CASPER CENDRE

“Teleway 411”

You might not expect the co-founder of the ABO Comix collective to be an advocate for prison reform, but Cendre has long been committed to helping incarcerated LGBTQ+ people express themselves via art. Now he’s literally amplifying their voices with the “Teleway 411” podcast, which debuted in May. “I have had the incredible opportunity to listen to the first-hand stories of hundreds of LGBTQ people living behind bars, and it has been my immense honor to help share their stories with the world,” Cendre says. “Through our organization, A.B.O. Comix, we have published dozens of books and zines about the small cities hidden away from society behind brick and barbed wire, but there still seemed a void in which the voices of these often-forgotten people were longing to fill. Thus, we decided to dip our toes into podcasting as well. Our first season was born in an Oakland warehouse at No. 411 between Telegraph Avenue and Broadway (hence Teleway 411) and consisted of recordings with currently and formerly incarcerated LGBTQ people, as well as a prison psychologist.” The first episode, “Taylor Hearne,” allows Hearne, Cendre’s long-time friend, to tell how she went from a teenager on trial to coming out as a trans woman while serving a lifetime prison sentence in a men’s prison. Other episodes feature currently and formerly incarcerated LGBTQ+ creatives as well a prison psychologist. Through the podcast, Cendre hopes to connect listeners with imprisoned queer artists so they can share their stories, tell their truths, and be seen for who they are, not where they are.

— P.H.