In this episode of 'Queer Goggles,' we talk with Dr. Stacy L. Smith, a 2025 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award recipient and founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative at USC.

Dr. Smith discusses her organization's work on inclusion in media, focusing on gender, race, LGBTQ+, disabilities, and mental health. She explains how the Initiative measures representation in film, television, and music, and the challenges of combating explicit bias in Hollywood.

Highlighting her work since the 1990s, Dr. Smith emphasizes the importance of honest portrayals and the need for systemic changes in hiring practices within the entertainment industry. She also talks about the Initiative's grant programs aimed at fostering diverse storytelling. The conversation touches on the necessity of democratizing hiring practices in Hollywood and the ongoing efforts to generate more inclusive and genuine media content.

To find out more visit https://annenberg.usc.edu/research/aii

Support the show

Queer Goggles is just one of thirty programs and services of The Source LGBT+ Center in Visalia, CA. If you like what you heard today and are interested in supporting this work, go to thesourcelgbt.org/giving to make a donation. Thank you.

On this episode of Queer Goggles, Nick Vargas talks with Joey Bachrach of Rainbow Hill Recovery. They share their own experiences with recovery from substance use disorders and how their journeys impact their current work. Joey talks about recovery resources for the LGBTQ+ community and offers words of hope for those looking to recover.

Support the show

Queer Goggles is just one of thirty programs and services of The Source LGBT+ Center in Visalia, CA. If you like what you heard today and are interested in supporting this work, go to thesourcelgbt.org/giving to make a donation. Thank you.

Tanya Tassi (she/her) speaks with Brian Poth about her important work in the LGBTQ+ movement. Currently the Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy for CenterLink, Tanya's advocacy and leadership helps community centers stay informed and gives them the tools to mobilize and make lasting change in their communities and the nation. Her former work with seniors at the LA LGBT Center inspires a new generation to step into caring for our aging queer community.

To find out more about Tanya, go to tanyatassi.com and be sure to sign up for advocacy alerts from ActionLink, a program of CenterLink.

Support the show

Queer Goggles is just one of thirty programs and services of The Source LGBT+ Center in Visalia, CA. If you like what you heard today and are interested in supporting this work, go to thesourcelgbt.org/giving to make a donation. Thank you.