Living OUT Leadership Interview Series Jeff Iovannone is an activist-scholar, writer, educator, and researcher from Buffalo, New York who holds a Ph.D. in American Studies and specializes in gender and LGBTQ studies. He is the creator of the blog, Queer History for the People, a columnist for Th-Ink Queerly, a member of the Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ...
Reading my Twitter feed last week, I read this knee-jerk reaction to people with beautiful bodies posting pictures of themselves on Instagram, AKA “Thirst Traps”: Hyperbolic language doesn’t solve problems. Putting all of Instagram and gay thirst traps into a single container generally makes things worse. This is the path of blaming...
Think Differently with Healthier Thoughts Many gay men, myself included, have at some point tried to improve their physical appearance to attract other men. They have felt that, in order to be accepted, they needed to change their body to fit certain norms and the expectations of others. On one level there’s nothing wrong with choosing to...
Actually, I wanted to write that my body has betrayed me. That sounds more dramatic and outside of my control. The truth is that as I was leaning in towards the bathroom mirror to floss my teeth the other night, I looked down. I looked down and in a moment of self-preservation unconsciousness I let my stomach out. Couldn’t see my abs. The hair on...
Everyone has a story about their body. Some of us want to look great for the beach, to feel powerful and sexy when we’re in bed with someone, or to move easily without pain or discomfort. My body’s story has everything to do with being gay. As a kid, I was always sick and had more allergies than you could count. I had allergies to foods...
Darren is a leadership coach in Toronto, Canada who helps his clients to connect and embrace their uniqueness and freely create the life they want. He writes and podcasts regularly about Queer Leadership.