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August Bass discusses growing up around old-time music and finding a sense of belonging as a queer musician within a traditionally older, predominantly straight, and male musical community.

Bass grew up playing and listening to old-time music because their father is a fiddle player. They attended festivals and square dances from a young age and eventually became involved in The Swannanoa Sweethearts, an all-queer old-time band. Being surrounded by other queer musicians allows Bass to feel more comfortable and less concerned about having to explain or defend their identity. That comfort, in turn, gives them more freedom to experiment creatively with music.

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In this episode, Filmmaker Andie Morgenlander talks about creating queer stories rooted in Appalachia and the South. Andie reflects on their journey to independent filmmaking, the importance of authentic representation, and their debut feature film Whistle Down Wind. They also discuss their work with Southern Equality Studios, which supports queer and trans creatives. Together, the conversation explores why telling stories from Appalachia matters and how film can become a resource for belonging and strength.

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In this episode of Screen Door Queers, we sit down with BK, a longtime activist and community organizer whose decades of advocacy have helped shape Western North Carolina's LGBTQ+ landscape. From arriving in Asheville at the turn of the millennium to organizing mutual aid after Hurricane Helene, BK reflects on the challenges of finding queer community, the power of protest, and the importance of bringing generations together.