Happy Spring equinox! (The astronomical event, not the ritzy gym with the $40,000 membership tier.)

In this newsletter I have for you:

• A new type of article that mixes queer history with sass
• Your survey feedback
• Two new gay podcasts to check out

[Briefing] LGBTQ+ ppl in the workplace

For a while now, I’ve wanted to write and publish a series of evergreen posts on various LGBTQ+ economic topics.

I thought I’d wait until spring. But apparently we’re skipping spring here in Los Angeles and jumping straight to summer, so I’d better start getting them out now. 🥵

I’m calling these Briefings, and am setting it up so that new subscribers will receive them in a drip automation to get to know me and my foundational topics of money and queer culture.

This first one is a primer on the history of LGBTQ+ workplace discrimination in the U.S., from the mid-20th century to now.

It highlights why taking control of your money is important, with a focus on matters affecting queer people.

Serious topic. But don’t worry, I make snack jokes! (shimmies shoulders) It’s very readable, and you’ll walk away feeling more informed.

Leave a comment on the post if you feel so inclined.

➡️ [BRIEFING] Working while gay: a brief history of LGBTQ+ employment discrimination

Reminder: subscriber survey

Can you do me a favor?

If you haven’t taken this subscriber survey with multiple-choice questions, take it.

I want to learn more about you, so I’m collecting zero-party data (that’s the voluntary, consenting kind, we like that one!) to help inform future posts and topics. Your input will help a lot!

Some feedback and adjustments I’ve made, based on your thoughtful survey comments:

“You forgot ‘financially responsible (morally not legally) for adult children.’ I have two children 19, 21 who aren’t able to earn a living yet (one still in University and the other still working her way to financial independence). I know I’m not alone in this.”

• Yup, thanks for the feedback. The survey question “are you financially responsible for children?” only referred to children under 18. I’ve added options there to include households where parents are caring for adult children.

“I despise the concept of crypto but wonder if I’m missing out while my less moral friends get ahead”

• This is the no. 1 money question I am asked currently. Think piece forthcoming! If it makes you feel better, it melted down this winter!

“I’m following from Europe, so sometimes I don’t get some American-only specific issues e.g., credit cards, but I’m still happy to follow the work you do, as it shows the systemic exclusion of queer people from financial independence and stability. Thus some of the lessons that can be applied anywhere.”

• Welcome! I’m so jealous of the countries that still have actual consumer financial protections.

“I subscribe to lots of newsletters. Yours is one of the few I read every word.”

• Appreciate that! Lately I’m focused on doing less, but better, and that feels v aligned.

“It’s nice to develop financial literacy with a gay-queer twist and sassy comments. Makes the financial literacy more interesting all of a sudden.”

“Excited to follow along — I am drawn to advice around the balance of living now and preparing for the future. I discovered your account through one of your LGBTQ history posts.”

“Would love to learn more about the unique financial picture for gays like not having kids, dating, or pressures to spend on experiences.”

• I’m on it, y’all :)

More gay longform, yas

Two new gay podcasts dropped these last couple weeks that I thought you’d like to know about.

Off Christopher Street

My editor colleague David Sessions and Blake Smith have been working on a neat project: Digitizing and restoring Christopher Street, a leading gay literary magazine that ran from 1976 to 1995.

The podcast contextualizes current events using literature from those archives. If “Episode 1: Gay Men and the Politics of Hotness” is the type of topic that you’d want in your queue, add it to the rotation.

Culture Shock

Gay red carpet reporter Andy Lalwani packages his engaging interview style in longform video for us all to enjoy. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Andy in person.

As we saw from Jake Shane this past weekend, red carpet reporting is not for the weak. You have to be fast, smart, energizing, humble, and a pop culture rolodex, all at once. Andy makes it look easy, and the first episode dropped yesterday.

Reminder: Sign up for the “Save $500 for Pride” challenge

Let’s save some money!

Click here to sign up for the 1st annual “Save $500 for Pride” challenge. You’ll get one email a week for 8 weeks. Self-guided, productive, and fun!

Every email has a feedback form, so please hit me with those thoughts. Here’s a recent one from the first challenge email:

“Right off the bat, I feel like this is asking me to approach my finances in a thoughtful and forward thinking way. Really giving it a future goal and a ‘why’, I feel, really energizes me. Looking forward to future emails!”

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