About
Dr. Kaila Story is Associate Professor, Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, with a joint appointment in the Department of Pan-African Studies. She holds the Audre Lorde Chair in Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
Dr. Story was also a part of NBC’s inaugural #Pride30 which featured LGBTQ Community leaders and change makers.
“#Pride30: Professor Kaila Story Is Opening Hearts and Minds in Kentucky”-Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC , https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out-pride30/pride30-dr-kaila-adia-story-n763466
She also co-hosts an award-winning podcast with longtime Louisville activist Jaison Gardner called Strange Fruit: Musings on Politics, Pop Culture, and Black Gay Life on WFPL (Louisville affiliate of NPR). You can find current and past episodes here: strangefruitpod.org
Dialogues on Gender at the Speed Art Museum
In conjunction with the exhibition Breaking the Mold: Investigating Genderat the Speed Art Museum, the Speed hosted a three-part “Dialogues on Gender” series of public conversations, presented in partnership with WFPL’s Strange Fruit and Louisville Public Media. This series featured groundbreaking discussions that took place in June, July, and August.
June Event (6/18) “Ya’ll Better Quiet Down: Trans Advocacy, Justice & Safety.” In 1973, transgender activist Sylvia Rivera delivered a powerful and provocative call to action at the Christopher Street Liberation Day Rally in New York City in which she admonished the largely cisgender, white, middle-class gay and lesbian crowd for their indifference toward and neglect of the issues facing poor and POC transgender people. As the crowd shouted objections to her being handed the microphone, Rivera chided, “ya’ll better quiet down” and listen to the social and political plights of trans and Gender Non-Conforming (GNC) people. WFPL’s Strange Fruit podcast co-hosts and co-producers Dr. Kaila Story and Jaison Gardner were joined by professional DJ and entertainer Victoria Syimone Taylor and civil rights activist Dawn Wilson for a multimedia presentation and panel discussion on past and present POC trans leadership, activism and justice initiatives.
View the conversation here: https://vimeo.com/282563871
July Event (7/18) “Dialogues on Gender: Living A Feminist Life through Art, Education and the Media”. WFPL’s Strange Fruit co-host and professor Dr. Kaila Story and art critic Paddy Johnson, the founding editor of Art F City, discussed past and contemporary feminisms in life, art, education, culture, and working in the media. WFPL’s Strange Fruit co-host and activist Jaison Gardner moderated the conversation.
View the conversation here: http://www.speedmuseum.org/living-a-feminist-life-through-art-education-and-the-media/
Press related to "Strange Fruit" podcast:
Behind the Podcast: A Conversation with Strange Fruit Hosts Jaison Gardner and Dr. Kaila Story-Simon Says
14 pop culture podcasts from diverse perspectives: From “Strange Fruit” to “Latinos Who Lunch,” these excellent shows examine pop culture and identity-Salon
www.salon.com/2017/12/16/14-pop-culture-podcasts-from-diverse-perspectives/
10 podcasts hosted by lesbians and bi women to stream right now-After Ellen
The Best Local Louisville Podcasts
https://www.louisville.com/content/best-local-louisville-podcasts
7 Podcasts for Intersectional Feminists So You Can Learn While You Listen-Bustle
Pride Podcasts-Robbins Library
https://robbinslibrary.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/queer-podcasts/
This week's best podcasts: compelling ads, Strange Fruit and talking music-The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/jun/27/best-podcasts-strange-fruit-gimlet-punk-music
‘Strange Fruit’ Podcast Celebrates 200 episodes-Insider Louisville
‘Strange Fruit’ films, discussions continue this weekend at Speed Cinema-Insider Louisville
BLACK FUTURES: Interview with Strange Fruit-Medium
https://medium.com/lgbtqlou/black-futures-interview-with-strange-fruit-2e15c18d54a
“LOUISVILLE PUBLIC MEDIA’S ‘STRANGE FRUIT’ CELEBRATES 200 EPISODES”-Louisville Public Media
Strange Fruit's Nuanced Take On the Political/Pop Culture Podcast
It Do Take Nerve-The Voice Tribune
https://voice-tribune.com/_/life-style-2/arts-entertainment/it-do-take-nerve/
10 Fantastic LGBT Podcasts You Need to Hear-Pride.com
https://www.pride.com/lgbt/2016/4/13/10-fantastic-lgbt-podcasts-you-need-hear
Strange Fruit Honored with National Award From Pride Index.com
It’s Here! It’s Queer! A Pride Podcast Playlist! : The past, present, and future of queerness in thirteen podcasts-Bello Collective
https://bellocollective.com/its-here-it-s-queer-a-pride-podcast-playlist-de0a1e504931
Research interests
Dr. Story's research examines the intersections of race and sexuality, with special attention to Black feminism, Black lesbians, and Black queer identity. Her current research explores the intersections of race, class, and sexuality in identity performance, mass media, body politics, and the like. Dr. Story's other research interests include, but are not limited to, Gender Socialization, Transnational Sexualities, Black feminisms, and Transnational Feminisms.
Current and recent courses
- Gender and Public Dialogue (fulfills general education requirement in oral communication)
- Black Lesbian Lives (cross-listed with Pan-African Studies)
- Introduction to Pan-African Studies
- Introduction to LGBTQ Studies
- Black Feminisms in Action (Fall 2008)
- Queer Performance
- Pedagogy of Black Studies (Pan African Studies)