"Built for This": Al Murray on Belonging and Becoming

About this episode

Al Murray discusses their journey of belonging and identity through art and activism.

The South holds stories that refuse to fade—stories of resilience, reckoning, and renewal. For queer and trans Southerners, those stories are often equal parts love letter and liberation map. In this episode, we sit down with Al Murray, Tzedek’s 2025 Pauli Murray Brilliance Award recipient, whose work reminds us that belonging isn’t found, it’s built. Raised in rural Western Kentucky and now rooted in Asheville, Al shares their journey through art, activism, and identity: from escaping ...

People in this episode

Guest: Al Murray

Topics covered

• belonging
• identity
• queer culture
• activism
• storytelling
• resilience

Keywords

• belonging
• queer
• trans
• activism
• storytelling
• resilience
• Kentucky
• Asheville

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tzedek, Tzedek Social Justice Fund

Books & works: Pauli Murray Brilliance Award

Places: Kentucky, Asheville

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