:Vocalo.org

   Mark Ruvalo is the owner of Johann's Face Records, an indie punk label based in Chicago. He has been involved in the Chicago Punk scene for over 20 yrs. He was at Vocalo talking about starting his own label and the state of the genre in Chicago.

Punk is said to be the home for outcasts and misfits, yet when Mark revealed that he was gay, the punk community didnt initially accept him. Listen to his story.

Renowned slam poet, activist and educator Tristan Silverman performs at last year's Winter Block Party for the Hip-Hop Arts. Tristan's poetry addresses the humanness of flaw, the fluidity of identity, and the reality of coming of age queer and American.

Like what you hear? Listen to the entire Open Mic event.

The winner of the Chicago Moth StorySLAM for December, Byron Flitch, called in during the recap show and told his winning tale of taxi lust gone bigoted!

   This is not a photo of Byron, but it was taken by Bryan Champ.

Coraline lives on the streets. She's gay. And she discovered for herself an alternate family...

This conversation was recorded by sarah.e.lu

At a RAWR (which stands for Radical Awesome Writers Resisting) meeting, this person describes her first ever Pride.