Julia M. Applegate, MA, MPH (she/her pronouns) holds a Master of Arts in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and a Master of Public Health, both from The Ohio State University. She holds a BA in Political Science with minors in History and German from Ohio University. Julia was a founding member of H.I.S. Kings (1996) and the International Drag King Community Extravaganza (1999).
She has been an HIV and LGBTQ+ health advocate, researcher and administrator for the past 22 years. She has taught Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies classes at Ohio State, Wright State University and Ohio University since 1996. Presently, she is directing and producing a documentary film project that tells the story of Ohio’s longest running lesbian bar.
She has been an HIV and LGBTQ+ health advocate, researcher and administrator for the past 22 years. She has taught Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies classes at Ohio State, Wright State University and Ohio University since 1996. Presently, she is directing and producing a documentary film project that tells the story of Ohio’s longest running lesbian bar.
Speaker Applications
The Ohio Humanities Speakers Bureau is closed for the rest of 2024 and is not currently accepting applications. Check back later in the year for information about the 2025 Bureau!
Interested organizations can still book talks from our United We Stand Speakers Bureau.
Speaker Fee Structure
Non-profit organizations with an annual budget under $150,000 pay a fee of $50.00.
Non-profit organizations with an annual budget over $150,000 pay a fee of $250.00.
Schools (including colleges or universities) and corporate or private entities pay a fee of $400.00.
For any questions, please contact Program Officer Melvin Barnes at mbarnes@ohiohumanities.org.
Performing Gender: Kings, Queens, Queers and Drag Across the Decades
Until very recently, performances of gender went relatively unnoticed by the general public. Increasingly, however, drag kings, drag queens and other performances of gender have become a part of the public consciousness. With that growing awareness is a growing backlash. This talk highlights the history of gender performance in the past century and explores the current landscape of drag in the Midwest.
What about the L? Preserving Lesbian History and Culture
In the wake of marriage equality and a growing sense of LGBTQ+ inclusion, some in the lesbian community feel a sense of erasure. What fuels this feeling and how can the preservation and appreciation of lesbian history and culture combat this discomfort? This talk explores lesbian history and culture through the lens of an Ohio filmmaker’s journey to document the story of Ohio’s longest running lesbian owned and operated bar.
Two Hillbillies and a Queered Conversation
Join Julia Applegate and LuSter P. Singleton in an audience-driven conversation about growing up in the ‘hills and hollows’ of southern and southeastern Ohio while trying to sort out questions of sexuality, sexual identity, and gender. These topics are further complicated by race, class, and higher education. Their candor and willingness to be vulnerable while sharing their truths is a unique opportunity to gain insight into Appalachian Ohio, a community rarely valued for its insight, commentary, or contributions.
Free Beer Tomorrow: Documenting the History and Culture of Ohio’s Longest Running Lesbian Owned and Operated Bar
In a casual format, filmmakers and storytellers Julia M. Applegate and LuSter P. Singleton discuss the creation of their upcoming documentary, Free Beer Tomorrow. Free Beer Tomorrow tells the story of Jack’s A Go-Go/Summit Station – Ohio’s longest-running lesbian owned and operated bar. In the process of making the film Applegate and Singleton meet former professional women’s football players, lesbian tap dancers, feminist activists, pool sharks, bartenders and drag kings. They also explore the emerging crisis of loneliness and social isolation among elder lesbians in the context of the disappearance of lesbian centric community spaces.
TO SCHEDULE A PRESENTATION , PLEASE CONTACT:
Julia Applegate
applegate.38@osu.edu