For my final project, I created an audio package, primarily journalistic, about the historical route of the first Boston Pride. However, in this, it was not solely about the historical route of the first Boston Pride but also about what it means to be a part of the queer community. I gathered three interivews of who have taken the historical route of the first Boston Pride, or are a part of the queer community here at Emerson College. This could mean that they have attended the historical route of the first Boston Pride, Boston Pride in general, pride in general, or are a part of the queer community. I used my phone for the interviews and voiceovers in the audio package. Also, I included a transcript in case of either auditory issues or inability to listen to the audio package. The audio package does follow a typical hard news structure, with some non-copyrighted music at the beginning and end of the audio package. The entirety of the audio package is approximately twenty-four minutes and thirty-five seconds long. 

Furthermore, an important note is that although audio journalist may not be inherently queer, it does relate to queer studies. It allows the audience to hear the sources’ or people’s voices. In turn, it does not allow the audience to judge anyone based on appearance. Through this project, I was able ot learn more about what it means to other about attending the historical route of the first Pride, attending Boston Pride or any pride in general, or what it means to be a part of the queer community. This audio package is rooted in how the queer community continues its journey in being themslves, in being queer, and being seen in a world that is seemingly against the queer community. 

For this final project, the audio package created can trace a few stops of the historical route of the first Boston Pride while weaving together interviews with attendees on questions related to the topic at hand and queerness in its entirety. It provides a narrative that holds context to the situation and holds a keen light to informing others about what it means to be queer in today’s world. 

Interview questions such as “How would your younger self feel to see you here?” and “Do you feel seen in this environment?” go hand-in-hand with not only class discussion of queerness but also relate to our readings based on visibility. For instance, in the text Undectecability in a Time of Trans Visibility from Chris Lee, the concept of visbility versus opacity is explored: “…the discourse of trans visibility has crept into public HIV/AIDS campaigns that name trans people of color as an underrecognized risk group, and, according to the US News and World Report, warn of a growing trans population of the ‘infected and invisible’ (Marcus 2018). But while nonprofit organizations like the Human Rights Campaign continually call for greater trans ‘visibility and inclusiveness’ within HIV/AIDS campaigns, scholars like Eric Stanley and Toby Beauchamp have highlighted the imbrication of trans visibility with targeted surveillance practices (Human Rights Campaign n.d.)” (Lee). The questions above and the others asked in this audio package allow the audience to hear others' experiences and reflect on their journeys. This could be in ways of seeing Pride as both an event but also as an evolving concept through the lens of visibility not only for trans indivduals, but also queer indivdiauls. By listening to the idnviduals’ voices, the audience can be immersed in what the nature of queerness and the queer community has to offer. 

Furthermore, a recurring theme found within the “Evolution of Queer Identity” class is critiquing society’s general view of queerness. When looking through the lens of corporate pride and rainbow capitalism, there is obvious tension between inclusion and commodification. The question of “How do you feel about corporate pride merchandise and the like?” can bring to the surface this debate, allowing those interviewed to illustrate the battle between increased visibility and skepticism of corporate motives. 

This final project is meant to serve as a learning opportunity and a means of meditation. As the audience listens, there is a clear and concise intersection between identity, history, and what it means to be alive and queer in mdoern day. This audio pacakge can be considered both a journalsitic endeavor but also a queer intervention. It shows waht it means to be critical, creative and committed to hearing queer voices, but most importantly, understanding queer voices.