PRIDE

Today, commercials always have a target audience in mind. They’re thinking about who they have the best chance of selling their product to. Which is a common marketing tactic, but it’s rooted in gender ideologies. Tutus are for little girls, monster trucks are for boys, makeup is for women, you get the idea. Today, we’ve made a lot of gender progress. LEGOs has released lines of toys using only primary colors to prove that anyone can buy their products. Nerf even makes their own line of toy guns advertised just for girls. But it’s a bit lopsided. Why are so few products deemed as feminine being marketed for men? Today, we’re joined by Dr. Megan Mass who breaks down how commercials came to be driven by societal norms and heteronormativity. We’re also joined by Boy Smells co-founder Matthew Herman, who’s candle business celebrates those who challenge the gender binary.Be sure to check out Boy Smells’ holiday collection of candles as well as their brand new fine fragrances line and their recently restocked collaboration with Kacey Musgraves. And follow them on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.Want more great shows from Straw Hut Media? Check out or website at strawhutmedia.com.Your producers are Levi Chambers, Maggie Boles, Ryan Tillotson and Edited by Silvana AlcalaHave an interesting LGBTQ+ story to share? We might feature U! Email us at [email protected].*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media.Sponsored by:Let's Get CheckedLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the last 23 years, Linda Warren has put on her shiny red suit with white fur trim and gone around granting the holiday wishes of LGBTQ youth in Denver, Colorado. Once she’s in that costume, she’s no longer Linda. Today, we speak with Linda, a 78-year-old woman who aims to bring holiday cheer to youth regardless of sexuality or gender. Her own experience with abandonment fuels her passion for giving these kids a Christmas they’ll never forget every year. Linda opens up about how her own family’s rejection of her sexuality spurred her desire to create a safe environement for today’s youth and what being Queer Santa is all about. Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.Want more great shows from Straw Hut Media? Check out or website at strawhutmedia.com.Your producers are Levi Chambers, Maggie Boles, Ryan Tillotson and Edited by Silvana AlcalaHave an interesting LGBTQ+ story to share? We might feature U! Email us at [email protected].*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media.Sponsored by:Let's Get CheckedLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we speak to Liz and Jesse Ponce, a couple who met on a blind date in 2015 and became wives in 2017. So when Jesse came out as a transgender man in 2019, a few things changed. But not their feelings for each other or their daughter Riley. Jesse and Liz join us to talk about Jesse’s transition, the fears they both had towards the future of their relationship, and how their love story became the topic of a viral TikTok video. Be sure to follow their TikTok and their fertility journey on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.Want more great shows from Straw Hut Media? Check out or website at strawhutmedia.com.Your producers are Levi Chambers, Maggie Boles, Ryan Tillotson and Edited by Silvana AlcalaHave an interesting LGBTQ+ story to share? We might feature U! Email us at [email protected].*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media.Sponsored by:Best FiendsLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we talk to James Romm, a historian, and author of the book Sacred Band. James tells the story of the military corp, and how sexual politics influenced the different Greek city-states. There are multiple portrayals of homosexuality in Greece and Rome in modern media, and it has been painted to be a sort of “gay-topia”, but the truth is a bit more complicated. We talk to James about how the Greeks really felt about same-sex relationships, and how sexual relationships between soldiers really showed up as an advantage on the battlefield. Be sure to check out The Sacred Band by James Romm.Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.Want more great shows from Straw Hut Media? Check out or website at strawhutmedia.com.Your producers are Levi Chambers, Maggie Boles, Ryan Tillotson and Edited by Silvana AlcalaHave an interesting LGBTQ+ story to share? We might feature U! Email us at [email protected].*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media.Sponsored by:First Republic BankLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1954, Dr. Frederick Wertham's book, Seduction of the Innocent, claimed the comics were depraved and were harmful to children. This led to the creation of the Comics Code Authority, a voluntary yet omnipresent label ensuring comics bearing its sigil would follow many guidelines, one, in particular, being that “Illicit sex relations are neither to be hinted at nor portrayed. Rape scenes, as well as sexual abnormalities, are unacceptable.” This lead to the utilization of queer coding, especially with early work, which was often unflattering. Villains were often the focus of queer coding, which lead directly to villainizing gay people and ideas. Another aspect of queer coding is queerbaiting, which “baits” a queer audience with themes and character interactions that appeal while never delivering on these themes. But Tim Sheridan and Meghan Fitzmartin are two people who are changing the world of comics in 2021.Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.Want more great shows from Straw Hut Media? Check out or website at strawhutmedia.com.Your producers are Levi Chambers, Maggie Boles, Ryan Tillotson and Edited by Silvana AlcalaHave an interesting LGBTQ+ story to share? We might feature U! Email us at [email protected].*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media.Sponsored by:Avocado Green MattressFirst Republic BankLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People have been terrified by the delights of a horror film since the late 1800s, during the earliest stages of motion-picture film. Since its creation, horror has developed into more than just a genre. It's a space to face our collective fears and explore the unknown. We're drawn to characters like Dracula or Freddy Krueger because they stand out from what is familiar. Otherness is a popular theme within horror films, especially for the LGBTQ+ community.Today, we chat with Michael Varrati and Brendan Haley, two filmmakers with a special admiration for the genre of horror.They'll walk us through the queer themes in some of our favorite classic scary movies like "Nightmare on Elm Street 2," what otherness means in cinema, and how queer horror is still evolving today.Be sure to follow Michael and Brendan!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.Want more great shows from Straw Hut Media? Check out or website at strawhutmedia.com.Your producers are Levi Chambers, Maggie Boles, Ryan Tillotson and Edited by Silvana AlcalaHave an interesting LGBTQ+ story to share? We might feature U! Email us at [email protected].*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media.Sponsored by:Avocado Green MattressLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of "Pride," host Levi Chambers sits down with Hugh Nini, and Neal Treadwell to talk about their new photo book "Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850s-1950s." They share how they began collecting old photographs of men in love, their criteria for determining the subjects' relationships, and the unique stories they've uncovered since publishing "Loving." This powerful collection of vintage photos challenges the notion that same-sex intimacy in history was only ever "close friendship" and invites viewers to consider these images as representations of love. Join the conversation as we explore the scattered, but not lost, history of gay love.Be sure to order "Loving" now!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.Want more great shows from Straw Hut Media? Check out or website at strawhutmedia.com.Your producers are Levi Chambers, Maggie Boles, Ryan Tillotson and Edited by Silvana AlcalaHave an interesting LGBTQ+ story to share? We might feature U! Email us at [email protected].*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She's a sexy, campy, horror icon and the Mistress of Darkness herself, Elvira. Beloved for her vampire sex appeal and satire, Elvira has been in numerous films and even inspired a comic book character. The woman behind the character, Cassandra Peterson, has been sitting on her throne as the Queen of Halloween for 40 years. But a recent revelation in Cassandra's new memoir has us falling in love with Elvira all over again. Cassandra is queer and has been in a relationship with a woman for decades. Today, We speak with Cassandra about creating the character Elvira, her decision to come out, and how Elvira is celebrating the spooky season. Be sure to check out Cassandra's new book Yours Cruelly, Elvira!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we’ll chat with Saifa Wall and Dani Coyle, two people who were born intersex. Saifa is a visual artist, public health researcher and the co-founder of the Intersex Justice Project. Dani is a trained graphic designer, INTERface project creator and is known online by her username @inter_sexy. In this episode they’ll open up about the variants of intersex, the conflicts that homophobia, heterosexism and transfobia have on this community and how we can bring change by advancing the conversation.Be sure to follow Dani and Saifa on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of LGBTQ History Month, we are revisiting some of our favorite episodes of the podcast. Enjoy our return to Queer Church: Part 2!In part one of our look at the history of same-sex love in the Catholic Church, we examined how the church’s perspective has changed over the course of 2000 years as a result of shifting social and cultural norms. Today in part two, we’re back with Dr. Lisa McClain exploring which parts of scripture are responsible for the Catholic Church’s stance on same-sex love, and we’re also joined by author Benjamin Brenkert to talk about his first-hand experience as a gay man trying to carve out a place in the church.Check out A Catechism of the Heart here.Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of LGBTQ History Month, we are revisiting some of our favorite episodes of the podcast. Enjoy our return to Queer Church: Part 1!When you think about the Catholic church and its relation to the LGBTQ+ community, either as a believer or a non-believer, it likely isn’t as an ally. But the church’s stance on same-sex love isn’t as cut and dry as you might think. Over the span of two millenia, the church has adapted, however slowly, to a changing world. Today, we’ll start part one of our exploration of the history of same-sex love in the Catholic church, and how the church’s perspective and enforcement has changed over 2000 years.Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julian Burzynski is an actor, singer, dancer, comedian, and the unofficial “CEO of Smiles.” You probably know him as the guy on TikTok with the really cool mustache who posts videos recreating iconic moments from film and television. Today, Julian is here to talk about how television became a refuge from teen bullying and the global pandemic and how he turned his passion for movies into a creative outlet - one where he can embrace the masculine and feminine sides of himself.Be sure to follow Julian on IG and Tik Tok!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of LGBTQ History Month, we are revisiting some of our favorite episodes of the podcast. Enjoy our return to A History of Gay Pirates!How do pirates know they’re pirates? They think… therefore they ARRR. Sorry for that terrible joke. But I want us all to get into the space of pirates. The open sea, violence, stealing, run-ins with the law, and above all, freedom -- from the social burdens of the Early Modern Era and -- freedom to love who they loved.Pirates have been around forever. From the Vikings in the 8th century to Somali pirates in recent years, there is something undeniably exciting about sailing the ocean and taking what you want. My guest today is pirate scholar and aficionado, Rebecca Simon.The pirates we’ll meet today were way more exciting than eye patches and wooden legs. Get ready for a crash course on the Golden Age of piracy -- the time of Blackbeard and the real Pirates of the Carribean. We’ll meet famous queer pirates like John Swann, Robert Culliford, Ann Bonnie, and Mary Read. And maybe we’ll go home with a few pirate-inspired tips on how to use your style to intimidate.Be sure to follow Becka on TwitterYour host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We want to let you know about our exciting upcoming guests to stay tuned for! Be sure to take this week to catch up our past episodes on both podcast platforms and IGTV. Stay proud!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brandi and Lawrence were close friends who met at work, where the idea of starting a family together casually came up. Nearly four years later, they are raising their two-year-old son Hartley as a blended family that includes Brandi and Lawrence, as well as their respective partners. But what really sets them apart from other families is that Lawrence is gay and Brandi is a lesbian. Today you’ll hear from Brandi and Lawrence about their pregnancy journey, their approach to dating, and why Courtney Cox sent a camera crew to follow them around for nine months. Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*This a guest broadcast Trixie Mattel- Elastic Thinking- In this episode of Alec Mapa: Hot Mess with Matthew Dempsey Psychotherapist, Alec and Matthew welcome world-famous drag queen, star of the hit show “UNHhhh” and host of the podcast The Bald and the Beautiful, the hilarious Trixie Mattel. The three have a fascinating conversation on the topic of elastic thinking, what exactly it means and how it can help us to heal. Alec and Matt share how they have overcome trauma in their own lives and the tools they’ve used to build personal resilience. Trixie opens up about her abusive childhood including the surprising story of where the name Trixie originated. Trixie also opens up about the generational and cultural trauma that impacted her upbringing and about being half Ojibwe and yet also feeling culturally white. Trixie shares how her drag persona is her fun vessel that enables her to live the life she has always wanted- dressing up pretty and playing with easy bake ovens. Trixie’s raw honesty and biting humor make this episode a must-hear and she will inspire you with her strong belief that whatever happens to us, we all have the choice to become victims or become survivors and to empower ourselves to create a life we love.Listen, subscribe and review to Alec Mapa: Hot Mess with Matthew Dempsey Psychotherapist: http://bit.ly/HotMessAPPLE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marvin Cortes was the runner-up on cycle 20 of the modeling competition show, “America’s Next Top Model.” He was always caught flirting with the girls competing on the show and even ended up in a short relationship with Renee Bog-wah-deen at the end of the season. Which is part of the reason why Marvin’s family never suspected that he was anything but straight. But last month, Marvin posted a video telling everyone that he’s bisexual and proud. Today, we catch up with Marvin and talk reality TV, coming out, homophobia, and how modeling helped him find himself.Be sure to follow Marvin on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we’re talking with Saro, spelled s-a-r-o, an LA-based R&B-pop artist. Saro, AKA Evan Windom, is an independent artist who’s moody tracks live up to his name as he belts out lyrics like “love is pain.” Recently, Saro began to openly sing about the men he has dated. Like his recent single, “Daddy I Love Him.” But before he was proudly using male pronouns in his songs, he was using vague lyrics to hide his sexuality. It’s a fear a lot of musicians have. That they’ll lose fans if they don’t conform and sing songs about the opposite sex. But Saro found a way to live authentically and now writes songs about vampires and guys with snake tattoos without a second thought.Be sure to follow Saro on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In your head, you probably had an idea, or preconceived notation, or who Raven-Symoné was, which is why many of her fans were surprised when she announced her secret wedding to a woman named Miranda Maday. Today, we talk marriage with Raven and Miranda, the reality of being a young queer actor on Disney, their new YouTube channel, and maybe babies.Be sure to follow Raven and Miranda on IG and follow their YouTube channel, 8 PM!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So today, we’re doing something a little different on the Pride podcast. I connect with Anne Heche and Heather Duffy, hosts of the Better Together podcast, who introduce me to Randy Thomas. Randy, one of the subjects of Netflix's "Pray Away", was the former vice-president of Exodus International. Exodus was a nonprofit group under the Christian umbrella that practiced conversion therapy in attempt to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, using psychological or spiritual interventions. Anne also divulges her own Christian-cult family history, with an appearance from her mother, Nancy Heche, herself.Resources:PrayAwayFilm,comWannaTalkAboutIt.comBe sure to watch Pray Away on Netflix!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like many child actors, Alyson has since spoken out about the intense conditions of her childhood and how she barely escaped the toddler-to-trainwreck pipeline. Today, she lives a pretty ordinary life. She’s furniture shopping for her new home, going to the farmers market on the weekends and researching what college she wants to take classes at. She’s even spoken up about falling in love with a woman for the first time. Today, we talk to Alyson about the effects her Hollywood career had on her childhood, her first crush, mental health, and starting fresh. Be sure to follow Alyson on IG and Tik Tok!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you were little, you probably pictured what your wedding day would look like. So when the day finally arrives to plan your big day, it’s a big deal. If a large celebration is your thing, then you’ll probably look for vendors and color schemes and outfits. This is exactly what Lawrence and Michael went to do, but it wasn’t as magical as they had dreamed. When they went on Pinterest for wedding inspiration, they couldn’t find a single photo of a couple that looked like them. They’re Black and gay and Pinterest boards today don’t have very much representation at all. But luckily, there’s a new wedding platform where minorities can find nothing but representation and love. Be sure to check out BlackGayWeddings.com and follow their Youtube!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Based in Los Angeles California, Caleb Marshall found a way to combine his love for pop music and dancing into an actual workout routine. He posts short videos online of him dancing along to some of today’s hottest hits. But a younger Caleb would have never pictured himself as a fitness icon. Today Caleb talks to us about how he started his career making dance videos and the steps he took to ensure he embraces his true, authentic self every day of his life.Be sure to follow Caleb on IG and TikTok!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lendale Johnson made headlines as America’s first openly gay professional tennis player. But not everyone saw his coming out as something to be celebrated. Lendale’s sexuality affects his life everyday, on and off the court. And it nearly destroyed his relationship with his mom. Today, Lendale is here to talk about the reality of being an out professional athlete, his family’s journey to acceptance and how his tennis academy inspires the next generation of athletes. Be sure to follow Lendale on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2021, we’ve come a long way with queer representation but people are still losing their lives every single day just for being trans. Today we speak to Raquel Willis, a writer, editor and activist for Black, Queer and Transgender communities. She’s the former executive editor of Out magazine, she’s worked with the national organization for Transgender Law Center, and she created the Black Trans flag. Be sure to follow Raquel on IG and Twitter!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He kicked off his singing career and gained national attention when he performed on season 9 of “American Idol.” After making it as far as the semi-finals, he went to the Broadway stage and landed iconic roles like Lola in “Kinky Boots” and Ogie in “Waitress.” He’s collaborated with some of the biggest voices in music today like Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Ariana Grande and has been a regular judge and choreographer on the beloved reality competition “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Today we’re joined by Todrick Hall, a multi-hyphenated creator who went from a small farm town in Texas to creating a home and career in Hollywood. Be sure to follow Todrick on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we talk with Vincint Cannady, known by the mononym VINCINT, a singer and songwriter who adds some hope to the relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and the religious community. VINCINT was raised Baptist and found allyship and acceptance within his community through his peers but most importantly, his professors. Now, he volunteers with multiple LGBTQ+ organizations to fight for acceptance and end discrimination.Be sure to follow VINCINT on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Churches can decide to banish someone because of illegal activity, physical abuse, or abandonment. To the church, someone who has been excommunicated has committed a grave offense that caused this person to be separated spiritually from the church. For Stephen Wrabel, it was because he’s gay.Stephen Wrabel, known mononymously as Wrabel, is a musician, a singer, and a songwriter. Pop icon P!nk called him “one of the greatest singers and songwriters alive today.” His songwriting credits include releases by P!nk, Kesha, Louis Tomlinson, Backstreet Boys, and Marshmello. Today, Wrabel is here to share how he found his own path and how he came to discover that Pride isn’t for a day. It isn’t for a month. Pride is life.Be sure to follow Wrabel on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In school, they continue to teach history as a way to examine the past and how it has shaped relationships between societies and people. But how much queer history was covered in these lessons? Today, we’re going back in time — again — to explore the rich history of queer people throughout time in the US. This is the first chapter of our six part series on our nation’s queer history. So, if you like what you hear be sure to listen to the rest of the story in our six-part series w/ Dr. Eric Cervani, an American historian with specialized knowledge of LGBTQ+ history in the US.Be sure to follow Matthew on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where did the idea of pink toys and blue toys come from? And what effect do these different toys have on kids as they grow up? Today we chat with Matthew Ashton, the Vice President of design at LEGO, who helps us walk through the past, present and future of gendered toys.Be sure to follow Matthew on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finding health care as a queer individual can be terrifying. Sometimes it can feel impossible. The system is often ignorant to the LGBTQ community. And any queer-competent healthcare providers can be hours away by drive or months away by appointment. That’s why A.G. Breitenstein sought to make healthcare accessible. She’s had first-hand experience with poor medical care and knew there had to be a better way. So she started Folx Health, the first digital-native health platform designed specifically for the queer community.Be sure to follow FOLX Health on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don’t judge a book by its cover. Jason Ellis definitely doesn't look like what most people would think of when they try to picture a stereotypical bisexual man. So when Jason came out, he received some heat from his listeners. People wanted him to shut up about his sexuality and go back to talking about MMA and Motocross. He lost fans. But were they really fans if they don’t support who he really is? And does he really care about fame or money? Be sure to follow Jason on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Daniel is here to explain their discoveries about the history of queerness and what place the LGBTQ community has in the world of science.Be sure to follow Dr. Pfau on Twitter!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Falduto has a slew of titles under his belt. He was a child actor alongside Jack Black, he has a career in country music, he’s a life coach, oh and he’s thinking about writing a children’s book. But today, we talk to Brian about what really got him to this point in his life. All the elementary school bullies, the pressure from being in the public eye, and his own internal homophobia that kept him from being his true self for years. Be sure to follow Brian on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of Mother's Day in the US, here is a rebroadcast featuring Hannah Graf's story as a trans mother along with trans husband and father, Jake Graf. Love to all trans parents out there!------There are lies people tell us to keep us in line. You’ve heard them. Some are relatively harmless. Be good or Santa won’t bring you any presents. Don’t eat sweets before bed or you’ll have nightmares. Others carry with them damage that can last a lifetime. Lies like being queer or trans excludes you from love or motherhood or fatherhood. Lies like gender is binary and absolute. Today Jake and Hannah Graf share their journey as individuals, as partners, and as a family.Go follow Jake and Hannah on IG and be sure to check out Mermaids!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It wasn’t until the ‘80s that the Marvel Universe started to introduce queer characters to their stories and it was another 10 years before any characters were able to fully acknowledged their sexuality and actually say “I am gay.” Today, we are joined by Dr. Andrew Deman, a University lecturer and comic book expert to talk about how queerness was introduced into the comic book world and why many readers don’t give comic book creators they credit they deserve.Be sure to follow Andrew on Twitter.Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you think of the AIDS epidemic, a few words may pass through your mind. Illness, fear, death, and probably gay. After the first case was discovered in 1981, people began referring to the disease as “gay cancer” or “gay plague.” And it was seen as a death sentence. Even years later, after many improvements in science and medicine and a significantly longer life expectancy for HIV positive people, there is still a stigma around AIDS. Stories in media about AIDS and the queer community still usually end in tragedy and death. But people like Zach Stafford are fighting to break the stigma. He is a storyteller who is determined to spread positivity and hope to the community.Be sure to follow Zach on IG.Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brooke Eden had been a toxic relationship with a man and she wasn’t in love. It wasn’t a fairytale but it was an experience she documented in her music. But then she met Hilary, her current girlfriend and her music took a turn. She wrote a series of love songs, you just listened to one, to tell the world that we don’t get to choose who we love, it just happens. Now, she’s ready to share her love with the world and on the way, transform people’s perception of country music for the better.Be sure to follow Brooke on IG.Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we speak with Robbie Couch, a storyteller who is about to release his newest book, “The Sky Blues.” Robbie tells us all about how he went from journalism school to writing queer young adult books and why these stories are so important for young teens to have access to. Libraries have not always been stocked with these stories, but that’s slowly changing thanks to authors like Robbie."The Sky Blues" is out now!Be sure to follow Robbie on IG.Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we’re joined by Yasmin Benoit, a model and activist for the asexual and aromantic community. Yasmin has created hashtags to form an online community for ace individuals and is about to make history by launching the very first International Asexuality Day on April 6th. She’s here to talk about her personal journey in discovering who she is, why she does not need a partner to be complete, and how others can help to stop the spread of misinformation.Be sure to follow Yasmin on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ways in which we are raised and the ideology we are presented with at a young age can have an irreversible impact on how we grow up and act in our adult lives. This could be religion, culture, or politics, it all shapes a part of who we are now and later in life. This was especially true for Bolu Okupe, a gay Nigerian man who was raised by his homophobic, Christian father. In Nigeria, being gay is a crime, one that can actually get you locked up in jail for years. So when Bolu decided to face his past and live his truth, it was kinda a big deal for him and for the queer community. And it all started with a picture of the model in rainbow printed boxers.Be sure to follow Bolu on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most of us can agree that appearances are important. The amount of care we put towards our appearances in any given moment can vary, but we all know we’re posting that selfie for a reason. This concept is especially true in Hollywood, where celebrities can find their recent scandals all over the front pages of entertainment magazines if they aren’t careful. But for Anne Heche, it wasn’t so much about trying to be the best version of herself online. She was told that her most authentic self was not ok. Check out "Better Together w/ Anne and Heather" here!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Zodiac. The Unabomber. Ted Bundy. Serial killers you’ll be familiar with. But between 1974 and 1975, there was another ruthless serial killer at large, terrorizing San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community. He was coined “the Doodler.” While a social movement roared to life in the city, the Doodler haunted its queer nightlife scene: drawing sketches of his victims and engaging in sexual acts with them before brutally murdering them. Plagued by a flawed investigation, a frightened public, and hesitation from victims’ friends and associates, who feared involvement would out them to family and employers, the investigation went cold. And so the Doodler walked away free. SUBSCRIBE NOWlink.chtbl.com/bRZq1t69 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Judaeo-Christian scriptures rarely mention same-sex sexuality. Of the 35,527 verses in the Catholic Bible, only seven, which is about 0.02% are sometimes interpreted as prohibiting homosexual acts. So if it’s such a small part of the official text, why is it such a big deal? Last week, in part one of our look at the history of same-sex love in the Catholic Church, we examined how the church’s perspective has changed over the course of 2000 years as a result of shifting social and cultural norms. This week, in part two, we’re back with Dr. Lisa McClain exploring which parts of scripture are responsible for the Catholic Church’s stance on same-sex love, and we’re also joined by author Benjamin Brenkert to talk about his first-hand experience as a gay man trying to carve out a place in the church.Check out A Catechism of the Heart here.Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you think about the Catholic church and its relation to the LGBTQ+ community, either as a believer or a non-believer, it likely isn’t as an ally. But the church’s stance on same-sex love isn’t as cut and dry as you might think. Over the span of two millenia, the church has adapted, however slowly, to a changing world. Today, we’ll start part one of our exploration of the history of same-sex love in the Catholic church, and how the church’s perspective and enforcement has changed over 2000 years.Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danell Leyva has become accustomed to being judged by people. He’s a professional gymnast who has waited in front of large crowds waiting for the numbers to be called assessing his performance. He has literally dealt with judges his entire life. But facing the judgement of coming out is a different story. He stood in the spotlight of being an out professional athlete and confronted the stereotypes people fit you into for being a part of the LGBTQ+ community. But Danell overcame all of that on his journey to a new beginning.Be sure to follow Danell on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Polyamory is defined as being open to intimate relationships with more than one person. Polyamorous people are usually looking to share a romantic or sexual connection with more than one person.For Ian Jenkins, his day-to-day worries had less to do with whether his family or peers would accept his two partners. He was proud to be in a same sex throuple. But that meant neither he nor his partners were able to physically give birth to a baby. They would have to seek out different methods to form a family. But soon, they would become three dads and a baby… and later… three dads and two babies.Be sure to follow Ian on IG!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By now, most people understand or at least are aware of the trials and tribulations the transgender community experiences every day. You may have a close friend or even a relative who is trans. Or maybe there’s a celebrity you adore, who identifies as trans. Perhaps, you’re part of the trans or gender-non-conforming community yourself. But what some people may not realize is that being trans is not new. Trans people have been around for thousands of years. Dr. Jerrica Kirkley is the founder of Plume, a start up for gender-affirming health care services. She knows a lot about the trans community, its history and modern day healthcare. In this discussion, we’ll explore gender-affirming care from the 19th century to today. We’ll cover the terminology used within the trans community to describe identity and health care, and review the history of gender dysphoria, before introducing you to the life-saving gender-affirming care of today. Check out more on Plume here!Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s no surprise that social media has become a popular topic to discuss in daily conversations. From the newest Tik Tok trend to that funny video forwarded to you during lunch, it occupies a large chunk of our everyday lives. I never look forward to the notification my phone gets at the end of the week on my daily screentime, and I bet you don’t either. Today, we hear from model Max Emerson and psychotherapist Matthew Dempsey. Emerson and Dempsey are also social media creators. They share their own struggles with social media consumption, how it affects people’s everyday lives, and how the COVID-19 pandemic challenges it all. Follow Max and Matthew on IG!Reach out to The Trevor Project, Psychology Today, or your local LGBT Center if you need help.Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most countries that have legal surrogacy specifically exclude queer people and same-sex couples. In fact, there are very few countries that have supportive surrogacy laws that also include same-sex couples. These countries include the United States, which supports commercial surrogacy for gay couples; Canada, which restricts surrogacy only to non-profit altruistic programs; Colombia, some states in Australia; and a few European countries, including the UK, Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Today, you’ll hear from Aurelien and Nicolas, a french couple who, confronted by France's conservative surrogacy laws, decided to exhaust their last option by traveling to Las Vegas to start a family of their own through surrogacy.Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices