Explore every episode of the podcast A Jaded Gay
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 165. Reclaiming Queer History: The Impact of LGBTQ+ Historical Fiction (with Jeza Belle) | 04 Nov 2025 | 00:33:02 | |
LGBTQ+ history has long been overlooked, ignored, or actively erased, leaving us with only fragments of a past that deserves to be preserved and celebrated. That absence makes historical fiction a meaningful platform for reclaiming space and allowing queer characters to exist in time periods that have traditionally denied their presence or humanity. Related Episodes:
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| 164. Exploring Queer Identity Through Astrology (with Danny Santos) | 21 Oct 2025 | 00:41:24 | |
Previously, we discussed how some queer men find solace and empowerment in spiritual practices like astrology, which offers a means of self-discovery and affirmation. Rooted in introspection and symbolism, queer astrology can help individuals reclaim their narratives and connect more deeply with their authentic selves. Related Episodes:
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| 155. Queers in History: Pride, Resistance, and Fighting Erasure (with Keith Stern) | 17 Jun 2025 | 00:33:51 | |
We've previously explored how LGBTQ+ history has often been overlooked, ignored, or deliberately erased, demonstrating the importance of remembering and honoring our past. Despite ongoing attacks from the current administration aimed at censoring or rewriting queer history, LGBTQ+ historians continue to preserve it, ensuring that our stories and the figures who shaped them are not forgotten. Related Episodes:
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| 65. Fire Island | 18 Jul 2023 | 00:22:30 | |
Just fifty miles east of Manhattan, Fire Island has been considered a gay village since the 1950s, with the stretch of land between Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove—known as the Meat Rack—being a safe haven for repressed gay men to fully express and experience their sexuality.
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| 64. 40 Single Gay (with Jonathan Lee) | 11 Jul 2023 | 00:47:46 | |
As gay men, we may experience complexities surrounding modern dating and societal pressures that often place unrealistic expectations of romantic and personal fulfillment. So when we think we’ve found “The One,” what do we do when they break up with us, telling us that we’re only seventy percent of what they need…while having sex? | |||
| 63. The Stonewall Riots | 27 Jun 2023 | 00:20:26 | |
In 1960s New York City, gay men needed a safe space to socialize without being arrested, which resulted in many frequenting private bottle clubs, like the Stonewall Inn, which was owned by the Mafia. On June 28, 1969, during a routine police raid, patrons were fed up and resisted. | |||
| 62. Let Go of Your Religious Trauma (with Eric Feltes) | 20 Jun 2023 | 00:39:35 | |
Many gay men were taught that religion and sexuality are at odds with one another; either you're too gay to be religious, or you're too religious to be gay. As a result, we may have experienced religious trauma, leaving us feeling alone within our faith and the LGBGTQ+ community. | |||
| 61. The Pulse Nightclub Shooting | 13 Jun 2023 | 00:20:19 | |
During the early morning hours of Sunday, June 12, 2016, a gunman entered Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and opened fire on the crowd, who was celebrating Latin Night. After more than three hours of terror, 49 lives were lost and 53 additional people were wounded. In today’s episode, we’re taking a look at the history of Pulse, the events of June 12, 2016, and the response to the shooting. | |||
| 60. Is 30 Gay Death? | 06 Jun 2023 | 00:27:09 | |
Stereotypical gay culture has idolized youth, beauty, and sex, which has resulted in the concept of Gay Death, the all-too-popular myth that gay men have aged beyond attractiveness once they turn 30.
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| 59. Say Bye Bye Bye to Bi Erasure (with Sam McClain) | 30 May 2023 | 00:34:40 | |
Despite the letter B in LGBTQ+, many people, both within and outside of the community, tend to discount the experiences of bisexual people. This ignorance has resulted in bi-erasure, a pervasive problem in which the existence or legitimacy of bisexuality is questioned or denied outright. | |||
| 58. Gay Icons: Our Friend, Dorothy | 23 May 2023 | 00:34:39 | |
Previously, we discussed our iconic pop queens and how their songs typically fit into distinct categories that hit an emotional button that appeals to gay men. | |||
| 57. Protect LGBTQ+ Homeless Youth | 16 May 2023 | 00:22:55 | |
Being our authentic selves can be scary since many of us fear rejection—and for good reason. Family conflict and rejection is the main cause of LGBTQ+ youth homelessness, and LGBTQ+ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness compared to non-LGBTQ+ youth.
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| 56. LGBTQ+ Alcoholism | 09 May 2023 | 00:23:03 | |
For many gay men, we struggle with minority stress and discrimination on a daily basis. Along with childhood trauma and gay shame, this adversity causes some to turn to alcohol as a form of self-medicating. In fact, the rate of substance abuse is estimated to be between 20 to 30 percent in LGBTQ+ people compared to 9 percent for the general population.
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| 154. Pride and Protest: Defending LGBTQ+ Rights in a Shifting America (with Mari Nemec) | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:51:33 | |
The current state of LGBTQ+ rights and politics reflects both significant progress and mounting challenges, with ongoing debates over transgender rights, workplace protections, and marriage equality. Activism, rooted in the community’s historic struggle for equality, continues to drive the Pride movement’s call for visibility, justice, and protection against rising anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric. Related Episodes:
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| 55. Gay for Pay: Should Straight Actors Play Queer Characters? | 02 May 2023 | 00:16:36 | |
We’ve come a long way regarding LGBTQ+ media representation, with 92 LGBTQ+ characters appearing on scripted broadcast primetime programming for the 2021-2022 season. However, that representation falls flat when you consider the number of straight actors appearing as LGBTQ+ characters. | |||
| 54. Love in the Third Degree (with Eric Praniewicz) | 25 Apr 2023 | 00:28:31 | |
We live in a time when we don’t have to be confined to standard labels regarding gender, sexuality, and even relationship types. Regardless of whether we’re monogamous or polyamorous, it’s still important to do the emotional work so we’re bringing our best selves forward into a relationship scenario. | |||
| 53. Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Gays | 18 Apr 2023 | 00:21:31 | |
In previous episodes, we talked about how gay men may struggle with perfectionism as a means to validate themselves and overcome their gay shame. As a result, it’s easy to compare ourselves to others and compete against other gay men instead of lifting our community up.
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| 52. Gayming: Level Up Your Sense of Community (with Jonathan Steele) | 11 Apr 2023 | 00:34:53 | |
In past episodes, we've talked about how it can be difficult for gay men to find a network of like-minded peers and the importance of finding your community and chosen family. | |||
| 51. ACT UP: Silence = Death | 04 Apr 2023 | 00:16:20 | |
In 1981, reports of a “rare cancer” affecting homosexual men surfaced, which marks the start of the AIDS crisis. For years, those living with AIDS were largely neglected by the government and medical community.
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| 50. Self-Love Tough Love (with Tillie Lee) | 28 Mar 2023 | 00:29:54 | |
In past episodes, we've talked about how some gay men try to curate the illusion of a "perfect life" to compensate for feelings of shame and rejection. As such, we develop a false sense of confidence through others' validation. | |||
| 49. Let's Shatter the LGBTQ+ Wage Gap | 21 Mar 2023 | 00:21:00 | |
There is a longstanding stereotype that gay men have a disposable income to fund an extravagant lifestyle. However, recent data has found that there is a gay wealth gap, with the average LGBTQ+ worker earning 90 cents for every dollar a typical worker earns.
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| 48. Plant Gays and Mindfulness Lessons | 14 Mar 2023 | 00:17:17 | |
Over the past few years, there’s been an uptick in millennials’ obsession with houseplants. And with 10.5% of millennials identifying as being LGBTQ+, which is much higher than older generations, it’s no surprise that there has been an increase in plant gays.
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| 47. Say Goodbye to Abandonment Issues | 07 Mar 2023 | 00:21:28 | |
As gay men, many of us have feared being rejected by our friends and family as part of our coming out process. It’s no surprise that grappling with this fear can result in struggling with intimacy, attachment, and emotional availability.
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| 46. Obergefell v. Hodges and the Ongoing Fight for Marriage Equality | 28 Feb 2023 | 00:26:06 | |
Correction: The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision for Obergefell v. Hodges came on June 26, 2015. It was incorrectly/accidentally stated as January 26, 2015 at the 15:25 time mark.
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| 153. Pride, Pleasure, and the Path to Healing (with Court Vox) | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:50:46 | |
While Pride is often seen as a time for parades and rainbow flags, it can also be a reminder of the trauma, shame, and disconnection that many LGBTQ+ people, especially gay men, carry within themselves. Yet Pride can also be a time of reclamation, offering an opportunity to honor queer joy and reconnect with our desires and authentic selves. Related Episodes:
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| 45. Feeling Lonely in a Relationship? (with Jordan Nofziger) | 21 Feb 2023 | 00:35:05 | |
Many of us have experienced “gay loneliness” from growing up gay in a straight society. We can feel isolated from our straight peers and even members of our community. But what happens when we feel that same sense of loneliness in a romantic relationship? | |||
| 44. Forget Valentine's Day | 14 Feb 2023 | 00:15:45 | |
It’s the most dreaded time of the year for single people. | |||
| 43. Surviving a Breakup (with Sara Sabatino) | 07 Feb 2023 | 00:38:46 | |
In previous episodes, we discussed how being vulnerable in a relationship can trigger feelings of anxiety since it threatens longstanding psychological defenses formed to avoid emotional pain and rejection. So if we go through a breakup, we can feel alone and lose ourselves. | |||
| 42. Are You Emotionally Unavailable? | 31 Jan 2023 | 00:22:57 | |
Previously, we discussed how growing up gay can impact our attachment styles when it comes to dating. Unsurprisingly, gay men who were denied affection and emotional support from their caregivers may develop an avoidant attachment type in adulthood and have a harder time getting intimate with others.
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| 41. Gay Icons: The Queen of Disco | 24 Jan 2023 | 00:32:17 | |
Previously, we discussed our iconic pop queens and how their songs typically fit into distinct categories that hit an emotional button that appeals to gay men.
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| 40. We Are Family: Part 2 (with Amy Loveless) | 17 Jan 2023 | 00:27:25 | |
Even though we may have had similar upbringings compared to our straight peers, members of the LGBTQ+ community still tend to carry trauma from growing up differently. | |||
| 39. We Are Family: Part 1 (with Michelle Loveless) | 10 Jan 2023 | 00:31:54 | |
Even though we may have had similar upbringings compared to our straight peers, members of the LGBTQ+ community still tend to carry trauma from growing up differently. | |||
| 38. Learning to Accept Kindness | 03 Jan 2023 | 00:19:55 | |
As gay men, many of us have had to repress our authentic selves and hide our emotions because of negativity we may have experienced growing up differently. Among the myriad of issues this can cause, some of us may not trust acts of kindness from others.
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| 37. Creating Your Own Closure | 27 Dec 2022 | 00:21:18 | |
As we approach the end of another year, we may reflect on the past – from relationships to career pursuits to personal matters. And while we may look to a new beginning, we must learn to let go so that we don’t carry negative situations with us. | |||
| 36. Make the Yuletide (Movies) Gay | 20 Dec 2022 | 00:27:54 | |
In previous episodes, we discussed the importance of LGBTQ+ characters in TV and film and how being our authentic selves can manifest true representation in the media. As part of this increase in LGBTQ+ portrayals, Christmas movies have begun featuring gay characters and storylines. | |||
| 152. Bratz to the Bone (with Chris Angelo) | 27 May 2025 | 00:29:21 | |
In previous episodes, we discussed how pop culture has long served as a powerful space for gay men to find representation, expression, and community, offering both a reflection of their struggles and a source of empowerment. Within this space, dolls and collectibles further provide a medium for gay men to explore themes of identity, often becoming symbols of empowerment and nostalgia within queer culture. Additional Resources: | |||
| 35. Surviving the Holidays | 13 Dec 2022 | 00:18:44 | |
While the holiday season is typically viewed as a joyful time, the pressure of gift-giving, traveling, and spending time with loved ones can cause stress. For the LGBTQ+ community, this time of year can also serve as a reminder of their strained relationships with family, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
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| 34. GBF: Gay Best Friend | 06 Dec 2022 | 00:18:31 | |
Since 1984, the gay best friend has been a staple character in movies and TV, often being portrayed as sexless and sassy. However, this stereotype—while often thought to be innocent—can actually be harmful and damaging.
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| 33. Self-Deprecating Humor: Am I Crying or Laughing? | 29 Nov 2022 | 00:17:17 | |
For gay men, humor has played a central role in their resiliency and helped get them through tough times. However, one form of humor, self-deprecating, can become a problem and may actually signify deeper issues.
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| 32. Gay Men and Body Obsession | 22 Nov 2022 | 00:31:23 | |
From social media to cover models, society has an obsession with body image, which we all struggle with. But for gay men, our bodies tend to be objectified and labeled to define our worth.
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| 31. Gaydar | 15 Nov 2022 | 00:21:31 | |
The term gaydar, a colloquialism referring to the intuitive ability of a person to assess another’s sexual orientation, has been thrown around casually in the media and among the gay community. However, is there any truth to this concept?
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| 30. Gay Sex Education (or the Lack Thereof) | 08 Nov 2022 | 00:17:47 | |
In America, there has been a decrease in the number of teenagers who’ve received formalized sex education over the years. And for LGBTQ+ youth, inclusive sex education is practically nonexistent.
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| 29. Love Bombing | 01 Nov 2022 | 00:23:46 | |
At the start of a romantic relationship, it’s exciting to receive positive affirmations and affection from your partner. However, if this affection becomes exaggerated and excessive, it can lead to a manipulative cycle of abuse.
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| 28. Gay Horror | 25 Oct 2022 | 00:27:25 | |
The history of horror goes back more than 250 years and has depicted queer themes since its origins. From Frankenstein to Freddy Krueger, horror has always been queer.
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| 27. Matthew Shepard | 18 Oct 2022 | 00:19:24 | |
On October 8, 1998, a 21-year-old college student was picked up from a gay bar, tortured, and murdered because of his sexuality in a state that had no hate crime laws to protect him. More than twenty years later, we continue to remember his life and legacy.
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| 26. Gay & Anxious | 11 Oct 2022 | 00:26:18 | |
Many of us grew up knowing we were different than our peers, feeling like being “other” and fearing rejection at an early age. Therefore, it’s no surprise that gay men experience increased rates of anxiety compared to their straight peers.
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| 151. Twink Death: RIP Skinny Jeans | 20 May 2025 | 00:20:21 | |
In recent years, "twink death"—the idea that a young, slim gay man loses social value as he ages out of the "twink" category—has gained traction as a viral online concept. Though often treated as a humorous social media trend, it highlights the deeper issues around ageism, body image, and the pressure to conform to narrow beauty standards within the gay community. Related Episodes:
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| 25. Gay Icons: My Name is Kylie | 04 Oct 2022 | 00:32:58 | |
Previously, we discussed our iconic pop queens and how their songs typically fit into distinct categories that hit an emotional button that appeals to gay men. | |||
| 24. Gay Villages: Won't You Be My Gaybor? | 27 Sep 2022 | 00:18:58 | |
It’s no secret that cities are typically more tolerant of the LGBTQ+ community, and a larger city allows for greater opportunities in general, as well as a larger dating pool. But how did the iconic gay neighborhoods we all know and love come to be?
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| 23. Let's Talk About the F Word | 20 Sep 2022 | 00:17:16 | |
We’re all familiar with the F word (rhymes with maggot) and, unfortunately, we’ve probably been called it at some point in our lives. But where did this slur come from?
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