Originally Shared March 13th, 2019
This week we bring you two stories of people finding their way to living their best life.

First, we hear from Terryl Lynn Foxx.  Born under the astrological sign of Leo the Lion, Ms. Foxx  is a native New Orleanian and an entertainer/model/actress who has perfected the art of illusion through 20 years of experience. She  has appeared all over the gay cabaret circuit throughout the United States, as well as appearing on national television, music videos, newspapers and magazines, and the cinema.  This piece details her rise to stardom.

This piece was produced by Nathalie Nia (Nate) Faulk in our podcast workshop. Nathalie was born in Lafayette, Louisiana and is a self described Ebony Southern Belle.  Her work consists of Leadership Development, Performance, and Healing and Wellness practices.  Nathalie also works with the Southern Organizer Academy, a leadership development and capacity building pipeline.  They are currently accepting applications. For more information you can go to southernorganizers.org or email them at soa@southernorganizingacademy.org

Our second story this week comes from our friends at WWNO’s Bring Your Own from an event they did in 2016 in partnership with the Unprisoned podcast.

Jewel Williams told this story in front of a live audience.  At the time she was a sophomore in high school. Now, at 18, she is studying psychology and English at Loyola University. She is proud of her New Orleans upbringing and super proud to be pursuing her degree here. She hopes one day to impact the community in several ways.  This is the story of how Jewel, a New Orleans teen, came out to her parents with a little help from the Bard of Avon.

Ep5comingofage

This week, we are bringing you a newer take on a classic from season 1.

This story came to us through Ellen Rabin in an interview with Bonnie Gabel and Rachel Lee.  Ellen became an ancestor in September 2018.  She was a entrepreneur and community caregiver for the LGBTQIA+ community of New Orleans all her life.  She owned several businesses throughout her life, including the Apple Barrel in the Marigny Triangle (now Horns -- previously La Peniche).  She shared so much of herself with so many people and kept so many people safe when they had no where else to go.

Her friend, Alda Talley, said this of her:

"She provided the places we could gather, like The Apple Barrel. She dealt with the mob (absolutely required in decades passed) so that others might open their bars, obtain a liquor license, have a jukebox and pinball machines, and be allowed to stay open w/o harassment. Somehow, she did this w/o ever paying them a dime. When they finally demanded money she left town instead, waited for a few years, and then was right back at it. She used her connections inside the NOPD to warn of raids on the bars, to keep people out of jail, and to get them out and cleared when necessary. Ellen housed, fed, and even sent to college many of our most vulnerable trans folks, sufferers from AIDS, victims of Queer on Queer violence, the down, and out. Her home was open to all comers, whatever their need. She helped bury our dead when no one else would claim them. All the while maintaining her raucous laughing ways and surviving multiple cancers and chronic illnesses. We should, any of us, be and do even half of all Ellen did for all of us. Blessed be Ellen Rabin with the Angels and the Saints. Blessed are we all for her having lived among us."

We are SO SO thankful for Ellen and SO thankful she shared so many of her stories and experiences with us.  She is survived by a vibrant community who misses her.

 

this episode was produced and scored by free feral.

Episode 4: Gay Money

This week we bring you two stories of people finding their way to living their best life.

First, we hear from Terryl Lynn Foxx.  Born under the astrological sign of Leo the Lion, Ms. Foxx  is a native New Orleanian and an entertainer/model/actress who has perfected the art of illusion through 20 years of experience. She  has appeared all over the gay cabaret circuit throughout the United States, as well as appearing on national television, music videos, newspapers and magazines, and the cinema.  This piece details her rise to stardom.

This piece was produced by Nathalie Nia (Nate) Faulk in our podcast workshop. Nathalie was born in Lafayette, Louisiana and is a self described Ebony Southern Belle.  Her work consists of Leadership Development, Performance, and Healing and Wellness practices.  Nathalie also works with the Southern Organizer Academy, a leadership development and capacity building pipeline.  They are currently accepting applications. For more information you can go to southernorganizers.org or email them at soa@southernorganizingacademy.org

Our second story this week comes from our friends at WWNO’s Bring Your Own (https://bringyourownstories.com/) from an event they did in 2016 in partnership with the Unprisoned podcast (https://www.unprisoned.org/).

Jewel Williams told this story in front of a live audience.  At the time she was a sophomore in high school.   Now, at 18, she is studying psychology and English at Loyola University.  She is proud of her New Orleans upbringing and super proud to be pursuing her degree here.  She hopes one day to impact the community in several ways.  This is the story of how Jewel, a New Orleans teen, came out to her parents with a little help from the Bard of Avon.

Episode 5: Living Out Loud

This week we bring you a piece about the Boston Dyke Bar scene in the 60’s through the 90’s.

Last Call’s play based on our New Orleans Dyke Bar research, Alleged Lesbian Activies, is coming to Boston, April 4, 5, 6, and 7.  These performances will be done in partnership with The Theatre Offensive, and will feature new material derived from our Boston interviews.  We thought, these interviews are so juicy - let’s do a podcast piece with them!  We have stories of parties, fights, family, pickup and more.  It’s a long one, so cozy in and enjoy!

Many thanks to our interviewees Danny Harris, Yani Batteau, Shani Dowd, Sharon Pritchard, Marjorie Posner, Rochelle Ruthchild, Vicki Gabriner, Liz James, Lynn Brown, Pam Chamberlin, Helen Cratin, and Sweet Mykki B.  They were so welcoming and so generous with their time, energy, and stories.  We think you’re going to really enjoy listening to them.

For more about the play "Alleged Lesbian Activites," you can visit our website [http://www.lastcallnola.org/allegedlesbianactivities].

For tickets to see Alleged Lesbian Activities at Jacque’s Cabaret in Boston, you can go to http://www.thetheateroffensive.org/happenings/alleged-lesbian-activities/5c599933f69953040010da2d.

It's a great show in a historic queer venue.  Get your tickets soon - they are going fast!

This week’s episode was produced and scored by free feral.

Episode 6: Stories from the Boston Dyke Bar Scene

Wendi Moore O'Neal is a community activist from New Orleans who runs Jaliyah Consulting where she uses "freedom singing, story circles and group facilitation to share civil rights history, culture, and traditions".  She tells us about founding [one of] the first LGBT organizations at Spelman College in the 90's.

Recently, Wendi released a documentary "This Little Light" which chronicles her process of seeking justice and making peace when she was unconstitutionally fired for marrying her wife, Mandisa. (who you’ll be hearing from in the next episode) The film was made in collaboration with Ada McMahon and has been featured in festivals all over the country, including the Smithsonian African American Film Festival. Please visit thislittlelightfilm.com to learn more.

This piece was produced by free feral with music by free, from an interview by indee mitchell and Nathalie Nia Faulk.   "I Got a Right" is a piece free created as part of a short film of the same title.  The song includes samples of Wendi leading a community in song.   The film was made from public domain footage of the March on Washington, and features words and voices of Audre Lorde and June Jordan.  The piece was created as part of a performance called Power of the Black Feminine by Junebug Productions.  Also, Wendi shouts out SONG, Southerners on New Ground.  They still kickin.

Originally released February 2019.

Last Call Podcast Season 2: Queer History, Queer Futures [ep1Wendi Moore-O'neal]

Here you can find the latest episodes in Season two the Last Call Podcast.  For older episodes, including Season One, chronicling the New Orleans Dyke bar scene in the 70's thru the 90's, please visit our website @ www.lastcallnola.org  

This season we are telling stories of Queer resistance.  With oral history as the base again, we are bringing you stories of how members of the New Orleans LGBTQIA community have stood up and thrown down to make the world a safer, freer place for us all.  Hosted by Laine Kaplan Levenson (WWNO's Tripod and Sticky Wicket) and free feral, the season was produced by Laine and free and by participants in the Queer Histories Queer Futures Podcast Workshop: Chasity Hunter, Erin Roussel, Maria Delgado, Natalie Nia Faulk, Owen Ever, and Tara Thierry.

Last Call is a multiracial collective of queer artists, activists, and archivists. Drawn together by the closing of the last remaining dyke bar, Last Call creates innovative, multi-platform performances, events, and digital media that document and interpret neglected queer history, creating connections between those who lived this history and those who have much at stake if it is forgotten. We conjure up intergenerational gathering places where the movement for queer liberation is carried forward.

Last Call was founded by Rachel Lee, Sara Pic, and Bonnie Gabel. Last Call is co-directors are indee mitchell and Bonnie Gabel with help from Hannah Pepper-Cunningham and free feral. 

Last Call is thankful for the support of MAP Fund with funds from Creative Capital, Platforms Fund, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, The LGBT Community Center of New Orleans, Dancing Grounds, the Distillery at the Contemporary Arts Center, Alternate Roots, The Network of Ensemble Theaters and our community. Last Call is fiscally sponsored by The National Performance Network.

LAST CALL NOLA

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