In today’s political climate, the term gender-affirming care is often framed as controversial and used synonymously with “transgender for everyone.” In reality, gender-affirming care includes a wide range of medical, mental health, and supportive services that both cisgender and transgender people access every day to align their bodies, health, and well-being with their gender.

In this episode, we’re exploring what gender-affirming care actually is, its history and evolution, and the medical and political landscape shaping the conversation today.

Additional Resources:

• Read Besties in Crime
• Gender Incongruence and Transgender Health in the ICD
• Gender-Affirming Care for Cisgender People: Q&A with Theodore Schall and Jacob Moses
• To Protect Gender-Affirming Care, We Must Learn From Trans History
• What is Gender Dysphoria?
• Magnus Hirschfeld and the Quest for Sexual Freedom: A History of the First International Sexual Freedom Movement (Critical Studies in Gender, Sexuality, and Culture)
• Elmer Belt, Harry Benjamin, and the Birth of Gender-Affirming Surgery in the United States
• Transgender Health Protections Reversed By Trump Administration
• Puberty Blockers for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth
• What are Puberty Blockers? What Are the Benefits and Risks for Transgender Children?
• Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT)
• Utilization and Costs of Gender-Affirming Care in a Commercially Insured Transgender Population
• How Many Adults and Youth Identify as Transgender in the United States?
• Medicaid Program; Prohibition on Federal Medicaid and Children's Heath Insurance Program Funding for Sex-Rejecting Procedures Furnished to Children
• MACPAC Releases 2024 Edition of MACStats: Medicaid and CHIP Data Book

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As a Black gay man, James Baldwin became a widely recognized voice exploring the intersection of race, sexuality, and identity during a time when both were fiercely contested in America. Today, his work continues to inspire conversations about justice, equality, and authentic self-expression.

In this episode, we’re diving into Baldwin’s life, career, and the ways his writing and activism shaped public conversation while leaving a lasting cultural legacy.

Additional Resources:

• James Baldwin (Britannica)
• James Baldwin (Wikipedia)
• Lives of Notable Gay Men and Lesbians
• Spreading the Word

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LGBTQ+ dating often feels like navigating a smaller dating pool, and many gay men turn to dating apps for connection, dates, and hookups. But constant comparison on these platforms can lead gay men to believe there aren’t enough compatible partners, which impacts how we approach gay dating and our own self-worth.

In this episode, we’re exploring scarcity mindset in gay men, why it shows up so strongly in dating, and how we can break free from it to cultivate healthier, more grounded LGBTQ+ relationships.

Related Episodes:

• Listen to Episode 15. Understanding Attachment Styles
• Listen to Episode 53. Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Gays
• Listen to Episode 96. Should You Swipe Left on Gay Dating Apps?
• Listen to Episode 100. Best Little Boys in the World: It's Time to Grow Up
• Listen to Episode 146. The Velvet Rage

Additional Resources:

• Navigating Love with Attachment Styles: Building Healthier Relationships for Gay Men
• Breaking the Cycle of Comparison and Competition Among Gay Men
• Exploring Gay Dating Apps: Their Impact on LGBTQ+ Culture, Mental Health, and Relationships
• The Best Little Boy in the World Archetype: How Perfectionism and Societal Rejection Shape Gay Men’s Identities
• What Is Scarcity Mentality?
• Not Enough! The Scarcity Mindset in Dating
• Here's How A Scarcity Mindset Forms—And How To Overcome It
• Queer Men and Smartphone Dating Applications: Navigating Partner Markets and Managing Stigma
• Is Scarcity Mindset Sabotaging Your Dating Life? How to Reclaim Hope and Choice

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