Meet Toniii. The Icon. The Legend.

08/02/22 • 51 min

We’re so excited to have Toniii join us on today's episode. We discuss labels, gender-bending self-expression, drag, media representation, the need for role models in the LGBTQ+ community (especially black and brown queer folks), overcoming difficult circumstances, and improving outcomes for foster youth by providing access to diverse experiences.

Toniii is the host of the Tea Time with Toniii podcast, where he discusses a lively variety of popular and current topics, including reviews of RuPaul's Drag Race. Toniii recently earned his bachelor's degree in Recreation and Tourism Management from California State University, Northridge, which is where he met Bridget when he was a student in her speech class. As you’ll hear, Toniii has dedicated a great deal of time and energy to volunteer work and being of service helping others who also grew up in underserved communities and are members of marginalized groups.

Throughout our conversation, Toniii openly shares his background with us, which includes being born into the foster care system. He also conveys his strong desire to support and be a role model for fellow members of the LGBTQ+ community and foster youth. We talk about how Toniii doesn’t fit neatly into the labels for gender expression and how cisgender people sometimes struggle with understanding the individuality of gender expression.

Toniii tells us about his unique podcast, we establish a clear distinction between being and striving to be an ally, and we highlight the importance of increasing the visibility of role models in the LGBTQ+ community to inspire and guide younger generations.

Some Questions We Ask:

Tell us about you. Who are you, and what do we need to know about you? (4:02)

Could you talk about your experiences as a camp counselor for foster kids? (9:45)

What would you say to people who ask: "What are you? How do you define yourself"? (20:42)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

The importance of solidarity and empathy for other people's needs (7:02)

The importance of role models and inspiring stories for kids in the foster care system (14:15)

Toniii shares his thoughts on labels and talks about his gender-bending dressing style (18:39)

Toniii describes his feelings about the behavioral boxes cisgender people put LGBTQ+ community members into (23:38)

What it means to be an ally (33:27)

Connect with Toniii

Tea Time with Toniii podcast

Connect with Jackie and Bridget:

Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on Vimeo

Transgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive content

Transgender School on Medium

Instagram

Website

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some Questions We Ask:

Tell us about you. Who are you, and what do we need to know about you? (4:02)

Could you talk about your experiences as a camp counselor for foster kids? (9:45)

What would you say to people who ask: "What are you? How do you define yourself"? (20:42)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

The importance of solidarity and empathy for other people's needs (7:02)

The importance of role models and inspiring stories for kids in the foster care system (14:15)

Toniii shares his thoughts on labels and talks about his gender-bending dressing style (18:39)

Toniii describes his feelings about the behavioral boxes cisgender people put LGBTQ+ community members into (23:38)

What it means to be an ally (33:27)

Connect with Toniii

Tea Time with Toniii podcast

Connect with Jackie and Bridget:

Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on Vimeo

Transgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive content

Transgender School on Medium

Instagram

Website

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

School Support for LGBTQ+ Kids

We are thrilled to welcome Alicia Arballo to our show again, this time to talk about inclusiveness and affirming practices and policies at school. We also discuss legislation the LGBTQ+ community should be aware of.

Alicia is a transgender woman, a school counselor, and a former teacher, with over 36 years of experience in education. She advocates for the LGBTQ+ community's rights and is an inspiration for her students and colleagues.

In this episode, we discuss the importance and the urgency of making our schools a safe and affirming space for our kids. Alicia teaches us about Bulletin 6224, which obliges LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District) schools to provide equal educational opportunity to all students and to accommodate all needs for the safety and affirmation of LGBTQ+ students. These policies were created to address and provide support to transgender and gender nonconforming students enrolled in the district.

In addition, Alicia highlights the benefits of incorporating LGBTQ+ affirming curriculum in schools and shares an example of how students' grades and attitudes improved with its inclusion. We also explore the idea that our legislation is outdated compared to society's current makeup. In the end, Alicia shares a beautiful, heartfelt message through a special letter that she received from a student.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Alicia comments on the current status of LGBTQ+ support in private and public schooling (2:15)
Alicia talks about Bulletin 6224's reach and its application in LAUSD schools (3:15)
Alicia explains the importance of curriculum and affirming policies and practices at school and how they can change kids' lives (8:02)
Alicia describes her experiences with students seeking her advice and guidance (15:26)
Alicia talks about the outdated laws and how they collide with society's current makeup (22:04)
Alicia talks about the work of GSA groups (32:40)

Resources:

California Department of Education's Phone: 916-319-8239.
Los Angeles Unified School District Policy Bulletin 6224.2

Connect with Alicia:

Instagram
Email: [email protected]

Connect with Jackie and Bridget:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Jackie & Bridget Talk Politics

Today, we analyze the political landscape around LGBTQ rights, the latest rollback from the Supreme Court on abortion rights, and the clear intention of the Republican party to have control over people's bodies and turn the clock back on civil rights.

Far from falling into the blue or red dichotomy's rabbit hole, today's episode intends to invite you to pay attention to where democracy is heading and to look at the incipient growth of authoritarian tendencies, with groups in power making decisions about the lives of transgender folks, cis women, people of color, immigrants, and virtually every minority.

Jackie shares alarming statistics about people's beliefs, from people who firmly believe the country is run by a satanic cult to others who are convinced that patriots might have to resort to violence to "restore the country's order."

We also analyze how politicians use economic anxiety and the bitterness of those who feel they're missing a slice of the American dream to inflame xenophobic acts, violence, and hate against queer communities.

In addition, Jackie makes a call to action and explains the many ways you can get involved with, assist, and do something to support human rights, even if you live in a blue state or city.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

About the Republican Party's clear intention of legislating over people's bodies (7:06)
Some of the most absurd and scary beliefs people now hold (15:39)
The need for organizing, knocking on doors, and making phone calls to legislators (18:57)
How politicians use people's economic anxieties and fears to manipulate them (22:31)
About the alarming tendency to undo democracy (37:57)
Jackie reminds us of the need to remain politically active and involved (41:57)

Resources Mentioned: