34. Queers in the Civil Rights Movement

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For today’s episode, Leigh is joined by return guest host, Aubree Calvin, to commemorate Black History Month by telling the stories of some folks who made contributions to the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s whose queerness has been overlooked or erased, and the ways in which the tremendous work done by Black activists was absolutely essential to the evolution of LGBTQ rights actions. Listen to hear about Freedom Rides organizer Rodney Powell’s epic takedown of Rev. Rick Warren, Ernestine Eckstein’s directions for the homophile movement, and Lorraine Hansberry’s thoughts on Eartha Kitt’s legs.

Our wonderful returning guest host for this episode is our fantastic friend and co-host of Southern Queeries Podcast, Aubree Calvin!

Aubree, or Bree to her friends and enemies alike, is a black, queer trans woman on the edge of turning 40. A southerner for most of her life, Aubree has family roots across the south. She loves studying politics, history, and learning about all aspects of queer culture. Aubree started her podcast, Southern Queeries, because she’s tired of society ignoring the south's diverse communities. Professionally, Aubree is a community college government professor and part time writer. When not talking, teaching, or writing, Aubree’s spending her free time with her wonderful wife and daughter.

You can also hear Aubree in our episode on Sister Rosetta Tharpe!

A Closer Look at Queer Folks in the Civil Rights Movement…

Rodney Powell

Rodney Powell’s school photo at St. Joseph’s University

Rodney Powell’s school photo at St. Joseph’s University

Rodney Powell with his husband, Bob Eddinger, in hawaii

Rodney Powell with his husband, Bob Eddinger, in hawaii

Rodney (standing) at the lunch counter of a Nashville Walgreens in March 1960.

Rodney (standing) at the lunch counter of a Nashville Walgreens in March 1960.

Ernestine Eckstein

Ernestine Eckstein on the cover of the June 1966 edition of The Ladder. Credit: Photo by Kay Lahusen, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.

Ernestine Eckstein on the cover of the June 1966 edition of The Ladder. Credit: Photo by Kay Lahusen, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.

Ernestine Eckstein in the White House picket line, October 23, 1965. Her sign reads: “Denial of Equality of Opportunity is Immoral.” Photo by Kay Lahusen, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.

Ernestine Eckstein in the White House picket line, October 23, 1965. Her sign reads: “Denial of Equality of Opportunity is Immoral.” Photo by Kay Lahusen, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.

Ernestine’s class photo at Indiana University, showing her given name.

Ernestine’s class photo at Indiana University, showing her given name.

Ernestine with the Indiana Daily Student newspaper staff at Indiana University

Ernestine with the Indiana Daily Student newspaper staff at Indiana University

Aaron Henry

Aaron Henry at the 1964 Democratic National Convention, reading from a document while seated before the Credentials Committee.

Aaron Henry at the 1964 Democratic National Convention, reading from a document while seated before the Credentials Committee.

Brochure from Henry’s 1971 campaign for the Mississippi State Legislature.

Brochure from Henry’s 1971 campaign for the Mississippi State Legislature.

Aaron Henry, circa 1980s. Photo from the Erle E. Johnston Jr. Papers, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

Aaron Henry, circa 1980s. Photo from the Erle E. Johnston Jr. Papers, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.


Lorraine Hansberry

Lorraine Hansberry at her typewriter

Lorraine Hansberry at her typewriter

lorraine-hansberry-9327823-1-402.jpg
Lorraine’s list from age 28 of things in her “Notes on Myself” entries. Check out Dorothy Secules’ name under the “I want”. Image courtesy of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the New York Public Library

Lorraine’s list from age 28 of things in her “Notes on Myself” entries. Check out Dorothy Secules’ name under the “I want”. Image courtesy of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the New York Public Library

Lorraine Hansberry with Nina Simone

Lorraine Hansberry with Nina Simone

Below, a video of Nina Simone performing “To Be Young, Gifted and Black”, which was inspired by and written about Lorraine Hansberry.

If you want to learn more about the folks we covered in this episode, check out our full list of sources and further reading below!

Online Articles & Resources:

Books and Print Articles:

  • Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry by Dr. Imani Perry

  • Aaron Henry: The Fire Ever Burning by Aaron Henry, Constance Curry

  • Gavins, R. (2016). March on Washington Movement (MOWM). In The Cambridge Guide to African American History (p. 178). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

  • Corrigan, L. (2019). Queering the Panthers: Rhetorical Adjacency and Black/Queer Liberation Politics. In QED: A Journal in GLBTQ Worldmaking . Vol. 6, Number 2, Summer 2009.

  • The Ladder: A Lesbian Review, June 1966 issue

Films/Videos:

Until next time, stay queer and stay curious!

20. More Than Meets the Eye(brow): Frida Kahlo

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In this episode, Gretchen and Leigh talk about Frida Kahlo, a Mexican artist best known for her many self-portraits and for works inspired by nature and the culture and artifacts of Mexico. She may be known for her unibrow, but that’s far from the most important aspect of her art or her story or her art. In keeping with her self-exploration of identity in her paintings, we’re going to explore one of the things least well known about her: that she had relationships with men and women! That’s right, this famous postcolonial, multiracial, disabled artist was bisexual!

A Closer Look at Frida Kahlo

Frida, age 6, 1913. For this and other rare photos of her childhood, Click here.

Frida, age 6, 1913. For this and other rare photos of her childhood, Click here.

Frida (right), age 9, and her sisters. photo taken by her father, 1916.

Frida (right), age 9, and her sisters. photo taken by her father, 1916.

Frida (center) with her sisters and a younger male cousin, 1926. For this and other rare photos of Frida in the 1920s, click here.

Frida (center) with her sisters and a younger male cousin, 1926. For this and other rare photos of Frida in the 1920s, click here.

Mural for the ministry of education, by Diego Rivera, 1929, featuring Frida Kahlo (bottom left, front).

Mural for the ministry of education, by Diego Rivera, 1929, featuring Frida Kahlo (bottom left, front).

Here you can see why Frida’s father called them, “The Elephant and the Dove.” Frida and Diego Rivera, 1932.

Here you can see why Frida’s father called them, “The Elephant and the Dove.” Frida and Diego Rivera, 1932.

A photo from Toni Frissell’s vogue shoot of Frida, 1937.

A photo from Toni Frissell’s vogue shoot of Frida, 1937.

Frida (Left) with Josephine Baker (Right) in paris, 1939.

Frida (Left) with Josephine Baker (Right) in paris, 1939.

Frida Kahlo (center) with Nayantara Sahgal and Rita Dar, 1947.

Frida Kahlo (center) with Nayantara Sahgal and Rita Dar, 1947.

MIguel n. Lira’s Tabla con Diferentes Frasas y Firmas signed by friends, including frida kahlo, fellow member of “los Cachuchas,” 1948.

MIguel n. Lira’s Tabla con Diferentes Frasas y Firmas signed by friends, including frida kahlo, fellow member of “los Cachuchas,” 1948.

Close up of frida’s note to Miguel n. lira: “hermano de siempre no te olvides de la cahucha no 9, Frida Kahlo”— “Forever brother, do not forget la Cachucha no. 9, Frida Kahlo.” Alongside it is her doodle of herself wearing the cap for which the grou…

Close up of frida’s note to Miguel n. lira: “hermano de siempre no te olvides de la cahucha no 9, Frida Kahlo”— “Forever brother, do not forget la Cachucha no. 9, Frida Kahlo.” Alongside it is her doodle of herself wearing the cap for which the group was named, 1948.

Kahlo and Chavela Vargas by Tina Modotti, 1950.

Kahlo and Chavela Vargas by Tina Modotti, 1950.

Chavela Vargas performing “La Llorona” in Frida starring Selma Hayak as Frida Kahlo!

Frida in her garden with two fo her dogs, by gisle Freund, circa 1950. For this and other photos by Gisle Freund, Click here.

Frida in her garden with two fo her dogs, by gisle Freund, circa 1950. For this and other photos by Gisle Freund, Click here.

Frida’s studio with her wheelchair and adjustable easel, on display at La Casa Azul museum in Mexico.

Frida’s studio with her wheelchair and adjustable easel, on display at La Casa Azul museum in Mexico.

Frida Kahlo’s death mask, also on display at La Casa Azul museum in Mexico.

Frida Kahlo’s death mask, also on display at La Casa Azul museum in Mexico.

A Selection of Frida Kahlo’s Paintings

Henry ford hospital, 1932.

Henry ford hospital, 1932.

Two nudes in a forest, 1939.

Two nudes in a forest, 1939.

Self portrait with cropped hair, 1941.

Self portrait with cropped hair, 1941.

Self portrait with monkey and parrot, 1942.

Self portrait with monkey and parrot, 1942.

The broken column, 1944.

The broken column, 1944.

The Love Embrace of the Universe, the Earth (Mexico), Myself, Diego, and Señor Xolotl, 1949.

The Love Embrace of the Universe, the Earth (Mexico), Myself, Diego, and Señor Xolotl, 1949.

still life (dedicated to samuel fastlicht), 1951.

still life (dedicated to samuel fastlicht), 1951.

Living Nature, 1952.

Living Nature, 1952.