Let's Talk About Gay Stuff

28/07/2024

November 5th is Election Day across the U.S. 🇺🇸

Make sure your voice is heard! If you’re not yet registered to vote, get registered!

⬆️ - REGISTER to vote: https://vote.gov/

🗳 - VOTE: Election Day is November 5th (https://www.usa.gov/election-day -212881), OR vote early or by mail (https://www.usa.gov/absentee-voting)

🙌 - SUPPORT others in getting registered to vote and then voting!

💻 - EDUCATE yourself on the candidates and the issues: All eyes are on the presidential race, and yet there are a number of races at the state and local levels that will determine who will lead and manage your schools, police departments, local governments and determine how they will be funded!

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09/06/2024

Celebrating 5 years of Let's Talk About Gay Stuff, we couldn't think of a better guest than Doyle! JD is a prominent historian and author of "1981 My Gay American Road Trip: A slice of Pre-AIDS Culture." We cover the book and so much more including his many projects, including The JD Doyle Archives (jddoylearchives.org), that are helping to preserve LGBTQ+ history for generations to come!

Celebrate with us as and take a listen 🥳🏳️‍🌈
🎧https://bit.ly/LetsTalkAboutGayStuffEp165

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09/06/2024

Happy Pride 🏳️‍🌈 And we celebrate 5 years of this podcast this month! Over the years we've learned about history and we've lived it, too! Thank you for joining us for a fun ride as we talk gay stuff and learn about LGBTQ+ history! 😍

Cheers to many more!🎉

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08/06/2024

Another celebration in the books! We 🩷 our media partnership with ! So happy to celebrate LGBTQ+ businesses and their impact on our community! Put your dollars to good use and support lgbtq+ owned businesses this Pride season and 365-days a year!

Click here —-> https://business.houstonlgbtchamber.com/member-directory

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21/04/2024

A new episode from a group of guys who don’t “talk and act like” most g**s 🙃🤔😂IYKYK

This episode Thomas, Chris, & Dusty discuss these topics from LGBTQ+ history
📖 Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
😢The lives taken by the murderous Andrew Cunanan

🎧https://bit.ly/LetsTalkAboutGayStuffEp0164

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21/03/2024

Well now it’s officially a party! 🎉 How fun to see Cheryl Mercedes back as emcee for the Greater Houston LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce annual Pride in Business event on Friday, June 7! Come join us as we support our partners at the Greater Houston LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the LGBTQ+ and allied business community! 🏳️‍🌈

We are thrilled to announce that Cheryl Mercedes KHOU will be returning as the emcee for this year's celebration! Cheryl is an anchor and investigative reporter for KHOU 11 News, our Media Partner for the Pride in Business Celebration. Our partnership with KHOU 11 plays a crucial role in raising awareness and supporting events like Pride in Business, and helps amplify the message of pride and acceptance within the business community and beyond. Thank you, Cheryl Mercedes, and KHOU 11, for committing to make this year's Pride in Business event the best year yet!

Don't miss your opportunity to become a Pride in Business sponsor. Visit https://ow.ly/OTCx50QV2XI to learn more!

18/12/2023

Yep! We’re still talking about gay stuff! It’s the last episode of 2023 and it’s Episode 160!

Thomas, Chris, and Dusty kiki, celebrate, and connect to talk about a 1990s child adoption case involving a same s*x couple in Washington and the book ‘Daubed in Darnkess’ by J Daniel Stone.

Take a listen! 🌈

🎧https://bit.ly/LetsTalkAboutGayStuffEp160

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07/11/2023

So great to support the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s annual food & supply drive! This year the Chamber is partnering with Tony’s Tony's Place Houston by collecting food and supplies to help LGBTQ+ youth in Houston.

Mark your calendars for November 30th to drop off a donation at Eureka Heights in Houston. And if you can’t make it in person, you can donate online as well.

Support LGBTQ+ youth this giving season! 🏳️‍🌈

Link—> https://houstonlgbtqchamberfoundation.org/2023holidaysupplydrive/

When LGBTQ+ Youth in Houston are in need and have few other places to go, Tony’s Place is there to help. We’re excited to name Tony's Place Houston as the beneficiary of this year’s Chamber Holiday Food & Supply Drive!

Our Holiday Drive is one of our most popular events, and we hope to see you there. We’ll be collecting food & supplies before you know it, so SAVE THE DATE! https://bit.ly/ChamberHolidayDrive

12/10/2023

It's National Coming Out Day! Today we celebrate proudly living our truth and the journey of coming out!

Let us be reminded that visibility matters — for those who are out, for those who want to come out, and for families, friends, and allies of the LGBTQ+ community.

We also appreciate and respect that each one of journeys for coming out is different, and some in our community choose not to come out for safety, security, and/or personal reasons.

To those who are out, and to those who paved the way for us to be out openly and proudly, we celebrate you!

In case you missed 'em, you can catch some of our crew's coming out stories here:

Episode 19 - Coming Out Stories:
🎧 http://bit.ly/LetsTalkAboutGayStuffEp019

Episode 72 - Dusty Does Gay Stuff:
🎧 http://bit.ly/LetsTalkAboutGayStuffEp072

Episode 122 - The Spirit of Coming Out
🎧 http://bit.ly/LetsTalkAboutGayStuffEp0122

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29/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history the TV show 'Designing Women' premiered on CBS in 1986.

At a time when women often played second to the leading man on TV, 'Designing Women' was celebrated for its strong female characters. The show ran for seven seasons, but not without stirring up controversy for the positions it took on some issues of the day. Audiences watched its characters take on sensitive topics such as feminism, racism, homos*xuality, and HIV/AIDS.

Because there were few out LGBTQ+ role models during the show's run, many in the LGBTQ+ community found strength and hope in the the four lead characters, as they bucked societal norms and expectations. Many also felt seen for the first time as the show tackled issues that affected the LGBTQ+ community.

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28/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history the movie ‘Pitch Perfect’ premiered in theaters in 2012.

‘Pitch Perfect’ is celebrated for its campiness and musical aspects and has spawned several sequels. The movie struck a chord with audiences which depicted students who were on the fringes of the popularity spectrum yet found a group with which they felt they belonged. The movies characters found successes, failures, love, and friendship in their lives, a story line which resonates with many LGBTQ+ youth.

The movie was also directed by Jason Moore, a celebrated movie, TV, and theater director, who identifies as a gay man.

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28/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history actress, musician writer, and comedian Carrie Brownstein was born in 1974.

Brownstein gained early fame in the 90s as part of the riot grrrl movement with the band Sleater-Kinney and earned notoriety in the TV comedy ‘Portlandia.’

She identifies as q***r and is celebrated for her humor, creativity, and her visibility as an out q***r person.

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26/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history Hattie Mae Cohens and Brian Mock were killed in a firebombing in Salem, Oregon in 1992.

Cohens, a 29-year-old-black le***an, and Mock, a 45-year-old white gay man, died after a two gasoline-filled bottles were thrown into their apartment. Three people, who the police labeled 'skinheads,' were found guilty of their murders.

While many attributed racism as the reason for the murder, many believed a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ ballot proposal propelled the murderers' actions.

The ballot initiative sought to amend the state constitution by prohibiting government entities in Oregon from promoting homos*xuality as well as advocated for the state to set a standard that recognized homos*xuality, pe******ia, sa**sm, and masochism as wrong, unnatural, and perverse. Sadly, in the lead up to the vote, the controversial measure was believed to have sparked violence and vandalism from both sides of the issue.

The anti-LGBTQ+ Measure 9 was ultimately defeated on November 3, 1992.

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22/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history TV and radio personality Sue Perkins was born.

Perkins, a le***an, is celebrated for her humor, wit, and relatable personality. She has won fans from all walks of life and is a visible example of LGBTQ+ pride.
Perkins started her career as a comedian and gained notoriety through hosting duties and serving as a panel judge on a number of TV and radio shows. Of course, it as one of the hosts on the 'Great British Bake Off' that her name and fame are forever baked into pop culture.

In addition to hosting and appearing on numerous TV and radio shows, Perkins has also written a memoir, 'Spectacles,' and an autographical travel book, 'East of Croydon.'

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22/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was signed into law.

DOMA legally defined marriage at the federal level as a "legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife." This law made it such that same s*x marriages could not be legally recognized by the federal government. While President Clinton was the first president to advocate publicly for LGBTQ+ rights, he signed DOMA into law amid pressure from Congress during a re-election year.
Parts of DOMA were ruled unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in 2013 when Edie Windsor won her case against the U.S. government in the United States v. Windsor case, which invalidated the federal ban on same s*x marriage.

The Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA) was enacted last year, which repealed DOMA and required states to recognize same s*x marriages. While RFMA is praised by many, it still does not require states to legalize same s*x marriages in their state. This remains a concern for same s*x married couples after U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization opinion that there is room to revisit the Court’s past decisions which ruled in favor of legalizing same s*x marriages.

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20/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announces in 1986 the groundbreaking drug AZT would be made available to AIDS patients.

The announcement was made after the drug trial proved to provide significant benefits to those receiving the drug, as opposed to those who received the placebo, which experienced a higher mortality rate. The drug was initially made available to AIDS patients that met certain health criteria and was made commercially available the following year.

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18/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history the iconic movie 'Mommie Dearest' premiered in theaters in New York City in 1981.

The movie starred Faye Dunaway playing the role of Hollywood legend Joan Crawford. The movie is intended to chronicle events in the dramatic life of Crawford. Over the years, the movie has become legendary for Dunaway's over-the-top portrayal of Crawford.

While there are unconfirmed reports of Crawford's romantic affairs with women, none of which are discussed in the movie, the film resonates with many in the LGBTQ+ community for its depiction of the strong, yet complex, and sometimes tragic character of Joan Crawford, and of course, for the campy scenes and the iconic lines attributed to Crawford.

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16/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history politician Richard Heyman died in 1994.

Heyman was one of the first openly gay politicians to be elected to public office. When he was elected mayor of Key West in 1983, he became the first openly gay mayor elected in a major U.S. city.
He first was elected to the Key West City Commission in 1979, and he was elected to Mayor in 1983 and won another term in 1987.

He was committed to bettering public policy and also advocated for the LGBTQ+ community and people suffering from HIV/AIDS.

He died at the age of 59 of complications related to AIDS.

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15/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history Australia announces citizens can declare X as their gender in 2011.

The government issued revised guidelines for citizens as they declared their gender on their passports. The updated guidance was a positive step toward removing discrimination against transgender and inters*x people. The ruling allowed transgender people to declare the gender with which they identified. It also created ‘X’ as a category for non-binary, indeterminate, inters*x, and unspecified citizens to declare their gender.

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14/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history 'The Golden Girls' premiered on NBC in 1985.

The critically acclaimed TV show was an instant hit starring some of TVs most notable actresses, Bea Arthur as Dorothy, Estelle Getty as Sophia, Rue McClanahan as Blanche, and Betty White as Rose. The actresses' performances earned them each an Emmy Award, a rare feat for a TV sitcom.

Of course, the show was groundbreaking on a number of fronts - the show featured four female lead characters over the age of 50, all unmarried. This broke the mold on TV by demonstrating women over the age of 50 could lead a series and proving they did not have to play opposite a man to validate their roles. The show also touched on a number of controversial topics including homelessness, immigration, homos*xuality, s*xual harassment, and HIV.

The Golden Girls has resonated with many in the LGBTQ+ for a number of reasons. People found inspiration in the strong characters who handled life’s challenges with grit and humor. LGBTQ+ fans also identified how the ‘girls’ found a family in each other - forming a bond greater than any bloodline and sharing in each other’s ups and downs - a reality for many in the LGBTQ+ community, who were shunned from their families after coming out.

After a seven season run and a numerous awards, 'The Golden Girls' ended. Nearly 30 years after the final episode aired, we still thank 'The Golden Girls 'for being our friends!

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13/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history transgender pioneer Lili Elbe died in 1931.

Elbe was born male and presented as such for much of her younger adulthood. While attending the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, she married Gerda Gottlieb, a fellow artist. The pair travelled across Europe looking for inspiration for their art.

Elbe came to realize her true identity when she started serving as a model for her wife's art. As a model, she sat for Greta in women's clothing as she painted. She noted privately and then publicly how she felt at home when she dressed as a women. Eventually, Elbe's female identity extended beyond modeling for her wife, and Elbe started to identify as a woman more publicly and began to live her life accordingly.

In her pursuit to embrace her true self, in 1930, she became one of the first people to undergo gender reassignment surgery. Her case made national headlines and had a number of ripple effects in her life. Her marriage was annulled but she was also able to legally identify as a female so she legally changed her s*x and name.

She died from complications related to a uterus transplant surgery.

Her story, albeit fictionalized, became popular when the book 'The Danish Girl' was published in 2000. The book became a best seller and was made into a movie of the same name.

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12/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history LGBTQ+ activist and trailblazer Edith Windsor died in 1929.

Windsor was the plaintiff in the landmark marriage case United States v Windsor.

The case originated after Ms. Windsor was named the beneficiary and executor of Thea Spyer's estate, who died in 2009 and was Windsor's first wife. When Windsor applied for an estate tax exemption, she was denied her request because the government, under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), did not recognize same-s*x marriages. Windsor took her case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in favor of Windsor and same s*x marriage, by ruling Section 3 of DOMA unconstitutional.

This case broke down the barriers that stood in the way of marriage equality and paved the way for same s*x marriage across the country, which would be fully realized with the Obergefell landmark Supreme Court case in 2015.

Windsor's advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community started decades prior to her historic victory. Once married to a man, she came to accept her true self and divorced him, so they could both find and live with someone they truly loved. She embraced her le***anism and eventually found a partner, Thea Spyer, with whom she would spend the next 40 years of her life.

After the Stonewall Inn rebellion in 1969, the couple became more active in fighting for LGBTQ+ equality. Nearly 40 years into their life long partnership, they announced their marriage in 'The New York Times' in 2007 after they wed in Canada.

Windsor bucked the norms of tradition during her lifetime. She was a female technologist who excelled in her field, she took on the U.S. government and won in her 80s, and she found love and marriage much later in life. We remember her today for being a proud out woman, bravely fighting for what is right, and paving the way so we can legally marry the person we love.

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11/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history we remember the tragic terrorist attacks in the United States that occurred in 2001.

We honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11th and those who have made sacrifices as a result of the tragic events on that day.

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10/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history world renowned fashion designer and creative director Karl Lagerfeld was born in 1933.

Though at times he was deemed controversial, the fashion designer was known for his iconic designs and fragrances. He even established his own signature look over the years, most notably his white hair and black sunglasses.

Lagerfeld never married, but had a long time companion, Jacques de Bascher. The two were so close that Lagerfeld was by de Basher's side when de Basher died of AIDS related complications in 1989. While de Bascher is believed to be Lagerfeld's partner, Lagerfeld claims he had no physical contact with him.

Lagerfeld died in 2019 at the age of 85.

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09/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history Emmy award winning actor Eric Stonestreet was born.

Stonestreet played the iconic gay character Cam Tucker on the hit TV show 'Modern Family.' Stonestreet's over-the-top portrayal of Cam earned him many laughs, awards, and recognition. Of course, his take on Cam drew some criticism for the caricature of a gay man he played, particularly since Stonestreet is a straight actor.
The minimal criticism was outweighed by what the character, Cam, and his partner, Mitch, played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson, did for the LGBTQ+ community.

At a time when the perceptions of the LGBTQ+ community and the rights afforded to them were starting to change, Stonestreet and Ferguson demonstrated in their characters another version of how gay couples were actually living - loving, silly, boring, compassionate, patient, and great partners to one another. Cam and Mitch are often credited for helping to normalize the relationships of gay couples in the mainstream media at a time when the country needed it most.

Of course, Stonestreet has recognized the opportunities the role of Cam provided him and has used his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

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08/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ premiered in 2003.

DeGeneres' show was the highest-rated freshman syndicated show in it's first season, setting the way for a highly successful 19-season run. With her charm and charisma, DeGeneres would take the mantle as daytime TV's friendly face and provide her audience with dancing, laughs, fun games, celebrity scares and pranks. She has used her show to highlight inspirational stories of everyday people, interview high-profile celebrities and politicians, and connect with audiences on important issues of the day.

While DeGeneres' talents were never in doubt, the reception of her show was closely watched. After suffering a major career stumble following her very public coming out on her once-popular TV show in 1997, DeGeneres' future in show business was in doubt. DeGeneres defied odds and broke barriers becoming the first openly gay woman to launch a large-scale daytime TV talk show, earning praise, awards, and many laughs along the way.

While Ellen's show and management tactics stirred negative reactions online near the end of the show’s run, it is worth noting her pioneering achievements in the entertainment business. Defying odds for being a woman and part of the LGBTQ+ community in the daytime talk show business, she has led a show that produced over 2000 episodes and has been recognized for numerous awards including over 60 Daytime Emmy Awards. With her show, she was welcomed into the homes of many who were traditionally unfriendly to an out le***an and she used her platform to champion LGBTQ+ issues.

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07/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history Canadian cable network PrideVision TV debuted in 2001.

The network was one of the first of its kind in the world. The network featured programming geared specifically toward an LGBTQ+ audience. Today, the network is known as OutTV and is popular for airing original programming and also is available as a streaming service.

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06/09/2023

This day in LGBTQ+ history, disco legend Sylvester was born in 1947.

The creator of the disco hit and gay pride anthem, 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real),' he lives on playlists forever more. Not only did Sylvester gives us one of the greatest songs of the disco era, he proudly lived life his way. A signer, songwriter, producer, he gave us art in his music and his style. He unabashedly broke gender norms. When asked if he was a drag queen, he simply replied "I'm not a drag queen. I'm Sylvester."

He also became a strong advocate for AIDS awareness, which sadly caused his death in 1988.

For his fearlessness and his gift to music, we celebrate Sylvester for showing us in the LGBTQ+ community how to live our truth.

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