Summer is here! There are so many great reads out there for those who love LGBTQ content. Sometimes I have to remind myself what a glorious thing that it is. We have so many choices in both reading material and films and TV shows and theater… when I was a teen in the 1970s, queer folk had no visibility outside a few urban areas. I didn’t know that living life as a gay man was even an option. I didn’t have a vocabulary for all the things that made me feel different. And gay marriage? Wow… I never thought I’d see that in my lifetime.

When you feel discouraged by the horrible things going on in the world, remember that progress is being made. It is frustratingly slow, but things are changing. The story that society at large tells itself about gay folk is evolving.

Both Olly Olly Oxen Frey & The Alabaster Hedgehog were written for my 15/18 year old self who struggled to vocalize what I wanted in life.

Visibility is such an important thing. If you can be out, your choice gives strength to those who are still coming to terms with their story.

I loved Queers (BBC 2017) that is presently streaming on Amazon Prime. It is a series of monologues told straight to the camera (maybe straight is the wrong word here). Each episode captures queer life in a different decade over the last 100+ years in the UK. The writing is excellent. Funny and poignant. Extremely powerful performances. 8 episodes that vary in length – typically 20 minutes or so. Unfortunately Amazon Prime does not make it easy to watch them in chronological order, but that is what it is. It is well worth your time.

I’ve had the privilege of being the organizer of Wholesome Queers since last September. We are up to 1380 members, though the typical event is 8-40 members. Hiking, museums, theater, a book club… It can be difficult to find community, especially if one is uncomfortable with groups or shy about meeting people. I’d encourage  you – wherever you live – to step outside your door and find a community of like-minded souls. There are so many good people in the world, and chances are there are folks who want to meet you.