Playwright & Professor | Peggy Douglas

Peggy Douglas (she/her), the founder of Southern Exposure, is known for her courageous screenplays that feature stories of the diverse community in Chattanooga. Her next production, Intersextions “...is a hysterically subversive, playful, bawdy, feminist comedy that dives into the lives of four women and one self-described “gender-nonconforming, masculine-presenting, female-bodied individual” (who’s comfortable with female pronouns) as they discover the very human need to be seen and heard.”

We caught up with Peggy for Women’s History Month to chat about life, hope, and gratitude.

Peggy, tell us a little bit about yourself.   

I am playwright; and teach Oral History for Social Justice, and Freakonomics for the UTC Honors College.

What you like to do for fun?

I like to hike, play music and hang out with my grandkids, friends, and dogs.

A favorite relaxing hobby: bridge, gardening, and creative writing

What is one thing you enjoy about living in the Tennessee Valley Area?  

We live in an ecological sanctuary with a vibrant arts and culture scene.

What is one thing you don’t enjoy about living in the Tennessee Valley Area? 

I am concerned about economic disparities, marginalization of people and groups, and assault on diversity, equity and inclusion. That’s why my work focuses on the transformative power of oral history and storytelling and by a strong belief that social justice cannot be achieved without deep listening and learning from those marginalized, silenced, and ignored.

What is one hope you have for 2025?  

I had a wonderful mentor named Paulo Freire, who gave me some advice when I was worried about big societal problems. He said: simply create a little island of decency around you. If enough people do that, then one day all the islands will  connect.

So my hope is for everyone to create little islands of decency--choose love over fear, give away what we receive, forgive and believe in each other. Be kind to a stranger. We never know what effect it will have for years to come. 

When you think of existing as a woman in the LGBTQ+ community, what are some of your superpowers? What are some of the obstacles you’ve encountered? 

I think my superpower is my capacity for love. It took quite a long time for me to realize that I did not come into the world to accomplish and acquire things. I came into the world to love and express that love fully. 

The biggest obstacles I have faced are my own demons—fear of rejection and of not being good enough. I had to embrace this fear by walking into it. When I got my doctorate, I applied for dozens of teaching jobs.  As a result, I wallpapered my office with rejection letters. But I was told not to give up before the miracle happened, and it eventually did. This is my 43rd year of teaching college.

I’m getting up there in biological years (I’ll be 74 in a couple of months), so I was concerned about being dismissed as not relevant or attractive. And it happens here and there, but acceptance of aging and imminent death has its own rewards.

If you could say one thing to other women in our community, what would it be? 

 Love everyone.  If we focus on striking back at those who harm us, we will hold resentment and end up hurting the ones who care most about us. Clinging onto anger and seeking retaliation doesn't fight against evil — maybe it fuels it. If we're not careful, we risk taking in the very darkness we despise, becoming a reflection of our enemies.

Is there anything else you'd like to add? 

I am very grateful for Out Here, Tennessee Valley Pride, Soft Animal, PFLAG) Chattanooga Trans Liberation Collective, Spectrum, Seed Theatre, and the other LGBTQA+ Islands of Decency in Chattanooga. We are so blessed by all the support for the Queer community in Chattanooga.