Shows
PillarsJacqui Devon: Not a PhaseOn 22 April 2020 Conservative equalities minister Liz Truss announced plans for reforms to the Gender Recognition Act yesterday, which would not only deny vital life saving medication and puberty blockers to trans youth and limit Trans people to using gender-neutral toilets, but would also set us back years, seriously diluting progress. Here is the Pink News article with all the facts.My awesome friend (proud to say) Jacqui Devon hear this and decided that she would use her time in lockdown to do something about it. Jacqui’s Not a Phase campaign jumped off straight away and he...
2020-05-311h 09
PillarsEID MUBARAK! with Moosa from London Queer Muslims: A Gay Man in Ramadan.When I first spoke with Moosa I made no secret if the fact that i knew very little about Islam, about Oman or about living as Queer Muslim, and that is why I was so pleased that he agreed to talk to me. Part of me felt embarrassed that I didn’t know more about the lives of my neighbours and colleagues, or the people I see on the street daily. I felt pretty ignorant, but Moosa was very kind and explained that he enjoyed how genuine I was and he handled my questions gracefully.I wa...
2020-05-241h 17
PillarsLorna Reeves: My Oh My & I do's! The Revolutionary Act of Love.This is not the story of a wedding planner. This is the result of decades of individuals doing selfless activism to achieve something so very simple, the right to love. Lorna is one of those people and she has an Instagram full of beautiful photos to prove it.I met Lorna in 2018 when volunteering with Diversity Role Models. I remember her telling us how how she had just started My Oh My Weddings. It was then the only LGBTQ+ dedicated wedding service in the UK, which is mad when you consider that the marriage equalities act...
2020-05-171h 07
PillarsThe Aaron Carty Experience pt 1: Hair, Heels and Everything in BetweenI was introduced to Aaron through a mutual friend; they had met while working for UK Black Pride together, but of course I’d been following his epic success with The Beyonce Experience since he blew up on Britain’s Got Talent in 2015. What started as a bit of holiday banter at Sitges Pride, has grown to become one of the biggest international drag performances and arguably the most acclaimed Beyonce impersonator in recent years.On a cold, dark and rainy night in January I ran from Liverpool Street station to Aaron’s townhouse in Spitalfields, with an u...
2020-05-101h 02
PillarsThe Aaron Carty Experience pt 2: Survivor -Lockdown Update.Since we recorded The Aaron Carty Experience pt1: Hair, Heels and Everything in In-between the whole country went into lockdown in response to the global Coronavirus pandemic. We thought it would be a good idea to have a video catch up and discuss what the global pandemic means for The Beyonce Experience and UK Black Pride.Another gorgeous conversation with Aaron about adjusting and cracking on, so that everyone involved can be cared for, emotionally and financially. Each time we speak I feel inspired and full of hope that even if I feel a challenge may...
2020-05-1017 min
PillarsFoundations: What is Pillars and Who the Hell is Jordan Yedermann?"Rock bottom is not a sexual position, and I found that out the hard way."Growing up in a small countryside town may sound idyllic, but being the only Queer kid in the middle of nowhere was confusing and I felt completely out of place. For years I searched for a magic resolve or a miracle opportunity to ‘cure’ my Gayness, transform my life and save me from myself. I didn’t know that I didn’t need it and that I was fine as I was. I never thought to look to myself as a sou...
2020-05-0330 min
PillarsGreg Owen- "I had to make it count."I first met Greg Owen early 2018 at a chemsex first-aid workshop for 56 Dean Street run by the wonderful David Stuart.I was pleased when I saw Greg a week or so later at the last Let’s talk about gay sex and drugs. Greg was different that evening. He was shy and humble and clearly overwhelmed by the support in the room. His honesty was clearly appreciated and his passion admired. In the BBC documentary The People vs The NHS: Who gets the drug, Greg candidly discusses how his HIV diagnosis sparked the beginning of...
2020-05-0343 min
PillarsLOCKDOWN UPDATE: Greg Owen- We got PrEP!PrEPping, testing, fucking and kindness in a global pandemic.Greg invited me to the Terrence Higgins Trust to discuss his journey from Belfast to London and to explore what it is that drives his activism.That was in January when we had no idea of what was unfolding with the global coronavirus pandemic.Since then on 15th March UK health secretary Matt Hancock announced his commitment that PrEP would be made available on the NHS.In the meantime, global priorities have change so Greg and I thought it would be a...
2020-05-0331 min
PillarsTRAILER: Welcome to PillarsPillars host and creator, Jordan Yedermann wants to give you a quick overview of what the podcast is all about.Pillars: The Podcast will inspire by sharing personal stories from LGBTQ+ people and hopes to encourage individual, personal empowerment.Unity and coming together has been crucial to the LGBTQ+ community, with social groups and connection campaigns providing vital opportunities to connect with others who share the same interests and passions.However, amongst the crowds of clenched fists, rainbow flags and glitter cannons- are individuals, all with very different and important stories to...
2020-05-0102 min