Every November, people gather to remember members of the transgender community whose lives were taken by violence. Their names are read aloud, candles are lit and vigils offer space to mourn those who should still be here.
But when November 20 passes and the candles burn out, the challenges facing the transgender community don’t simply disappear. Neither do the people whose lives are too often defined by those struggles rather than their accomplishments, relationships and everyday experiences.
What would it look like if we gave transgender lives the same attention in celebration that we give them in remembrance?
That’s the question at the heart of Episode 4 of “The Q by QnotesCarolinas.”
Titled “More Than Remembrance,” the November episode opens with a spoken-word performance by Charlotte poet, author, advocate and religious leader GraceLynn Jae’El, whose poetry offers a deeply personal entry point into a larger conversation about identity, belonging and the power of being heard.
Later, host Liz Schob talks with Jae’El to explore how poetry, faith and advocacy have shaped her life. An ordained elder who describes her creative work as a “Spoken Word Ministry,” Jae’El draws on her experiences as a Black transgender woman to challenge assumptions about who belongs in religious spaces and what acceptance can look like. Their conversation also explores her journey toward self-acceptance, the inspiration behind her book, “True Colors: Retrieving My Rainbow,” and the role storytelling can play in helping others feel less alone.
That emphasis on being seen carries into a personal conversation among Schob and co-hosts Vanna Vanity and Chann Little, who reflect on the people who have made them feel valued and supported, and what it means to show up for others beyond designated days of recognition.
The episode also makes room for music, with special performances by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte and Women’s Chorus of Charlotte, before turning to LGBTQ+ headlines that raise questions about representation, community support and the preservation of history.
In Good News Corner, Little highlights a historical marker honoring North Carolina’s first Pride march, the continuing impact of LGBTQ+ student activism in Virginia and Village Hearth, a Durham community where LGBTQ+ older adults are building connections as they age.
These stories don’t all begin with the same experiences or arrive at the same conclusions. But together, they reflect something easily overlooked when conversations about LGBTQ+ lives focus primarily on hardship: the people making art, preserving history, challenging institutions and building communities deserve attention for how they’re living, not only for what they’ve endured.
Episode 4 of “The Q by QnotesCarolinas” is available now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
This story is brought to you by Rosedale Health and Wellness and Dudley’s Place.
