A Jaded Gay

The word “ally” gets tossed around frequently, but what does it actually mean?In this episode, Cheyenne Filipczyk joins us to discuss what it means to be an LGBTQ+ ally and how we can advocate for others in the community. Additional Resources:What is an LGBTQIA+ Ally, and How Can I Be a Good One?10 Ways to Be an Ally & a FriendQuiz: What Do You Know About Gay Rights?There is Literally No Way You're Going to Pass This Quiz if You're StraightSupport the showGet Your Merch

John Bowlby’s attachment theory suggests that humans are born with a need to form a close emotional bond. For gay men, social stressors, such as discrimination and rejection, can negatively impact their attachment system and result in unhealthy romantic attachments.In this episode, we take a look at the four distinct attachment styles and their respective characteristics so we can better understand our own attachment patterns.Additional Resources:Attachment TheoryRomantic Love Conceptualized as an Attachment ProcessLove and Work: An Attachment-Theoretical PerspectiveThe Different Types of Attachment StylesThe Integrated Attachment and Sexual Minority Stress Model: Understanding the Role of Adult Attachment in the Health and Well-being of Sexual Minority MenGay Males’ Intimate Relationship Quality: The Roles of Attachment Security, Gay Identity, Social Support, and IncomeShame, Internalized Homophobia, Identity Formation, Attachment Style, and the Connection to Relationship Status in Gay MenAttachment and Relationship Satisfaction Among Gay Men: The Mediating Role of Well-BeingVolitional Change in Adult Attachment: Can People Who Want to Become Less Anxious and Avoidant Move Closer Towards Realizing those Goals?How to Cope with an Insecure Attachment TypeWhat's Your Attachment Style? Take This Quiz to Find OutSupport the showGet Your Merch

Amidst the AIDS pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned gay and bisexual men from ever being eligible to donate blood to protect people receiving blood transfusions from the possibility of getting infected with HIV. Almost 30 years later, science has provided us with new drugs to better protect ourselves from HIV exposures and technology to improve HIV testing by providing quicker and more accurate results.Today, men who have sex with men must defer from sex for three months if they want to donate blood – even if they’re in a monogamous relationship. In this episode, we’re discussing the evolution of the FDA’s guidelines for LGBTQ+ donors and how other countries have already eliminated deferral periods for men who have sex with men.Additional Resources:Girls Gotta Eat: Going Off About Abortion RightsWine & Crime: Forced BirthGayish: Roe v. Wade (Shrinkage)LGBTQ+ DonorsFDA Lifts Ban on Blood Donations By Gay and Bisexual MenThe Evolution of HIV TestingWhich HIV Tests Are Most Accurate?Types of HIV TestsWill's Not Done Fighting - Will & Grace (Episode Highlight)What Happens to Donated BloodInfectious Disease, HLA and ABO Donor Qualification TestingHRC - Blood DonationsSupport the showGet Your Merch

Growing up in a heteronormative society, we may have learned to believe that our gay identity was a weakness. As a result, we’ve developed the need to be perfect to manage the feeling of being an outsider.In this episode, we’re discussing what perfectionism in gay men looks like and how we can learn to accept our imperfections.Additional Resources:Perfectionism7 Signs You’re Too Much of a PerfectionistNine Little-Known Signs of PerfectionismGay Shame: 5 Ways Gay Men CompensateAsk Adam: Why Are Gays Obsessed With Being Perfect?How to Overcome Your Perfectionist TendenciesSupport the showGet Your Merch

We previously talked about the importance of LGBTQ+ representation in TV and film and the “gay renaissance” of the 90s. While shows like Ellen and Will & Grace were groundbreaking at the time, they tended to skirt around LGBTQ+ issues and themes...but Queer as Folk did not shy away.In this episode, we’re dissecting the sexually charged, unapologetic serial drama, including the original British series and the 2022 reboot. Additional Resources:Queer as Folk Season 1 TrailerSpunk by Greek Buck (Queer as Folk Opening Theme)Queer as Folk Series Premiere (American Series)Queer as Folk Complete SoundtrackSupport the showGet Your Merch

No matter how long we’ve been out of the closet, many of us hold on to some of the antigay beliefs we were exposed to as children and turn that negativity inwards.In this episode, we’ll dive into internalized homophobia and how we can practice self-compassion to overcome negative attitudes in an effort to live authentically.Additional Resources:Internalized Homophobia, Intimacy, and Sexual Behavior Among Gay and Bisexual Men (1998)The Rainbow Project - Internalised HomophobiaInternalized Homophobia and Relationship Quality Among Lesbians, Gay Men, and BisexualsMeasurement and Correlates of Internalized Homophobia: A Factor for Analytic StudyInternalized Homophobia and Relationship Quality Among Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals (2009)What is Internalized Homophobia?30 Ways to Combat Internalized Homophobia for Gay and Lesbian PeopleBe Kind to YourselfLife Support by Sarah McKnight (Paperback)Life Support by Sarah McKnight (Audiobook)Support the showGet Your Merch

We spend approximately one-third of our lives at work, yet many of us struggle with being out in the workplace. And while many companies have tried to increase their DEI efforts, being out at work can still be uncomfortable.In this episode, we’re talking about the ins and outs (no pun intended) of bringing our authentic selves to work and how we can create greater visibility for the LGBTQ+ community at work.Additional Resources:A Workplace Divided: Understanding the Climate for LGBTQ Workers NationwideJustices Rule LGBT People Protected from Job DiscriminationEven With Ruling, Workplace Still Unequal for LGBTQ WorkersHow the LGBTQ+ Community Fares in the WorkplaceComing Out at WorkPRISMSupport the showGet Your Merch

Every Pride, we see corporations proudly display their rainbow logos and merchandise…but what happens to all that on July 1?In this episode, we dive into the commercialization and commodification of Pride and how some corporations are padding the pockets of anti-LGBTQ+ politicians while donning their faux rainbows.Additional Resources:Why LGBT Pride Festivals Have Become Increasingly CorporateThe Best Part of Pride is Making Fun of Rainbow CapitalismThe LGBTQ+ Community Has $3.7 Trillion In Purchasing Power; Here's How We Want You to Sell to Us.How LGBTQ Pride Month Became a Branded Holiday5 Horrible Pride Campaigns So FarJust Some Brands That Have Absolutely No Business Running a Pride CampaignRainbow Capitalism Raises Questions About Corporate Commitments and Pride Month’s PurposeThese 25 Rainbow Flag-Waving Corporations Donated More Than $10 Million to Anti-Gay Politicians in the Last Two YearsSupport the showGet Your Merch

Making new friends as an adult is difficult for anyone, but for gay men, it can be even harder to find a network of like-minded peers.In this episode, we’re discussing ways you can put your authentic self out there and other opportunities to find your community.Support the showGet Your Merch

We’ve come a long way from the days of being portrayed on TV and in film as the sassy, sexless, gay best friend, but there are still improvements to be made.In this episode, we’re diving into the history of gay representation in TV and film and discussing how being our authentic selves can manifest true representation in the media.Additional Resources:Where We Are on TV (2021 - 2022)Support the showGet Your Merch