A Touch Of Gay

Why gay cruising is back, taking our pride back from the MAGA and the corporations.Daily Inspiration: Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.” — Toni MorrisonSocial: Five Reasons Cruising Is Back – Leo HerreraLeo Herrera’s book “Analog Cruising”, a romantic ode to our sacred history and rite of cruising for sex outlines the top seasons cruising is back. We are in a sexual revolution, act accordingly.* Apps keep getting shittier* Weapons against disease* A new appreciation for IRL* A love for our history* Daddies Daddies DaddiesWebsite: https://iftheylived.myshopify.com/Instagram @herreraimagesPride Month: Will the corporations come back after MAGA?* Who the fuck cares! They are not our friends. They dumped us when the going got tough. We should not be seeking their money or their validation in the future.* We need to self fund and self organize. We have the capability to raise money within our own community, support our local organizations, and create our own opportunities.* We need to get back to our roots of protest and advocacy. Pride is about power, about unity, about progress, and about advocacy. It was never meant to be a circuit party.Pride Month: California county rejects Pride with Traditional Nuclear Family Month* On Tuesday, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted 3 to 2 in favor of the resolution, which defines the nuclear family as “consisting of one husband, one wife,” along with children, as “God’s design.”* The resolution was introduced by Chairman of the Board Garry Bredefeld, who announced the plan on June 6, the same day as the Fresno Pride Parade.* This resolution is modeled after similar measures in Republican-led states, including Indiana, Tennessee and Alabama, that celebrate the “traditional” nuclear family in June, despite the month long being associated with LGBTQ+ pride celebrations.* More at https://www.sfgate.comEvent: Cumunion Summer* Cumunion sex parties all over the world, all the time* We are in a sexual revolution, act accordingly.* https://www.cumunion.com/Please drop your comments on YouTube or email them to daddysam@atouchofgay.com* Website: atouchofgay.com* Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky: atouchofgaypod* Audio Podcast drops on all major platforms every Sunday* YouTube Podcast drops a day early on Saturday* Our Podcast plays on GayPHX.com streaming radio every Monday at 10:00am This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atouchofgay.substack.com

Finding joy in a sea of chaos, a Benito Bowl recap, new Wegovy tablets available, leather season kudos and eye on upcoming events.Find Your Joy No Matter What* Find ways to rise above the bad news and trauma of our times* Change the media, social, activity channels* Be open to try new activities, new hobbies, explore new interestsCheck In:* My Birthday* AZ Gay Rodeo, HIV Testing, Gigs* Test driving Hyundai Tucson Hybrid - TestDrivenTVBenito Bowl Recap* Bad Bunny Half Time Show* Celebrities* DancersNew Wegovy Tablet* Injectable GLP-1 now available in tablet form* Taken once daily on an empty stomach in the morning with water.* Various dosages from 1.5mg to 25mg maintenance dose to manage side effects.* To be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to aid weight loss and reduce major cardiovascular risks.* Available in U.S. pharmacies now with self-pay prices ranging from $149 per month for lower doses to higher costs for higher dose.* Insurance may be more likely to cover tablets than injectables.Leather Season:* RGV Leather Weekend – Rio Grande Valley Bears* Congratulations Mr RGV Leather - AlejandroEvent: Lazy Bear Week - July 27 – Aug. 3, 2026 - https://www.lazybearweek.org* Celebrating 30 Years of Lazy Bear Magic!* Over 2500 bears in Guerneville, CA* Week long supply of playtime, parties, events, and touristy goodness* 2026 Tags now available – get in earlyEvent Save The Date: Palm Springs Leather – October 29-November 1 – https://www.pslod.org* Valhalla Theme* Registration Opens SoonAs always you can click on the EVENTS tab at our website for LGBTQ gatherings nationwide all year long. If you have an event you would like featured in our event calendar or even here on the podcast, send an email with the details to sam@growingolderday.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atouchofgay.substack.com

Rainbow sidewalks in Texas, transphobia in the gay community, cigars in the leather scene and upcoming events.DAILY MEME: The more we practice empathy to get better we get at it – Renee Hebert* Heard on the Throwing Light Podcast by Louis Toliver Jr* Listening without judgment, observing nonverbal cues.* Putting yourself in others shoes, trying to learn about people different from you* Developing self-awareness, identify and question your own biases – blind spotsCheck In:* TestDrivenTV – Dodge Charger Scat Pack* New threads for video, casual but nice – push and pull with my husband who has a different style template.* Dermatologist – Actinic KeratosisGood News: Rainbow Sidewalks* The city of San Antonio is replacing the now banned rainbow crosswalks in the Pride Cultural Heritage District with new rainbow sidewalks.* On both sides of North Main Street 6-foot wide rainbow flag striping will color sidewalks entire length of the “gay strip” in downtown.* Chevron designs at the corners emulate the modern progress pride flag.* Then entire $170,000 tab is being taken up by the city.* This strategy overcomes the Texas state and Federal policy attacks that have forced the removal of rainbow cross walks. They won’t be able to take this rainbow away.Social: Transphobia In The LGBTQ+ Community* Even in our own community transgender people are othered* Even in our own community transgender people are excluded* Even in our own community transgender people are blamed* Transgender, bisexual and non-binary people are all part of our familyLeather Season: Cigars and Leather* Baked in the DNA of the leather and fetish genre* Tom of Finland Art influence or influenced?* Often part of the role play and role responsibilities in D/s relationshipsEvent: Smokeout 2026 Las Vegas Self described as “a fun-filled, uncomplicated weekend in Las Vegas for cigar and pipe studs, bikers, leathermen, bears and friends from all over the world, with time to gamble, shop, be a tourist, enjoy a show, attend events or relax by the pools and have a great time!* Wednesday through Monday at the Tuscany Suites Resort and Casino* Special room rates for registered participants* Vendors* Smoking Lounge* Private pool and playroom spaces* Barbershop and bootblack* Dinners and socials* Motorcycle ride and offsite opportunities* Event registration $60 ahead of time, $ 80 at the doorEvent Save The Date: No Kings III – March 28 As always you can click on the EVENTS tab at our website growingoldergay.com for LGBTQ gatherings nationwide all year long. If you have an event you would like featured in our event calendar or even here on the podcast, send an email with the details to sam@growingolderday.comViewer Comments: “I agree with you about Tesla “* Revisiting the Tesla Comments from last week* Have a sense of humor This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atouchofgay.substack.com

Kitchen Table Episode 42 – 01/18/2026Making a hard won life count, gay ageism, sexy James Franco miniseries, Mr Eagle LA Leather Wyatt Heath and upcoming LGBTQ+ events.Our episode today is recorded well in advance of post day because my husband and I are actually on a getaway weekend to Palm Springs and Los Angeles to do some leather shopping and take in some local flavor at some of the one of the gay men’s play spots. If you see us out and about please come up and say hello!Because of this, if the world ended or some big topical news story has hit since this was recorded earlier in the week that needed due attention, I apologize in advance for not talking about it now.DAILY MEME: There is a cost to honoring yourself. Make it count.* Live the life you have always wanted* Explore your world, yourself, your people – challenge your box* Do what they have always tried to keep you from doing* Invest in yourself – education, health, spirituality, financesSocial: Navigating AgeismAgeism is a process of systematic stereotyping and discrimination against people because of their age – mostly to those older in years.* Ageism in the dating / hookup scene / sex* invisible* rockstar syndrome* Ageism in the workplace / career* promotions / positioning* job searches* Ageism in the social experience* how you are treated* included/excluded* Setting expectations / acceptance / self sorting* understanding* acceptanceBingeable TV: 11/22/63 Miniseries – Hulu / Netflix* James Franco stars in 11/22/63, an eight episode miniseries based on the Stephen King novel of the same name.* An English teacher goes back in time to try and prevent the assassination of JFK* The eight episode series twists and turns as Franco’s character attempts to rewrite the past and finds that the past tends to fight back* Good story line, time and culture representation of 1960’s Texas, lots of classic cars.Leather Season: Contests and Congratulations!* Congratulations Wyatt Heath for winning Mr. Eagle Leather LA 2026* Bartender at Bullet Bar North Hollywood* “I’m humbled to have the life I have today. Just over two years ago, I wasn’t sure I’d make it through addiction But today, all the hardwork I put in, all the faith and love my parents and brother have and had in me, and the love of so many men who refused to give up on me has paid off. I truly am living a life that was promised me in so many different sobrieties…a life beyond my wildest dreams. - Facebook“* Mid Atlantic Leather contest this weekend* Mr LA Leather Bear contest this weekendEvent: Austin Kink Weekend – April 16-19* Mr./Ms/Mx Texas Leather, Texas Bootblack, + more* Workshops, vendors, special events and parties* Run Passes $125 – 175 on sale now* Holiday Inn Mid-Town AustinEvent Save The Date: Vallarta Pride La nueva era* un pride muy mexicano* 17 al 24 mayoAs always you can click on the EVENTS tab at our website growingoldergay.com for LGBTQ gatherings nationwide all year long. If you have an event you would like featured in our event calendar or even here on the podcast, send an email with the details to sam@growingolderday.comEnd Plugs:Thanks to GayPHX for including re-broadcasts our podcast weekly on their streaming radio station every Monday in the 10:00 hour. You can hear lots of local voices, entertainment, news and music 24 hours a day at GayPHX.com* Our website: growingoldergay.com* Our social media* Podcast now on Spotify, Substack and Apple Podcasts in addition to YouTube! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atouchofgay.substack.com

Today we have some good wisdom from Pete Buttigieg on the way forward into 2026, the deets on a live on tracker for anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the works in your home state, a Latino Pride event coming up soon in Arizona, and how we can protect ourselves from HPV and the cancers it can cause.DAILY MEME: Hope is the consequence of action more than its cause - Pete Buttigieg* Time to get busy to put a stop to the destruction of our country and way of life* Get involved locally and be a part of the cause to stop, replace, and rebuild* Electing Democrats this fall is our number 1 priority. A majority in Congress is our best chance and putting the brakes on the Red Hat agenda.Great Red Hat Shit Show: LGBTQ+ Legislative Tracking 2026 - LGBTQ+ Legislation AlertsFollowing up on our daily meme and it’s message all of us can keep tabs on what’s happening in our own backyards relative to legislation that can affect our community directly on the local level.There are a number of states in particular where the legislators and governors are hellbent to take advantage of their majorities and their perceived permission structure from the folks to attack LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare, and over social safety net programs.LGBTQ+ Legislative Research Group which is an independent group of LGBTQ+ researchers, journalists, and activists has assembled a live tracker of active legislation in play in various states that can inform you on what’s in the works locally, so you can be informed and take action.You can log onto their website at legialerts.org and follow the links to find the live Google Docs that are updated daily on the status of pending bills, across the country in your home state. First I want to thank them for their hard work, and thank you for using it to take action where needed.There website is on the screen if you’re watching us on YouTube, and can be found in the show notes wherever else you might be listening.Health: HPV Vaccine Important Consideration For Sexually Active Gay MenFor those of us who are sexually active regardless of sexual identity, the human papilloma virus (HPV) is not only very common, but can present a significant health risk. HPV is known for being the primary cause of genital warts and several types of cancer, including cervical, anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile and oropharyngeal (throat), which includes cancer of the tonsils and back of the tongue.Nearly 80% of men and women get HPV at some point in our lives, mainly through intimate contact.For men having sex with men, HPV presents an elevated risk because of the nature and mechanics of our sexual contact. Those of us living with HIV and/or who have multiple sex partners are at an even higher risk of contracting HPV and its associated cancers.The good news is that there is an available vaccine that is highly effective to protect against HPV and its ability to cause cancers. Today is is routine to give children and teenagers, even young adults the HPV vaccine. Most of us who are older than 30 may not have been given the vaccine as a normal routine and must opt in.Young persons ages 13-26 who have not been vaccinated require 2 or 3 doses depending on age according to the CDC. If you are 27 45 you may discuss your risk factors with your healthcare provider to see if vaccination is the right option in which case most insurance will cover the medication and administration doses. If however you are over 45, most sources will tell you the vaccine is not recommended because we have already most likely been exposed to the virus at some point.If however we are over 45 and have a compelling risk model like high sexual activity with multiple partners a provider may be willing to prescribe the vaccine. Most health insurance however will not cover it at over age 45, and it has to be paid for out of pocket.It’s pretty expensive, ranging from about $200-400 per dosage, of which about three are required over a six month period. That means one has to want it bad enough to be able to pay $600-1200 for it.As always, I recommend you talk to your medical provider and share with them your concerns and your risk factors and get their advice. I am not a doctor and I am not giving medical advice, just sharing about options available to us to protect ourselves.Event: Tucson Latino Pride Festival – Saturday, March 7th 2026 - Lpfaz.comLatino Pride Alliance is gearing up for their 2nd Annual Latino Pride Festival in Tuscon with the date coming up fast on Saturday, March 7th. The community gathering and celebration of LGBTQ friends and allies takes place at the MSA Annex near downtown Tucson at 267 South Avenida del Convento.The celebration from 2-10 pm includes entertainment, vendor booths, community outreach and plenty of fun. Full information can be found and tickets are on sale now at their website lpfaz.comAs always you can scan our nationwide events calendar at our website growingoldergay.com and click on the EVENTS tab. If you have an event you would like featured in our event calendar or even here on the podcast, send an email with the details to sam@growingolderday.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atouchofgay.substack.com