30,995 Since 1999, the St. James Infirmary 731 00:30:31,013 --> 00:30:33,455 has offered free health and social services 732 00:30:33,455 --> 00:30:34,792 for the trans community 733 00:30:34,815 --> 00:30:36,941 and is the only clinic in the country 734 00:30:36,943 --> 00:30:39,814 run by and for sex workers. 735 00:30:39,934 --> 00:30:42,229 We are meeting with Star Amerasu, 736 00:30:42,282 --> 00:30:44,223 who is helping to protect the community 737 00:30:44,285 --> 00:30:45,810 with a bad-date list. 738 00:30:46,137 --> 00:30:47,884 - Hey. - Hi. What's up? 739 00:30:48,004 --> 00:30:49,688 So the bad-date list, 740 00:30:49,706 --> 00:30:51,186 these people are perpetrators of violence. 741 00:30:51,217 --> 00:30:53,207 They're doing sexual assault, robbery, 742 00:30:53,220 --> 00:30:55,264 all these different things to sex workers. 743 00:30:55,268 --> 00:30:57,701 And we wanna be able to collect that information 744 00:30:57,705 --> 00:30:59,342 and spread them around the community 745 00:30:59,364 --> 00:31:01,876 so that we can sort of, like, protect each other. 746 00:31:02,341 --> 00:31:04,036 Are you from here originally, Star? 747 00:31:04,076 --> 00:31:06,554 So, I moved here from Austin, Texas. 748 00:31:06,572 --> 00:31:08,414 - Oh, cool. - Like, you know, San Francisco's, 749 00:31:08,445 --> 00:31:10,036 like, the trans Mecca... 750 00:31:10,068 --> 00:31:12,290 - Mm-hmm. - Of America. Um, 751 00:31:12,410 --> 00:31:15,376 I, like, moved here specifically to transition. 752 00:31:15,384 --> 00:31:16,543 - Mm. - Mm. 753 00:31:16,583 --> 00:31:18,823 And so do you feel really supported in San Francisco? 754 00:31:18,943 --> 00:31:20,052 I do. 755 00:31:20,482 --> 00:31:22,744 You know, there's a lot of access to health care here 756 00:31:22,775 --> 00:31:23,911 for trans people. 757 00:31:24,031 --> 00:31:25,856 And so I was able to have, 758 00:31:26,231 --> 00:31:29,207 um, hormone therapy. I was able to have surgery. 759 00:31:29,243 --> 00:31:31,147 And all of these things were paid for by the city. 760 00:31:31,267 --> 00:31:33,193 We have all this access to this care. 761 00:31:33,313 --> 00:31:34,540 But at the same time, like, 762 00:31:34,563 --> 00:31:36,660 transgender people can't get jobs. 763 00:31:36,926 --> 00:31:39,100 Transgender people are having a hard time finding housing. 764 00:31:39,109 --> 00:31:40,387 - Mm. - And so then, what kind of work 765 00:31:40,405 --> 00:31:41,769 are you gonna do? You're gonna do sex work. 766 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:44,102 And then, sex work is criminalized, right? 767 00:31:44,222 --> 00:31:47,479 And they're going after these specifically black 768 00:31:47,507 --> 00:31:51,110 and Latina trans women who are working the streets, right? 769 00:31:51,154 --> 00:31:52,714 And then, when they get arrested, 770 00:31:52,736 --> 00:31:54,245 they don't go to women's prison. 771 00:31:54,307 --> 00:31:56,202 They get sent to men's prisons. 772 00:31:56,229 --> 00:31:58,292 This shouldn't be happening to our people. 773 00:31:58,325 --> 00:32:01,293 We need to protect the most vulnerable group 774 00:32:01,304 --> 00:32:02,818 of people in America right now, 775 00:32:02,829 --> 00:32:05,199 which is black trans women need to be protected. 776 00:32:05,319 --> 00:32:08,751 I think it would help to put in perspective some of the discrimination 777 00:32:08,757 --> 00:32:10,232 that you face and especially 778 00:32:10,277 --> 00:32:13,049 when we're looking at stats like the life expectancy 779 00:32:13,060 --> 00:32:15,195 is 35 years for trans women of color. 780 00:32:15,257 --> 00:32:17,325 What are some of the things that lead to that? 781 00:32:17,744 --> 00:32:20,992 I think it has to do with an internalized transphobia. 782 00:32:21,036 --> 00:32:23,809 If you look at those murders, they were all done by men 783 00:32:23,881 --> 00:32:25,614 who may or may not have been 784 00:32:25,648 --> 00:32:27,911 in a relationship with the woman that they killed. 785 00:32:28,031 --> 00:32:30,717 There's a defense that people use, trans-panic defense, 786 00:32:30,733 --> 00:32:32,604 - or, like, gay-panic defense... Where it's like, - Mm-hmm. 787 00:32:32,673 --> 00:32:34,160 "Oh, I didn't know she was trans. 788 00:32:34,188 --> 00:32:36,161 And when I found out she was trans, I blacked out. 789 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:37,335 And I fucking killed her," 790 00:32:37,346 --> 00:32:39,073 which is really fucked up, like... 791 00:32:39,107 --> 00:32:41,444 - Yeah. - That people can use that defense 792 00:32:41,488 --> 00:32:42,981 to get away with murder. 793 00:32:43,182 --> 00:32:46,445 I'm at the most vulnerable point right now in my life 794 00:32:46,565 --> 00:32:50,285 as a trans woman because I am young 795 00:32:50,475 --> 00:32:53,257 and attractive. And that is the people that are dying. 796 00:32:53,289 --> 00:32:55,157 Like, all these girls, if you look through the pictures 797 00:32:55,189 --> 00:32:56,696 of all these women that were murdered, 798 00:32:56,732 --> 00:32:58,637 none... You could never say that any of these 799 00:32:58,727 --> 00:33:00,591 women weren't beautiful. 800 00:33:00,632 --> 00:33:02,649 And there's something about this beauty that 801 00:33:02,662 --> 00:33:04,643 these people want to get rid of. 802 00:33:04,674 --> 00:33:06,901 And that has to end, because 803 00:33:07,115 --> 00:33:10,161 the world is gonna lose some if its vibrancy with us gone. 804 00:33:10,192 --> 00:33:11,247 Mm-hmm. 805 00:33:13,183 --> 00:33:15,696 In 2015, the United States 806 00:33:15,709 --> 00:33:18,369 saw more murders of transgender people 807 00:33:18,383 --> 00:33:20,506 than ever in recorded history. 808 00:33:20,626 --> 00:33:21,870 And recently, 809 00:33:21,990 --> 00:33:24,536 another young woman was tragically lost. 810 00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:27,061 Taja DeJesus, 811 00:33:27,075 --> 00:33:29,154 a prominent member of the community, 812 00:33:29,234 --> 00:33:30,165 was murdered. 813 00:33:31,429 --> 00:33:33,567 We're meeting with Taja's mother and sister 814 00:33:33,576 --> 00:33:35,562 to hear more about the woman they loved 815 00:33:36,340 --> 00:33:37,816 and lost too soon. 816 00:33:38,201 --> 00:33:41,336 If you could tell us about her childhood 817 00:33:42,074 --> 00:33:43,496 - and just kind of start at the beginning... - Who she was like as a person? 818 00:33:43,519 --> 00:33:44,511 Kind of, yeah. 819 00:33:44,887 --> 00:33:48,303 When she was about 3 years old, 820 00:33:48,325 --> 00:33:49,506 she asked me, 821 00:33:49,551 --> 00:33:51,894 "When am I gonna grow up to be a girl?" 822 00:33:52,014 --> 00:33:55,762 - Hmm. - I never even heard of the word transgender. 823 00:33:55,771 --> 00:33:58,136 My family, we didn't talk about that. 824 00:33:58,150 --> 00:34:00,077 - Mm-hmm. - You know, and everything that was 825 00:34:00,326 --> 00:34:01,973 different was a sin. 826 00:34:02,393 --> 00:34:04,996 We were all very protective of her. 827 00:34:05,036 --> 00:34:06,579 - Mm. - But we couldn't 828 00:34:06,642 --> 00:34:08,324 keep her in our little bubble. 829 00:34:08,346 --> 00:34:09,384 And... 830 00:34:12,282 --> 00:34:16,642 Sad to say, my worst fear came true. 831 00:34:19,379 --> 00:34:21,588 I woke up. And I had, like, a... 832 00:34:21,708 --> 00:34:23,113 a weird feeling. 833 00:34:24,356 --> 00:34:25,514 And then, I called her up. 834 00:34:25,559 --> 00:34:28,103 And I can't get ahold of Taja. You know? 835 00:34:28,868 --> 00:34:31,824 And this is Sunday, then Monday. 836 00:34:31,864 --> 00:34:34,409 And then, Tuesday, my phone rang. 837 00:34:34,423 --> 00:34:36,207 And it was the medical examiner. 838 00:34:36,229 --> 00:34:37,329 And he said, 839 00:34:37,808 --> 00:34:40,298 "Your daughter Taja passed away." 840 00:34:41,299 --> 00:34:43,450 And I said, "You know, 841 00:34:43,687 --> 00:34:46,657 my daughter suffered through her life. 842 00:34:46,952 --> 00:34:47,846 She did. 843 00:34:47,855 --> 00:34:51,463 And I just want to know that she didn't suffer." 844 00:34:51,517 --> 00:34:54,526 And he said, "I'm sorry. I can't tell you that. 845 00:34:55,654 --> 00:34:59,066 Your daughter was a victim of a fatal homicide." 846 00:35:00,336 --> 00:35:01,691 And it was like, every place 847 00:35:01,763 --> 00:35:03,748 we called, they didn't have 848 00:35:03,855 --> 00:35:07,235 any information. They couldn't tell us anything. 849 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:08,543 No law enforcement 850 00:35:08,544 --> 00:35:09,971 - reached out to you whatsoever? - No. 851 00:35:09,984 --> 00:35:13,083 - We went to the police station. - We went to the closest police station. 852 00:35:13,119 --> 00:35:15,359 - And we picked up a police... blotter: - And there was a blurb. 853 00:35:15,766 --> 00:35:17,173 - 36-year old... - Male. 854 00:35:17,209 --> 00:35:20,625 Male found stabbed to death in the stairwell. 855 00:35:21,127 --> 00:35:22,602 And it was her address. 856 00:35:24,266 --> 00:35:27,008 Taja was in a relationship with someone 857 00:35:27,204 --> 00:35:29,409 who didn't want anyone to know... 858 00:35:29,681 --> 00:35:31,434 - Mm-hmm. - That he was in a relationship 859 00:35:31,479 --> 00:35:33,188 with a transgendered woman. 860 00:35:34,109 --> 00:35:37,486 And he committed suicide. 861 00:35:40,778 --> 00:35:42,848 Had she not been transgender, 862 00:35:42,897 --> 00:35:46,085 and had she not lived in a, you know, a... 863 00:35:46,407 --> 00:35:48,441 a neighborhood that's known to be, you know, 864 00:35:48,459 --> 00:35:50,637 social-economically challenged, you know... 865 00:35:50,659 --> 00:35:52,319 - Mm-hmm. - That maybe there would've been 866 00:35:52,350 --> 00:35:55,127 more attention 'cause I think, oftentimes, 867 00:35:55,440 --> 00:35:57,698 people think that somebody who's transgender, 868 00:35:57,733 --> 00:35:59,437 nobody cares. They're... You know? 869 00:35:59,513 --> 00:36:00,917 Well, they probably think that they don't have a family... 870 00:36:00,940 --> 00:36:02,777 - Uh, yeah, you know? - Or a family that cares. 871 00:36:02,804 --> 00:36:03,846 - Uh-huh. - Yeah. 872 00:36:04,593 --> 00:36:06,668 And, you know, Taja, we were talking. 873 00:36:06,677 --> 00:36:08,577 And she would tell me, "You know, Mom, 874 00:36:09,074 --> 00:36:11,944 you don't know how lucky you are to wake up 875 00:36:12,642 --> 00:36:14,815 and everybody sees you as a woman." 876 00:36:16,254 --> 00:36:19,617 And we can't get so caught up in 877 00:36:19,952 --> 00:36:23,681 what's, you know, society expects or dictates to us 878 00:36:23,703 --> 00:36:25,639 or what our church says because 879 00:36:25,759 --> 00:36:27,410 your children are your children. 880 00:36:27,530 --> 00:36:29,454 And your kids need to know that, 881 00:36:29,467 --> 00:36:30,701 no matter what, 882 00:36:30,733 --> 00:36:34,605 you love them and you accept them unconditionally. 883 00:36:37,051 --> 00:36:39,041 I feel like I've felt angry all day. 884 00:36:39,086 --> 00:36:40,539 - Yeah. - And I feel like I feel angry all day 885 00:36:40,548 --> 00:36:41,903 'cause we were just in Iowa, 886 00:36:41,921 --> 00:36:43,749 and we were surrounded by, like, 887 00:36:44,644 --> 00:36:46,531 so much homophobia. 888 00:36:47,121 --> 00:36:50,162 I don't have time for some conservative dude 889 00:36:50,193 --> 00:36:52,765 who's running for president spewing his shit, 890 00:36:52,792 --> 00:36:55,497 which is responsible for this. It just is. 891 00:36:55,510 --> 00:36:57,161 You can't tell me that it's not. 892 00:36:57,183 --> 00:36:58,735 You know, you have so much fu... 893 00:36:58,761 --> 00:37:00,461 you have so much influence. 894 00:37:03,117 --> 00:37:04,056 And... 895 00:37:05,299 --> 00:37:09,015 you are perpetuating a society that is homophobic, 896 00:37:09,135 --> 00:37:11,881 that is transphobic. 897 00:37:13,688 --> 00:37:15,896 At that point, you don't wanna hear about religious liberty. 898 00:37:15,928 --> 00:37:17,471 You don't give a shit. I don't give a shit, 899 00:37:17,658 --> 00:37:20,310 that you got your business shut down because 900 00:37:20,350 --> 00:37:22,393 you will not let gay people have a wedding at your venue. 901 00:37:22,416 --> 00:37:23,775 You just don't... Like, 902 00:37:23,895 --> 00:37:25,770 who gives a fuck, really? 903 00:37:25,806 --> 00:37:28,015 - I mean... - Don't discriminate towards people. Don't. 904 00:37:28,310 --> 00:37:30,305 It's like, just don't do it. And don't... 905 00:37:30,323 --> 00:37:33,592 do not say that gay people are now the bigots 906 00:37:34,142 --> 00:37:35,827 'cause we want equal rights. 907 00:37:35,867 --> 00:37:37,164 That's not acceptable. 908 00:37:37,284 --> 00:37:38,581 It's not acceptable. 909 00:37:38,653 --> 00:37:41,113 Can we please move past this? It's just... 910 00:37:41,157 --> 00:37:43,532 You... you... I really just find myself going, like, 911 00:37:43,652 --> 00:37:46,282 "What is wrong with people?" 912 00:37:57,081 --> 00:37:58,874 We've seen firsthand 913 00:37:58,910 --> 00:38:01,038 how even with the progress being made, 914 00:38:01,158 --> 00:38:02,943 it can be incredibly difficult, 915 00:38:03,063 --> 00:38:04,343 even dangerous, 916 00:38:04,396 --> 00:38:06,619 to be young and trans in America. 917 00:38:07,334 --> 00:38:08,908 That's why we're in Chicago, 918 00:38:09,028 --> 00:38:12,257 at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital. 919 00:38:12,539 --> 00:38:15,489 It's one of only a few groundbreaking facilities 920 00:38:15,530 --> 00:38:18,262 in this country that provides developmental support 921 00:38:18,316 --> 00:38:20,592 and early treatment for trans youth. 922 00:38:20,947 --> 00:38:23,830 Dr. Robert Garofalo is a pediatrician 923 00:38:23,844 --> 00:38:25,817 and director of the gender program. 924 00:38:25,937 --> 00:38:27,877 Who would've predicted, you know, 925 00:38:27,908 --> 00:38:30,503 3 or 4 years ago that there would be this explosion 926 00:38:30,516 --> 00:38:32,873 around sort of transgender-related issues? 927 00:38:32,931 --> 00:38:34,769 - Mm-hmm. - So we predicted it right. 928 00:38:34,794 --> 00:38:36,027 And we're ahead of the... 929 00:38:36,397 --> 00:38:38,937 sort of the curve in terms of the planning 930 00:38:38,965 --> 00:38:40,109 for this type of program. 931 00:38:40,131 --> 00:38:41,997 Maybe we could just get a general idea 932 00:38:42,006 --> 00:38:44,572 - of what your project does specifically. - Yeah. 933 00:38:44,805 --> 00:38:47,939 So we see children and adolescents, 934 00:38:47,943 --> 00:38:50,286 really starting at the age of about 3 or 4 935 00:38:50,295 --> 00:38:52,633 up through about 20, 21, 936 00:38:52,753 --> 00:38:55,061 um, who are s... struggling or dealing 937 00:38:55,088 --> 00:38:58,594 with issues related to what we call gender nonconformities. 938 00:38:58,639 --> 00:39:01,192 You know, so everyone that walks into our clinic, 939 00:39:01,470 --> 00:39:03,218 you know, meets a team of people: 940 00:39:03,240 --> 00:39:05,816 a medical provider, a mental-health provider 941 00:39:05,879 --> 00:39:07,753 and then our program support staff. 942 00:39:07,873 --> 00:39:09,465 I think that's not like a lot 943 00:39:09,494 --> 00:39:10,861 of other programs in the country. 944 00:39:10,869 --> 00:39:13,633 But we've been, like, training pediatric institutions 945 00:39:13,665 --> 00:39:16,181 and hospitals across the country to sort of help, 946 00:39:16,244 --> 00:39:18,256 um, better understand how to 947 00:39:18,449 --> 00:39:21,140 build a program like this and better care for these children. 948 00:39:21,181 --> 00:39:24,589 - Mm-hmm. - It's really about educating society at large 949 00:39:24,612 --> 00:39:28,358 that there is this fluidity of gender expression 950 00:39:28,380 --> 00:39:30,526 and that there is no gender binary, 951 00:39:30,548 --> 00:39:32,965 that there are a range of expressions and that, 952 00:39:33,137 --> 00:39:36,099 certainly for young kids and adolescents, that, 953 00:39:36,289 --> 00:39:38,120 you know, their identity, uh, 954 00:39:38,144 --> 00:39:40,168 can remain somewhat fluid. 955 00:39:40,788 --> 00:39:42,851 Have you met some of the kids? 'Cause they're, like, 956 00:39:42,971 --> 00:39:44,064 - amazing. - Oh, we're going to. 957 00:39:44,075 --> 00:39:45,187 - I mean, they're amazing. - Yeah. 958 00:39:45,215 --> 00:39:47,441 - Yeah. We can't wait, honestly. - Yeah. 959 00:39:47,973 --> 00:39:49,328 I mean, you won't even put me on. 960 00:39:49,363 --> 00:39:50,665 Once you meet these kids, it's like, 961 00:39:50,702 --> 00:39:51,971 why put the doctor on? 962 00:39:52,570 --> 00:39:53,487 - Hi. - Hi. 963 00:39:53,518 --> 00:39:55,978 - Hello. - Heather, who is 16, 964 00:39:56,098 --> 00:39:59,041 has been a patient at Lurie for the past 3 years 965 00:39:59,080 --> 00:40:02,189 and is transitioning with the full support of her family. 966 00:40:03,607 --> 00:40:05,857 Um, it, I think it'd be nice to maybe understand 967 00:40:05,866 --> 00:40:06,617 your childhood a little bit. 968 00:40:06,639 --> 00:40:07,566 What was your childhood like? 969 00:40:07,592 --> 00:40:09,474 Or what were some questions you were having? 970 00:40:09,671 --> 00:40:11,902 I guess I just remember being pretty much just, like, 971 00:40:11,924 --> 00:40:15,819 a really awkward little child. 972 00:40:15,841 --> 00:40:18,063 I guess, really... I didn't really 973 00:40:18,233 --> 00:40:20,416 ever thought of myself as, like, a boy. 974 00:40:20,429 --> 00:40:23,297 I just didn't really feel comfortable with who I am, 975 00:40:23,417 --> 00:40:25,381 especially with the people I was around. 976 00:40:25,577 --> 00:40:28,234 I was going through depression. 977 00:40:28,748 --> 00:40:32,205 When I was 13, I went to my, uh, mom. 978 00:40:32,214 --> 00:40:35,336 And I was like, I would really rather just 979 00:40:35,403 --> 00:40:38,062 more look like an everyday girl. 980 00:40:38,182 --> 00:40:39,563 - Mm. - I just felt more comfortable. 981 00:40:39,580 --> 00:40:41,583 It just felt right. 982 00:40:41,766 --> 00:40:44,516 My mind just felt at peace, where it's thinking of, 983 00:40:44,579 --> 00:40:46,385 "Yeah. I identify as a girl." 984 00:40:47,124 --> 00:40:49,405 When we first took her shopping a couple times, 985 00:40:49,427 --> 00:40:50,961 I was all excited to buy stuff. 986 00:40:51,081 --> 00:40:52,743 But she never likes anything that I like. 987 00:40:52,744 --> 00:40:54,801 She actually doesn't like that girly stuff. 988 00:40:54,837 --> 00:40:55,691 Right. Yeah. 989 00:40:55,704 --> 00:40:58,065 She gets stuff that's really shiny and, like, glossy. 990 00:40:58,101 --> 00:41:00,163 - It's like... - It's not your style. 991 00:41:00,337 --> 00:41:01,635 For me, it's just not for me. 992 00:41:01,670 --> 00:41:03,852 Like, I'm just... I'm just not that... 993 00:41:04,009 --> 00:41:05,573 I'm just not that type of girl. 994 00:41:05,641 --> 00:41:06,965 - Yeah, me neither. - Yeah. 995 00:41:06,979 --> 00:41:09,317 - Many different types of girls, yeah. - We have that in common, yeah. 996 00:41:09,344 --> 00:41:10,444 And so when... 997 00:41:10,513 --> 00:41:12,448 when you started talking to your parents about it, 998 00:41:12,482 --> 00:41:14,133 what was... what was your reaction? 999 00:41:14,571 --> 00:41:16,212 We... we were very supportive. 1000 00:41:16,230 --> 00:41:17,706 I read a few books. 1001 00:41:17,760 --> 00:41:19,521 As soon as I read the books, it seemed pretty clear. 1002 00:41:19,522 --> 00:41:21,041 It's like, "Okay. Well, let's... 1003 00:41:21,247 --> 00:41:22,755 How do we make you happy again?" 1004 00:41:23,224 --> 00:41:26,617 Being people of science, I... I don't believe in re... 1005 00:41:26,737 --> 00:41:28,419 a religion. I don't have that... 1006 00:41:28,576 --> 00:41:30,445 I don't have that luxury of having a faith. 1007 00:41:30,458 --> 00:41:32,140 So this is what makes you feel better. 1008 00:41:32,167 --> 00:41:33,700 It's clearly working. 1009 00:41:33,870 --> 00:41:37,353 It's clearly w... what... who she is on the inside. 1010 00:41:37,839 --> 00:41:39,405 And I guess I'm curious about 1011 00:41:39,607 --> 00:41:42,826 what you would say to someone that doesn't have supportive family 1012 00:41:42,835 --> 00:41:45,432 or friends and kinda feel alone. 1013 00:41:47,609 --> 00:41:49,366 It's just pretty much just, you know... 1014 00:41:49,416 --> 00:41:52,609 It's just, uh, hold on. 1015 00:41:52,631 --> 00:41:54,040 - You know? - Mm-hmm. 1016 00:41:59,151 --> 00:42:01,226 I feel like, if I was 1017 00:42:01,346 --> 00:42:03,382 and going through something like that or even just 1018 00:42:03,677 --> 00:42:05,045 being attracted to women, 1019 00:42:05,165 --> 00:42:08,000 A, I think I'd be a serious emotional mess; 1020 00:42:08,069 --> 00:42:11,242 B, hell no would I be letting strangers with cameras in. 1021 00:42:11,729 --> 00:42:14,953 Come in. The last time, we were talking a lot about 1022 00:42:14,976 --> 00:42:17,376 - your boyfriend coming up from Texas. - Right. 1023 00:42:17,445 --> 00:42:19,302 - Awesome. - Oh, we didn't hear about this. 1024 00:42:19,860 --> 00:42:22,476 I actually met a guy. 1025 00:42:22,513 --> 00:42:24,432 At first, I was kinda scared of telling him 1026 00:42:24,476 --> 00:42:26,185 that I was actually trans. 1027 00:42:26,254 --> 00:42:28,862 But having the experience of telling him that 1028 00:42:28,982 --> 00:42:32,060 and him being completely fine with it, I was like, "Wow. 1029 00:42:32,092 --> 00:42:33,764 Someone I actually have 1030 00:42:34,269 --> 00:42:37,277 full feelings for." But it's not, like, a family member, right? 1031 00:42:37,297 --> 00:42:39,717 It's a complete, like, different person has these, 1032 00:42:39,726 --> 00:42:41,063 like, strong feelings for me as well. 1033 00:42:41,094 --> 00:42:42,914 And then, that was, like, the start. 1034 00:42:42,945 --> 00:42:44,237 I was feeling... I was like, "You know what? 1035 00:42:44,357 --> 00:42:45,547 It really isn't a big deal." 1036 00:42:45,597 --> 00:42:47,331 It's like I shouldn't be hiding 1037 00:42:47,451 --> 00:42:49,227 myself for being who I am. 1038 00:42:49,933 --> 00:42:52,031 It's just radical to see young people 1039 00:42:52,045 --> 00:42:54,101 speak so openly and not be afraid. 1040 00:42:54,141 --> 00:42:55,188 - And it's just... - Yeah. 1041 00:42:55,215 --> 00:42:56,181 I wish I was open that young. Yeah. 1042 00:42:56,216 --> 00:42:57,348 - I do. - So much... 1043 00:42:57,362 --> 00:42:58,100 I would never be able to talk about it. 1044 00:42:58,140 --> 00:43:00,457 I would be appalled that they were even asking me that question, 1045 00:43:00,496 --> 00:43:02,975 you know, because I would be so closeted and afraid 1046 00:43:03,015 --> 00:43:04,603 and... and chained by it. So 1047 00:43:06,248 --> 00:43:07,192 we're learning. 1048 00:43:07,433 --> 00:43:09,495 - Thanks so much, Heather. - No problem. 1049 00:43:09,528 --> 00:43:11,387 - Think you're so awesome. - Thank you. 1050 00:43:11,436 --> 00:43:13,296 One, two, three. 1051 00:43:14,074 --> 00:43:14,968 Cute. 1052 00:43:16,274 --> 00:43:18,944 It's incredibly moving to see that, no matter what, 1053 00:43:18,971 --> 00:43:21,525 Heather's family loves and supports her. 1054 00:43:21,748 --> 00:43:24,123 But unfortunately, for many trans youth, 1055 00:43:24,203 --> 00:43:26,842 their journey of self-identity begins alone. 1056 00:43:26,879 --> 00:43:27,848 - Hey, Neil. - Hey, Neil. 1057 00:43:27,879 --> 00:43:29,967 - Neil is also getting treatment at Lurie... - Nice to meet you. 1058 00:43:30,016 --> 00:43:31,729 But does not have the support 1059 00:43:31,849 --> 00:43:33,973 or consent of his parents. 1060 00:43:35,213 --> 00:43:37,001 Maybe start by telling us how your family 1061 00:43:37,023 --> 00:43:38,905 feels about what you've been going through 1062 00:43:38,929 --> 00:43:40,673 and what you're going through now. 1063 00:43:40,879 --> 00:43:42,914 Um, so right now, both of my parents 1064 00:43:42,960 --> 00:43:44,184 are very unsupportive. 1065 00:43:44,354 --> 00:43:47,721 When I told my mom, she cried and blamed herself 1066 00:43:47,743 --> 00:43:50,092 because she thought it was because of her that I am 1067 00:43:50,212 --> 00:43:51,326 the way I am. 1068 00:43:51,898 --> 00:43:54,304 It's more of a surprise to me that... 1069 00:43:54,898 --> 00:43:56,854 that parents can be supportive and loving. 1070 00:43:56,896 --> 00:43:58,095 And people say that, 1071 00:43:58,215 --> 00:44:00,237 "Oh, you know, my mom did this thing for me." 1072 00:44:00,245 --> 00:44:01,126 And I'm like, 1073 00:44:01,627 --> 00:44:03,286 "Moms do that for you?" 1074 00:44:03,406 --> 00:44:05,987 Do you hope that, over time, they'll begin to understand 1075 00:44:06,004 --> 00:44:08,214 and, um... Or what are your... 1076 00:44:08,237 --> 00:44:09,529 what are your thoughts about that? 1077 00:44:09,605 --> 00:44:13,236 I personally don't feel like my parents 1078 00:44:13,258 --> 00:44:14,771 will ever adjust. 1079 00:44:14,802 --> 00:44:16,873 My mom says that, you know, the more I do this, 1080 00:44:16,917 --> 00:44:19,349 the more she's going to cut communication with me. 1081 00:44:19,407 --> 00:44:21,557 - So... - Mm. I'm so sorry. 1082 00:44:21,677 --> 00:44:22,572 Yeah. 1083 00:44:22,957 --> 00:44:25,340 Right now, what would you say is your biggest challenge? 1084 00:44:26,070 --> 00:44:28,295 The people around me have to try so hard 1085 00:44:28,305 --> 00:44:29,829 for me to make sure I'm happy. 1086 00:44:29,887 --> 00:44:31,694 And I have to try hard for myself 1087 00:44:31,708 --> 00:44:33,040 to make sure I'm happy. 1088 00:44:33,243 --> 00:44:34,291 Sometimes, 1089 00:44:34,814 --> 00:44:36,741 I'll feel that it's just easier 1090 00:44:36,809 --> 00:44:39,388 to just stop everything and give it up 1091 00:44:39,397 --> 00:44:42,961 and just live a life that people want me to. 1092 00:44:44,142 --> 00:44:45,752 But at the same time, 1093 00:44:46,056 --> 00:44:48,355 to imagine a life 1094 00:44:48,424 --> 00:44:50,819 where I can't be who I am 1095 00:44:51,553 --> 00:44:53,100 is, um, 1096 00:44:53,998 --> 00:44:56,297 definitely not a life I would ever like to live. 1097 00:44:56,365 --> 00:44:57,232 Mm-hmm. 1098 00:44:57,272 --> 00:44:59,164 People need to evolve to 1099 00:44:59,284 --> 00:45:01,508 respect you and love you for who you are. 1100 00:45:01,508 --> 00:45:03,353 That's just your right as a human. 1101 00:45:03,395 --> 00:45:05,733 And that's your right as a man. 1102 00:45:06,775 --> 00:45:08,497 You deserve to be happy. 1103 00:45:21,143 --> 00:45:22,650 We're in New York City, 1104 00:45:22,690 --> 00:45:24,586 a place where many young people 1105 00:45:24,591 --> 00:45:27,627 create their own families and support systems. 1106 00:45:27,886 --> 00:45:30,627 These communities, in expressing their identity, 1107 00:45:30,663 --> 00:45:34,669 created powerful movements in queer art and pop culture. 1108 00:45:34,826 --> 00:45:37,996 One of the most prominent of which is voguing. 1109 00:45:38,000 --> 00:45:41,439 It came out of the 1980s Harlem Ballroom Scene. 1110 00:45:41,559 --> 00:45:43,889 This highly stylized dance battle 1111 00:45:43,921 --> 00:45:46,720 grew into a worldwide cultural phenomenon 1112 00:45:46,801 --> 00:45:49,435 and brought with it mainstream exposure 1113 00:45:49,457 --> 00:45:51,367 for the gay and trans community. 1114 00:45:52,798 --> 00:45:54,246 So we are here in New York, 1115 00:45:54,278 --> 00:45:55,995 checking out a classic vogue night. 1116 00:45:56,026 --> 00:45:58,312 But first, we have to pregame in Brooklyn 1117 00:45:58,347 --> 00:46:00,865 with our host for the night, CUNTMAFIA. 1118 00:46:00,985 --> 00:46:03,700 They are a collective of queer artists and musicians 1119 00:46:03,718 --> 00:46:06,826 making waves in New York's underground party scene. 1120 00:46:06,946 --> 00:46:10,493 It's that fine line between fagottery and thuggery. 1121 00:46:10,506 --> 00:46:13,028 ♪ Watch me eat a bitch, eat a bitch, eat a bitch ♪ 1122 00:46:13,605 --> 00:46:14,378 - Hi. - Hi. 1123 00:46:14,392 --> 00:46:15,380 - Hello. - Hey. 1124 00:46:15,398 --> 00:46:17,687 Welcome to the Cunt Château. 1125 00:46:17,741 --> 00:46:20,021 What's up, bitches? Contessa. 1126 00:46:20,060 --> 00:46:21,367 - Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you. Wow. 1127 00:46:21,394 --> 00:46:23,173 - You look lovely. - Thank you so much. 1128 00:46:23,245 --> 00:46:25,279 I... I think, really, what would be cool to know 1129 00:46:25,302 --> 00:46:26,862 is, for people that don't know about voguing... 1130 00:46:26,906 --> 00:46:28,051 - Yeah. - Like, what is it, 1131 00:46:28,082 --> 00:46:29,544 what its significance is. 1132 00:46:29,580 --> 00:46:31,417 Well, voguing is really important to the, um, 1133 00:46:31,444 --> 00:46:33,210 LGBT people of color because, 1134 00:46:33,246 --> 00:46:35,876 I guess, if you get banned from, like, playing at the Olympics, 1135 00:46:35,912 --> 00:46:37,016 you make your own Olympics 1136 00:46:37,016 --> 00:46:37,883 - because a lot of kids... - Yeah. 1137 00:46:37,892 --> 00:46:39,671 They come out. They get disowned. And that's where they go. 1138 00:46:39,689 --> 00:46:42,234 They go to the ballroom scene. That's why you have houses. 1139 00:46:42,269 --> 00:46:44,854 They... they become family. It's bigger than just voguing. 1140 00:46:44,863 --> 00:46:46,401 They use that to get away 1141 00:46:46,428 --> 00:46:48,508 from all that extra dumb shit 'cause it's like... 1142 00:46:48,552 --> 00:46:50,153 - Right. - Sometimes, it's really hard, you know? 1143 00:46:50,180 --> 00:46:53,284 But the underground is also not becoming so underground anymore 1144 00:46:53,307 --> 00:46:55,489 'cause, even if you look at a lot of, like, the celebrities, 1145 00:46:55,609 --> 00:46:57,349 they look like underground artists anyway. 1146 00:46:57,394 --> 00:47:00,264 A lot of people that's even from the straight scene are, like, 1147 00:47:00,309 --> 00:47:02,151 - stealing from the gay scene and, like... - Right. 1148 00:47:02,191 --> 00:47:04,337 Taking words, taking fashion. 1149 00:47:04,378 --> 00:47:05,374 The scene's really important 1150 00:47:05,401 --> 00:47:06,774 because it does influence a lot of artists. 1151 00:47:06,819 --> 00:47:08,459 - It influences artists. - Because of the fashion. 1152 00:47:08,473 --> 00:47:10,615 I can see that, if... if I'm Rihanna, 1153 00:47:10,669 --> 00:47:12,565 - which I'm not, that... - Bitch, you could be! 1154 00:47:12,577 --> 00:47:14,532 We got... we got makeup in the back 1155 00:47:14,573 --> 00:47:16,434 - if you wanna get Rihanna. - Oh, maybe I will be tonight. 1156 00:47:16,487 --> 00:47:18,553 Wait till it's 1 a.m., and you better watch out. 1157 00:47:22,509 --> 00:47:23,873 You should do... you should do runway. 1158 00:47:23,940 --> 00:47:25,912 Okay. So start in the bathroom. 1159 00:47:25,993 --> 00:47:27,115 What's your house name? 1160 00:47:27,168 --> 00:47:28,349 Oh, my god. I don't know. Give me a hand. 1161 00:47:28,398 --> 00:47:30,285 We gonna call you Vanilla, Vanilla Ebony. 1162 00:47:30,339 --> 00:47:32,311 ♪ Introducing Vanilla Ebony ♪ 1163 00:47:32,315 --> 00:47:33,657 ♪ Bring it to the floor like this ♪ 1164 00:47:34,095 --> 00:47:35,928 ♪ Bring it to the floor like that ♪ 1165 00:47:36,048 --> 00:47:37,739 ♪ Bring it to the floor like this ♪ 1166 00:47:37,918 --> 00:47:39,457 ♪ Bring it to the floor like that ♪ 1167 00:47:39,497 --> 00:47:42,071 - ♪ Vanilla, Vanilla, Vanilla ♪ - I did a twist. 1168 00:47:55,485 --> 00:47:57,940 We gotta get some energy in here, clap y'all! 1169 00:47:57,976 --> 00:47:59,737 Bring the energy up! 1170 00:48:00,546 --> 00:48:03,106 Tonight's competition is for the fresh blood. 1171 00:48:05,724 --> 00:48:07,423 Each contestant will be judged 1172 00:48:07,458 --> 00:48:09,368 on the basic elements of voguing: 1173 00:48:09,966 --> 00:48:11,039 cat walk, 1174 00:48:11,814 --> 00:48:13,195 duck walk, 1175 00:48:13,597 --> 00:48:15,288 hand performance, 1176 00:48:15,355 --> 00:48:16,521 floor performance, 1177 00:48:16,785 --> 00:48:18,529 spins and dips. 1178 00:48:22,236 --> 00:48:23,650 ♪... London town going round for round ♪ 1179 00:48:23,708 --> 00:48:24,853 ♪ And the telly got you jelly ♪ 1180 00:48:24,893 --> 00:48:26,780 ♪ Really getting mines if you ain't know already ♪ 1181 00:48:26,807 --> 00:48:28,390 ♪ Bad bitches on call cause I run that ♪ 1182 00:48:28,421 --> 00:48:30,272 ♪ Bad bitches on deck where your funds at ♪ 1183 00:48:30,312 --> 00:48:32,021 ♪ Call you my little sis cause I done that ♪ 1184 00:48:32,061 --> 00:48:34,105 ♪ And everything I get I know you really, really want that ♪ 1185 00:48:34,225 --> 00:48:36,581 The voguer with the highest overall score 1186 00:48:36,613 --> 00:48:39,121 gets the trophy and the bragging rights. 1187 00:48:39,859 --> 00:48:41,285 ♪ How'd this bitch get back in the mix ♪ 1188 00:48:41,468 --> 00:48:43,467 ♪ I will break my fast just to eat this bitch ♪ 1189 00:48:44,711 --> 00:48:47,126 Activism isn't always political. 1190 00:48:47,179 --> 00:48:50,175 It's how you create family, how you create community, 1191 00:48:50,197 --> 00:48:53,175 how you come together and empower one another. 1192 00:48:53,229 --> 00:48:54,459 That's activism. 1193 00:48:58,692 --> 00:49:02,485 Our last stop is the place I call home, Los Angeles. 1194 00:49:02,923 --> 00:49:05,459 It's a city known for its wealth and glamour. 1195 00:49:05,678 --> 00:49:07,990 But it also has the largest chronically 1196 00:49:08,012 --> 00:49:09,966 homeless population in the country. 1197 00:49:10,507 --> 00:49:11,975 And of the homeless youth, 1198 00:49:15,803 --> 00:49:18,120 The Los Angeles LGBT Center 1199 00:49:18,133 --> 00:49:21,784 is the world's largest provider of programs and services 1200 00:49:21,806 --> 00:49:23,796 dedicated to the queer community 1201 00:49:23,859 --> 00:49:25,357 and has been leading the charge 1202 00:49:25,393 --> 00:49:28,965 in helping LGBTQ youth get off the streets. 1203 00:49:29,171 --> 00:49:31,125 You know, L.A. sort of has the dubious distinction 1204 00:49:31,129 --> 00:49:33,423 of being the homeless youth capital of the country. 1205 00:49:33,543 --> 00:49:34,755 And there's a couple reasons for that. 1206 00:49:34,791 --> 00:49:37,389 One is the weather here is better than, you know, 1207 00:49:37,420 --> 00:49:38,784 - any place where it snows. - Mm-hmm. 1208 00:49:38,789 --> 00:49:40,537 And the other is that there's sort of these ideas 1209 00:49:40,569 --> 00:49:42,071 that kids are gonna come here and be discovered 1210 00:49:42,089 --> 00:49:43,789 and sort of the Hollywood glamour, which is 1211 00:49:43,995 --> 00:49:46,507 obviously not the case for most of our clients. 1212 00:49:46,627 --> 00:49:48,346 So oftentimes, what will happen: 1213 00:49:48,377 --> 00:49:51,100 These kids will get off the bus with everything they own, 1214 00:49:51,122 --> 00:49:52,181 typically in backpack. 1215 00:49:52,195 --> 00:49:54,887 And within that first week, they are likely to be beaten, 1216 00:49:54,918 --> 00:49:56,457 robbed of all of their possessions. 1217 00:49:56,466 --> 00:49:59,064 They are likely to have done drugs for the very first time. 1218 00:49:59,100 --> 00:50:01,787 And they are likely to have performed their first act of survival sex, 1219 00:50:01,818 --> 00:50:04,764 which is typically not for money, even. 1220 00:50:04,782 --> 00:50:07,443 It's for food or for a place to stay. 1221 00:50:07,523 --> 00:50:10,166 To give you sort of a sense of the scale of the problem, 1222 00:50:10,201 --> 00:50:12,523 there are about 200 beds in L.A. County 1223 00:50:12,554 --> 00:50:15,836 that are specifically funded for youth in general. 1224 00:50:15,872 --> 00:50:17,930 So if there are 6,000 kids on the street, 1225 00:50:17,956 --> 00:50:21,167 the need so dramatically outstrips the resources... 1226 00:50:21,185 --> 00:50:22,583 - Mm-hmm. - that we're able to bring. 1227 00:50:23,438 --> 00:50:26,648 We wanna get a better idea of the scope of the issue. 1228 00:50:26,697 --> 00:50:29,330 We're meeting with young people who've sought refuge here 1229 00:50:29,366 --> 00:50:32,563 to find out what forces pushed them out of their homes. 1230 00:50:32,835 --> 00:50:35,196 Where I came from, it was very, like, 1231 00:50:35,316 --> 00:50:37,071 I guess you would say a redneck town. 1232 00:50:37,880 --> 00:50:39,593 Um, my stepdad would always be like, 1233 00:50:39,615 --> 00:50:41,556 "It's Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." 1234 00:50:42,262 --> 00:50:44,395 And so I got kicked out. 1235 00:50:44,664 --> 00:50:47,874 But then, I ended up getting into, um, to drugs. 1236 00:50:47,994 --> 00:50:50,140 Everything that I've wanted, you know, 1237 00:50:50,181 --> 00:50:52,434 was to stop hurting, to stop the pain and feel loved. 1238 00:50:52,470 --> 00:50:54,930 And I just didn't know how to do it besides drugs. 1239 00:50:55,784 --> 00:50:59,719 My mom was physically, emotionally abusive. 1240 00:50:59,839 --> 00:51:04,692 And it does put such a strain 1241 00:51:04,812 --> 00:51:06,834 tolerating that kind of stuff, you know? 1242 00:51:08,797 --> 00:51:10,326 - I know. Yeah. - Mm. 1243 00:51:10,402 --> 00:51:12,978 Like, thinking that you have somebody 1244 00:51:13,684 --> 00:51:15,598 when you have had nobody... 1245 00:51:17,535 --> 00:51:18,626 Being here at the Center, 1246 00:51:18,675 --> 00:51:20,678 I get, like, depressed a little bit. 1247 00:51:20,687 --> 00:51:23,933 Everybody comes there. And a lot of them are on drugs. 1248 00:51:23,973 --> 00:51:26,584 Meth is so prevalent here. And it's, like, really... 1249 00:51:26,642 --> 00:51:28,229 It's so easy to get to. 1250 00:51:28,386 --> 00:51:30,559 Because there is a lot of sex work out here. 1251 00:51:30,594 --> 00:51:32,477 - Yeah. - So they do do it to, kind of, 1252 00:51:32,638 --> 00:51:34,047 - numb themselves. - Not... 1253 00:51:34,065 --> 00:51:35,782 Yeah, numb themselves so they don't... 1254 00:51:35,960 --> 00:51:38,420 Because, like, having to do sex work... 1255 00:51:38,470 --> 00:51:41,000 I've honestly done it. And it's, like... 1256 00:51:41,054 --> 00:51:42,422 it's not something that I wanna, 1257 00:51:42,435 --> 00:51:44,327 - like, have to do again. - Yeah. 1258 00:51:44,331 --> 00:51:46,066 But, and, like, feeling it 1259 00:51:46,088 --> 00:51:47,162 and all the emotions rushing to you 1260 00:51:47,202 --> 00:51:48,619 while you're doing it's kind of, 1261 00:51:48,678 --> 00:51:50,274 like, such a sad thing to go through. 1262 00:51:54,433 --> 00:51:56,745 Right now, we're headed to the food line. 1263 00:51:58,100 --> 00:51:59,566 - And... - Yeah. 1264 00:51:59,686 --> 00:52:00,826 - Who's this? - This is my... 1265 00:52:00,862 --> 00:52:02,253 this is my cousin Tink. 1266 00:52:02,334 --> 00:52:04,216 She was one of the first people 1267 00:52:04,336 --> 00:52:05,777 that, when I was first in L.A. 1268 00:52:05,813 --> 00:52:07,199 and I was on the streets, 1269 00:52:07,387 --> 00:52:09,507 she really helped educate me. 1270 00:52:09,757 --> 00:52:12,525 When I got out here, like, a lot of stuff that I know now 1271 00:52:12,865 --> 00:52:14,161 I didn't know then. 1272 00:52:14,202 --> 00:52:17,070 You have to roll with the punches or you're knocked down. 1273 00:52:17,115 --> 00:52:19,100 I've been struggling, doing bad, like, lately. 1274 00:52:19,132 --> 00:52:20,903 - I'm on the streets every day. Like... - Okay. 1275 00:52:21,060 --> 00:52:22,701 Is this part of your daily routine? 1276 00:52:22,759 --> 00:52:24,163 Yes and no. 1277 00:52:24,212 --> 00:52:26,988 Okay, 'cause, like, the way I support myself, personally... 1278 00:52:27,050 --> 00:52:28,271 I don't think I should stand out here. 1279 00:52:28,316 --> 00:52:29,161 Like I said, I'm a runner. 1280 00:52:29,210 --> 00:52:32,868 - Like, so it's easier at nighttime to disappear. - Book it. 1281 00:52:33,199 --> 00:52:35,573 Usually, this is a area, 1282 00:52:35,900 --> 00:52:38,600 this gathering, to make money. 1283 00:52:38,814 --> 00:52:40,479 - Mm-hmm. - So then, tonight, what would you... 1284 00:52:40,530 --> 00:52:42,084 - What's your plan? - I go to the beach. 1285 00:52:42,106 --> 00:52:44,887 - You go to the beach? - Yeah. I sleep right next to the water. 1286 00:52:45,576 --> 00:52:47,123 We're... we're lucky that you gave us 1287 00:52:47,145 --> 00:52:48,960 such access into your life. 1288 00:52:49,256 --> 00:52:52,412 No one asks this stuff from me. No one cares. 1289 00:52:52,647 --> 00:52:54,458 That you guys are even trying to get our... 1290 00:52:54,475 --> 00:52:56,224 our point of view... 1291 00:52:57,235 --> 00:53:00,517 These young people have had to grow up too fast. 1292 00:53:00,769 --> 00:53:02,776 Even with the cultural sea change 1293 00:53:02,803 --> 00:53:04,737 of the Supreme Court decision, 1294 00:53:04,857 --> 00:53:07,990 many queer youth in America are still cast out 1295 00:53:08,348 --> 00:53:10,812 and find themselves living on the margins, 1296 00:53:11,270 --> 00:53:13,143 hidden in plain sight. 1297 00:53:20,661 --> 00:53:24,131 I do think kids in small towns still, to this day... 1298 00:53:24,193 --> 00:53:27,060 It's hard to meet a friend and talk about being LGBT. 1299 00:53:27,092 --> 00:53:28,625 Your family puts the fear in you 1300 00:53:28,659 --> 00:53:29,973 that you shouldn't be talking about it. 1301 00:53:30,017 --> 00:53:32,393 It's really behind closed doors. 1302 00:53:32,397 --> 00:53:34,170 It feels like walking on eggshells. 1303 00:53:34,176 --> 00:53:35,199 - You know? - Mm-hmm. 1304 00:53:35,221 --> 00:53:37,004 Someone's just gonna be like, "Oh," 1305 00:53:37,054 --> 00:53:38,239 - you know? - Yeah. 1306 00:53:39,491 --> 00:53:42,029 The good news is, we are at an exciting time, 1307 00:53:42,051 --> 00:53:43,992 where more people are feeling empowered 1308 00:53:44,036 --> 00:53:47,089 to represent their experience on their own terms. 1309 00:53:47,525 --> 00:53:51,085 We're meeting Rocco Kayiatos and Amos Mac, 1310 00:53:51,102 --> 00:53:52,790 founders of "Original Plumbing," 1311 00:53:52,802 --> 00:53:56,817 a magazine dedicated to trans men and their stories. 1312 00:53:57,566 --> 00:53:59,483 Why is there not as much 1313 00:53:59,522 --> 00:54:03,005 attention or representation for the trans male community? 1314 00:54:03,022 --> 00:54:05,363 - I ask that question constantly. - That's the golden question. 1315 00:54:05,402 --> 00:54:07,465 And to me, it's rooted in misogyny. 1316 00:54:07,585 --> 00:54:09,349 I mean, at this moment, I don't feel upset 1317 00:54:09,366 --> 00:54:11,859 that I'm not represented in mainstream media. 1318 00:54:11,881 --> 00:54:13,704 I actually feel really grateful that 1319 00:54:13,824 --> 00:54:15,986 trans women, of color specifically, 1320 00:54:15,996 --> 00:54:20,466 are given a platform 'cause I'm not facing the same struggles. 1321 00:54:20,505 --> 00:54:23,288 I get to assimilate into society in a way that's, like, 1322 00:54:23,408 --> 00:54:25,419 - a white straight man, you know? - Mm-hmm. 1323 00:54:25,469 --> 00:54:27,898 Uh, that's... Obviously, that's not how I identify. 1324 00:54:27,940 --> 00:54:30,159 But that's how I'm read and observed. 1325 00:54:30,159 --> 00:54:33,429 But I feel like a big fear is, like, am I a real person? 1326 00:54:33,496 --> 00:54:36,428 That's just, like, a baseline fear I have on a regular basis. 1327 00:54:36,495 --> 00:54:37,842 What if someone finds out? 1328 00:54:37,850 --> 00:54:39,876 Which feels archaic at this point 'cause, like... 1329 00:54:39,903 --> 00:54:41,204 I still have that fear too, like, even though... 1330 00:54:41,236 --> 00:54:42,958 - Yeah. - Like, of not... not being out 1331 00:54:42,998 --> 00:54:45,180 in one of my jobs and just... Just feeling like, 1332 00:54:45,381 --> 00:54:46,865 what will happen if people do find out? 1333 00:54:46,888 --> 00:54:48,386 How will they treat me differently? How will they see me? 1334 00:54:48,553 --> 00:54:50,311 I know, immediately, they'll think about my genitals. 1335 00:54:50,338 --> 00:54:51,263 - Like, that's what... - Always. 1336 00:54:51,290 --> 00:54:52,617 Goes through my mind. But it's just... 1337 00:54:52,657 --> 00:54:53,901 A fear of, like, being treated 1338 00:54:53,932 --> 00:54:55,685 differently and being seen as... 1339 00:54:55,805 --> 00:54:57,281 - A freak. - Freak. 1340 00:54:57,822 --> 00:55:00,028 On some level, we all share that experience of, 1341 00:55:00,057 --> 00:55:01,729 like, "I'm gonna act like something I'm not." 1342 00:55:02,181 --> 00:55:04,716 Even, like, growing up in... in Indiana, 1343 00:55:04,756 --> 00:55:06,335 if I could've acted like I wanted to, 1344 00:55:06,344 --> 00:55:07,537 I would be, like, sashaying. 1345 00:55:07,577 --> 00:55:08,914 You know, I probably would. 1346 00:55:08,995 --> 00:55:11,045 But instead, I'm like, "I'm gonna have to walk like this." 1347 00:55:11,048 --> 00:55:11,732 Yeah. 1348 00:55:11,790 --> 00:55:12,586 "I'm gonna have to talk like this. 1349 00:55:12,626 --> 00:55:13,990 - My voice is gonna get a little deeper." - Mm-hmm. 1350 00:55:13,994 --> 00:55:15,885 And when people would ask me if I'm gay, I'd be like, 1351 00:55:15,890 --> 00:55:17,991 "What did you just say?" 1352 00:55:18,023 --> 00:55:19,998 Like, you run off, you know? 1353 00:55:20,002 --> 00:55:21,800 And... and you just don't acknowledge it. 1354 00:55:21,800 --> 00:55:22,869 And, um, 1355 00:55:23,307 --> 00:55:25,797 and I feel like I still go through that today. 1356 00:55:26,794 --> 00:55:29,402 As a result of navigating the world 1357 00:55:29,451 --> 00:55:32,689 as a queer person who is trying to figure out 1358 00:55:32,693 --> 00:55:34,267 how to be safe at all times 1359 00:55:34,281 --> 00:55:37,465 and that your relationship to others is conditional 1360 00:55:37,585 --> 00:55:42,471 upon how you present yourself really creates barriers. 1361 00:55:42,717 --> 00:55:45,411 But when you are a queer kid and you know that you're queer 1362 00:55:45,439 --> 00:55:47,373 and if you're able to remove all of that 1363 00:55:47,396 --> 00:55:49,162 and you're able to understand how you are, 1364 00:55:49,213 --> 00:55:50,736 like, unique and special 1365 00:55:50,750 --> 00:55:51,963 - and lovable. - Mm. 1366 00:55:52,002 --> 00:55:54,831 And that grants you access to finding 1367 00:55:55,028 --> 00:55:56,759 healthy relationships. 1368 00:56:01,937 --> 00:56:04,347 Amos and Rocco have created a magazine 1369 00:56:04,356 --> 00:56:06,596 for anyone to express themselves freely. 1370 00:56:07,222 --> 00:56:10,315 But these safe spaces didn't always exist. 1371 00:56:10,728 --> 00:56:13,948 We're gonna talk to those who remember a different time. 1372 00:56:15,410 --> 00:56:19,595 There are nearly 3 million queer retirees in America. 1373 00:56:19,760 --> 00:56:22,176 And LGBTQ retirement communities 1374 00:56:22,176 --> 00:56:24,228 are cropping up all over the country. 1375 00:56:24,626 --> 00:56:27,746 We're meeting seniors at one such home here in L.A. 1376 00:56:27,773 --> 00:56:30,881 to find out what it's like to be what some call, 1377 00:56:31,001 --> 00:56:34,042 "The first generation of Americans to come out." 1378 00:56:34,311 --> 00:56:35,862 I think, though, for the most part, people, 1379 00:56:35,862 --> 00:56:36,721 if you had told them, 1380 00:56:36,738 --> 00:56:38,638 "Oh, we're going to LGBT retirement community." 1381 00:56:38,645 --> 00:56:41,215 They'd be like, "Oh, right, like of course." 1382 00:56:41,228 --> 00:56:42,752 "It never occurred to me before." 1383 00:56:42,775 --> 00:56:44,554 - Yeah. - Like, yeah, we all age. 1384 00:56:44,572 --> 00:56:45,346 Yeah. 1385 00:56:45,954 --> 00:56:47,852 - They need a place, yeah. - Should we, uh, go up? 1386 00:56:48,350 --> 00:56:50,000 This is so nice, honestly. 1387 00:56:50,120 --> 00:56:52,370 Our job is to really help people stay here 1388 00:56:52,401 --> 00:56:54,772 as long as possible 'cause there's so much trauma 1389 00:56:54,803 --> 00:56:56,699 for older adults if they have to move. 1390 00:56:56,757 --> 00:56:58,514 And we certainly don't want our seniors to have to move, 1391 00:56:58,550 --> 00:57:00,522 you know, to assisted living or a nursing home 1392 00:57:00,563 --> 00:57:02,584 and feel like they have to go back in the closet. 1393 00:57:05,409 --> 00:57:06,885 - Hi, Ed. - Hey. 1394 00:57:06,907 --> 00:57:08,472 - Hi. - Hi. Wow. 1395 00:57:08,541 --> 00:57:09,907 - This is nice. - Decorations. 1396 00:57:10,027 --> 00:57:12,215 And I have more pictures in the bathroom. 1397 00:57:12,291 --> 00:57:13,877 This is amazing. 1398 00:57:14,120 --> 00:57:15,064 - This thing. - Wow. 1399 00:57:15,091 --> 00:57:16,705 Oh, that's my gay fish. 1400 00:57:17,609 --> 00:57:19,259 I... I think what would be amazing 1401 00:57:19,286 --> 00:57:21,142 would be to hear your perspective 1402 00:57:21,169 --> 00:57:23,293 of what it was like growing up. 1403 00:57:23,512 --> 00:57:25,917 I... I knew that I liked same-sex. 1404 00:57:26,114 --> 00:57:27,867 But there was no words for it back then. 1405 00:57:27,898 --> 00:57:30,474 And you couldn't express it. You couldn't talk about it. 1406 00:57:30,658 --> 00:57:32,339 So you had to live a double life. 1407 00:57:32,531 --> 00:57:34,047 I mean, you could get arrested at that time. 1408 00:57:34,066 --> 00:57:36,122 You could get arrest... Yes, 1409 00:57:36,171 --> 00:57:39,055 just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 1410 00:57:39,239 --> 00:57:41,036 And you could get beaten, 1411 00:57:41,295 --> 00:57:44,327 which has happened to me, unfortunately. 1412 00:57:44,447 --> 00:57:46,477 They had what they called the vice squad. 1413 00:57:46,597 --> 00:57:47,926 They were the police. 1414 00:57:47,939 --> 00:57:51,648 They dressed... the tight clothes, a tight pants showing, whatever, 1415 00:57:51,717 --> 00:57:54,622 to en... to entrap you is what... it was entrapment. 1416 00:57:54,742 --> 00:57:57,215 But slowly but surely, 1417 00:57:57,416 --> 00:58:00,048 it started getting better, and I felt more 1418 00:58:00,082 --> 00:58:02,005 like I could be myself out here. 1419 00:58:02,077 --> 00:58:05,996 And then I met my partner. 1420 00:58:06,281 --> 00:58:08,288 We ended up being together for 34 years. 1421 00:58:08,316 --> 00:58:09,171 - Oh, wow. - Wow. 1422 00:58:09,204 --> 00:58:11,579 - He passed away in 2002. - 2002? 1423 00:58:11,602 --> 00:58:12,619 - Yeah. - Sorry. 1424 00:58:12,658 --> 00:58:14,022 - Sorry to hear that, yeah. - Yeah. 1425 00:58:14,142 --> 00:58:16,459 So is this something you thought that you would see in your lifetime, 1426 00:58:16,470 --> 00:58:17,222 - a president... - Never. 1427 00:58:17,225 --> 00:58:19,786 - Talking about gay rights? - Never thought it'd ever happen. 1428 00:58:19,832 --> 00:58:21,978 - Wow. - Yeah, it's amazing. 1429 00:58:22,369 --> 00:58:24,899 We still have more to do... 1430 00:58:24,906 --> 00:58:27,278 But it's going in the right direction. 1431 00:58:27,493 --> 00:58:28,717 Who'd have thought it? 1432 00:58:32,279 --> 00:58:36,110 Our first game of the evening will be a regular bingo. 1433 00:58:36,189 --> 00:58:37,888 Woo! 1434 00:58:40,064 --> 00:58:42,643 - N45. - Yes. 1435 00:58:42,954 --> 00:58:44,557 Four-five. 1436 00:58:44,571 --> 00:58:46,338 Oh, my God. You're really close. 1437 00:58:46,458 --> 00:58:47,847 Get us that card, baby. 1438 00:58:48,334 --> 00:58:50,653 - O70, zero. - Bingo! 1439 00:58:50,773 --> 00:58:52,981 Aww. 1440 00:58:55,964 --> 00:58:57,161 Where'd you grow up? 1441 00:58:57,637 --> 00:58:58,592 Indiana originally. 1442 00:58:58,635 --> 00:59:00,295 - That's where I'm from. - Yeah. 1443 00:59:00,415 --> 00:59:02,728 So what was it like growing up in Indiana when you were young? 1444 00:59:03,025 --> 00:59:05,499 Well, I was bullied after they found out 1445 00:59:05,535 --> 00:59:07,582 - that I was a homosexual. - Yeah. 1446 00:59:07,587 --> 00:59:10,059 - There was no such word as gay. - Right. 1447 00:59:10,100 --> 00:59:13,122 And then I went to transform, to become 1448 00:59:13,310 --> 00:59:16,190 a woman. And I got dra... 1449 00:59:16,235 --> 00:59:18,599 - involved with drugs and everything. - Mm. 1450 00:59:18,666 --> 00:59:20,120 You know, and then getting in pro... 1451 00:59:20,142 --> 00:59:22,971 to prostitution and going to jail so many times. 1452 00:59:23,245 --> 00:59:25,570 And then, one day, I just finally decided 1453 00:59:25,587 --> 00:59:26,845 I can't take it anymore and left. 1454 00:59:26,901 --> 00:59:31,099 But I overcome that after I joined the Army. 1455 00:59:31,160 --> 00:59:32,888 - Ah. - Which I kept it secret, 1456 00:59:32,955 --> 00:59:35,140 you know, that... that I was who I was. 1457 00:59:35,260 --> 00:59:37,337 And so to be here, it just means that you can 1458 00:59:37,457 --> 00:59:39,025 - I can be myself. - live freely. 1459 00:59:39,059 --> 00:59:40,842 And where I was at before, for 30 years, 1460 00:59:40,847 --> 00:59:43,306 I was scared to walk down the hall to go outside. 1461 00:59:43,426 --> 00:59:46,780 This is my home, you know? And I love everybody here. 1462 00:59:47,200 --> 00:59:49,757 - And where are you from? - I was born in L.A., 1463 00:59:49,764 --> 00:59:53,550 and back then, it was very difficult. 1464 00:59:53,585 --> 00:59:56,370 I struggled as a kid with Mom and Dad 1465 00:59:57,030 --> 01:00:00,537 coming from Orthodox Jews. But God loves us 1466 01:00:00,537 --> 01:00:02,025 just the way that we are. 1467 01:00:02,145 --> 01:00:04,533 It doesn't matter how anybody else thinks. 1468 01:00:05,099 --> 01:00:07,223 It's okay to be who you are. 1469 01:00:07,343 --> 01:00:09,927 I was in a relationship for 36 years. 1470 01:00:09,983 --> 01:00:13,065 We raised a son together, so my son had two mommies. 1471 01:00:13,107 --> 01:00:14,260 Awesome. 1472 01:00:14,316 --> 01:00:17,082 And my other half passed away, 1473 01:00:17,124 --> 01:00:19,261 and then I met Nancy. 1474 01:00:19,317 --> 01:00:21,665 Oh, you guys are a couple? 1475 01:00:21,707 --> 01:00:23,145 - Yes. - Ah! 1476 01:00:23,265 --> 01:00:26,367 She's just been more than a friend to me. 1477 01:00:26,423 --> 01:00:29,539 I mean, she's just been there, you know, to pick up the pieces. 1478 01:00:29,853 --> 01:00:33,606 And, uh, and this place is such a safe haven 1479 01:00:33,641 --> 01:00:36,170 because if you live anywhere else, 1480 01:00:36,290 --> 01:00:39,090 you have to pretend to be somebody else. 1481 01:00:42,870 --> 01:00:46,437 It wasn't so long ago that to live openly as a gay 1482 01:00:46,469 --> 01:00:49,514 or trans American would be unimaginable. 1483 01:00:49,929 --> 01:00:51,655 Even though many of their partners 1484 01:00:51,659 --> 01:00:53,251 were unable to see this day, 1485 01:00:53,573 --> 01:00:56,242 our queer elders have seen enormous change 1486 01:00:56,260 --> 01:00:57,730 right before their eyes. 1487 01:00:58,116 --> 01:01:01,273 They've come from being considered criminals under the law, 1488 01:01:01,393 --> 01:01:03,229 to seeing their love celebrated 1489 01:01:03,349 --> 01:01:05,337 by the highest court in the land. 1490 01:01:05,515 --> 01:01:07,504 Where would I be without the passion 1491 01:01:07,532 --> 01:01:11,443 and determination of the generations that came before me? 1492 01:01:11,786 --> 01:01:12,966 Dennis, help me. 1493 01:01:13,046 --> 01:01:14,112 Woo-hoo! 1494 01:01:18,542 --> 01:01:21,297 Ian and I have come to the end of our journey, 1495 01:01:21,830 --> 01:01:24,530 but part of my motivation in doing this series 1496 01:01:24,539 --> 01:01:26,949 was to work through my own thoughts and feelings 1497 01:01:26,963 --> 01:01:29,055 about what it means to be gay in America. 1498 01:01:29,762 --> 01:01:31,564 Growing up, for me, 1499 01:01:31,815 --> 01:01:34,046 I started acting at a very young age, 1500 01:01:34,055 --> 01:01:36,434 and then, bam, I went from being 1501 01:01:36,503 --> 01:01:38,996 an anonymous person, to not an anonymous person. 1502 01:01:39,005 --> 01:01:40,548 And that's when it felt like, 1503 01:01:40,803 --> 01:01:42,726 "Hey, nobody can know you were gay." 1504 01:01:43,003 --> 01:01:45,149 It's not a nice way to live. 1505 01:01:45,333 --> 01:01:46,889 Who are you wearing? You look great. 1506 01:01:46,907 --> 01:01:48,633 Oh, thank you. I'm wearing Zach Posen. 1507 01:01:48,659 --> 01:01:50,278 - So pretty. - Oh, thanks. 1508 01:01:50,305 --> 01:01:51,879 - And your shoes? - Um, 1509 01:01:52,697 --> 01:01:53,936 I don't know. 1510 01:01:53,990 --> 01:01:55,367 Oh, you got to rehearse this stuff. 1511 01:01:55,421 --> 01:01:56,638 I'm just, you know, 1512 01:01:57,268 --> 01:01:58,587 I'm horrible. 1513 01:01:59,455 --> 01:02:02,219 And I feel like we met in a time where we were both feeling that 1514 01:02:02,259 --> 01:02:04,601 exploring about how to get through that 1515 01:02:04,721 --> 01:02:06,815 and how we bonded. 1516 01:02:07,034 --> 01:02:08,609 We were both going through something similar. 1517 01:02:08,644 --> 01:02:10,519 It's like we're both figuring out how to... 1518 01:02:10,541 --> 01:02:12,933 how to navigate our various, different worlds 1519 01:02:12,991 --> 01:02:14,798 with our sexuality in mind. 1520 01:02:14,846 --> 01:02:16,742 Ellen is my family, 1521 01:02:16,747 --> 01:02:20,346 and she's the friend that I have that I can talk about issues with. 1522 01:02:20,503 --> 01:02:22,626 You know, Ian will be my... my family for life, 1523 01:02:22,662 --> 01:02:23,596 no doubt on my mind. 1524 01:02:23,596 --> 01:02:24,553 - Mm-hmm. - You know? 1525 01:02:24,673 --> 01:02:27,200 And a big part of that, I think, is getting to 1526 01:02:27,468 --> 01:02:29,221 find a friend who, 1527 01:02:29,400 --> 01:02:30,938 together, you work through that. 1528 01:02:30,974 --> 01:02:32,991 That's a very, very, very special thing. 1529 01:02:34,059 --> 01:02:36,250 Loving other people starts with loving ourselves 1530 01:02:36,299 --> 01:02:37,806 and accepting ourselves. 1531 01:02:38,862 --> 01:02:41,362 And I know many of you have struggled with this. 1532 01:02:41,979 --> 01:02:45,319 And I draw upon your strength and your support 1533 01:02:45,499 --> 01:02:47,422 in ways that you will never know. 1534 01:02:49,832 --> 01:02:52,819 And I am here today because I am gay, 1535 01:02:54,097 --> 01:02:56,682 and because... 1536 01:03:07,062 --> 01:03:09,191 It was a moment that changed my life, 1537 01:03:09,710 --> 01:03:11,293 but I didn't do it alone. 1538 01:03:11,677 --> 01:03:13,519 Along with friends and family, 1539 01:03:13,551 --> 01:03:15,948 Kelly Bush Novak has been instrumental 1540 01:03:15,993 --> 01:03:18,327 in supporting me through this whole process. 1541 01:03:18,447 --> 01:03:19,668 So, Kelly Bush, 1542 01:03:20,562 --> 01:03:21,510 who are you? 1543 01:03:21,725 --> 01:03:24,194 You have a hair going like this on the side of your head. 1544 01:03:24,208 --> 01:03:27,056 She's my publicist and manager, clearly. 1545 01:03:27,333 --> 01:03:29,381 - Um... - Seriously, it's a big loop. 1546 01:03:29,422 --> 01:03:30,481 Thanks. 1547 01:03:30,911 --> 01:03:33,169 Kelly, why don't you just tell us a bit about yourself. 1548 01:03:33,209 --> 01:03:35,083 So I, um, 1549 01:03:35,607 --> 01:03:37,002 came out when I was 19, 1550 01:03:37,024 --> 01:03:39,555 told my family and all my friends immediately, 1551 01:03:39,573 --> 01:03:41,062 so I've always been out in my life. 1552 01:03:41,249 --> 01:03:43,271 And in terms of my business, 1553 01:03:43,284 --> 01:03:45,927 I happened to be in an industry where, 1554 01:03:45,936 --> 01:03:48,516 if you're an executive and you're gay, 1555 01:03:48,636 --> 01:03:50,237 - it's not an issue. - Mm. 1556 01:03:50,291 --> 01:03:51,641 So I never hid it, 1557 01:03:51,668 --> 01:03:53,850 and I'm very proud of my relationship 1558 01:03:53,890 --> 01:03:55,334 and proud of my family. 1559 01:03:55,540 --> 01:03:58,053 I felt like I've been a good example of a 1560 01:03:58,661 --> 01:04:00,834 successful person who happens to be gay. 1561 01:04:01,071 --> 01:04:03,208 So we met when I was 20? 1562 01:04:03,262 --> 01:04:05,743 - Um... - Yeah, 20. I was about to be 21. 1563 01:04:05,783 --> 01:04:06,781 I have to say, 1564 01:04:07,112 --> 01:04:08,485 you were a different person 1565 01:04:08,744 --> 01:04:10,770 than you are now. It's crazy, actually, 1566 01:04:11,007 --> 01:04:12,849 how much you've changed... 1567 01:04:12,969 --> 01:04:14,665 - Mm. - In particular since you came out. 1568 01:04:15,112 --> 01:04:17,651 I think what's an interesting conversation is your evolution. 1569 01:04:17,696 --> 01:04:20,253 - My visual is you like this... - Yeah. 1570 01:04:20,271 --> 01:04:21,156 Like, hiding. 1571 01:04:21,169 --> 01:04:24,362 To being like, you came out and something did totally change. 1572 01:04:24,384 --> 01:04:25,824 I remember even being overwhelmed 1573 01:04:25,860 --> 01:04:27,371 in that time because I was young. 1574 01:04:27,402 --> 01:04:29,212 I was still figuring out my own identity, 1575 01:04:29,243 --> 01:04:31,109 and people were writing about my sexuality. 1576 01:04:31,118 --> 01:04:32,920 It was just overwhelming for sure. 1577 01:04:33,040 --> 01:04:35,875 But that wouldn't be happening if there were more out 1578 01:04:36,139 --> 01:04:39,465 gay people, particularly young, out, gay people in Hollywood. 1579 01:04:39,519 --> 01:04:42,974 Yeah. But, also, you felt confident and ready to do that. 1580 01:04:43,002 --> 01:04:45,662 But in terms of Hollywood and being out, 1581 01:04:45,706 --> 01:04:48,295 it's still very new. 1582 01:04:48,415 --> 01:04:52,036 You were supported fully by everyone in your life and embraced. 1583 01:04:52,071 --> 01:04:54,289 And you are having, like, a very busy, 1584 01:04:54,329 --> 01:04:55,845 active career moment right now. 1585 01:04:55,872 --> 01:04:57,660 But in terms of long term, 1586 01:04:57,719 --> 01:04:59,418 will it have affected your career? 1587 01:04:59,432 --> 01:05:00,769 - We don't know. - Mm-hmm. 1588 01:05:00,782 --> 01:05:02,013 You know, we'll see. 1589 01:05:02,362 --> 01:05:03,480 We'll see. 1590 01:05:12,875 --> 01:05:14,963 I can't hold a surfboard like this 1591 01:05:14,994 --> 01:05:16,720 because my arms aren't long enough. 1592 01:05:16,787 --> 01:05:18,862 - I have to hold it... - Over your head. 1593 01:05:30,492 --> 01:05:32,415 Of course, there's still a long way to go. 1594 01:05:32,415 --> 01:05:34,763 That's very... that's very, very evident. 1595 01:05:37,002 --> 01:05:40,956 It does feel like this massive societal shift needs to happen, 1596 01:05:41,018 --> 01:05:43,460 which I'm hopeful will happen. 1597 01:05:44,171 --> 01:05:48,097 And it's because young people are moving past this. 1598 01:05:50,145 --> 01:05:52,501 And this noise and this political rhetoric 1599 01:05:52,560 --> 01:05:53,829 is going to disappear. 1600 01:05:53,879 --> 01:05:56,419 And if the politicians don't make it disappear, 1601 01:05:56,432 --> 01:05:57,765 they're going to disappear. 1602 01:06:00,578 --> 01:06:03,127 It can feel daunting with what we've seen, 1603 01:06:04,030 --> 01:06:07,115 but it does feel like love prevails. 1604 01:06:28,063 --> 01:06:31,788 - Synced and corrected by chamallow - - www.addic7ed.com -