queer community

Episode #158: Cultivating Queer Community with Rainn Thomas

This is my fifth pride out as a queer person, and I would be lying if I said that I haven’t felt at a loss on how to being to find queer community. Part of queer-ness isn’t just going from thinking you’re straight to knowing you’re queer and then voila, you’ve got the queer life of your dreams. It’s a whirlwind of unpacking comp het, going through queer puberty (I used to scoff at the idea of this but it’s a thing), and finding where you feel the most at home and yourself in your queerness.

Not to mention getting your brain unf*cked from the patriarchy.

These are conversations I have in my own circles, often, and I’m so grateful to have someone like Rainn in my own life to learn from and converse with. And I’m even more stoked that they agreed to come on the pod for us to have one of these conversations with all of you.

If you aren’t familiar with Rainn (She/They), she is a Black lesbian artist and writer living in Chicago. She’s the Host and Co-Organizer of Fruit Salad, a monthly queer open mic. Her writing has appeared in several online publications, and her second poetry chapbook, “In our hands, citrus” will be released later this year. Her artwork has appeared at Co-Prosperity Sphere, The Whistler, The Robin in the Martin, and The Franklin.

Things we talk about in todays episode:

  • how the fuck to make queer friends

  • their queer timeline and how she’s navigated all things non monogamy, internalized homophobia and de-escalations in their relationships

  • why lesbianism means so much to her

  • how to know where you belong

  • local artist & queer community, and the way she’s personally contributing to it with Fruit Salad

  • all things chosen family, sapphic love, power dynamics in relationships and beyond


ALL THINGS BEDUCATED:

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Rainn’s Instagram

Fruit Salad | Dorothy Downstairs | The Martin

Fucking Queer Merch - use code QUEERDO for 15% off

WORK, SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH AMANDA:

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Episode #152: Ambiamory & Finding Your Authentic Path In A Binary World

I dropped the “I don’t identify as polyamorous anymore” bomb a few months ago & I’m finally sharing the behind the scenes of why I arrived there. I promise you, it’s not what many folks think.

So let’s get the fuck into it, bbs.

Some things I talk about in todays episode:

  • The mess and the magic of sifting through identity markers to figure out who the fuck you are

  • My own process of feeling seen within the label of ambiamory and what it means

  • The collective cry around breaking the binary, and what that has looked like for my own journey

  • My unique timeline of queer liberation, relationship anarchy, demisexuality, divorce & coming home to my deepest knowing

  • Critical thinking & navigating the nuance of humanity

  • Sifting through the balance of rejecting, at my core, the patriarchy & capitalism while finding ways to flow within the structures we currently have to operate within

  • Witchy astrology queer shit, somatic healing, trauma and nervous system recovery, gender fluidity & expression and beyond.

LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAYS EPISODE:

Who I am Updated Instagram post

Ambiamory definition

Episode 151: Let’s Talk Relationship Anarchy

Episode 134: I’m Addicted To You Don’t You Know That You’re Toxic Monogamy

WORK & CONNECT WITH AMANDA:

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