A unique look at how microaggressions cause undue harm and one’s journey into self-love & acceptance. I drop the heavy box I am lifting with a loud thud. My shoulders are sore, but I secretly like the unintentional workout I’m getting. Amar calls to me: “Ya just slide them against this wall”. After I do this, I talk with his friend Ishir who is also helping him move. I notice that his eyes are really pretty (a deep blue that illuminates near his dark skin). He talks about his summer and mentions the friends that live in his building. He talks about how his good friend Matt got so drunk and ..read more

In the modern-day, we live in a markedly different period of history. I would go so far as to say that from a momentary glance, we are in a place between two worlds. One world is completely intolerant. Let us think back to the early-to-middle stages of capitalism. With the need for rapid reproduction of the working class, homophobia rose to become extremely prevalent in this period. The other world is characterized by complete queer liberation. Where everyone, unequivocally, is able to be queer, do queer things, and no one is persecuted, oppressed, or shunned due to their queer nature.  F ..read more

“Hardcore Miserable” and “Out the Bed” are about battling insecurity in a relationship and coming to terms with a breakup. Markinson illuminates the pain of ending a relationship by utilizing glitchy, warped-out production with swelling synths and powerful bass. The songs are reminiscent of Charli XCX’s unique style. You can stream here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lukemarkinson/hardcore-miserable LUKE MARKINSON – ‘HARDCORE MISERABLE’ LUKE MARKINSON – ‘OUT THE BED’ The double-single follows three singles in 2020, including his first hit “Never Alone”. Quick to rise in the ranks of the ..read more

For many of us, Grindr has helped us experiment sexually and find ourselves.  Dating apps have been instrumental in creating communities where LGBTQ individuals can feel comfortable in their identities and interact with others similar to them. But like everything, MSM apps have a dark side. And I’m not talking about that cryptic, anonymous “Masc4masc” profile that only shows an upper torso.  Did you know that gay and bisexual men who use Grindr report more sexual risk behavior, more sex partners, and a higher rate of STI’s. Scary! I know. But on the bright side, they are also more li ..read more

Many people have called Grindr a modern, “digital bathhouse” and for good reason. Apps like Grindr, with 3 million daily active users, and others like Scruff and Jack’d, are designed to help gay men solicit sex, often anonymously, online. Because of the app’s interface, users are bombarded with half-naked pictures of men that excite users with the possibility of almost instantaneous sex.  Also, Grindr uses a psychological concept called variable ratio reinforcement, which rewards users for clicking at unpredictable intervals. For example, you might find a hookup immediately or you might b ..read more

Grindr and other gay dating apps have taken a lot of heat recently for their effect on rising STI rates. However, many people forget to acknowledge how these dating apps have helped build a more cohesive community. How they have helped gay people find others like them in a world that is largely revolved around being straight.  Even though users on gay dating apps report more sexual risk behavior and more sex partners, they are more likely to either be using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or willing to do so. They also had a lower rate of HIV diagnosis! Also, the argument that dating app ..read more

For my poetry class, I read a powerful poem from Yanyi’s The Year of Blue Water. In the collection of the poems, the speaker grapples with their repressed sexuality, the illusory nature of the self, the power of writing, and community. This poem especially resonated with me because of the way it profoundly illuminates how often we hide the truest parts of ourselves from our conscious mind. You can buy the poem book on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3fofY39 “For three years, I watch any TV that I hear of with lesbian characters. I say lesbian because that is what I was looking for at the time, a ..read more

Recently, it’s been somewhat difficult to find joy throughout my day. With winter and gloomy weather on the horizon, I’ve struggled to find activities and events to look forward to. Thanksgiving is basically cancelled and my university’s spring break has been reduced to two days. The future just seems to keep getting bleaker.  That being said, I’ve come to realize that the fog I’ve been sucked into is mostly self-induced. Although we are all living through unprecedented times that definitely take a toll on our mental health, we can be autonomous and find positivity all around us. Here are ..read more

Check out our essential playlist featuring the best LGBTQ+ artists ..read more

Featured Writer: Marc Ridgell Near the end of my senior year, I downloaded dating apps (sadly), and was amazed at the digital sexual cruising space that existed. As I went to an all-boys Catholic high school, I was not really exposed to this outside world, even though I knew that I would experience it sooner or later. Surfing these apps, anonymously, for fun in high school, I was elated to see that, when I finally entered college, I would have a romantic queer space to explore. About two weeks before I moved into WashU, I went to my doctor for a physical, and he told me that I was borderline o ..read more