S3E17 - Andre, 31. Chicago

Fruitbowl: An Oral History of Queer Sex

Andre can’t remember a time when people thought he was straight. Raised as a girl by an independent single mom who took a “tough love” approach to parenting, Andre grew up with a rich inner life but had few friends. “Lesbean” was the preferred insult in grade school, so Andre made up a fictional boyfriend in order to avoid talking about sex.

Even after entering college and coming out as trans, Andre identified as asexual until he met his first girlfriend when they were the only ones who showed up to a sober vegan pride after party.

It wasn’t until he moved to Chicago and lived alone that Andre realized he was free to explore sex on his own terms. He informed himself about kink, explored bathhouses for the first time and his first experience bottoming came from an unexpected guide.

Now that he has more experience under his belt, Andre has decided to stop being the token “first trans male experience” for sex partners and has dedicated himself to being a sex-positive advocate for trans rights.

Andre is Producing an original film titled DESIRE LINES, an expansive portrait of a trans-inclusive gay community across several generations, artfully weaving together never-before seen archival footage, historical fiction, contemporary interviews, and re-enactments. The bathhouse is the central hub of the film, where past and present meet, where fantasies unfold, and where the archives spring to life through historical fiction. The diverse participants share their fantasies and fears about sex, bodies, relationships, and power through intimate conversations shot in their own domestic spaces. The same contemporary interview participants are also invited to write, embody, and perform their own bathhouse-related fantasies in moments that cleave open a space between fiction and reality, emphasizing fantasy as a powerful tool for seeing ourselves else wise. Learn more at: http://www.julesrosskam.com/desire-lines

Partial funding for this episode provided by Scruff Dating App. Thanks, Scruff!

FRUITBOWL is produced independently by creator Dave Quantic without corporate media support. Each interview is recorded in-person, on location in each interviewee’s home. Scruff’s support currently pays for a post-production assistant editor; however, there is still need for additional financial support for production expenses including travel, accommodations and equipment rental.

Help support FRUITBOWL’s mission of documenting and sharing stories about queer coming of age by becoming a patron! A minimum $5 monthly donation allows patrons early access to episodes, behind the scenes updates and an exclusive video outtake for each episode that is not available to the general public. Currently 26 patrons collectively provide $151/month. Learn more about how to become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/fruitbowlpodcast

Thanks to Jean-Paul W. for becoming our 26th patron!

Do you have a business or product that you think FRUITBOWL’s audience would like to know about? Underwriting/advertising rate sheets are available for advertisers and underwriters as well as production support. For more information, visit: https://www.fruitbowlpodcast.com/donate. Underwriting fees are 100% tax deductible through a partnership with Northwest Film Forum’s fiscal sponsorship program. FRUITBOWL RECEIVES NO DIRECT FUNDING FROM NWFF, only the use of their non-profit status to receive tax deductible donations. For more information check out: https://nwfilmforum.org/education/artist-services/nonprofit-fiscal-sponsorship-filmmakers/fiscal-sponsee-fruitbowl-oral-history-queer-sex/

Word of mouth is our most powerful promotional tool right now, so tell your friends about FRUITBOWL and rate & review us on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fruitbowl/id1468574292

Subscribe to our YouTube video channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjuUDG5nTc6x0oZtL0guPiA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fruitbowlpod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fruitbowlpodcast/

The official website: https://www.fruitbowlpodcast.com/

Fruitbowl’s fruit artwork was created by Patrick Stephenson of Bearpad! https://bearpad.storenvy.com/
Check out host Saira B’s awesome podcast about erotic fan fiction, FREAKY TALES 4 U! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freaky-tales-4-u-a-queer-fanfiction-show/id1463915467

On iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fruitbowl/id1468574292

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LVzFe2HSEWCcWtP9OvSbQ?si=aopBYD9oTOqdXKZ7ZZCmXg