by: Kyla Horn, Program Manager, AAEKY
Over the summer, All Access EKY collaborated with Appalachian Media Institute (AMI) interns to create three media pieces that focus on sexual and reproductive health in Appalachia. Since all the pieces are officially live, we wanted to sit down with the creator of each to discuss their individual experiences.
Next up is Jesse Frye, producer of “Out and Out: Finding Identity in Southwest Virginia.” This film looks into the lives of three different LGBTQ+ people in Southwest Virginia and explores what it means to find identity and community in a heteronormative society. “Out and Out” also examines the brighter side of being openly queer in central Appalachia.
Q: What inspired you to choose this topic for your piece?
A: I was inspired to try and document the story of LGBTQ+ Appalachians from many conversations with my best friend from high school, who was the first openly queer person in our class. He was one of the only people to come out in our very small high school and it was rather interesting and inspiring to see that story unfold. I wanted to look at the reality of what it means to be out in Appalachia and took three paths to find: Academic, Artistic, and Activism.
Q: How would you describe your experience creating this film?
A: I loved making this film and working with Appalshop. I would keep doing AMI and making films for All Access EKY forever if I could! I had a great time traveling all over Southwest VA and meeting amazing and talented people who are working towards making progress in our great region that needs to face the negatives of the way it treats LGBTQ+ people who live within Appalachia.
Q: What was your biggest take away?
A: My biggest takeaway is one that is at the heart of the film: sex education needs to include a converstion about identity and sexuality. In Appalachia, access to any meaningful sex ed is a privilege. However, we need to push it forward and help people who are finding themselves and growing up in a society that is heteronormative.
Q: If you could wave a magic wand, what is one thing you would change in Appalachia for the LGBTQ+ community?
A: If I could wave a magic wand and change something for the LGBTQ+ people in Appalachia I would make sure that everyone had the ability to be themselves in public.
Jesse Frye is a 20-year-old from Grayson County, Virginia. This is his fist summer working with the Appalachian Media Institute. He is pursuing a degree in American Studies at the University of Mary Washington with a focus on Documentary Filmmaking and Labor History. Jesse wishes to work with Appalshop again in the future and help in documenting the stories of Appalachia.