Circling Back to Neurodivergence: Masking, Autism, and Queer Identity

Circling Back to Neurodivergence: Masking, Autism, and Queer Identity

I first posted about Neurodivergence two years ago, but I had been thinking about the possibility that fit me for even longer. At some point while I was watching a lot of coming out videos and other videos about queerness, YouTube threw out a video on autism in its suggested videos and I watched it…

Artwork depicting Matthew Shepard in profile view - remembering how his death impacted me decades ago

The Enduring Influence of Matthew Shepard: A Gay Man’s Perspective 26 Years Later

Twenty-six years have passed since Matthew Shepard’s brutal murder, yet the event still brings tears to my eyes. Talking about this sometimes feels self-indulgent; I’ve mentioned it in past essays, notably one where feelings I’d disconnected from for years resurfaced fully last year. Until then, I had disconnected from the emotions I experienced surrounding Matthew…

Coming Out Late: Accepting My Sexuality Without Clear Milestones

Coming Out Late: Accepting My Sexuality Without Clear Milestones

Going Off The Script Most gay men seem to have a story of coming to accept their sexuality. It might be long or short especially depending on their generation and other factors, but most I’ve spoken with regardless of having come out “late” or not have definitive moments they realized they were gay and the…

Madonna being dipped by a blonde dancer in a tux - Regan Patno

Queer Representation Matters When We’re Growing Up

Watching the Oscars recently, I had one of those little flashbacks. Nothing mind-blowing just dropping into life circa 1985. This was before we had MTV but there was Nick Rocks on Saturdays when Nickelodeon aired videos. And Madonna’s Material Girl video captured my attention in multiple ways. What made me think of this during the…

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Body Issues

For anyone who has known me in person, my body issues have been on public display for most of my life. In fact, I remember all the way back in kindergarten that I was Santa in our Christmas play because some of my classmates suggested I fit the role because I was fat. I look…

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Things I Wanted To Forget

This post was originally my third post on accepting my queerness. Those first two original posts are less relevant now and I just add extra complexity. This current post about my queer journey although not first chronologically is a good introduction if you want to know more. However this post does help understand some of…