Queer Joy in Conversation

Queer Joy in Conversation Playlist

Queer Joy in Conversation: Emmett, Andrea, & Ahri

Emmett, Andrea, and Ahri sit down for a conversation on family and joy, as well as their journeys in finding—and making—them. They begin their story in 2017, which Ahri and Andrea describe as a hectic but fulfilling year when their family began to come together. Andrea and Emmett had met through their work in trans advocacy in Texas, with Ahri occasionally accompanying Emmett to the state Capitol in Austin.

Queer Joy in Conversation: HA:N UMC

Rev. Sulkiro Song, pastor of HA:N UMC, joins congregants Lia and Paul in a conversation about their faith, their experiences with the Korean American church, and their journeys in navigating what can often feel like an interstitial space between queer identity and Christianity.

Queer Joy in Conversation: The Bailar Family

Schuyler Bailar, an activist, entrepreneur, and swimmer who made history as the first transgender man to openly compete in Division I swimming, sits down with parents Terry Hong and Gregor Bailar in a conversation about queer advocacy, identity, and growth.

Queer Joy in Conversation: The Son Family

Diana Son, TV writer, producer, showrunner, and playwright, sits down with her three sons—Nate, Dash, and Wilder—for a conversation on family, love, and joy. Together, they reflect on Diana’s relationship with her partner Casey, and how that journey has intersected with their own growth as Korean American children of a queer parent.

Queer Joy in Conversaton: Sammy & Jiwon

Sammy and Jiwon first crossed paths in Brooklyn nightlife, leaving deep impressions on one another: radiant confidence, an ability to light up a room, and joy that was infectious.

Queer Joy in Conversation: Emmett, Andrea, & Ahri

Though Andrea says she initially didn’t want to “parent” Ahri, Emmett notes that, at times, the two of them are actually much closer to each other than to him! Both Emmett and Andrea speak about what being parents has been like, particularly in relation to the fields in which they work. Andrea recounts one episode after Ahri came out, when she thought her child was trying to make themself legible to the queer community by balancing how they’d be perceived against what felt most true for them—a kind of conformity that was heartbreaking.

Emmett adds that as parents, all they want is for Ahri to feel empowered as they pursue love and joy. He also reflects on a newfound intentionality in engaging with his Korean heritage as a parent—something that Houston, with its close-knit Korean communities, easily accommodates.

For all three, joy is what grounds both their work in organizing in the South and their life together as a family.

🌈 Queer Joy In Conversation invites audiences to sit in on intimate, interpersonal interviews with folks from the Korean American queer and trans community as they reflect upon the unique and shared journeys of finding queer joy in their lives. The second part to KAS’ Queer Joy series, this project aims to highlight the diverse, dynamic, and intersecting identities of the Korean American community; destigmatizing conversations around sexuality and gender. ❤️

Funding for this special Legacy Project series was made possible by The Reva and David Logan Foundation.

2nd gen adoptee LGBTQIA Queer Joy in Conversation