Sunny Haire's guest appearances

Sunny Haire

Grow Big Always

Storied: San Francisco

Chris Ryan

Chuck Klosterman

Matt Gonzalez

Chris Voss

James Howard Kunstler

David Brooks

Guy Winch

Kevin Kelly

Stephanie Smith

Anne Curzan

Joe Aguirre

David Tracy

Stephan Guyenet

Carrie Jenkins

Scott McCloud

OwlTail

Sunny Haire moved to San Francisco in the 1990s. He quickly made friends, and they found plenty of places to drink, especially in the Mission. But something was missing. In 1997, Sunny and Lila Thirkield opened the Lexington Club at the corner of 19th Street and Lexington. With its renovated original bar sign, the Lexington would go on to serve as a drinking spot for lesbians and queer women until its closing in 2015. In this podcast, Sunny will share the story of opening the Lexington. He'll also touch on some ways that San Francisco has changed in his more than two decades here. Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

Sunny Haire moved to San Francisco in the 1990s. He quickly made friends, and they found plenty of places to drink, especially in the Mission. But something was missing. In 1997, Sunny and Lila Thirkield opened the Lexington Club at the corner of 19th Street and Lexington. With its renovated original bar sign, the Lexington would go on to serve as a drinking spot for lesbians and queer women until its closing in 2015. In this podcast, Sunny will share the story of opening the Lexington. He'll also touch on some ways that San Francisco has changed in his more than two decades here. Film photography by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/luckykilfeather/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Michelle Kilfeather</a>

Ep. 20: Sunny Haire's Opening of the Lexington Club

No.Sunny Haire didn’t feel like he was born into the wrong body. He’s not that popularized, stereotypical trans story. His is far more fluid, organic and personal and unlike most stories, he’s not promoting a book or part of a media circuit. He’s not trying to simplify a huge community of people or put a headline on his story. He's just a friend brave enough to share a deeply personal journey of growth.I felt for Sunny in this conversation because so often, when you’re part of a differentiated or marginalized group (especially one that’s controversial) and a microphone is put in front of you,  somehow you’re the expert— the spokesperson— as if, by just being a member you have all the answers. Sunny is no more the spokesperson for Queer or Transgender people than I am for dorky, middle-aged Jews.He’s no different than you: A person who is figuring himself out as he faces life's challenges. A guy who wants authenticity, personal freedom and to be true to himself. There’s a reason that Sunny has so many people who love him in the Bay Area. After you hear what he has to say, I’m sure you’ll be one, too.MENTIONED AND RELATED MEDIA   Marga GomezDan Savage's podcast Ferdinina Beach Shrimp Festival John Pryne: That’s the way the world goes round 1984 Louisiana World Exposition "Bull Dagger" Red Dora's Bearded LadyThis Is What's Happened Inside The Former Lexington Club, Now Known As WildhawkThis is what ‘Cisgender’ means What the heck is ‘Genderqueer?’ New York Times: Who’s ‘They?’ 

No.Sunny Haire didn’t feel like he was born into the wrong body. He’s not that popularized, stereotypical trans story. His is far more fluid, organic and personal and unlike most stories, he’s not promoting a book or part of a media circuit. He’s not trying to simplify a huge community of people or put a headline on his story. He's just a friend brave enough to share a deeply personal journey of growth.I felt for Sunny in this conversation because so often, when you’re part of a differentiated or marginalized group (especially one that’s controversial) and a microphone is put in front of you,  somehow you’re the expert— the spokesperson— as if, by just being a member you have all the answers. Sunny is no more the spokesperson for Queer or Transgender people than I am for dorky, middle-aged Jews.He’s no different than you: A person who is figuring himself out as he faces life's challenges. A guy who wants authenticity, personal freedom and to be true to himself. There’s a reason that Sunny has so many people who love him in the Bay Area. After you hear what he has to say, I’m sure you’ll be one, too.<h2>MENTIONED AND RELATED MEDIA</h2> <a></a> <a></a> <ul><li><a href="http://www.margagomez.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marga Gomez</a></li><li><a href="http://www.savagelovecast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dan Savage's podcast </a></li><li><a href="http://www.shrimpfestival.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ferdinina Beach Shrimp Festival</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0HafJzbCBA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">John Pryne: That’s the way the world goes round</a> </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Louisiana_World_Exposition" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">1984 Louisiana World Exposition</a> </li><li><a href="http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/herstory/g/Bulldagger.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Bull Dagger"</a> </li><li><a href="http://lostwomynsspace.blogspot.com/2014/07/red-doras-bearded-lady.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Red Dora's Bearded Lady</a></li><li><a href="http://sfist.com/2016/04/04/a_look_inside_wildhawk_former_lexington_club.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This Is What's Happened Inside The Former Lexington Club, Now Known As Wildhawk</a></li><li><a href="http://time.com/3636430/cisgender-definition/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This is what ‘Cisgender’ means</a> </li><li><a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2015/03/24/genderqueer_what_does_it_mean_and_where_does_it_come_from.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What the heck is ‘Genderqueer?’</a> </li><li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/03/magazine/whos-they.html?_r=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New York Times: Who’s ‘They?’</a> </li></ul>

Slowly becoming transgender with musician Sunny Haire