Bridget (@ginger.cat.space.daddy), a local MUA (makeup artist) and IT Project manager at a law firm, joins Zoe Airriona and Deion Delgado to unpack queerness and identity. Deion unpacks his experience in the world as a gay black cisgender man. Bridget explores the concept of not finding attraction in any gender as a cisgender woman, while Zoe speaks on her limited experience in the queer community as a bisexual cisgender woman. The three of them learn from one another as they share their vastly differing perspectives, explore their own experiences and biases, and explore how society shapes our identity.

TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast discusses interracial dating and racism as it is one of our speakers experiences within their dating history. Additionally, our guest speaks to their experience in dissociating during sex and utilizing alcohol as a means to do so. Please, if these are conversations you are not looking to unpack, the hosts advise that you wait for the next podcast topic that fits into your self-awareness journey. Deion Delgado and Zoe Airriona’s intention is not to have their listeners unpack topics they are not ready to explore.

SONGS MENTIONED:

Deion Delgado’s Song

Sweetest Pie - Megan Thee Stallion

Be Alive - Beyonce

Pablow the Blowfish - Miley Cyrus

Zoe’s Songs

Stay Flo- Solange

Work B*tch - Britney Spears

Bridget’s Songs

Life Song - The Black Angels

Molasses - Kan Wakan

KEYWORDS & VOCABULARY:

Cisgender - describes a person whose gender identity and sex assigned at birth are the same

Pansexual - not limited in sexual choice with regard to biological sex, gender, or gender identity

Bisexual - attracted to both men and women

Compulsory heterosexuality (comphet) - theory that heterosexuality is assumed and enforced upon women by a patriarchial ad heteronormative society; term was popularized by Adrienne Rich in her 1980 essay titled “Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesibian Existence”

Asexual - a person who has no sexual feelings or desires, or who is not sexually attracted to anyone

Demisexual - sexual orientation in which a person feels sexually attracted to someone only after they’ve developed a close emotional bond with them

Sapiosexual - finding intelligence sexually attractive or arousing

Misogyny - dislike of, contempt for or ingrained prejudice against women

Gender expression - the way in which a person expresses their gender identity, typically through their appearance, dress, and behavior

Monosexism - referred to as biphobia, monosexism is a form of oppression that promotes exclusive heterosexual, lesbian, or gay male behaviors as the only legitimate concepts of sexual orientation

Videos mentioned: Compulsory Heterosexuality | Hannah Witton

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq5S8O0FpS8 )

Readings mentioned: “Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence” by Adrienne Rich

FIND YOUR SPOT:

00:00 - Introduction

00:05 - Trigger warning & topic summary

03:01 - Introducing Bridget

04:05 - Feeling/Song Segment- Deion’s Choices

09:30 - Feeling/Song Segment - Zoe’s Choices

12:14 - Feeling/Song Segment - Bridget’s Choices

15:21 - Queerness & identity conversation begins

20:04 - Discussing attraction - Zoe’s perspective

22:40 - Discussing attraction- Deion’s perspective

24:05 - Discussing attraction - Bridget’s perspective

27:41 - The value of women and misogyny

34:16 - Dating as a gay black men

37:44 - Delgado v. Deion

41:34 - Perspective from Bridget

43:22 - Dating talk

44:19 - Deion’s perspective on dating

45:28 - Same sex dating & gender roles

46:10 - Same sex dating through Bridget’s eyes

47:48 - Dating and the power of words with Zoe

49:16 - Dating and gender roles with Deion

49:59 - Deion “After Dark”; Deion explains the significance of being a “top”, “bottom” and “verse” in the gay cismen community

53:12 - Masculine & feminine labels

58:00 - Quick note on gender expression

59:21 - Bridget on dating women

1:03 - Deion unpacks dating men

1:04 - Deion & interracial dating

1:05 - Bridget unpacks the male gaze

1:06 - Zoe talks intersectionality in the queer community

1:09 - Talking compulsory heterosexuality

1:13 - Compulsory heterosexuality with Bridget

1:21 - Deion unpacks men and masculinity

1:30 - Deion unpacks race and dating men

1:32 - Zoe expands upon race & dating

1:35 - Final thoughts

1:37 - Closing questions

1:40 - Final disclosure & close