Ep 18: "Coming Out" with Cassie Black & Emily Battles

The Birds & the Bee

"Coming Out" can mean more than coming out as queer. In Ep. 18 we explore what it means to come out as polyamorous, pansexual, a pornstar, a sex worker, and HSV (Herpes) positive. This week we feature writer/model/content creator Cassie Black and producer/director/actor Emily Battles whom share a baseline for what it means to perform in front of and behind a camera. Each situation is nuanced and comes with a different set of privileges, and each one has an individual experience. Battles discusses coming out as non-monogamous and bisexual in an Irish Catholic upbringing, yet Cassie Black, a sex worker, doesn't identify as monogamous. We discuss our given family vs our "chosen" family, the kinds of questions our friends ask us, and advice we'd give to our younger selves. Cassie Black also expands on her work with "Safe Slut" that focuses on destigmatizing herpes and opening up a dialogue about safe, slutty, and responsible sex. Happy Pride Month!

Cassie Black: thecassieblack.com

Emily Battles: See her new short series "Charms 4 Less" on TikTok @charms4lessseries