Jun 11, 2020
Sarah Keller and Taylor Morton join us on Artemis this week to talk about growing a LGBTQ+ community in the hunting and fishing world. Their initiative is called is Queers and Camo. At a time of social unrest on a national scale, we discuss why inclusiveness matters more than ever in our industry, and what that looks like right now.
1:30 Our guests today are Sarah Keller, who you'll remember from EP 5: Packing Game Out, and Taylor Morton, author of this great Artemis blog Meat on the Table
2:00 - June is Pride month
5:30 – The history of Pride. Riots back then, riots now -- and what change comes out of those movements
9:40 - Being queer and being visible in the hunting/conservation space. It started with a longstanding desire to connect with more LGBTQ people who are hunters and outdoors people
11:00 - Queers and Camo -- making our community a safe, enjoyable space for everyone, and fomenting important dialogue that helps build that
15:00 - On being a hunter before coming out -- one thing builds on another. These aren't compartmentalized pieces of self, they're entwined with each other
15:30 - On Insta, @queersandcamo happy hour forthcoming
16:30 - Growing up around a hunting culture that's white and male makes you cognizant of race/gender/sexuality and how safe you feel outdoors (or, in grocery stores, walking to your car, etc)
17:30 - How does it affect us when our community doesn't reflect who we are?
19:45 - On feeling like you need to present a different version of yourself depending on your geography. Those Confederate flags? Not exactly a welcome mat. Being a hunter in California? That can feel funny, too.
21:20 - Outside Online article on being out and gay, and crossing those two worlds: A Queer Hunter Reflects on Coming Out
25:30 - Discrimination takes more forms than using foul language or denying your services
30:00 - Sometimes the outdoors -- like a long trek tracking elk -- can be a quiet enough space for hard conversations that don't ordinarily get the space to air, like the difference between gender and sexual orientation
31:30 - On including LGBTQ+ voices in any platform with the public eye - it's important
34:00 - Why is it important to have a community specifically for LGBTQ hunters/anglers?
38:30 - Hunting traditions are often passed down through families... part of creating a community is giving others access to that infrastructure. Not everyone has a sporting tradition in their family unit, but they might find it in their chosen family
41:30 - Taylor's piece for Autostraddle called “On the Hunt” and voices from queer women who hunt on a series called "The Outsiders"
45:30 - Resources and online communities: Queer Appalachia, Queer Nature, Pattie Gonia, Unlikely Hikers, The Venture Out Project, The LGBTQ Outdoors Summit, OutSportsman
47:30 - Books: Anything by Audre Lorde, like Zami; Autostraddle REI segment called "The Outsiders"; and just keep up with the news. Read the hate crime stories. Know what's happening.
54:30 - Find Sarah @sj_keller, and Taylor @_taymo_