"I Needed To See Masculine-Of-Centre Black Lesbians" - with Anna DeShawn

"I Needed To See Masculine-Of-Centre Black Lesbians" - with Anna DeShawn

Author: lost queer spaces April 3, 2024 Duration: 42:15

How much of yourself do you bring to the spaces that you spend time in?

How much of the different sides of yourself do you bring out when you are at work? At dinner with friends? Spending time with your family? Hanging out at the club?

Do you dial back your queerness, do you push down your beliefs or censor your thoughts? Or, are you one of those people who is just 100% themselves no matter where they go?

I think that there are merits to both approaches, so I'm not necessarily advocating one over the other.

But, I find it fascinating to examine our behaviours and understand the reasons behind our approaches.


And this is one of the conversations that I had with this week's guest, the host of the Queer News podcast, Anna DeShawn.

Anna is a black, masc-of-centre lesbian, and when she was younger she felt that she had to dial up or dial down different parts of herself depending on where she was. But not, as it so happens, at her lost space - the lesbian bar Star Gaze in Chicago.


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Takeaways

  • Finding community and representation is crucial for queer individuals to feel seen and validated.
  • Navigating different spaces can be challenging, especially when aspects of one's identity are not fully accepted or understood.
  • Creating safe and inclusive spaces, like Stargaze, is essential for fostering a sense of belonging and allowing individuals to be their authentic selves.
  • Maintaining energy and confidence while taking up space requires self-care, grounding practices, and a supportive network.
  • Figuring out adulthood is an ongoing process, and it often involves navigating financial responsibilities and finding a balance between personal and professional growth.
  • Stargaze was a popular lesbian bar in Chicago that provided a space for the queer community to gather and be themselves.
  • The closure of Stargaze left a void in the community, highlighting the need for dedicated lesbian spaces.
  • Anna's journey of self-discovery and acceptance led her to embrace her black and queer identities and find balance between them.
  • The Queer News Podcast is a platform for discussing important topics and issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community.



Lost Spaces: Memories from Gay Bars, Lesbian Clubs, and LGBTQ+ Parties is a series of intimate conversations about the venues and parties that have served as crucial backdrops for queer life. Host K Anderson guides each episode with a gentle curiosity, focusing on a single guest’s personal connection to a place that no longer exists in the same way. These are not dry historical accounts, but vivid, emotional recollections. You’ll hear about the specific bar where someone first felt seen, the underground club that provided a sanctuary, or the party where a community solidified. The discussions naturally delve into how these environments fostered identity, provided safety, and built the networks that define so many LGBTQ+ lives. This podcast operates on the understanding that a physical space is often the container for our most formative experiences-first kisses, political awakenings, chosen families. By documenting these lost spaces through personal narrative, the show archives a living history of queer culture that exists beyond official records. The tone is reflective and often poignant, as guests explore not just what these places were, but what their absence means. It’s about the lingering impact of a closed door, and how the memories forged in those rooms continue to resonate. Listening feels like being part of a necessary preservation project, one story at a time, highlighting why these communal hubs were, and remain, vital to health and well-being. Each episode is a specific journey into a memory, making the broader point about collective loss and resilience without ever needing to state it outright.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Lost Spaces: Memories from Gay Bars, Lesbian Clubs, and LGBTQ+ Parties
Podcast Episodes
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Duration: 6:10
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