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In 1960s New York City, the Mafia needed a place to conduct business without police detection and gay men needed a safe space to socialize without being arrested. The result: the Genovese family ended up controlling the majority of gay bars in Greenwich Village, which was emerging as a gay hub at the time. In this episode, we’re diving into this unlikely partnership that eventually led to the exploitation of the gay community. Additional Resources: Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets.…
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 show Get 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 Conceptual.…
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…
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: W.…
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 G…
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.…
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 Wor.…
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.…
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 show Get 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 show Get Your Merch
In a world where gay men already experience increased economic, emotional, and societal hardships, we are disproportionately affected by violent crimes and can be blamed for them because of our sexual orientation. In this episode, we’re discussing the basis of the gay panic defense and learning how we can take action to end this discriminatory legal strategy. Additional Resources: The Gay/Trans Panic Defense: What It is, and How to End ItLGBTQ+ "Panic" DefenseStudy Finds LGBTQ Peop…
For years, most of us gay men have repressed our authentic selves and hidden our emotions. But when the time comes for us to form a romantic relationship, we have to lower our guards and reveal those parts that we’ve hidden? In this episode, we’re discussing the concept of interpersonal vulnerability and why it can be harder for gay men to open up to a significant other. Additional Resources: Interpersonal Vulnerability and Its Association with Depressive Symptoms Among Gay and Heterosexual.…
Why does it seem like pop icons have such an appeal to gay men? Are we simply drawn to the music, or is there a deeper emotional connection? In this episode, we’re looking into some historically significant gay anthems while discussing our iconic pop queens and their gay appeal. Additional Resources: Straight JacketLady Gaga's Born This Way: Gay Anthems and Girl PowerSupport the show Get Your Merch
We’re more than two years into this COVID-19 pandemic, and minority communities, including the LGBTQ+ community, have been disproportionately affected. For some gay men, the fear and response to this pandemic have been reminiscent of the early days of the AIDS crisis. And let’s not forget that decades of HIV research conducted by the LGBTQ community and its allies paved the way for the COVID vaccine. Additional Resources: A Timeline of HIV and AIDSGlobal HIV & AIDS Statistics — Fact …
We’ve talked about how gay men have a tendency to be emotionally detached due to trauma and shame. But what happens when we establish an intense romantic connection which we may become reliant upon for validation? In this episode, we explore what it means to be codependent and how we can overcome this. Additional Resources: Codependent No MoreSupport the show Get Your Merch
Hello, podcasting world! Welcome to the first episode of A Jaded Gay, a podcast discussing pop culture, politics, and dating hardships, all through the lens of empowerment and well-being for gay men. Let’s dive into the gay trauma. Additional Resources: The Epidemic of Gay Loneliness by Michael HobbesThe Velvet Rage by Alan Downs, PhDSupport the show Get Your Merch
Living in a world of fuckboys, homophobes, and inequalities can leave a gay feeling, well, jaded, so tune in for your weekly dose of gay empowerment. We're talking pop culture, politics, and dating hardships, all through the lens of overcoming gay trauma and nurturing our emotional wellbeing. Support the show Get Your Merch