In this episode, we get to chat with Gaye (he/she/they), who is from Türkiye. They are pansexual and bigender.
Most of us don’t grow up with the words to describe our identities that clearly; in fact, we aren’t encouraged to. In this episode, Gaye reflects on how that absence shaped their understanding of gender and sexuality while growing up in a conservative, under-resourced context.
They talk about working as a queer educator in an environment where openness isn’t always possible—supporting students who are asking similar questions, often without the language to do so. Gaye also traces how access (or lack of it) to media and representation influenced that process: from discovering shows like The L Word to recognising how mainstream portrayals can both illuminate and distort queer lives.
The conversation also touches on family, particularly Gaye’s relationship with their mother, and the complicated mix of care, silence, and expectation that comes with it. Throughout, Gaye returns to the role of education—not as a grand solution, but as a daily, practical way of making space for honesty, visibility, and small shifts in understanding.
If you believe that stories like Gaye’s aren’t heard enough in ELT contexts, I’m so happy you’re here to listen to our latest episode.
#werkbookpodcast: a podcast about Queer experiences by Queer ELT folx AND FOR EVERYONE. More episodes coming soon!
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