Joy, Backlash, and the Bravery of Youth with Domenico Ruggiero

Domenico Ruggiero

I think we just can't be neutral in the face of this oppression. Now is the time to double down on DEI rather than like retreat from it. The idea that we just can't let sort of like the sphere based narratives to dictate policy, dictate decision making, rather than sort of like lived experience. Data fraud was never meant to just be parade in parties. It was a protest. And so I think that by getting back to basics, we have to protect trans lives, defend queer joy, fund grassroots organizations, and refuse, uh, respectability, politics, all the things that can come at the price for acceptance.

Hunter

Hello and welcome to Power Beyond Pride, a weekly queer change making podcast bringing you voices and ideas from across our fierce and fabulous spectrum to transform our world. I'm Hunter and I am, um, this week's fruit fairy, delivering all the delicious goods.

Mattie Bynum

And I am Mattie Bynum, the host with the most disastrous comedian and lover of truth. So I cannot wait. Hunter. Yes. Let's get started on this journey. So on this episode we are focusing on the lovely, beautiful Domenico Ruggiero, which rhymes in cheerio. That's what I was told earlier. Uh, so speaking of fruity pebbles and everything, yes, we love it. However, but he is a transformative leader, social justice educator and strategist and executive of we are Family. Welcome, Domenico.

Domenico Ruggiero

Hello. Hello. Thank you for that. Welcome, Hunter and Mattie. It's great to be here. I am a proud fruit consumer over here and so I. I will take some. Some peaches from your basket.

Mattie Bynum

Yeah, you know, I am a southern Georgia peach, so yes, even I'm from North Carolina, but I will consider Georgia peaches.

Hunter

But m. And I mean, honestly, so for context, y', all that are tuning into us, before we got on the air, we were talking about one of my favorite hobbies, which is jam making. And it's just kind of like leading into the conversation. So just as a little heads up. So, yeah, thank you for joining us today. Uh, for those of you who might not be familiar with your journey, could you please share your story of being a leader for low income and bipoc youth and how you provide them with social support they need to develop their leadership qualities.

Domenico Ruggiero

Absolutely, absolutely. So a little bit of context and I'll talk a little about, like, how I came to do what I do and why it's important. So we are Family. We are a grassroots nonprofit. We are based in South Carolina and we are the oldest nonprofit in the state that provides life affirming, life saving programs for queer and trans young people that have a lasting and measurable Impact with a focus on those who are bipoc and or like, lower income. Um, we are a team. Uh, we are, uh, a boots to the ground nonprofit. Uh, I've been, uh, leading the organization and the executive director role for this past four years in a week. And we have grown from a team of two to a team of nine now and doing all the things needed to support our youth. South Carolina. And so a little bit about how I came to do this work. So my story didn't start in leadership. It started at the margins. So during my formative years when I was in college, I was, as you would imagine, a first gen biracial queer student from an immigrant background. And I often felt like I didn't belong sort of anywhere. I was constantly navigating spaces where parts of me were either invisible or questioned. And so early on, I struggled to find my voice. Uh, not because I didn't have anything to say, but because I didn't find a place to say it. So navigating, sort of navigating Colgate, a small, private, little work school in upstate New York. It was. I felt like I was seen as too queer in some communities of color spaces and sort of like too brown or other in queer spaces, you know, so it was sort of like, uh, an outsider experience sort of was a powerful lesson in that community doesn't have to be one dimensional and it can be built in sort of like the in between. So things started to shift for me when I threw myself into leadership roles. I was, uh, a student intern at our Student of Color Cultural center, our LGBTQ center, Women in Studies Center. And, uh, I really wasn't content on staying in one lane. I saw the opportunities to build bridges across these very siloed parts of the institution and trying to build something much more whole, much more intersectional. And so I played that role. I was sort of like a connector then. And that has transformed into sort of my life beyond my time in college. And so afterwards in college, I found jobs and opportunities to be able to do just that. I made a tour, I say a tour of the smaller art schools up and down the East Coast, a little bit in the Midwest. I first started working at Oberlin College in their Multicultural Resource center, which is a sort of like a mega center with both. It was like a race center and a queer center in one. Then after that, I was at Vassar College running their Student of Color Cultural Center. And then during my time there, that's the reason why they tapped me to run their LGBTQ center at the Same time, don't. Recommending doing two jobs in doing two roles at an institution. Not fun.

Mattie Bynum

Oh no.

Domenico Ruggiero

So, um, yeah, right, right. And so, uh, yeah. And then sort of that has led me to do the work I do now, which is supporting youth who need the support in South Carolina. Yeah. So a long winded way to say something. This is something that is sort uh, of like my personal journey is very intertwined with my professional journey.

Mattie Bynum

It makes sense. And I do want to say before I ask this next question, first I want to say thank you for what you're doing because as a child growing up in the 80s and 90s, we didn't have anybody to facilitate or talk for the youth. And I remember growing up and ah, all we would hear back in the day was that was so and so's friend, roommate or that's Auntie Jackie's best friend, you know. So I'm grateful that you are here to do that. So with that being said, what according to you is meaningful change one and what kind of change do you see that the program can do for children and youth in our country across the US today?

Domenico Ruggiero

Meaningful change, uh, my goodness. I think meaningful change is very. It's, it's simple. We want to make sure that our young people are able to be. Young people are able to find spaces where they could feel joy, are able to thrive, are able to be their full authentic selves. I was raised on Long island and Long Island, I lost my Long island years ago. But I think there when I was in high school there I worked with a local organization to create our gsa, which is the queer club. In high school. It's. And that was. Oh my goodness, that was a long time ago and that was over 20 years ago now. But you know, we sort of doing this work in South Carolina that is a big part of our work now in, in the state is sort of like those spectrum clubs, those career clubs, the GSA clubs, the idea that these spaces are very much needed here, you know. And so, so uh, so yeah, finding spaces where they could be their authentic selves and as well as sort of leading from that center, leading from that space in their communities, in their schools. So there's that. Going back to my earlier thoughts about why you do this work and it is our work really is focused on making sure that cutie bipoc youth, queer and trans bipoc youth in the south, in South Carolina, to have the resources and the spaces they need to thrive and be and, and do well. Our work is both as well as Direct services and making sure that our youth get the life saving programs that they need. Free therapy, emergency mutual aid, sort of. And then, then our life affirming side is like the leadership development pieces so they could lead their communities. And so that sort of, that falls all under the, the understanding or the sense of urgency around sort of like intersectional liberation. So that is so like the answer to that is, is that is the goal. My leadership journey is, has never been separate from my identities. And in doing so, in sort of like building these bridges and imagining uh, the possibilities and uh, it really encourages our young people and our youth to be able to create the spaces where they can lead from their full selves. We've been around for, ooh, this year is our 30th year in, in the state and so we've been around for 30 years and it's really great to sor. See our alums, folks who are uh, who graduated from our programs. We go up to the age of 24. So at that point like young adults, it's really great to sort of see them do all the things from being drag queens in the community to uh, folks who are like now doctors and lawyers and whatever makes them thrive is just regardless of where you find yourselves, the idea that you are still sort of like an engaged citizen and you care about community in whatever way that makes sense for you. Yeah.

Hunter

So it kind of. This next question feeds into what you just mentioned about the evolution of like how people are developing into who they are with their queerness and their identities being a part of that. Uh, how do you see the desire for change manifest in young people?

Domenico Ruggiero

Ooh, desire to change manifest. Um, I think our youth are, our youth are. They don't pull up, they don't put up with the bullshit in the same ways that we put up with the bullshit nowadays. Yeah, I think, I think they're willing to call a spade a spade and are not willing to compromise in the ways that I could talk about myself in the ways that I sort of had to compromise in terms of like my politic and what it means to be a professional and navigate the spaces that I, you know, that I navigate. There's always a. There's always sort of like the moment where it's sort of like uh, a now where is my limit to where my agency where I feel like I don't need to compromise anyway. So our youth are very much more, ah. They will not in all the great ways are not willing to put up with bullshit. They're very simple ways. They're not going to be. They're not going to work for 80 hours a week jobs and getting paid just 20, 20 hours. They are not willing to compromise on, I don't know, on, uh, if it's important for them to, like, work from home. That's it. You know, so there's, there's that piece to where, um, where I think, and I would love to sort of see other grassroots organizations as well as funders and all of those, uh, institutions to be able to follow the leadership of the youth of those most impacted in ways that they don't do necessarily now.

Mattie Bynum

Okay. And that sounds wonderful, but I do say it right now. We do have to go for a quick break right now, Domenico and Hunter. But I want people to understand first off, this is just our first break of many that's coming. I do promise y', all, but we are coming back and it's going to get juicy and juicier. So don't leave us. Stay with us and continue to listen to Power Beyond Pride. And we'll be right back.

Domenico Ruggiero

Foreign.

Hunter

Welcome back. We just, we're having a fun, uh, conversation about Gulagala island, but that will continue later. Domenico, we are going to start with some more questions for you. Let's take it away.

Mattie Bynum

So, Domenico, in this current presidential administration and political client, have y' all suffered, your company that you work with, your group, have y' all suffered any cutbacks or are you having any pushback? Let's talk about that. How's it affecting your work?

Domenico Ruggiero

Oh, absolutely. Ah, so we have, we don't have much sort of like state and federal grants, but we do have one and we definitely got it pulled. And it, it was only, it was only six figures, but that sort of, when you have sort of an administration that. Let's talk about, like, just one, like SAMHSA grants. These are like the National Institute, like Mental Health, the National Institutes of Health, nih, sort of like grants like they pulled out. My goodness. I don't forget the, the actual amount, but 70% of the grants that they pulled were LGBTQ sort of like specific grants for mental health, for research. So, uh, for us, it was a smaller grant. And we are, we have, and we are an organization that doesn't rely on the state and federal grants to do what we do. So it's, it is just very disheartening to know that a lot of organizations, just a lot of nonprofits broadly, are seeing their funding regardless of the work that they do. And the work that they do is just getting funding Sort of, like, pulled in. In very, very tragic ways. And, uh, it's. Yeah.

Mattie Bynum

Yeah. It's crazy how they're pulling funding left and right, and it's just amazing to me how they're wanting to. I go back to when I was a child, and it was the no Child Left behind type situation. Now I'm m. Like, well, at this point, I think we just left everybody behind. At this point, we have completely left the children, the mothers, uh, the fathers, the aunts, the uncles. Everybody has been left behind. And I'm just like, where do we go from here? Like, how do we even. I was talking to a friend over the weekend. I'm like, how do we get back to a better place from here? M. I'm kind of scared because it's almost as if, like, the bridges that have. That we need to lead us back are being burned as we speak.

Domenico Ruggiero

Absolutely. The way I think about it is. I mean, it's not quite right because I feel like it's incomplete. But sort of like the pendulum sort of analogy, the Obama years, it swung this way. Now you see it, like, swing all the way to the other side. And clearly, this is all a, you know, our reaction to Trump and his MAGA people. Champion the birther, whatever. So, like, this is all a pushback against, sort of like, this progress. Pushback against dei, uh, things. I think. I think we're just living in an error of a, like, coordinated, like, erasure. If folks had their. If the folks in power now had their way, they would absolutely erase all things. And you see them doing that now, removing trans folks from the military. Removing. In South Carolina alone, in this past year or two, we've seen. This past legislative year, We've seen over 20 anti LGBTQ bills coming through the state House. We've seen the attacks on dei, uh, and inclusive education. We've seen in just. In the K12 schools. We've seen banning of books, banning of sports for trans youth. We've seen barring acts, access to medically necessary care. And so I don't think. It's not new, clearly, but it is a continuation of the backlash that. That has always followed the progress. You know, um, it reminds me to. It also gives me pause in terms of realizing that pride itself started off as a pride. I mean, a riot and a protest. And so I think this moment calls us to remember that.

Mattie Bynum

I feel you on that one. I definitely think that in this moment, it's just. We have to just stay, I guess, vigilant in everything that we do. Good. I Did want to go back towards, I guess when we was talking about your journey earlier, what was a pivotal moment that really sticks out in your mind, I guess um, that you can go back to that really shaped who you are today in your activism journey?

Domenico Ruggiero

Absolutely. Ooh. I mean within the past couple of years I would say that working with the we are family youth now, I think they have given me more than I have ever sort of given the organization in what I do. I think they have given me permission to select name and own identities that I didn't have the framework or language to before that. And so parts of those were living my best gender non conforming self and, and, and embracing sort of what it means to be ACE and be part of the ACE spectrum. Things that I never thought that or one didn't have the language or framework. But also like then giving me again permission and seeing them be and live authentically is, has given me permission to do that too.

Hunter

So in talking about that you're also the co founder of Transformative Teaching Collective to promote social justice education. One of the many ways you are building towards the future. What made you start the Transformative Teaching Collective?

Domenico Ruggiero

Yeah, absolutely. So that was the Transformative Community Club that is sort of like a, ah, collective of folks who care deeply about social justice, about creating the spaces for folks to be able to uh, learn and learn from each other, create spaces for dialogue. We started TTC right a couple of months after the Emanuel nine uh massacre, uh, here in Charleston. I think there was a moment where a bunch of us were looking at everybody sort of like holding hands on the bridge. Well it's great to have that sort of like moment and that performative sort of we are one, we are healing. But you know, it only goes so far. And so a bunch of us are saying like okay, how can we, how do we be able to do any sort of work to be able to like dig a little deeper and then the sort of like Kumbaya, uh, sort of like moments. And so we created this organization and we started doing dialogue parties. It literally started on uh, inviting two friends over to somebody's house potluck style. People grab, bring your wine, people will bring a side dish. And we had dialogues around lots of different things, around specific identities, around specific topics and just creating the space for folks to like top reel and, and that has transformed us. And it's been, my gosh, it's 10 years. I think we're celebrating our 10th year of being around this year. And from doing that work it really has transformed Transformed into. We um, just recently got a half million contract with Santa Clara county in California doing a, a trans, a trans train the trainer workshop out there for the county. So it's is. It really has become something that has grown beyond any what any of us thought it would be.

Hunter

So what are some of the most in demand workshops in TTC and why?

Domenico Ruggiero

I think anything that is around, around uh, sort of like facilitation. Facilitation, uh, like technical skills around facilitation as well as any sort of train the trainer model, we've been sort of finding our niche doing that. When it comes to both what it means to have a trans, uh, inclusive like workplace to what it means to live your racial justice and values in your workplace. A lot of the work that we are a little niche has been sort of like the train the trader model as well as using facilitating dialogue as sort of like the tool to make that happen.

Mattie Bynum

Okay. And so as we go to break I have a motto. In life you get what you ask for. So I have no problem with asking for certain things. So that way we can always get everything we need. So as we go to break real quick, what are some things that you think that you would need or the movement that you are working with needs to continue to do the great things and to make a value in our.

Domenico Ruggiero

Um. This is a big question coming back to our earlier part of this conversation. I think that we just can't be sort of like meeting the moment we're at now. I think for our youth, for the community in general. I think we just can't be neutral in the face of this oppression. I think now it's the DOT for example, now is the time to double down on DEI rather than like retreat from it. We sort of see a lot of institutions retreating real quickly from it. The idea that we just can't lay it let sort of like the, this fear based narratives to dictate policy, dictate decision making rather than sort of like lived experience data. Uh, I think that, I think that again this idea of getting back to basics in terms of I know that world pride is a. Well it is, it's, it's coming up or if this airs, it might have just happened. But pride was never meant to just be parade in parties. That's great and that's fantastic and we love a good party. But it was a protest and it was led by trans women of color, street youth, uh, sex workers fighting for their lives. And so I think that by getting back to basics we have to Protect trans lives, defend queer joy, fund grassroots organizations and refuse, uh, respectability, politics. All the things that can come at the price of. For acceptance. That sort of. We see now.

Mattie Bynum

All right, well, there you go, folks. You heard it first. So we need to get back to basic class to go to our quick break. Just remember the basic things in life that you need and we'll be right back. We are back with Power beyond Pride. I am Mattie Fine. I'm your hostess with the mostest. I'm also, um, joined by my amazing co host, Hunter, who is just the most phenomenal being I have ever been in the presence of. And I love them. They're just gorgeous and little fruit fairies. Yes. And this is a podcast that y' all can't see, but I feel like we are. It was a very sexy man tonight. Domingo is just gorgeous and sexy. Don't you think so?

Hunter

Stunning. Stunning. We're gonna gas you up.

Mattie Bynum

And the cheeks, look.

Hunter

You look so moisturized. You look so moistur. Moisturized and just so comfortable and just rested. And I mean all these things with the utmost praise.

Domenico Ruggiero

That's what it is.

Mattie Bynum

Yes. Now look, we. Not now that we got you all hyped and gassed up, we do have a quick question for you. I think Hunter said that she. They had the next question to ask.

Hunter

Let's, uh, see. So when we talk about queer movement, we often talk about pride. And when we say power beyond pride, what does that mean to you?

Domenico Ruggiero

Power, uh, beyond pride. I think that for me sort of highlights the idea that power beyond pride, the idea that, uh, we no longer have the luxury to be something like static and lay in the background, uh, live our little silo mentalities. I think power beyond pride is. It's like a call to action that folks gotta be active. It's in whatever way that, you know, means for you, folks gotta be active. If you're an ally, you have to sort of ask yourself what you believe in and what you're willing to risk for the movement and for. For pride. Yeah.

Mattie Bynum

Okay, sounds good. I love that answer. So now we're coming to my favorite part of the show. It's called the rapid fire round. I love it. Domenico, because you can't think about it. I just need the first thing that pops in and whether it's G rated, X rated or, uh, in the middle of between. L rated. Let's just put it there. Because the L word was a good show back in the day. Just whatever pops in your head. And so Hunter's going to ask the first question but the juicier, the better. So let's go.

Hunter

Okay, so, uh, let's see. I just want to make sure, uh, uh, this is where we ask you some questions, and you don't get any time to think about it. You just have to give us the first answer that comes to your head. Are you ready for this?

Domenico Ruggiero

Yes, please.

Hunter

Okay, so first question. What's your favorite way to spend a lazy Sunday, aside from hanging out with us on an episode of Power Beyond Pride?

Domenico Ruggiero

I am very much a sitting. Lounging on the couch and just, uh, watching my shows. Binge watching shows. A, uh, whole season in a day or a weekend, like, that is my guilty pleasure. It is the. Yeah, that's how it turned my brain off.

Mattie Bynum

Okay, so you stated earlier that you're from Long Island. So what does the long in Long island stand for?

Domenico Ruggiero

The long and Long island stands for. It stands for, uh, how. My goodness, how phallic the island is in.

Mattie Bynum

On.

Domenico Ruggiero

On in New York. How. How fishy it also looks. So it's. Yeah.

Mattie Bynum

Okay, now, little fishy Long Island. Y' all better go on up there. I love it.

Hunter

So this is definitely in no way related to that. If you can make the ultimate sandwich.

Mattie Bynum

What would be on it?

Domenico Ruggiero

Ooh, the ultimate sandwich.

Mattie Bynum

Uh, define sandwich. Are we talking about food or are we just talking about a good sandwich, if you know what I mean?

Hunter

I mean, we could do both.

Domenico Ruggiero

We could talk.

Hunter

Both.

Domenico Ruggiero

What comes to mind for me is, have you all had Cubans before with the crust panini and the Cubans, like, with the pickles and the ham and the mustard, like, to me is a Cuban is, like, the ultimate, like, yummy sandwich. Yeah.

Mattie Bynum

Love a good Cuban.

Hunter

And so if you could be sandwiched between two of your favorite people, and it doesn't. It can be X rated. It could be. It could be anything. G rated to X rated. If you could be sandwiched between your two favorite people, who would they be?

Domenico Ruggiero

Who would they be? Oh, my goodness. Are they like. Oh, okay, I was gonna be. Are they, like, two favorite people? One would be.

Mattie Bynum

I was gonna say, can they be.

Domenico Ruggiero

I was gonna say, can they be, like, a alive, uh, a dead fictional character? I was gonna go down that route. I was like, maybe not.

Hunter

Whoever. You can pick whoever.

Domenico Ruggiero

Whomever. Okay. I would love to be sandwiched in between. Let's see. Let's do some recently departed, like, elders and mentors in organizing an artwork. So let's do Nick and Giovanni in the back, and let's do bell hooks in the front.

Hunter

Yeah, yeah, this sounds uh, yeah, perfect.

Mattie Bynum

You, Kevin.

Hunter

Cute.

Mattie Bynum

Because, see, me, I would have said Aquaman and Venom, honey. Because between the water and the tongue, I'm gonna have a good time. I'm just gonna be honest with you, Chad. Okay, so what's the weirdest gift you've ever received?

Domenico Ruggiero

The weirdest gift I ever received. Weirdest gift. I can't think of anything from the top of my head. Weirdest gift. It must be like one of my siblings at some point gave me a gag gift for Christmas or for Christmas or one of my birthdays. What, uh, would you imagine that you got at your local guilty pleasures store? Some sort of toys? Yeah.

Hunter

What's the worst date you've ever been on?

Domenico Ruggiero

Ooh, worst date I've ever been on. Worst date I ever been on. Ooh. I went, uh, on a date at. Have you all been to, like, a melting pot? Like, the quintessential, like, Valentine's with the fondue? Sort of the weirdest date I've been on was definitely at one of those. One of those places. It was, uh. There was no. It was like, a blind day situation, but there was, like, no connection. You know, it felt weirdly intimate in a way that was sort of uncomfortable.

Hunter

But, yeah, especially all that hot cheese and everything. I don't want to be in an intimate space with hot cheese, to be quite honest.

Mattie Bynum

You look at the cheese, I look at the fact that I wear wigs and weaves, and I don't want to be that close for Open Flame. So, yeah, that might. I might have a Michael Jackson. Remember, this is not.

Hunter

Because, I mean, honestly, I would have had my hair, uh. I'd have my hair up or something like that, because I'd be like, you know what? I'm messy. I'm clumsy as it is.

Mattie Bynum

And speaking of that, and I know this is off on a tangent, so I do apologize, But I've always been on don't feed me. Please don't feed me. No food or fruit or fondue. That's just not cute when it dribbles. But that's another story for another day. Okay, Domenico, what is the worst television reboot that you have seen? Because I've seen a few, but I would say.

Domenico Ruggiero

The worst television reboot. I did not like the Charmed reboot that came out a couple years ago. I, uh, wanted to like it. It just. It was a big miss for me. Somebody who grew up on the OG you know? Yeah.

Hunter

Yeah.

Mattie Bynum

I'm gonna be honest. I'm a Shannon Doherty fan, so even when they subst Out. Paige. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Paige, but there was nobody like Peru. I'm sorry.

Hunter

There was nobody like Stan. A Stan. Okay, so I know we've talked about like, worst, weirdest, or like things like that. On the negative end of the superlatives, what is one day that you wish you could relive over again? Like the best day for you?

Domenico Ruggiero

Ooh. Um, one day I relive. It was. It was Obama's second, uh, inauguration win for sure. I remember fully well where I was. I was small town, Overland, Ohio, middle of beautiful gem outside of Cleveland. And sort of like these town city erupted. Everybody was out in the streets with their pots and pans and just walking up and down the streets. It was, it was pretty magical.

Mattie Bynum

I can definitely agree with you on that one. Yeah, definitely. That was a great day. That was a great day. So. And I would also like to ask this question, and this might take you a minute to, uh, to think, even though it's the rapid fire question, but where can people find you? Where can they connect with you and get to know you on social media and in life?

Domenico Ruggiero

Absolutely. So again, we are a family. Our website is waf.org uh, waf.org and the work that we do, you can just sort of, uh, look for, I guess we are family, Charleston and all of the socials and get connected that way.

Mattie Bynum

Okay, perfect. Perfect. And then wife. What do you like to do for fun in life?

Domenico Ruggiero

What I do for fun. I am a true Gemini. I have, um, far reaching interests and I like glittery, shiny things. And so I been playing rugby. I'm part of the gay rugby league for over 10 years now. That has been very fun and painful at the same time. My body cannot recover once as it used to. So that is a tell tale sign that I've got, uh, one or two years of rugby left in me. I. I'm also part of a lovely queer, gay, spiritual red Fae community. And we go to gatherings outside of Asheville every couple of years. And so that's a big part of places where I find community. Yeah.

Mattie Bynum

Okay.

Hunter

Okay. Well, Domenico, thank you so much for being here. We're out of time for the podcast, but I want to make sure first that we give you the space to tell folks about maybe some of the websites or some of the places that they can find you or the nonprofits that you, um, are a part of.

Domenico Ruggiero

Yeah. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. I am one of those people where I, I only give myself like one social media platform because I know myself and I don't have the energy or time to have the upkeep with all of the things. So, so love to share again the how you can find information about we are Family. And to learn more about the work that we do supporting youth in South Carolina, visit, uh, waf.org or check out our work in all of our socials. If you look for we are family or we are Family Charleston, you can find us that way.

Hunter

Would you like to share anything about the transforming, uh, collective?

Domenico Ruggiero

Oh, transformative Teaching collective. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yes. Transformativeteaching co op. Transformativeteaching Coop. And you can find information about our.

Mattie Bynum

Uh, work through there. Okay. Well, once again, I want to say thank you. Like I said earlier in our show, thank you for creating a space that was not there for us when we were growing up and coming along. I thank you for making it safe for our younger children to just be able to be themselves and thrive and shine and raise in grace. And I thank you for gracing us with your presence. You are so handsome and sexy. I love it, baby. I've enjoyed my time with you this evening.

Domenico Ruggiero

Yes, thank you for having me.

Mattie Bynum

Yeah, anytime. And with all that gushing aside, my name is Mattie Bynum. I am one of your co hosts here at Power Beyond Pride, letting you go on this queer journey along with us. You can follow me @maddysimone737 on Instagram. You can also find me at Mattie Bynum on Facebook. And you will not find. Well, no, you can find me on X. I just don't like to get on there too much. Cause I'm more of a Y than an X person. But you know, that's just who I am.

Hunter

And I'm your co host, Hunter. You can find me on Instagram at hntography. Yeah. And that links to my website and all that other good stuff which I need to update my website. But I'm doing a million things at once. But here we are. So remember to subscribe and get your friends and family to subscribe to Power Beyond Pride on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts from. And check out our website@, uh, powerbeyondpride.com.

Mattie Bynum

And power beyond Pride. And uh, I challenge anybody who is not a host on the show. Say that fast three times. I promise you you will get tongue tied. But Power Beyond Pride is a project from a great idea, a queer owned design and content agency. Learn more about them at a, uh, great idea dot com.

Hunter

This episode is produced by Shane Lukas. Meena Sukkar is the project developer. Our editor is Jarrett Redding with support from Ian Wilson and we are both.

Mattie Bynum

Part of the podcast awesome host team. Like I said, it's a multitude of us, but all of you get to spend time with two of us at a time because we're only a sandwich team. Come on people. And we invite you to send in your questions and comments to powerandbeyondpride.com so that we can always answer the most up to date and current topics that we have.

Hunter

So check out our new episodes each week and we look forward to queer change making with you next week. Time. Thank you from all of us at Power Beyond Pride.

Transcribed automatically and lightly checked. If something is wrong — a name especially — tell us and we will fix it.