S3: E42: Pitchforks and Tiki Torches with Fae Johnstone

07/10/23 • 36 min

"Once you get in the room, it is actually a hell of a lot harder for them to kick you out of it."

In our final episode of season three, we are finishing off with a powerhouse of a guest. Fae Johnstone (They/She) is Executive Director and Co-Owner of Wisdom2Action (W2A). She is an experienced community engagement expert, diversity and inclusion consultant, and project manager. Over her past two years working with W2A, Fae has led local, provincial, and national initiatives focused on 2SLGBTQ+ community health and wellness, youth mental health, meaningful community engagement, and gender-based violence. Also, she's been on a chocolate bar.

"We are having to wake up to how precarious our progress is."

After having her likeness depicted Hershey's chocolate bars a part of their International Women's Day promotion, Fae became the focal point of an international boycott targeting Hershey's. The homophobic and transphobic vitriol exploded from the far-right ecosystem online, only 72 hours after sharing a post to her Twitter. In the following days and weeks, Fae's face, name, and entire life story was published online and being picked apart by the likes of Rebel News and Tucker Carlson.

In today's conversation, we hear all about this tumultuous time in Fae's life, reflecting on what her experience says about anti-trans conspiracies fomenting in far-right circles here in Canada. Even in the face of unbelievable adversity, Fae continues her essential work as a key voice for Queer and Trans rights in Canada today.

Hey, Cis! Connected Communities Moment - Thriveworks:

This summer, Thriveworks will be connecting with rural communities across Atlantic Canada to talk about 2SLGBTQIA+ career opportunities. We want to hear from you what it is that you need to achieve your career goals, so reach out to us on our social media to share your thoughts!

Find us on:

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SimplyGoodForm/)
Twitter (@simplygoodform)
Instagram (@simplygoodform)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/)

Links:

Wisdom2Action: https://www.wisdom2action.org/
Thrive Queer Careers & Resiliency: https://www.simplygoodform.com/THRIVE
Hershey Canada News Release: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/hershey-canada-releases-limited-edition-her-for-she-bars-to-celebrate-canadian-women-building-a-better-future-844318857.html

Music:

Hey, Cis! thanks musical artist Craymo for our intro/extro song: Be Myself

Written by: Craig Stephen Raymo/Brandon Jarrett/Joshua Daniel Hershfield (c) (p) 2015 Craymo Music, BMI/Moho Music, ASCAP

Website: http://www.Craymo.com

This podcast is created by Simply Good Form, with production assistance and editing from Podstarter.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm

Hey, Cis! Season 3 is proudly partnered with TD Bank Group.

Hosts: Cyn Sweeney (She/Her) and Isaac Cook (They/He)
Producer: Connor Sampson (He/Him) podstarter.io

For more beyond binary conversations on being better humans, tips for being an inclusive leader in your field and connecting with trans folks from coast-to-coast, subscribe to Hey, Cis! on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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"Once you get in the room, it is actually a hell of a lot harder for them to kick you out of it."

"We are having to wake up to how precarious our progress is."

Find us on:

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SimplyGoodForm/)
Twitter (@simplygoodform)
Instagram (@simplygoodform)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/)

Links:

Wisdom2Action: https://www.wisdom2action.org/
Thrive Queer Careers & Resiliency: https://www.simplygoodform.com/THRIVE
Hershey Canada News Release: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/hershey-canada-releases-limited-edition-her-for-she-bars-to-celebrate-canadian-women-building-a-better-future-844318857.html

Music:

Hey, Cis! thanks musical artist Craymo for our intro/extro song: Be Myself

Written by: Craig Stephen Raymo/Brandon Jarrett/Joshua Daniel Hershfield (c) (p) 2015 Craymo Music, BMI/Moho Music, ASCAP

Website: http://www.Craymo.com

This podcast is created by Simply Good Form, with production assistance and editing from Podstarter.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm

Hey, Cis! Season 3 is proudly partnered with TD Bank Group.

Hosts: Cyn Sweeney (She/Her) and Isaac Cook (They/He)
Producer: Connor Sampson (He/Him) podstarter.io

dtpMs5xyMt6N63153Iuu

Previous Episode

S3: E41: Queer Summer Reading with Abbey Campbell

"I don't care how folks read, I care that you read."

In this episode, Cyn and Isaac kick off summer with their book reviewer friend, Abbey Campbell (she/her), who shares some of the most exciting new publications to hit the world of Queer literature. Looking for a good novel to take on vacation, or something to read with your morning coffee? Then tune in, because Abbey and the team at Hey, Cis! have you covered!

Did one of the books we talk about in this episode catch your interest?
Featured Texts (with appropriate content warnings):

The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
The Girl from the Sea is a sapphic coming-of-age story about a young rural Nova Scotian girl named Morgan, who kisses a selkie one night after being saved from drowning in the sea.
Content warning(s): Outing, near drowning, divorce (mention)
Find the author on these socials:
Twitter: @MollyOstertag
Instagram: @molly_ostertag
Website: www.mollyostertag.com
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone
Two time-traveling agents from warring futures, working their way through the past, begin to exchange letters—and fall in love.
Content warning(s): Self-harm, descriptions of dead bodies and body parts, blood-drinking, murder & attempted murder, gun violence, poisoning, torture, imprisonment, animal death, war
Find the authors on these socials:
Twitter: @tithenai & @maxgladstone
Instagram: @amalelmohtar & @max.gladstone
Website: www.amalelmohtar.com & www.maxgladstone.com
Us by Sara Soler (out July 25th, 2023)
Originally written in Spanish, Us by Sara Soler tells the true love story of Sara and her girlfriend, Diana. Sara illustrates their shared past as a heteronormative couple and guides the reader through the ups and downs of coming out and accepting yourself. For Sara, it was finding out that she was bi. For Diana, it was finding out she was trans.
Content warning(s): Gender dysphoria, transphobia, homophobia, biphobia
Find the author on these socials:
Twitter: @Hammer_moon
Instagram: @sarasoler_art
A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon
Standalone prequel to The Priory of the Orange Tree. It’s set just shy of five centuries before Priory and covers the period known as the Great Sorrow.
Content warning(s): Cancer (implied), childbirth, child loss, child marriage, mass death, mind control, miscarriage (mention), pandemic, parental death, postnatal depression, pregnancy, reproductive coercion, violence, vomiting
Find the author on these socials:
Twitter: @say_shannon
Instagram: @say_shannon
Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa
Aristotle and Dante meets The Hate U Give meets The Sun Is Also A Star. A stunning YA contemporary love story about a Mexican-American non-binary teen who falls in love with an undocumented Mexican bisexual boy.
Content warning(s): racism, xenophobia, ICE, deportation of a character, death of a family member, underage drinking, use of drugs, sex (mention off-page), vomiting
Find the author on these socials:
Twitter: @JONNYescribe
Instagram: @jonnyinstas
Website: www.jonnygarzavilla.com

Hey, Cis! Connected Communities Summer Reading Give-Away:

We’ve shared a few of our picks, now let’s hear from you!

What Queer reads are on your list for summer 2023? Have a recommendation for Hey, Cis! Listeners? Share it here for your chance to WIN a gift voucher for $25.00 CAD to one of our favourite Queer bookstores, Venus Envy.

To Enter:

Share one of your Queer Summer Reading recommendations, alon...