A Touch Of Gay

Treatment for HIV exposure, Kink Down South Weekend in Atlanta, dealing with social media trolls, and Erika Kirk calling transgender people enemies.

Daily Inspiration: Do I want to be right or do I want to be happy?

* If today were the last day of my life, how easy would it be to let shit go?

Check In:

* Social media trolls and the interesting need some have to be constantly on the attack.

Health: HIV PEP

* HIV PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) is emergency medicine taken after a...

New Phoenix leather bar clears major hurdle, STR8 guests in gay spaces, San Diego Pride!

Daily Inspiration: False pride always keeps us overly concerned about reputation

* Definition: False pride is an inflated ego used to mask deep-seated insecurity.

* Defensiveness: Interpreting constructive feedback or differing opinions as personal attacks.

* Impression Management: Constantly manipulating how others perceive you to validate your self-worth.

* Inability to Apologize: Viewing the admission of faults as a threat to your social standing.

True vs. False Pride: According to Psychology Today, pride generally...

Landmark Supreme Court rulings, Mr Rough Trade Gear Leather 2026, checking your intentions at the bathhouse door.

Daily Inspiration: We do not bend ourselves into a pretzel to get others to like us

* Pressure to belong, fit in, avoid rejection can trigger us to betray our own ideals

* The more we shape and edit ourselves for others, we lose our own self identity

* Being ourselves, loving ourselves is truly being free

Check In:

* Catching up with old friends at camping weekend

* Feeling isolated with...

We Must Keep Moving Forward No Matter What

Check In:

* Camping weekend with the chosen family

* SLATE EV pickup truck pre-order

From “Surviving Anti-LGBT Politics Part 10”: Keep Building Utopia

“During the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, we buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced all night. The dance kept us in the fight because it was the dance we were fighting for. It didn’t look like we were going to win then and we did. It doesn’t feel like...

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 Morrison

Social: Five Reasons Cruising Is Back – Leo Herrera

Leo 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

...

We remember dear friend Regina Wells (Regina Gazelle), navigating Pride Month sober, and July’s Up Your Alley event in San Francisco.

Daily Inspiration: Accept no one’s definition of your life, define yourself – Harvey Fierstein

* We were all programmed to some level by family and society to fit a mold

* Parents, church, friends, work, school and media all tell us who we should be

* Unsubscribe from all of that

Check In:

* Crazy season events

* New high quality microphones

Social: Remembering Regina...

Sparkling takes on Pride month including wisdom from Brian Hettler, upcoming Atlanta Leather Pride weekend in July.

Daily Inspiration: Pride is good

* Definition: Pride is a primary emotion characterized by a sense of security with one’s identity, performance, and/or accomplishments.

* It is sometimes considered the opposite of shame.

* Depending on the context, pride may be viewed as either a virtue or a vice.

* Typically, pride arises from praise, independent self-reflection, or a fulfilled feeling of belonging.

Check In: Weathering the shit show

...

We congratulate winners of IMLBB 2026, encourage support of local pride celebrations, and more!

Daily Inspiration: Brotherhood has no dress code

* There is no hard code to be included in the leather or any LGBTQ+ community

* Communities are a living, breathing, and evolving body that is never constant

* Change happens whether you participation in it or not – doesn’t need your permission

Check In: After IMLBB 2026

* Event drop from elation, sexual energy, and inspiration

* Bringing spirit and inspiration of event to daily life

* No titl...

Years of lived experience bring Top 10 strategies for a best possible experience at International Mr. Leather & Boot Black in Chicago - and any other large scale leather, fetish, and kink event.

Top 10 Tips For The Best Experience at IMLBB (and other big LFK events)

Stay at the headquarters hotel

* Best proximity and convenience to events, people, the action

* Often costs more but saves time and money on transportation

Research the local area

* Public transportation

* Local restaurants and stores

* Pharmacy and medical

...

A Touch Of Gay Podcast 59 – 05/17/26

Protecting yourself when entering USA, new LFK podcast, IMLBB live broadcast.

Daily Inspiration: It’s our duty to pass our history and culture to our next generations

* They don’t teach LGBTQ+ history or culture in schools.

* Learn, read, experience – be a story teller.

* Leather Archives and Museum: Chigago

* The GLBT Historical Society Museum: San Francisco

* The American LGBTQ+ Museum: New-York

* Lesbian Herstory Archives: Brooklyn

Check In: Family Business, Getting Ready For IMLBB

* Palm...

Toolshed Palm Springs embroiled in allegations of racism, misogyny, transphobia, and discriminatory treatment toward Honey Davenport and ONYX SoCal-Southwest.

Daily Inspiration: When we were wrong we promptly admitted it

* Step 10 from 12 step programs.

* Immediate, honest and conciliatory inventory of wrongs.

* Sincerity is in the timeliness, the complete accounting, and the action to resolve.

Leather News: The Toolshed Incident

* May 1st, the Toolshed leather bar in Palm Springs held two back to back events starting with the Rodeo Welcome Party in conjunction with the Palm Springs...

Submissive roles aren’t about being less, getting consent before sending NSFW pictures, addiction recovery resources for leather, fetish and kink communities.

Daily Inspiration: Submission is not about being less.... - Bobby Box

* It’s about choosing to let go in a space you feel safe

* It’s the quiet confidence of trusting someone else to lead

* It’s discovering that there’s a different kind of power in not holding everything together for once.

* Instagram @bybobbybox

Check In: Leather Making and Cyberbullying

* Making lea...

A Touch Of Gay Podcast 56 – 04/26/26

Dallas police raid on gay sex party, Mr Texas and Mr Australia Leather contests, International Mr. Leather coming up!

Daily Inspiration: Our sex can a beautiful violent joy

* Leo Herrera, Analog Cruising

Check In: Crazy Season

* Events filling up the calendar for spring and summer

* IML coming up and getting ready to make some pieces

* Work challenging with new training to escape AI encroachment

Politics Social: Sex Party Police Raid – Dallas Observer

* Dallas Police raid...

This week our host Daddy Sam celebrates 9 years of continuous sobriety from alcohol and drugs, the pride flag returns to Stonewall Inn, and the latest leather news and events!

Daily Inspiration: After getting sober, it was a whole new world

* “The gay world is intertwined with drinking and drugging. After getting sober, it was a whole new world” - Dave Becker

Check In: Nine years of sobriety

* Admitting I could not continue as I was.

* Willingness to change everything.

* Leaving the scene doesn’t mean checki...

Today we get some wisdom from Queen Williamson, a new once-daily HIV medication for "the forgotten population", checking your sources before posting, and the latest leather scene news.

Daily Inspiration: Your playing small does not serve the world

* Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. - Marianne Williamson

Check In:

* Leather weekend in Phoenix

* Mr. Anvil Leather

Politics Social: Misinformation

* Verify news memes before you post or comment on...

In our 53rd episode of Growing Older Gay Kitchen Table Talk starts a new chapter as “A Touch Of Gay”, Supreme Court says yes to conversion therapy, a new STI among gay and bi-sexual men is emerging, plus the latest leather news and events.

Check In: A Touch Of Gay

* A leather scented discussion of sexual health, spirituality, advocacy and travels of a sober leather daddy.

* New name, same mission to inform, engage and advocate for the maturing LGBTQ+ community.

* New website, social media channels handles.

Daily Inspiration: Tell some...

In-depth interview with Mr. Cincinnati Leather Sgt. Alex on how he got started in leather, what motivates him, and where he is headed next.

Follow Sgt. Alex:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elsargentoalex/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579373378664

Pulse Nightclub demolition, LGBTQ+ workplace employment discrimination, and DadFest 2026.

Our Daily Inspiration: Today I will affirm my worth as a human being and a gay person.

* Growing up we were bombarded with negativity about being gay.

* We were taunted, called names, and attacked.

* We should feel good about being gay.

Check In: High heat and navigating transportation

* It’s already over 100 degrees in Arizona before end of March.

* Sold vehicle requires strategies to get around, do errands, and smartly.

Pulse Nightclub De...

Our 50th episode covers sex positivity and blunt discussion into moral judgements about sexual preferences, practices and STI prevention.

Our Daily Inspiration: Sex positivity is an philosophy, not a behavior

* Def: Having or promoting an open, tolerant, or progressive attitude toward sex and sexuality.

* Viewing sex as a normal and healthy part of life, respecting others’ sexual preferences.

* Not being judgmental of other’s consensual and legal sex practices and preferences.

Check In: Choosing not to own a car

* I sold my personal vehicle not out...

Alert for a new sexually transmitted fungal infection, embracing the unknowns, tax time and viewer comments about consent and etiquette.

Our Daily Inspiration: Accept the full force of your mystery

* Embrace your unknowns - the new questions that arise, let them exist.

* Let go of the need for immediate, logical explanation or certainty in everything.

* Finding comfort in the inherent, unfolding process of life - trust in the journey.

Check In: Tax Time

* I put it off until the last minute as always.

...

Kitchen Table Episode 48

Getting consent before you touch and other fine forms of gay play space etiquette.

Our Daily Inspiration: Consent Is Sexy

* Always ask before engaging

* Gear is not consent

* Implied consent

* Situational consent

Check In: Work From Home

* Starting month three of work from home

* Requires extra dilligence for diet, exercise, social interaction

* Requires conscious change of environment

Social Beat: Play Space Etiquette

* Just because we are more mature doesn’t me...

On the anniversary of the death of Marcus Freiberger we’re still looking for answers and you might be able to help.

Our Daily Inspiration: Watch out for yourself

* Recognize we are a targeted group

* Take precautions

* Trust your gut

* Safety net

Special: Michael Bayne Missing

* Age 32, 6 feet 4 inches tall, 215 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes

* Last seen Monday February 16th at 9:40 am in Tempe, AZ

* Wearing blue baseball cap, light-colored jacket, and jeans.

* His wallet was left at...

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 interests

Check In:

* My Birthday

* AZ Gay Rodeo, HIV Testing, Gigs

* Test driving Hyundai Tucson Hybrid - TestDrivenTV

Benito Bowl Recap

...

MAGA pouts on Bad Bunny half-time show, CBP raids big gay cruise, Arizona poppers ban in the works.

DAILY MEME: Be more of who you want to be

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. E...

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 spots

Check In:

* TestDrivenTV – Dodge Charger Scat Pack

* New threads for video, casual...

Out of pocket costs for monthly PrEP and DoxyPEP, the “Travel Ho” phenomenon, measuring self worth in the social media age.

Check us out now on Amazon Podcasts and iHeart Radio Podcasts!

DAILY MEME: I am not what I own

* My value as a person is not in my material possessions

* My standing in the world is not of my financial wealth

* My happiness and self worth is directly proportionate to my of love for myself and others

Check In: Weekend in Palm Springs / Cathedral City

...

Kitchen Table Episode 42 – 01/18/2026

Making 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...

Honoring fallen family Renee Good, inspiration from Martin Sheen, supporting ACLU, horn sound for Living Sober Roundup San Francisco this summer!

DAILY MEME: We deserve the care of our government.

* Remembering that our government exists to protect the well being of all of us

* Our leaders must have empathy for others, be trustworthy, be honest

* Each one of us must actively participate in shaping our government from top to bottom

Honoring Renee Nicole Good – from the Advocate

An American citizen, Renee Nicole Good was many things — a wife...

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...

Rounding out the year the passing of a dear friend just before Christmas is top of mind, the hit gay-centric TV show Heated Rivalry is binged hard, and the high point blessings of 2025 that came in spite of the Great Red Hat Shit Show are counted.

DAILY MEME: Keep Them As A Flower Inside You – Martha P. Johnson

* Memorializing loved ones in our heart

2025 High Points

* Experienced love felt for others and given to me

* I cried in happiness and in sadness – getting in touch

* LGBT...

At the table this week we talk strategies to fight off winter doldrums, the big BeefDip Bear Week in Mexico next month, PrEP on demand regime and hanging out with GayPHX.com

DAILY MEME: Good insurance against the winter blues is a renewed commitment to social connection

* Avoid isolation by getting out - movie, or dinner, take a walk.

* Inviting friends or family over for dinner, movie or card night.

* Go to meetings or gatherings, a craft class, club events.

* Get out to the gym in the...

Our weekly episode is talking about bringing our LGBTQ+ chosen family in for the holidays, a tour of our new studio, the journey of moving to a new home, and ticket packages for International Mr. Leather 2026 are now on sale.

DAILY MEME: Make a special effort to support the LGBTQ+ members of our local community.

Holidays are a tough time for many early in their queer journey.

Support local holiday events - bring your joy, your energy and abundance to them.

Host a gathering, invite those who may be alone out...

The Thanksgiving Holiday is coming which means gratitude for what we have and what makes our life good. It also means the gatherings or lack of that we as LGBTQ people might or might not be looking forward to. Today we talk navigation strategies for getting through the holiday.

Daily Meme – Let me set aside time today to quietly gather my gratitude

* Slow mind and take a moment.

* Take inventory of the basics.

* Expand on the peripheral.

Thanksgiving Holiday Survival Strategies

* Choose to spend time wi...

Find everything on our website: growingoldergay.com

Now On Spotify, Substack and Apple Podcasts in addition to YouTube!

Daily Meme – It’s a privilege to grow old gay

* 30 is not the end point of life for gay men.

* It’s a statistical win for gay men to grow old.

* We can continue with healthy, vibrant sex lives.

* We have wisdom of learned lessons to pass down.

Supreme Court Passes On Gay Marriage

The Supreme Court has rejected the opportunity to revisit the to...

Keep Building Utopia

This comes from our series of videos from earlier this year called “Surviving Anti-LGBTQ Politics”. The 10-part series hits on a variety of strategies to weather the storm we find ourselves in. The final installment after talking about how to get through all the doom was called “Keep Building Utopia”. And to expand on the notion, let me take us back right now to Episode 10 and let my 10-month younger self do the talking..........

“During the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, we buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the aftern...

A short clip from our weekly Kitchen Table Episode 24 where we discuss what vulnerability looks like and other important topics. See here on our our YouTube channel.