Elandria Williams

Country Queers

Elandria Williams identifies as a Black, southern/Appalachian, disabled, genderqueer, pansexual, Unitarian Universalist, “auntiemama” to 3 nieces and nephews and 4 god kids. E grew up on Cherokee land in Knoxville and Powell, TN. In this interview - recorded at the STAY Project's summer gathering at Highlander in 2013 - E talks about organizing, their complicated feelings about "country," how you can never be anonymous in the town you grew up in, and how much joy they get from seeing youth thrive.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Learn more about this project at www.countryqueers.com

For this episode, at Elandria’s suggestion, we’re asking folks who have additional funds to donate to two initiatives:

The first is Black, Appalachian, Young & Rising - a Black-led youth program of the STAY Project. STAY is a central Appalachian regional network of young folks 14-30 supporting one another to make their home communities places young people can and want to stay.

The second is the Disability Justice work of the People’s Hub. Elandria is the Executive Director of the People's Hub - a nonprofit that offers live, interactive trainings and workshops to build community power and support grassroots work.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Host, Producer, and Lead Editor: Rae Garringer

Assistant Editor & Musical Magic: Tommie Anderson

Editorial Advisory Dream Team: Hermelinda Cortés, Lewis Raven Wallace, and Sharon P. Holland

Theme Song: Composed and performed on banjo by Sam Gleaves, pedal steel versions by Rebecca Branson Jones

Additional music: Composed and performed on acoustic and electric guitar by Tommie Anderson