Unexpected Gifts of Being LGBTQ+

Unexpected Gifts of Being LGBTQ+

Most stories about being LGBTQ+ start with what it costs. But ask a queer person if they'd trade it, and most won't. The road that demands so much also gives so much back. And the gifts are not small. You may be carrying something you once wished you could give away, only to discover it became the very thing that made your life worth living. Image by greenmelinda (Creative Commons [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Were_a_gay_and_happy_family_wagon.jpg]) Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043944/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043944/support]

Pride Has Won and Pride Has Failed

Stonewall was a riot, not a parade. Fifty-seven years later, that fact still shapes every argument about what Pride should be. The people inside the LGBTQ+ community disagree more than you might think. A gay man who fought for marriage equality says the work is done. A trans woman says the backlash proves visibility still matters. A queer author says corporate Pride sold the movement out. All three trace their position back to the same 1969 riot. Hearing where they land changes what you might notice this June. Image courtesy of National Parks Gallery [https://npgallery.nps.gov/]. Public Domain.  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043944/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043944/support]

The One Practice That Makes Hard Things Easier and Good Things Better

Some relationships feel harder than they should be. The conversations that used to flow now feel careful. The distance keeps quietly growing. Most advice tells you to talk it out, set boundaries, communicate better, pick the right words. But what if the most important thing you could do has nothing to do with conversation skills at all? One single practice has been studied in depth, and it might be the single most underused tool for keeping the people you love close. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043944/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043944/support]

The Transgender Millionaire You've Never Heard Of

Reed Erickson used his fortune to quietly build the foundation of transgender healthcare in America. The first gender clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital existed because of his funding. So do many of the medical pathways trans people still rely on today. He was eccentric, generous, problematic, and absolutely essential. Joe and Rya kick off Pride Month by getting to know an ancestor of the transgender community. Sometimes family is a little strange, and that's exactly the point. Check out the Shinigami Eyes browser extension [https://shinigami-eyes.github.io/] (not affiliated). Image: Jean Beaufort Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043944/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043944/support]

How to Actually Change Someone's Mind About LGBTQ+ Issues

At some time in your life, you've probably tried to convince someone that LGBTQ+ people deserve respect and equality. You presented facts, you raised your voice, and you walked away more frustrated than when you started. It's so easy to assume the worst about people who disagree. What if there was a better way? If you've ever wanted to reach someone on the other side of the LGBTQ+ conversation but didn't know how, this one's for you. Stay informed with the Trandescendant Dispatch email [https://dispatch.trandescendant.com/]. Image by Leo Hidalgo (creative commons [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:3_friends.jpg]) Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043944/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043944/support]