Time flies when the world is descending into fascism. It’s been 100 days since Trump took office and our community — our trans siblings — have been hit the hardest. But something queer people have got over conservatives and cowardly democrats is this: we remember. We have learned from our history that the way we make it through this and come out the better for it, is to rely on each other. That’s why we need LGBTQIA+ journalism now more than ever.
We’re tackling Trump’s 100 days with Spencer Macnaughton, the founder of Uncloseted Media — a friend of the pod delivering rigorous, nonpartisan, LGBTQ-focused accountability journalism. It’s damn impressive and you’ve heard us cite their reporting before! Spencer and his impressive team have traced every move the Trump Administration has made on LGBTQ issues in its first 100 days. We’ll be diving into it this Friday, May 2nd @ 12:00pm PT, LIVE on Substack with Spencer! Be sure to tune in!
BUT HEY! It’s not Today in Gay without some JOY sprinkled in there, too! Keep reading for a special written edition of your (and Vico’s!) favorite: Wildcard Wednesday!
♥︎ TiG Team
Wildcard Wednesday
Share something funny about a person who doesn’t know they’ve impacted my life…
Vico:
Ray Park, the stunt actor who plays Darth Maul in Star Wars: Phantom Menace. This feels like a funny response cuz his demographic isn’t necessarily giving “queer.” With that said, he has impacted my life and he doesn’t know it.
As a young queer person with a fascination in swords/weapons that can cut you and who loves to perform, Ray Park gave me an opportunity to see story telling through stunts. Storytelling through body. An actor/performer who can tell a story in a fight. Similar to the “either or” mentality, in my head I was either gonna be an actor or a stunt person and then Ray Park gave me both. I wanted that! And so, once I learned about the possibility, I began pursuing it ^_^
He also was an amazing human to meet at my first convention. He was genuine, relatable, and once we chatted and he found out about my fencing, he brought up the stage to do some demos with me! Fucking dope!
Nay:
It was around the year 2000 and my mom and I were visiting someone at the nursing home. Now, one thing about my mom and I: we are gonna laugh. As much as we can. At whatever we want. Even if it’s inappropriate. This particular visit, my mom and I were crossing the day room at the same time as an older man in his wheelchair.
Obviously, I know this man has the right of way, as this is his home. I knew mom and I would stop when the time was right, but that older gentleman didn’t know that and went ahead and told us, “Move it, fat ass!” My mom and I personally LOVED IT. We still say it to one another when the mood strikes. Yes, my mom and I are both fat and we were almost in his way. No lies told on his part. However, please understand the nuance here.
I don’t want to be walking down the street and random people be mean to me (but honestly a person much older than me can probably get away with it). And this is the part where I explain how it impacted my life. I’m not always a fan of aging but one thing about it that I lean into whenever possible is the not giving a fuck part and being direct. No, I won’t be telling anyone to “move it, fat ass” BUT the sentiment remains in that I want to say what needs to be said more often. I want to be honest. Thank you, my guy, for your example.
Episode Research:
■ The first 100 days of Trump’s second presidency.
The 19th: Nearly half of Americans don’t want politicians focusing on trans issues
Advocate: Nearly half of Americans don’t want politicians focusing on trans issues: survey
LGBTQ Nation: Trump’s anti-DEI policy for schools stopped by 3 different judges in federal lawsuits
NPR: Why judges blocked the Trump admin's school DEI crackdown
