InterPod, The Global Voices of Pride Podcast

Introducing InterPod: The Global Voices of Pride Podcast | Episode 43 — Fighting For Visibility As A Trans Person.

Discover the power of community support with InterPod, the InterPride podcast series that unites the LGBTQIA+ community worldwide.

The LGBTQIA+ community has made remarkable strides in the ongoing battle for acceptance and visibility. At InterPod, we believe in amplifying these voices and ensuring they resonate far and wide. Join us as we shed light on the tireless efforts of LGBTQIA+ individuals who have dedicated decades to fighting for their right to be seen and heard.

About Episode 43

Zooey Zephyr (she/her) is the first trans woman to be elected to the Montana State Legislature, representing HD100. She shares her experience and the fight for visibility.

About Zooey

Zooey Zephyr is a progressive, bisexual trans woman, and the current state representative for Montana’s 100th House district

Zephyr has spent much of her adult life working as a public employee for the University of Montana, as well as working as a community advocate. She has worked to help university programs integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion practices into their faculty requirements, and has worked with the city of Missoula, Montana to draft human rights legislation tailored towards making justice more accessible to people who have been discriminated against.

As a representative, she fights for human rights — from voting rights to trans rights to working towards dismantling the cruelties of the prison-industrial complex. She also works to address what she sees as four of the big, interconnected areas where Montana is failing to adequately help its residents: housing inequality, health care, infrastructure, and climate change.

The InterPride podcast series, InterPod, The Global Voices of Pride Podcast, where the world comes together for the LGBTQIA+ community, is proud to launch our 34th episode, Uganda LGBTQIA+ Community Fighting For Their Lives.

The LGBTQIA+ community has come a long way in the fight for acceptance. However, our voices matter and will be heard. Many LGBTQIA+ community members have fought for decades for the right to be seen and heard.

About Episode 34

Guest Speaker: Steven Muleme (he/him)

Uganda has approved some of the world’s harshest anti-gay laws, making homosexual acts punishable by death and imposing up to 20 years in prison for people identifying as LGBTQIA+.

Our guest speaker, Steven Muleme (he/him), is a gay Ugandan LGBTQIA+ advocate, founder, and director of an organization called Visual Echoes for Human Rights Advocacy (VEHRA), founded in 2017. The organization brings together some of Uganda's most marginalized LGBTQIA+ community members to connect through sport, art, and economic empowerment. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Commercial Industrial art and design from Nkumba University.

Steven is also the Illustrator for UHAI EASHRI. He holds certificates in HIV/AIDS prevention and training for the LGBTQIA+ community and a project planning and management certificate from Arrow Empirical Research & Skills Enhancement Co.Ltd Makerere University.

Listen in as we hear from Steven on the situation in Uganda.

Humanitarian Aid Fund in Support of Uganda LGBTQIA+ Community Members

Our #ChosenFamily needs us; they are being hunted down, arrested, and could be sentenced to death if we don't help them. InterPride has launched a dedicated fundraising campaign to help support our community members in Uganda to seek shelter during this dangerous time.

CLICK HERE to contribute and support our fellow LGBTQIA+ community members today.

Want to contribute as a guest?

Visit www.interpride.org/podcastcontributor.

News Contributor

Global LGBTQIA+ News Update By Michael K. Lavers, the international news editor of the Washington Blade.

Follow InterPride on social media at Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube | Apple | Google | Eventbrite | Medium | Twitch | Mastodon.Social | Universeodon.com

The InterPride podcast series, InterPod, The Global Voices of Pride Podcast, where the world comes together for the LGBTQIA+ community, is proud to launch our 35th episode, TDoV, with Jannat Ali.

The LGBTQIA+ community has come a long way in the fight for acceptance. However, our voices matter and will be heard. Many LGBTQIA+ community members have fought for decades for the right to be seen and heard.

About Episode 35

Guest Speaker: Jannat Ali (she/her)

We recognize Trans Day of Visibility (TDoV) by speaking to one of our own, Jannat Ali, Co-Chair, GAC Board Member, Co-Chair, Human Rights & Diversity. We talked to Jannat during Sydney WorldPride 2023 about what she wanted the community to take away from the Human Rights Conference: the success of passing a pro-LGBTQIA+ bill, especially from a country like Pakistan, and how she’s handling anti-Trans attacks.

Listen in as we hear from Jannat Ali from Pakistan!

About Jannat Ali (she/her)

Jannat Ali is an MBA Gold Medalist, Transgender Artivist (Artist + Activist), and the Executive Director of a Community-Based Organization, Track-T. She is a TEDx motivational speaker, World Economic Forum Member, Global Trainer, and Change Mentor. Her work includes community capacity development, sensitization of civil society and institutions, advocacy, and trans healthcare. She is the founder of the Trans Pride March in Pakistan and has contributed immensely to the Legislation for the Protection of Trans Rights. Currently, she hosts a show, “Journey with Jannat.” Recently serving as the first Transgender Lecturer in Punjab at UMT (University of Management and Technology). She has traveled to and represented in more than 37 countries through her performance motivational speaker, panelist, trainer, ambassador, and Co-Chair of the Human Rights & Diversity Committee with InterPride. She is also Global Advisory Board Member at Dignity Network Canada.

Want to contribute as a guest?

Visit www.interpride.org/podcastcontributor.

News Contributor

Global LGBTQIA+ News Update By Michael K. Lavers, the international news editor of the Washington Blade.

Follow InterPride on social media at Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube | Apple | Google | Eventbrite | Medium | Twitch | Mastodon.Social | Universeodon.com

The InterPride podcast series, ⁠InterPod⁠, The Global Voices of Pride Podcast, where the world comes together for the LGBTQIA+ community, is proud to launch our 40th episode, The Elephant in the Room Series | Part Two with Kenita Placide, with series host Richard Brethour-Bell, Vice President, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion | Co-Chair, Human Rights Committee | Coordinator, Racism & Oppression Awareness Program (ROAP) at InterPride.

The LGBTQIA+ community has come a long way in the fight for acceptance. However, our voices matter and will be heard. Many LGBTQIA+ community members have fought for decades for the right to be seen and heard.

About Episode 40

In this episode, we’re proud to feature part two of the “Elephant in the Room” series as part of our Racism & Oppression Awareness Program (ROAP). Let’s address all forms of oppression in our community, including anti-Blackness and racism.

About Our Guest Speaker

Kenita Placide (they/them)

Kenita Placide is a nonbinary native of the island/country of Saint Lucia. They are the Founder and Executive Director of the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality(ECADE). They are social justice and human rights advocates with a specific focus on Health and HIV, women’s rights, LGBT rights, youth, and climate change. They have advocated HIV and human rights, including women, youth, and LGBTI issues, for over 16 years and have worn many hats to bring attention and funding to the smaller islands in the eastern part of the Caribbean. ECADE is an independent umbrella organization, including organizations operating in the small islands in the eastern Caribbean from the Virgin Islands down to Grenada. They are the founder and organizer of the only Caribbean Women and Sexual Diversity Conference from 2013 to the present.

About Our Series Host

Richard Brethour-Bell (he/him)

Richard Brethour-Bell (Vice President, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion | Co-Chair, Human Rights Committee | Coordinator, Racism & Oppression Awareness Program at InterPride) was raised in South Central Los Angeles, California. At age 12, he became one of the few inner-city students chosen to attend school in the affluent West San Fernando Valley of L.A. County. After graduating high school, Richard could not afford to attend college. However, the dream of becoming a college graduate never left him. After struggling with his sexuality for decades, Richard began to live his authentic life in his 30s. He met his partner James Brethour in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2008, and the two married in James’ native Toronto, Canada, in 2010. They now live in Los Alamos, NM. The moment Richard accepted his truth, he began to fight for equality. He spoke before the New Mexico State Senate, demanding the right to marry after witnessing friends lose their homes and financial security when a partner died. He joined the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance (HRA), the organization that produces Santa Fe Pride and became president.

In addition to leading the HRA, Richard has served as Region 3 director, CAPI VP, and WorldPride Co-Chair. Richard and James started a small business, and Richard completed college, earned a Master’s in Healthcare Administration, received a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Disabilities (LEND) fellowship, and is now in the process of completing a Special Education Teaching certification. As V.P. of Accessibility, Diversity & Inclusion, I will continue to promote equality and equity to continue the evolution of InterPride.

Want to contribute as a guest?

Visit www.interpride.org/podcastcontributor.

News Contributor

Global LGBTQIA+ News Update By Michael K. Lavers, the international news editor of the Washington Blade.

Follow InterPride on social media at Facebook (InterPride) | Facebook (WorldPride) | Instagram |