WOMB: Pride Special 2021

HEROINE
Bridget Linsenmeyer & Ines Nassara
she/her
Best friends singing for social change.

Based in Brooklyn, New York, HEROINE is an indie pop duo made up of Bridget Linsenmeyer and Ines Nassara. The group is known for their power anthems with folky pleasantries, compelling unison and catchy, unapologetic lyrics, while their artist image advocates for solidarity and intersectional empowerment of women. Though their music is heavily inspired by femme pop influences, HEROINE also draws inspiration from shared theatrical backgrounds, delivering dynamic and dramatic performances on stage. The duo's chemistry is infectious, equally fueling listeners to call their best friend and to fight against today’s injustices. HEROINE has performed in New York City and Brooklyn’s leading music venues such as Rockwood Music Hall, C’mon Everybody and Bowery Electric, both headlining and sharing bills with some of NYC’s favorite artists: Britten and The Sting, Jhoard and Raycee Jones. As musicians for social change, HEROINE recently performed for the Washington Institute 2019 Conference, hosted by The National Council of Jewish Women in Washington DC, and this past summer performed a live stream concert to help raise money for The Okra Project, a collective that works to address violence, and to provide resources and meals to Black Trans people worldwide.

You can find Heroine’s debut ep on all major music streaming platforms like Spotify. Bridget and Ines plan to record a full length album written during early quarantine in 2021. For more information follow HEROINE at @heroine.music.nyc

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LITTY OFFICIAL
Jade Jones
they/them
Queer artist spitting Rap, Trap, and Truth

DJ YUNGUPTOWN
Content Director
Ian Anthony Coleman
he/him
Washington DC based Actor & DJ, YUNGUPTOWN bringing you the latest EDM, Pop & Hip-Hop in his virtual DJ sets. Turn on your LOUDEST speakers.

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GALEN J. WILLIAMS
Galen J. Williams 
he/she/they/them
Galen J. Williams is an Atlanta native and current Los Angeles resident where he recently graduated from University of Southern California's School of Dramatic Arts with his Master of Fine Arts in Acting. His most recent work includes the Daytime Emmy Nominated and Micheaux Film Festival Award-Winning Digital Series The Gaze, written and created by Larry Powell where he played the lead role of Jerome Price. His post-graduate goals include making an impact on the entertainment industry with bold new stories that center and shift the narrative of the Black LGBTQ+ Experience in America.  Other credits include: MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, POSE on FX, PIPELINE, MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HAT, and OTHELLO.  

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NON KURAMOTO
Technical Director
Non Kuramoto
she/her
Non Kuramoto is an iconic feminist-art-queer. She is a jester, speaking truth wrapped in beautiful, colorful, glittery wrapping paper that is fun for everyone to open. Non sucks you into Non-world as soon as she starts talking. Her rainbow pop aesthetic colors even the most dark and dirty jokes into a celebration of life. Her infectious laughter creates, holds, shares, nurtures, expands, breaks down, and takes up space. She is a slut for all art-forms, dipping toes and mixing-and-matching in any way that she sees fit; Stand up, playwriting, music, sketch comedy, visual art, whatever works. She will hold your hand as we escape together from the land of should and run towards lands of would and could. She wants our hearts to beat in sync.

SOPRIDE
Gina DuQuenne
she/her
Gina is originally a native of Los Angeles, California but when her wife introduced her to Ashland, she fell in love with the Rogue Valley and moved up to Southern Oregon just two years later. She is proud to be a member (and city councilor!) of a community that so openly welcomes diversity and fosters love and acceptance.

In May 2009, Gina's wife and dear friend discussed the possibilities of a pride festival and decided to "take it to the streets!" The next year on October 9, 2010 they marched with some 500 people down Main Street in Ashland with hundreds of people cheering them on... and SOPride was born.

With a loving family, and a tremendous passion for life, Gina is happy to be here celebrating eleven beautiful years of pride in Ashland, OR.

Teacakes & Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists
Will Wilhelm
they/them
Join host Will Wilhelm to get nearer and queerer to your next artistic crush on the brand new podcast -- Teacakes & Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists. Each episode features a new queer theatre maker chatting with Will about their experiences in the theatre industry while they dream about how to create a more inclusive and celebratory environment for trans and queer artists both onstage and in the world. After an enlightening conversation, Will offers each guest a Shakespeare-infused tarot reading to button their lovely encounter and provide our guest with direction on a personal matter of their choice. Tune in for insight, inspiration, and a little incidental education as we consult the cosmos!

Previous guests include Jordan Barbour, Meme Garcia, and Bill Rauch. Future episodes will feature names such as Lisa Wolpe and Robert O'Hara.
Teacakes & Tarot was co-created by Erin Murray and Will Wilhelm and is sponsored by Island Shakespeare Festival. Find it on Apple, Spotify, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts!

In The Margin - An Arts and Advocacy Organization
Real Vargas Alanis
they/them | inde/ima | Elle/Elles
ITM is an arts and advocacy organization comprised of intersectional and multifaceted QT,BIPOC artists and community organizers.

Artistic Director, Real Vargas Alanis:  P'urhépecha | (They/Them | inde/ima | Elle/Elles)

Ramon Real Vargas Alanis is a multifaceted-indigenous-queer-community organizer,-humanitarian artist and curandera from the barrio of what is currently known as Winton, CA (Yokut). Réal focuses on new works centering social justice uplifting marginalized stories and artists (pero like, via a mystical rave leaning into joy). They have had the privilege of training and working both nationally and internationally. Réal is the current Artistic Director and co-founder of In The Margin; leading an ensemble of intersectional and interdisciplinary QT,BIPOC artists. They are currently among the inaugural cohort of NNPN’s Bridge Program Producing Cohort and BIPOC artists cohort, producing The New American Theatre Festival developing 6 new works. They are part of Bay Area Native Theatre Artists (BANTA) and Bay Area Accountability Workspace, taking part in reshaping the bay area theater field. They’re also a Leo and love to dance.

 “Leadership is to uphold and be of service to our team. To do more than listen and take proactive action to meet the needs of employees and community--regionally, nationally and globally--actively contributing to the social change we need both inside and outside of our organizations.” - Real Vargas Alanis

You Can Garden & Rays Prints
Ray Gonzalez
they/them/elle
Ray Gonzalez is a regenerative garden designer & edible gardening coach @you_can_garden where Ray guides folks through their trials & triumphs in the multitude of gardens they tend. Through @you _can_garden Ray strives to convince you to re-introduce native plants into urban landscapes, with a focus on edible plants & gardens to help create a sense of abundance in the community & boost the local ecosystems with a focus on regenerative practices. Ray is also a visual artist carving linoleum blocks into stamps of art @rays_prints. Each of Ray's carved creations is dedicated to a different charity that they donate twenty percent of every sale to.