Tales of the 2slgbtq+

14/06/2023

14/06/2023

Information I wrote down from a recent workshop I attended.

84% of Trans people in Canada avoid public spaces.
64% of Trans/Non-binary youth experience s*xual harrassment.
63% of bis*xual girls and women experience physical or s*xual assault.
25% of q***r youth do not feel safe at home.

14/06/2023

“I’m fine with gay people but stop shoving the rest of the letters down our throats”

“Be gay if you want to but why do I have to see it everywhere”

“I understand that some people aren’t straight but Transgender people are freaks of nature”

Just a few of the comments I’ve read or received in the past week.

Some important reminders:

There’s no “but” when it comes to inclusion.

There’s no “but” when it comes to acceptance.

There is no “acceptable” face of LGBTQIA+ people.

14/06/2023

LGBT Pride Month occurs around the world to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. As a result, many pride events are held during this month to recognize the impact LGBT2S+ people have had in the world.

Pride Month is an entire month dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQ2S+ voices, celebration of LGBTQ2S+ culture and the support of LGBTQ2S+ rights. Throughout the month of June, there have traditionally been parades, protests, drag performances, live theater and memorials and celebrations of life for members of the community who lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. It is part political activism, part celebration of all the LGBTQ2S+community has achieved over the years.

12/06/2023

7 years ago today was the massacre at Pulse Nightclub.

Today we sit with this knowledge and continue to work towards this never happening again.

10/06/2023

Happy Pride Month!

09/06/2023

In the late 1970s, Harvey Milk – a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the first openly gay man elected to public office – asked his friend Gilbert Baker to design a symbol to represent (what was then referred to as) the gay community. Baker collaborated with his friend Lynn Segerblom (also known as Faerie Argyle Rainbow) to design the rainbow-striped flag with eight colors.

Baker and Segerblom’s flag debuted at the Gay Freedom Day Parade in SF in 1978. Each of the original eight colors had their own unique symbolism. Hot pink: s*x; Red: life; Orange: healing; Yellow: sunlight; Green: nature; Turquoise: magic and art; Indigo: serenity; and Violet: spirit. The original flag’s hot pink and turquoise stripes were soon removed because of difficulty manufacturing and/or dying the fabric, resulting in the six-color rainbow flag we are familiar with today.

07/06/2023

I am proud to be gay everyday.

It wasn't always that way; however, when I gave myself the time and space to be myself . . . good things came my way. I hope you all are on your journey of peace and love.

Happy Pride Month!

06/06/2023

What does ChatGPT say about the Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+ when given a prompt to comment on the podcast? Here is what it wrote:

The "Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+" podcast is a captivating and inspiring audio series dedicated to sharing the diverse and empowering stories of individuals within the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The podcast delves into personal narratives, experiences, and achievements, aiming to create a platform where these stories can be heard, understood, and celebrated.

Each episode of the podcast features interviews with individuals from various backgrounds, including members of the le***an, gay, bis*xual, transgender, q***r, and other gender and s*xual minority communities. The podcast explores a wide range of topics, such as coming out journeys, relationships, mental health, activism, cultural perspectives, and triumphs over adversity.

With a focus on authenticity and inclusivity, the "Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+" podcast aims to foster a sense of community, provide representation, and offer valuable insights into the lives of individuals within the 2SLGBTQ+ community. By amplifying these voices, the podcast seeks to promote acceptance, understanding, and social change.

The podcast team ensures a respectful and empathetic approach in every episode, allowing guests to share their unique experiences and perspectives without judgment or prejudice. Listeners are invited to embark on a journey of empathy, education, and celebration of diversity, with the ultimate goal of creating a more inclusive and supportive society.

Listeners can expect to be moved by the heartfelt stories and experiences shared on the podcast, gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the 2SLGBTQ+ community, as well as the strength, resilience, and beauty that comes with embracing one's true self. The "Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+" podcast provides a platform for the voices that often go unheard, ensuring that their stories are heard, acknowledged, and valued.

Overall, the "Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+" podcast serves as an important resource for individuals within the 2SLGBTQ+ community, allies, educators, and anyone seeking to broaden their understanding of the diverse experiences and perspectives within this vibrant and resilient community. It promotes inclusivity, acceptance, and equality, inspiring listeners to advocate for positive change and stand in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

02/06/2023

Written by Joel A. Davis Brown (Public Speaker/Thought Leader/Organizational Development Strategist)

Happy Pride LGBTQIA2S+ Community!

To our precious Allies: By all means....Attend the parades. Engage in merry-making. Be fun and festive.

But DO NOT leave the fight to us. The bigotry and discrimination we face is not about our community or our alleged deficiencies. It is about the society you've enabled and the cis-heteronormative world that our neighbors, families, governments, and social systems have created.

It is time for you to do your work. If you know anything about Pride, the work and protests came before the party...not afterwards. This is your opportunity to make sure Pride can be a daily invocation, not just a short-lived annual celebration for Q***r people worldwide.

Talk to your friends. Educate your family. Begin dialogue with your neighbors. Donate money. Hold your elected leaders accountable. Deconstruct the lies that are being told about the Trans community, LGBTQ+ refugees, Drag Performers, and the "everyday" people who simply want to live their lives peacefully.

Our lives will never be fully dictated by what you do. We're too s*xy and empowered for that. BUT...our movement will always be impacted by what you allow. If you want to celebrate Pride, make the choice to stand up and fight for full LGBTQIA2S+ rights.

Pride = Liberation and Justice for ALL members of our community.

01/06/2023

We said what we said!

01/06/2023

Happy Pride Month!

Whether you choose to celebrate pride by throwing a brick or by opening your arms to love, be sure to celebrate yourself a little more this month.

Look out for each other and always text when you get home!

23/05/2023

As a young kid, Chris L'Amarca suffered from a body pain that she thought all kids experienced. It was only later in life when she realized that her body pain is a rare one. This consistent pain has caused this q***r teacher to leave the classroom and focus her entire life on her health.

We are lucky to have this conversation because earlier this year Chris was saying ‘goodbye’ to loved ones. Somehow, she is with us today and sharing her story on Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+.

This episode is part story telling but it is also full of instruction. There must be the latter when there is a bunch of rare diseases involved. These diseases include Addison’s Disease, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Raynaud’s, and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

And yes . . . you will likely spend time after WebMDing what you have learned.

Chris shares her story with calm and remarkable poise. Or should I say instead, L’Amarcable Poise. All of this plus discussion around being a q***r instructor and what it means when intersectionality is at play.

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n448YMl9wJg&list=PLYZE7Fj7QGI9oqt5msIZfaOY-QGqTtD99&index=1

Audio - https://taleslgbtqplus.buzzsprout.com/1744772/12901281-chris-l-amarca-l-amarcable-poise

22/05/2023

On the next "Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+", come meet Chris L'Amarca.
Chris is a q***r educator from Calgary who is now spending her life focused on her health.

When she was a young child, she often had pains in her body that she thought every other kid experienced. It was only until later in later in life, she came to understand that those pains would mean something else.

In a life that is full of , Chris faces the challenges head-on and provides insight into what the challenges are for her. Remarkable poise ... or dare we say ... L;Amarcable poise indeed!

The interview with Chris will be found on all of the audio recording sites on Tuesday (May 23) and on our YouTube site.

17/05/2023

Today is the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

More than a third of countries criminalize same-s*x relationships. Only 24 allow same-s*x marriage. Violence against LGBTQIA+ persons is consistently high, and cases are often underreported.

"In a time where the progress made by our LGBTQIA+ communities worldwide is increasingly at risk, it is crucial to recognise the power of solidarity, community, and allyship across different identities, movements, and borders. When we unite, in all our beautiful diversity, we can really bring about change!" - May17.org

01/05/2023

Christopher Rice is this week's guest on Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+.

You can find the podcast on all podcast sites, including this one.

Christopher Rice is the recipient of the Lambda Literary Award and is the Amazon charts and New York Times bestselling author of a number of books including A Density of Souls, Bone Music, Blood Echo, and Blood Victory, which is part of the Burning Girl series. He published four bestselling New York...

28/04/2023

Here Christopher Rice begins to talk about hearing the news Billy Newton's murderer had been identified after 33 years.

To hear the rest of the interview, check out the interview on the Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+ YouTube page or on the various audio podcast platforms.

28/04/2023

Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+ is back with a new episode available on YouTube or on various audio podcast sites.

The first guest for Season 3 is best-selling author Christopher Rice, who joined me to discuss his new novel, Sapphire Storm. In the conversation, we discussed the genesis of the new book and various themes within it. We also talked about a recent event in his life where he brought the 1990 murder of Billy Newton back to public awareness, which led to the murder being solved recently.

Also within this episode, I share thoughts regarding the loss of chosen family member Pam Hofmann. Before beginning the new season of podcast episodes, I needed to speak about her presence in my life. It is due to her conversations with me that this podcast will continue forever. So perhaps a trigger warning if you are still in the process of dealing with her passing.

The podcast can be watched on the YouTube site (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCstIdi1xsxo48I_cQQd7vaQ) or on audio platforms such as Podcast Addict (https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/3293719)

25/04/2023

Back in October last year, I stepped down from organizing Pride Corner on Whyte and I placed "Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+" on a brief hiatus. Those two things, plus my job, were causing me to burn out.

The podcast hiatus was to be a brief one, but I gave myself time to rest as well as to deal with some anger, frustration, and sadness.

Time went by, and I gave serious thought to putting the podcast away after over 60 episodes. Recently, a conversation I had ages ago came up in my head and reminded me why I had been doing the podcast and why it was important to me. Thank you, Pam (I miss you greatly).

"Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+" comes back on Friday with an all-new episode featuring New York Times best-selling author Christopher Rice.

After that, episodes will be out on a regular basis. So tune in when you can for new episodes or check out episodes that have come before. I appreciate it!

10/03/2023

Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+ returns on Monday, April 3rd, with the first of all new episodes!

My guest that day will be best-selling author Christopher Rice!

Rice made his fiction debut in 2000 with the bestselling A Density of Souls, going on to write many more novels, including The Snow Garden, The Heavens Rise, The Vines, as well as the Burning Girl series. His work spans multiple genres, including suspense, crime, supernatural thriller, and erotic romance. Along with his mother, Anne Rice, he is the co-author of the historical-horror novels Ramses the Damned: The Passion of Cleopatra and its sequel, Ramses the Damned: The Reign of Osiris.

Christopher Rice joins Douglas to discuss his new novel, Sapphire Storm plus more.

10/03/2023

Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+ returns on Monday, April 3rd, with the first of all new episodes!

My guest that day will be best-selling author Christopher Rice!

Rice made his fiction debut in 2000 with the bestselling A Density of Souls, going on to write many more novels, including The Snow Garden, The Heavens Rise, The Vines, as well as the Burning Girl series. His work spans multiple genres, including suspense, crime, supernatural thriller, and erotic romance. With his mother, Anne Rice, he is the co-author of the historical-horror novels Ramses the Damned: The Passion of Cleopatra and its sequel, Ramses the Damned: The Reign of Osiris.

Christopher Rice joins Douglas to discuss his new novel, Sapphire Storm plus more.

07/03/2023

Tales of the 2SLGBTQ+ will be returning at the beginning of April.

Want to guess who the first guest will be?

11/02/2023

I had the pleasure to interview Zaylore last year for the "Tales of the 2SLGBTQIA+" podcast. During the interview, he mentioned this project, and I am thrilled to see it is coming soon.

His writing is wonderful, and his research is fantastic. I highly recommend checking out this Kickstarter, and while you are doing so, please get his previous book, "Our Gay History in 50 States"!

In the comments thread, I will post a couple of links to listen to the episode where I had Zaylore come on to talk about his background and his work.

Zaylore writes, "In honor of Black History Month, we are launching the Kickstarter for my second (and very anticipated) book “Our Black History in Fifty States"! Sign up to be the first to know when the Kickstarter goes live - there will be a limited early bird deal of $10 off!

bit.ly/OB50SKickstarter

Support Black History! Support Black Authors! Listen to Black Voices!"

We envision our program will help create a stronger future generation by empowering them with the powerful knowledge of Black history.

06/01/2023

'Stranger Things' star Noah Scnhapp has come out as gay: 'I guess I'm more similar to Will than I thought.'

28/12/2022

An aggressive public health response and immediate buy-in from men who have s*x with men — the group most affected by the outbreak — has helped contain mpox in Canada, public health doctors say.

23/12/2022

It’s the q***r Hallmark movie we’d pay money to see. A sweet, engaged le***an couple, dreaming of their big day, receive the gift of a lifetime when a beloved aunt steps in and offers to host the couple at her country estate. Nevermind that the aunt, one Amy Grant, has been a mainstay

15/12/2022

Skate Canada has updated its policies so that ice dance or pairs teams competing domestically can be composed of any two athletes. Canada's governing body of figure skating announced Tuesday that its definition of "team" for athletes training in the Podium Pathway will be revised to consisting of "t...