Welcome to Joy Ride, a monthly dose of joy, good things, creativity prompts, and gratitude by writer Jennifer Chen. If you like it, please share this newsletter with someone who might like it too.
Your Pep Talk
Last year, I attended DragCon and interviewed three drag queens about their lives as transgender women. The safest place I ever felt in public was during the Con. No one harassed me with comments about my body. No one judged me for being Asian American. Everyone seemed comfortable in their own skin.
June is Pride Month and that had me thinking about places where you can go where you feel safe, loved, and comforted. Where you can be proud of who you are without fear.
What is that safe place for you? Perhaps it’s a journal, a friend, a coffee shop. Last month, I talked about finding your support system. This month, if things feel uncertain, consider going to the place—mentally or physically—where you can be yourself. My hope for you is that place makes you feel proud to be who you are because you are deserving of everything good in life!
My Latest News
For Bust Magazine’s 30th anniversary issue, I interviewed the legendary Margaret Cho (The story is currently only in the print edition). I wrote my first humor piece for McSweeneys—titled “A Parent’s Dream Summer Camp”—born from my frustration of figuring out the complexities of summer camp. I have pitched McSweeneys five times since March 2020 and this is the first time they bought one!
Check Out This...
COMEDY SPECIAL: Wanda Sykes is brilliant as always in her latest comedy special, I’m an Entertainer.
ARTICLE: A truly heart-warming story of how a 14-year-old creative kid got to make a scene in the new Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. His Lego-version of the movie’s original trailer is quite amazing.
MOVIE: Elemental, the latest Pixar film, is a gorgeous, heartfelt story about how immigrants survive in a new world as a daughter falls in love with someone outside of her element. My family and I absolutely loved this one!
ALBUM: The Age of Pleasure by Janelle Monáe is a pleasure to listen to on repeat.
TV SHOW: Queer Eye season 7 is a big gay hug. I’d suggest skipping the first episode because I couldn’t handle the level of mess in the frat house.
ORGANIZATIONS: For Pride Month, I’m highlighting nonprofits—Trevor Project, Equality Texas, TransLifeLine, ACLU’s Drag Defense Fund—that support and uplift the LGBTQIA community. Plus, Groceries for Writers while the writers strike continues. Author Leah Johnson is raising funds to open a banned bookstore in Indianapolis.
I'm Grateful For...
Seeing Keith Haring’s art exhibit at The Broad. I’ve always loved Haring’s art, but only have ever seen one or two of his paintings in real life. We took our kids to see his exhibit at one of my favorite art museums in Los Angeles. Haring was a prolific artist, but not only that, he used his art as activism. He spoke out against the inhumane treatment of the LGBTQ+ community during the AIDS crisis. He painted murals on the sides of children’s hospitals. His work inspires me to think about how our art can be a tool for positive change and bring joy to people at the same time.