Entertainment Queerly

Writer and actress, Kausar Mohammed, joins Tariq Raouf to talk about the identity and representation of queer Muslims in entertainment. You can find her on social media @kausartheperson and Tariq over at @tariq_raouf.

Writer/Director Carly Usdin joins Tariq to discuss non-binary and gender non-conforming identities, the difference between gender identity and gender presentation, how hard it still is to get queer and diverse content made in the entertainment industry.

It's the season 2 premiere of Entertainment Queerly with your host, Tariq Raouf. On this episode, Tariq welcomes Dr. Jon Paul Higgins, an educator, freelance journalist, Disruptor fellow and media critic who is finishing the stories their ancestors didn't get to tell. Be sure to follow Dr. Jon Paul at @doctorjonpaul on all social media platforms, as well as Tariq at @Tariq_Raouf on Twitter.

Writer, actor, podcast personality and great human being Dylan Marron joins Tariq as they discuss queer identity, fascination with all things gay in pop culture and social justice. Okay, that was a long sentence but hey welcome to Entertainment Queerly! This episode also serves as the finale for season 1, so stay tuned for when you can expect season 2. You can follow Dylan at @DylanMarron and Tariq at @Tariq_Raouf. Stay queer!

Actor Amin El Gamal joins Tariq and they discuss the intersectionality of what it means to be Arab, queer, and Muslim. We learn about the MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition and talk about the lengths Hollywood still has to go to ensure accurate and fair representation for all.

BBC One weatherman and TV personality Owain Wyn Evans joins Tariq as they chat about how difficult school can be for those figuring out their queer identities; the importance of online chatrooms for those of us in the 90s and how fabulous Owain has been from day ONE, darling.

Peppermint, broadway performer and runner up to the crown in season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race, was the first contestant to openly come out as trans while on the show but her story began way before that. Join her and Tariq as they talk about what it was like for her growing up and how New York City influenced her career in drag.

Having written for shows like Warehouse 13, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Drew gives us some insight into writing for television through the years. Listen in as we go into depth on the Bury Your Gay trope and the role Tara's death played, where Drew offers a fresh perspective of the narrative we've heard time and time again.

You can follow Drew at @DrewZachary on Twitter, and Tariq over at @tariq_raouf.

When it comes to LGBTQIA+ issues there’s nothing wrong with asking questions to further your education. Horror journalist and film maker, BJ Colangelo, educates us more about what a TERF is, what it’s like for the lesbian and trans women communities in journalism and shares her experiences growing up and forming her own badass queer identity. 

You can follow BJ on Twitter at @bjcolangelo and the podcast at @etqueerly.

Raymond Arturo Perez, one of the writers for the upcoming Netflix series, "Selena", joins Tariq and shares what it's like growing up in a traditional Mexican household, living up to and pleasing his parents expectations and how he got started writing for television. 

Matthew Scott Montgomery joins Tariq and shares what it was like growing up in the south, moving to LA and being an openly gay actor in the industry.

NYT Best-selling author Adam Silvera joins Tariq for a conversation about figuring out his identity while he was growing up in New York, getting his start in publishing and how he brings representation to fiction in literature. 

Creator of Criminal Minds and Teen Wolf, Jeff Davis, joins Tariq Kyle as they discuss what it was like to grow up gay in an age before the Internet. Jeff talks about the confusion of it all, how much better it is for kids nowadays and how the industry has not changed as much as you may think it has. Jeff's not on Twitter, so follow Tariq at @Tariq_Kyle or the podcast at @etqueerly.

Let's talk queer horror. This episode's guest is Sam Wineman, a writer/director who's most recent works include the short film The Quiet Room, a part of Deathcember's horror anthology about Christmas and an upcoming documentary on Queer Horror that will be available on Shudder. Tastes change, and so do identities. Together Sam and Tariq discuss the fluidity of sexuality and queer identity as well as what it takes to make it in the industry. Hint, it's not seniority!  Follow Tariq on Twitter at @Tariq_Kyle, Sam at @SamWineman and the podcast over at @etqueerly.

The premiere of Entertainment Queerly begins with interviewing writer Danny Tolli, who is currently on the CW's Roswell, New Mexico reboot and also a co-chair of the WGA West's Latino Writer's Committee.  Danny shares with us his personal journey of coming out and becoming confident in his identity as a gay man and also talks about The Clubhouse, an environment that helps foster the relationships of queer Latinx men in the entertainment industry. Follow host Tariq Kyle on Twitter at @Tariq_Kyle, guest Danny Tolli at @dctolli and Entertainment Queerly at @etqueerly.