Storyteller Bios

Avery Cassell (They/She): Avery Cassell is a queer elder, writer, poet, cartoonist, sewist, and artist. Raised in Iran, they live in a haunted pink house in Western Massachusetts with their two rescue cats. Their books include Masculinities, Resistance: The LGBT Fight Against Fascism in WWII; Behrouz Gets Lucky, The Solstice Gift, and the Butch Lesbians Coloring Books. Their queer, kinky smut is included in several anthologies. Some current works in progress include their memoir, The Narcoleptic Dog; a series of paintings called The Implements; and a painting of photographer Honey Lee Cottrell as the Bulldagger of the Month from the defunct dyke magazine On Our Backs. Avery is still acclimating to the Pioneer Valley, and is hopeful that they will find their community here. Their books are available in their Etsy store, Whippersnapped or from their Stoic Press website.

Zoe Tuck (She/her): Zoe Tuck was born in Texas, became a person in California, and lives in Western Mass. She writes about reading and about how friendship is gay. She is the author of the poetry collection Bedroom Vowel. Find her at zoetuck.substack.com.

Kristen O’Brien (She/Her): Kristen is a queer extrovert with a Master’s Degree in Public Health who happens to sing and perform in theater sometimes. While the stage is very familiar to her, she has never performed any kind of poetry or story telling, so this would be a first. Kristen is a local WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Director in Greenfield serving low income families with children under age 5. Her current passion is making WIC more equitable and accessible for trans, non-binary and gender-diverse people who experience pregnancy, and has been working with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to make that possible. She thanks you for being here and hopes everyone feels seen, heard and loved.

Andrew Leigh Coate (He/Him): Andrew is 37 and his longest relationship, 23 years, was with three pairs of identical Birkenstock Arizona sandals. He's the dad of three amazing kids who are vastly different ages but are sometimes, somehow mistaken for triplets. Also he used to be a Missionette which is an evangelical alternative to Girl Scouts and last year he chucked his purity ring into a fire with his best friend from seminary, a local indie bookstore owner, and a few local witches around for support. It's been a ride. 

Caitlin Carmody (She/Her): Caitlin is a psychotherapist and writer who has loved stories all her life. She thanks you all for being here to witness, celebrate and support queers sharing their stories. 

Emet Aron (They/He): Emet is a queer, transmasculine artist and writer creating worlds of contemplation, celebration, and connectedness to the natural world. They are passionate about making othered emotional experiences visible through an affirming lens that reflects beauty, dignity, and nuance – and connects the diversity in people with the diversity in nature. They just released their first graphic novella Bug Theory; a comic about gaining the courage to transition through the contemplation of bugs, and what they show us about the nature of trans belonging.

Jill Gilbreth (She/Her): Jill is a prose writer. She moved to New England from Arizona after a pitstop in Colorado Springs, and landed in Western Mass—the only place she’s ever called “home.” She’s at work on her first non-fiction book.

Ashleigh Castos (She/Her): A graduate of Connecticut College and the National Theater Institute, Ashleigh worked for several years as an actor and playwright in New York City before pursuing prose. Her children's musical Molly Bloom-Lately has been nationally produced, her award-winning poem can be seen in the July 2021 issue of Berkshire Magazine, and her short story Black Beans was included in the Sixfold Summer 2021 collection. She's currently working on her third novel, and when she's not writing, she works as a movement instructor. She lives in Williamstown, Massachusetts, with her husband, child, and dog, who are all fully supportive of her queerness.

Jay Santangelo (They/Them): Jay Santangelo is a queer visual storyteller, educator, and community advocate based in the Berkshires. As the founder of Wander, a pioneering community space opening soon in Pittsfield, Jay merges their passion for analog photography with a dedication to combating loneliness through inclusivity, creative expression, and exceptional hospitality—serving not just the best cup of coffee, but also a warm, welcoming environment for all. 

Thom Herman (He/Him):  is a psychotherapist, business owner and landlord. He’s lived in Northampton for 27 years with his husband and their dog Wyn. He has facilitated workshops on personal growth for the past 50 years, believing that healing can happen through understanding and sharing our stories. The story he’s sharing tonight is a part of an oral history project available at WeAreOutInTheOpen.org and a 6 part podcast called the Secret Life of Death documenting the history of the story’s focus, the Andrews Inn. 

Storyteller Order

Avery Cassell - Leaving San Francisco

Zoe Tuck - You Can Dress Like a Woman, Just Don’t Chop Your D*** Off

Kristen O’Brien - Queer Enough 

Andrew Leigh Coate - Same Sex Kissing and Vampire TV Shows

Caitlin Carmody - Bitter Infertile Friend

Emet Aron - T4T

Jill Gilbreth - Inheritance 

Ashleigh Catsos - Late(r) in Life 

Jay Santangelo - Running Through Loss: A Story of Becoming 

Thom Herman - The Andrews Inn