Dana Kaplan

Country Queers

Dana Kaplan (he/him) is a white trans person and the Executive Director of Outright Vermont and he’s on a mission to make Vermont celebratory and affirming for all LGBTQ+ youth. When not working, Dana spends time making music, fermenting food, people watching, and hanging out with his spouse and their two kids. In this episode Zach Henningsen interviews Dana about living in Vermont as a NYC kid, music, finding a sense of home in ourselves, and the creativity of rural queer people.

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Zach Henningsen (he/him) is a Junior in highschool with a passion for social justice and equity work. He served on a school board that oversaw- and ultimately suggested the removal of- the School Resource Officer position. He also volunteers at Planned Parenthood, and spends most of his time free either studying or playing music. Zach moved to Vermont in December of 2016 from Texas- and has lived in at least five different states over the span of his life. He believes that place and environment can shape identity to a great extent, and the shift from Texas to Vermont- while jarring- was a positive one. A supportive community fosters growth and comfort, and he believes that wherever you are, such community can be found. He is the producer and creator of this week’s episode featuring Dana Kaplan.

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For this episode, Dana is asking you to support The Root Social Justice Center. The Root is a Vermont-based,POC-led nonprofit organization focused on racial justice organizing, community advocacy, and relationship-building through their programming, actions, and local initiatives. The Root provides a physically and financially accessible space in Southern Vermont for social justice groups to meet AND is a hub for racial justice organizing.

You can learn more and donate on their website: https://www.therootsjc.org

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To learn more about this collaboratively produced 2nd season check out our websites at www.countryqueers.com and www.weareoutintheopen.org

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Created and produced by Zach Henningsen with support from HB Lozito from Out in the Open, and Rae Garringer of Country Queers.

Sound Design by Hideo Tokui. Audio editing by Rae Garringer.

Editorial advisory dream team: Hermelinda Cortés, Lewis Raven Wallace, and Sharon P. Holland

Our featured song on this episode is “Simple Times” by Dana’s band The Smittens! Additional music is by One Man Book and Podington Bear.

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If you'd like to support this rural queer and trans led project head on over to our Patreon page.