Pride Connection

Episode Notes During our Silver Saturday Celebration earlier this year, members of BPI got together and shared a few coming out stories. This conversation was led by Kerri Regan and Shannon Dyer, giving space to anyone who chose to share their coming out experience. Now, in honor of National Coming Out Day, we’re sharing this conversation with a wider audience by turning it into a bonus Pride Conn...

Episode Notes In this latest episode of Pride Connection, Robin talks about self-care. She delves into what it is, how to practice it, and why it’s important. She then opens the floor to participants Shannon, Tom, and Kristeen for their views and personal practices. Toward the end of the show, all four share resources they’ve found helpful along their own road to better self-care habits To learn m...

Episode Notes This week on Pride Connection, we present another highlight from our Pride Month Silver Saturday Festivities. Listen in as Shannon and Jessica host a discussion with our members about books, movies and TV shows we have particularly enjoyed. In this era of looming sensorship, anti-LGBT policies and the rollback of DEI initiatives, we feel it is more important than ever to highlight an...

Episode Notes Tune in as the whole BPI Crew gathers for a virtual brunch sharing toasts and memories spanning Blind LGBT Pride International's 25 year history!! You'll hear stories about our founding, funny, chance meetings and even a little karaoke too! Here's to many more years and happy memories! To find out more about BPI, and to get our Queer Gear, please visit www.bpi.gay

Episode Notes Although the month of June, widely recognized as LGBTQ Pride Month has ended, we’re still here, and we’re queer all year! In fact, July is Disability Pride Month, so we can all just keep on celebrating! In this spirit, we’d like to offer you a replay of our first-ever live-streamed pride parade with audio description! A huge thank-you to 2020 the Beacon for the initial stream of our...

Episode Notes Although the month of June, widely recognized as LGBTQ Pride Month has ended, we’re still here, and we’re queer all year! In fact, July is Disability Pride Month, so we can all just keep on celebrating! In this spirit, we’d like to offer you a replay of our first-ever live-streamed pride parade with audio description! A huge thank-you to 2020 the Beacon for the initial stream of our...

Episode Notes What do you remember about the world 25 years ago? What do you remember about our community and the strides we had made at that point? We’d love to hear your favorite Blind Pride memories—from conventions and social meetups to groundbreaking programming and unforgettable moments of connection. How has the world changed? And what do we envision for this organization in the next 25 yea...

Episode Notes Tune in for another outstanding interview with friend of the podcast Eric Marcus of Making Gay History. We learn a few lessons from history and receive encouragement to keep doing the work and not give up! To find out more about Blind LGBT Pride International, please visit www.bpi.gay   You can also find our “queer gear” merch here:  https://blindgirldesigns.com/collections/bpi-25-an...

Episode Notes Last year, the team produced a stirring, heartfelt commentary on why we still need pride parades and celebrations. Unfortunately, these musings are now even more relevant than they were back then. In the face of hatred, fascism and bigotry, let's conspire to have the boldest, loudest, most colorful and most affirming pride month EVER!!! To find out more about Blind LGBT Pride Interna...

Episode Notes Pride Connection is pleased to present an interview with acclaimed writer, professor and GLBTQ+ activist Karla Jay. Beginning with her involvement in the feminist and gay liberation movement in the early 1970s, Jay indelibly made her mark as a strident voice in our community. Jay has written 10 books and has traveled extensively speaking about post-Stonewall glbtq+ advocacy and the 2...

Episode Notes One of Pride Connection’s most inspiring and thought-provoking conversations was with then-Senate aide Laurel Hilbert—a shining example of courage, conviction, and the strength of the human spirit. In this episode, we revisit Laurel’s extraordinary journey: from leaving his home country of Syria, to his time in Saudi Arabia, to arriving in the United States knowing only a few words o...

Episode Notes On this episode of Pride Connection, we get to know Grim Kells, founder of Grimalkin Records, a collective of LGBT, disabled and BIPOC musical and visual artists.  We talk about Grim’s musical work under the name Spartan Jetplex, and what led them to found Grimalkin records.  We also touch on some of the community outreach that makes Grimalkin special, including an in-person and virt...

Pride Connection presents a Flashback, celebratory discussion about Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. **Content warning: gun violence, hate crimes/violence against AAPI, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, ableism, other topics that may be sensitive to some listeners ** May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month! This week on Pride Connection, please join Saejh Chung (m...

Episode Notes This week on Pride Connection, dropping on Tuesday wherever you get your podcast, we’re continuing a very special two-part journey with someone who continues to inspire and electrify our community —Rosemary Ketchum! Part one last week presented a flashback to one of our most powerful conversations ever. And this week, she’s back with us for a brand-new episode—raw, real, and refreshi...

Episode Notes This week on Pride Connection, dropping on Tuesday wherever you get your podcast,were kicking off a very special two-part journey with someone who continues to inspire and electrify our community —Rosemary Ketchum! Part one starts Tuesday with a flashback to one of our most powerful conversations ever. And next week, she’s back with us for a brand-new episode—raw, real, and refreshin...

Episode Notes On April 5, 2025, over 5 million people around the US and the globe gathered for a series of rallies and protests against the Trump administration. Their message was loud and clear. Hands Off!! Hands Off our democracy, our economy, our bodies, our most vital services ... Among the protesters were BPI members Courtney and Destiny, raising their voices and fighting for their very lives...

Episode Notes We at Blind Pride International are always working diligently to advocate for our membership. But, things have been kind of heavy lately and we wanted to lighten things up. We invited BPI members to a recording session where they could share their embarrassing stories and bloopers. Join us for an episode full of laughter and comradery.

BPI is excited to tell you about our new and fabulous Queer Gear! Head on over to http://www.bpi.gay right now, and click on "Queer Gear"

Episode Notes Two Presidents, a Lot of Sheep, and a Whole Lotta Fun What happens when two powerhouse leaders in the blind and low vision community sit down for a chat? You get laughs, insight, and maybe a little ginger beer. Join BPI President Leah Gardner and Martine Abel Williamson, President of the World Blind Union, as they dish about Leah’s recent adventures in Martine’s stunning homeland—New...

Episode Notes Please join us for a flashback episode of Pride Connection from 2021, where guest host Tristan Snyder brings you an exclusive, in-depth interview with queer author TJ Klune! TJ Klune is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries, and more. Being queer himself, TJ believes it’s important—now...

Episode Notes Join us for this very special interview with author and Pagan leader Enfys Book! Find out how their spiritual path began, a little about their writing process and how we can all use rituals to mark the passing of time in meaningful ways. Enfys also shares a bit of their musical journey as well, including their time with the band Misbehavin' Maidens! Find out more about Enfys and thei...

Episode Notes Join Blind LGBT Pride International as we flash back to our very first episode, which aired five years ago! Listen in to a bit of BPI history and then dive in to the parenting roundtable discussion. Real joys and real fears are shared as participants honestly share their parenting journeys.

Episode Notes Join the Pride Connection Team for this lively discussion about what it means to be an ally. Whether we're calling our representatives, sharing our pronouns or speaking up when we hear untrue or bigoted comments, we can lift up our LGBTQIA+ friends, siblings and coworkers. Listen in as we share various perspectives.

Episode Notes Come with us on a fun and festive journey back through time! This episode was Recorded in 2022 to celebrate two years of Pride Connection. Get a taste of the many happy memories, laugh along and have a little fun with us.

Episode Notes History does not repeat, but it does reiterate. It cycles. Right now, we are living through the kind of times that will be written about for centuries to come. Those who come after us will ask us where we were and what we did to resist the tide of authoritarianism sweeping our nation and the globe. In this episode, we talk about the growing resistance to the bigotry and authoritarian...