Strange Fruit

Performing as DJ Syimone, Victoria Syimone Taylor spends a lot of time in gay and gay-friendly bars. She joins us this week to talk about racism in queer spaces - including a recent incident in a local bar, and the community's response. Taylor was celebrating her birthday in a crowded local bar when a patron got angry about where her bag was. He repeatedly called her the n-word. She says she felt victimized for a second time when some people in the community minimized her experience, and encouraged her not to make a fuss about the incident. Taylor describes "being pulled into a corner and then being told by certain people, 'Just ignore that. [...] Don't let that bother you.'" Taylor says she was shocked, in the moment, and didn't know how to respond. "It happened so fast. I couldn't even process it," she says. "It's like being in a movie." She also says the issue is bigger than just her recent experience. "We know this goes on at every gay bar, anywhere." She hopes that