The famous saying that “blood is thicker than water” can be interpreted to suggest that familial bonds will always be stronger than the bonds of friendship or romantic love. But what people don’t realize is that, while familial bonds can be stronger than most friendships or romantic relationships, this can only be achieved through unconditional…
I’d like to offer two truths that must be underscored before proceeding. The first is that gender is a socially constructed spectrum, and the second is that bigender is the gender of a person who aligns with two genders on the spectrum. I align with the male and female genders on the spectrum. Most people…
When we rang in the year 2000, it wasn’t about a new year or even a new decade. We were celebrating a new millennium (setting aside the boring technicality that the millennium actually began in 2001). Prior to that, it felt like each decade was distinctive from the last. Visuals come to mind when someone…
When Jason Eccker finally sought counseling for the bullying he faced in grade school, it changed his life — personally, and professionally. Now, in his own counseling practice, he makes use of the specific type of therapy that helped him so much. It’s called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, or EMDR. It’s a proven…
If you truly believe you are living your best life then stop reading this now. Up-cycle your time, and enjoy the fact that you are winning. This essay is for the losers. The concept of “living your best life” is as old as the first Neanderthal showing the other homos how to break rocks. A…
What is it about new romance that captivates us? Supermarket checkout lanes are lined with cover photos of attractive, freshly minted couples. We even went through a phase of coming up with cute names for them, like TomKat and Brangelina. Whatever the reason, public interest is undeniable. The dominance of hookup culture has made getting…
It doesn’t take long for a conversation with Curtis McCann to become a conversation about entrepreneurship. Striking out on his own was an important step for McCann, 27, who launched Catered by Curtis LLC a little more than a year ago. But it’s also a big part of how he helps others. He defines the…
Pastor Tori Jameson’s life had long been trending toward their unique place as a pastoral care provider for the queer and kink communities. But it was physically carrying a dead woman’s children during a march in her memory that brought Jameson’s life’s mission into sharp focus. Jameson was serving at the church that did the…
Three hundred and thirty-one. That number represents how many trans and gender-diverse people were killed between October, 2018 and September, 2019, according to a study by transrespect.org. A majority of the murders, estimate at 130, were reported in Brazil, while the United States saw 30 deaths. These numbers are haunting. They’re disturbing. They’re heartbreaking. Innocent…
Black Tulip Chorale closes its second season with a performance celebrating more than 500 years of music from LGBTQIA2+ artists, ranging from art songs and arias to 21st century pop music. Featured artists for the “Our Song” concert include Grammy award winner Christine Brewer and members of the St. Louis Wind Symphony. Production manager Ken…
