Episode Notes

This week on Pride Connection, we’re focusing on a topic that’s been on the minds of most Americans for much of the year, the 2024 Election. As we prepare to cast our ballots for President, Congress, and various local offices and propositions, many questions remain. Why should we vote? What does it matter in the grand scheme of things? And even if we’re excited to go to the polls, what happens if our ability to cast a secret, independent ballot is compromised? We’re joined by attorney and BPI member Tai Tomassi, who provides an extensive list of resources and hot lines you can contact if you face voter suppression of any kind. Next, several of our members share their voting stories, and their motivations for making their voices heard. They seem to say this every election cycle, but 2024 truly is one of the most important and consequential elections in our nation’s history, not just for those in marginalized communities but for democracy itself. If you haven’t done so already, please vote and encourage your friends and family to join you. As Justin Dart said, “Vote like your life depends on it, because it does.”

www.vote.gov

www.usa.gov/election-office

www.ballotpedia.org

https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/voting-rights

https://www.ndrn.org/resource/right-to-help-a-guide-to-getting-help-with-voting/

Pride Connection airs on ACB Media, Stream 1 Tuesdays at 10pm et. It is also available wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Visit www.BPI.gay for more information, to join or support our mission.

Blind Lgbt Pride Discussion List celebrated its fall social networking event in Minneapolis September 18 through the 23rd. This highlight wheel gives you a glimpse into the fun and family feeling of our affiliate and the amazing adventures of our fall socials.

Please check out Blind pride at:

Www.bpi.gay.

Across the nation, books are being banned. Young people are now faced with the strong possibility of not seeing themselves represented in the fiction they’re reading. On this latest episode of Pride Connection, several avid readers discuss what it was like to see ourselves on the pages of the books we loved, as well as how it felt when literature failed to represent us in an accurate way. We also offer resources for those living in areas where book bans are in place, and discuss ways individuals can stand up for the rights of all of us to read books that make us feel seen.

Tristan Snyder is back with a 3D audio excursion that takes you all kinds of places in Minneapolis. Grab your headphones, sit back and relax as we take you all around the city. From the airport to a jazz club to a pride festival and more. It’s a feast for the ears. BPI is holding our fall social in Minneapolis Minnesota from September 19th through the 22nd this year.

Blind pride international members sit down for a conversation sharing their thoughts about sitting out this year’s American council of the blind convention, and discuss pathways towards healing

June is internationally recognized as Pride Month and this year BPI members and allies have taken to the MIC to share their thoughts on Why Pride? Why Pride matters? Why Pride is important?

This powerful set of testimonials spans experiences both very personal and very retrospective of our community. We share from our vulnerability, experience and from our hearts. We hope this episode will serve to continue the understanding of why all parts of us matter, need to be respected and why our pride can only strengthen the greater pride of advocacy.

If your really still asking yourself: Why Pride in this time and space this episode is for you.

BPI celebrates our strong and wonderful Allies this month as well and this episode is also a testimonial in itself of our strong Allied Members.

Pride Connection airs on ACB Media stream 1, Tuesday evenings at 10 pm and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts by searching: ACB’s Pride Connection

For more information or to support our mission please visit www.BPI.gay

Late May coincides with Memorial Day in the U.S. and warm weather in many regions of the world. With summer in the air, it's time to pull out the suitcases from the closet and set out for new travel destinations. On today's Pride Connection podcast, Leah Gardner talks with some BPI members about their travel experiences around the world. They share memories of travels past and hopes for future exploration. They also share tips and tricks for navigating as a visually impaired traveler in new locations. If you want to travel with confidence, get packing and listen to this week's Pride Connection escapade.

Pride is a big deal in the LBGTQIA Plus community, but, for some of us who are blind or visually impaired, the idea of attending such a huge event can feel scary and/or overwhelming. On this episode of Pride Connection, we reached out to some of our members who have attended pride marches all over the country and came away with some tips and tricks that might make the whole experience feel a bit more doable. We hope this episode gives you some insight and maybe some confidence to get out this year and support the community.

Pride Connection can be heard Tuesday nights on the ACB Media network Stream 1 at 10 pm; or can be accessed by your favorite podcast catcher by searching:

ACB’s Pride Connection

For more information about our organization please visit www.BPI.Gay

Questions about the show or Blind LGBT Pride please email:

membership@BlindLGBTPride.org