Delve into a rich tapestry of stories and resources that highlight the unique experiences and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community, while celebrating diversity and resilience in the Capital Region.
Considering Matthew Shepard
In October of 1998, Matthew Shepard was beaten, tortured, and left to die. Twenty years later his legacy is remembered in a unique production that uses music, poetry and interviews and to explore a pivotal time in our history. When a hate crime is committed, what does it mean to be a victim, a parent, a community member, a perpetrator? How do we learn to find hope in hopeless situations?
Here and Queer: Local Stories of Identity
History of the LGBTQ movement in the Capital Region and a look at its contemporary issues.
Pride: In the Name of Love is an unadulterated look into minds of local 518 musicians and the bridge between music and identity. This ongoing series from WEXT highlights diverse musicians from all backgrounds in a unique and intimate storytelling experience. Join us for this edition as four queer musicians tell their stories each week in celebration of pride month.
Documentary: Casa Susanna
Casa Susanna was a refuge for transgender women and cross-dressing men in the 1950s-60s.
In the 1950s and ‘60s, an underground network of transgender women and cross-dressing men found refuge at a modest house in the Catskills region of New York. Known as Casa Susanna, the house provided a safe place for them to express their true selves and live for a few days as they had always dreamed.
Host Devin-Norelle (ze|zim) explores LGBTQ+ stories of triumph, transformation, and celebration in Brave Spaces. From book clubs and sports leagues to places of worship and the great outdoors, Devin- Norelle meets courageous heroes who, in the face of efforts to exclude Queer voices, are standing up to centuries of hate in order to shape a world where love always wins.
Homophobia is rampant in sports, but that has not stopped the LGBTQ+ community from competing. For decades, the Buffalo Historical Bowling League has been a striking example of a brave space where one’s own sexual and gender identity is not a barrier. Devin-Norelle meets with the team and explores how sports can be a game-changer for LGBTQ+ mental health.
For generations, LGBTQ+ stories have been the target of censorship efforts. Did you know that early organizing against obscenity laws to make LGBTQ+ stories accessible laid the foundation of the Queer Liberation Movement? Today, the Gray Wills Book Club in Buffalo, New York, is a brave space to examine book-banning efforts and how the power of literacy can reverse the effects of oppression on Black and Queer folk.
More Stories of Pride
Prideland
Follow queer actor Dyllón Burnside on a journey of LGBTQ discovery across the South.
True Colors: LGBTQ+ Our Stories, Our Songs
Celebrate Pride Month with music from LGBTQ+ artists and real-life stories of hope.
Stories from the Stage
There are all sorts of things people are proud of...even being true to who you are.
Origin of Everything
How did the New York City Stonewall Riots turn into a month-long celebration?