If A Hate Crime Could Happen To Jussie Smollett, It Could Happen To Me

“The truth is any queer person — and especially a queer person of color — can be the victim of this type of violence, and I know this firsthand.” YR Media’s Emiliano Villa explains why queer people feel like they have to stay guarded, especially after stories like the Jussie Smollett hate crime allegation. Read […]

Dan Guerrero Returns to His Eastside Roots in ‘Gaytino!’”

Performer, educator, and activist Dan Guerrero returns to East Los Angeles this November to perform his critically-acclaimed show “Gaytino! Made in America.” The show addresses Guerrero’s identity as both a Latino and gay man, and he hopes his show can educate and enlighten the community. “I wanted to entertain and I wanted to educate and […]

How My Dog Helped Me Come Out to My Mom

When The kNOw’s Zyanna Maynard realized she was bisexual, she knew she wanted to somehow tell her mom. So she recruited her trusty friend, her dog Locs, to help her in a creative plan. “It took a while for me to understand, but I knew I had to tell the most important person in my […]

In Their Own Words: Beyond The Binary

Four non-binary teens and young adults share their gender experiences with Youth Radio. They talk about everything from love and dating to coming out. “I struggled a lot with the idea that no one would ever want to get to know me well enough to understand that thing that’s inside because they’d judge me.” Read […]

Honoring LGBTQ+ Ancestors as a Celebration of Pride

Every June, Pride sweeps through American cities as members of the LGBTQ+ community celebrate their identities. But Youth Radio’s Adina Goldstein doesn’t want anyone to forget just how far the country still has to go in terms of acceptance for LGBTQ+ people. “I will attempt to honor all of the LGBT+ fearless activists of the […]

Local LGBTQ Youth Share Their Experience Living In A Conservative County

June is Pride Month, and communities across the nation are celebrating their LGBTQ+ people. In Kern County, youth reporters asked teens what it was like to live in Kern with their LGBTQ+ identity. “With pride month coming up in June, it is important to give recognition to social issues that LGBT youth face, and the […]

LGBTQ Folks And Allies Gather For Unconditional Love Rally

Lincoln Heights’ Plaza de La Raza hosted 13 organizations for the second annual Unconditional Love Rally. Students, teachers, parents, and other community members discussed LGBTQ+ identity and acceptance, as well as other topics such as immigration and gun violence. “LGBTQ students need to see themselves celebrated. They are scientists, they are mathematicians, they are writers, […]

‘Bending Genders’ Art Gallery

In his most recent photo series, photographer Alister Oliver breaks pop culture gender stereotypes by mixing gender-nonconforming aspects in his photos. Oliver hires primarily transgender models to break traditional views on gender roles. “His photography has taken him to different LGBTQ+ schools as a guest speaker and allowed him to meet some interesting people.” Read […]

Invisi-bi-lity and Erasure

Despite having their own letter in the initialism “LGBTQ,” bisexuals are still largely stereotyped and misunderstood, even within the queer community. The kNOw’s Johnsen del Rosario explains some of his own encounters with people questioning his sexuality, as well as ways that bisexuality can lose its taboo. “We’re not confused, it’s not a pit stop, […]

Learning About LGBTQ History Helps Queer Feel Safe, Panelists Say

History textbooks describe the accomplishments of history’s most influential figures, all the way from kings and presidents to civil rights leaders. Yet LGBTQ+ figures are rarely included in classroom education. At a recent event in Boyle Heights, community members gathered to discuss the importance of LGBTQ+ history. “We need to create a safe space for […]