Raising a Gay Son: A Mother’s Day Conversation with my Mom, Belinda Carlisle

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I want to begin by saying that I am so fortunate to have the most amazing Mom a boy can ask for. So, for this special Mother’s Day episode of Duke’s Download, I wanted to sit down with my mom, Belinda Carlisle, to talk about motherhood, raising a gay son, and the moments that shaped our family. She shares what it was like finding out she was pregnant while promoting her album Live Your Life, Be Free, having a difficult pregnancy, and giving birth to me during the LA riots — We talk about: * What it’s really like raising an LGBTQ child * Growing up closeted as a gay teen * Parenting with love instead of control * Living in France and how it shaped my identity * Letting kids make their own choices * The fear and pride of raising a queer child in today’s world * Kindness, self-awareness, and family dynamics This episode is funny, emotional, and honest. It’s about growing up gay, LGBTQ parenting, unconditional love, and the bond between a mother and son. If you’re a parent of an LGBTQ child, someone who grew up closeted, or just reflecting on your relationship with your mom — I hope this conversation resonates. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. 💛 And to all the mothers out there xo You can write to us at: Questions@DukesDownload.com And follow us onInstagram: * @jamesdukemason * @PrideHouseMedia

Preserving Queer History: Brian J. Smith on His New Film "A House Is Not a Disco"

This week, I sit down with actor and filmmaker Brian J. Smith (Sense8, Stargate Universe, Tony‑nominated for The Glass Menagerie) — but this conversation is really about something deeply personal and culturally urgent: his Fire Island documentary, A House Is Not a Disco. And honestly? This film feels like a time capsule. Brian and I talk about why Fire Island — a place so central to queer history, identity, and freedom — deserved a documentary that captured it not just as a party destination, but as a living, evolving community. He shares how the film was shot across the 2022 season, with extraordinary access to residents, performers, and longtime community members. We get into what it takes to document a queer space from the inside — the trust, the archival material, the emotional responsibility — and why this moment in LGBTQ culture felt important to preserve on camera. We also talk about: * Why he moved from acting into directing and producing * Capturing Fire Island as both sanctuary and spectacle * The balance between nostalgia and forward momentum * Why queer spaces must be documented before they disappear * Self‑distribution in today’s indie film world Of course, we also touch on Brian’s career — from moving to New York in 2002 to study acting, to navigating a “don’t ask, don’t tell” industry climate after graduating in 2006, to how Sense8 built a passionate global fanbase during the early days of streaming before algorithms began steering creative decisions. But at its heart, this episode is about his extraordinary film A House Is Not a Disco — It’s about a chosen family, queer legacy, and what it means to document a culture while you’re still living in it. If you care about: ✅ Fire Island history and LGBTQ culture ✅ Queer documentary filmmaking ✅ Independent film distribution ✅ Sense8 and LGBTQ representation in media ✅ Preserving queer spaces ✅ The evolution of LGBTQ storytelling This one’s for you. A House is Not a Disco is available for pre-order on July 2nd here Gathr.com [https://gathr.com/vod/69affd7f/a-house-is-not-a-disco#]. It will be availblre for download July 9th. For more information about the film go to ahouseisnotadisco.com [http://ahouseisnotadisco.com] And be sure to follow at @ahouseisnotadisco You can write to us at: Questions@DukesDownload.com And follow us onInstagram: * @jamesdukemason * @PrideHouseMedia

1. juli 202631 min

Raising a Gay Son: A Mother’s Day Conversation with my Mom, Belinda Carlisle

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