Brandon Shire

Author of Contemporary Gay Romance

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LGBT Equality

Teacher Shares Closely Guarded Dirty Secret

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secretInstinctively, I knew it was bad. Yet, until September of 2012, I had no idea how bad. Ignorant. I was ignorant. Plain, simple, and completely inexcusable.

What didn’t I know? 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBT.

Why was it shocking that I did NOT know this stat? This past academic year was my twentieth year teaching mathematics; more than half of my career has been spent teaching at the college level in Boston.  Shouldn’t this be something I knew??? Sadly, the depth of my ignorance gets worse. By September of 2012, I was already actively supporting a wonderful young person discarded by family due to sexual orientation. I knew and loved a LGBT homeless teen. I thought it was an anomaly. As I spent that September night combing the university’s research holdings on the plight of LGBT youth, I had two main thoughts. [Read more…] about Teacher Shares Closely Guarded Dirty Secret

Interview with Don Brown from Blind LGBT Pride International

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Blind LGBT Pride InternationalI’m talking with Don Brown today, past President of Blind LGBT Pride International an organization geared specifically toward helping blind LGBT connect, communicate, and dispel myths about gay blind people around the world. Don was also my point man when I had questions while writing Afflicted and provided valuable insight and criticism about the development of the manuscript.

B: Welcome Don. First, thanks so much for stopping by, and thank you very much for your input on Afflicted.  Do you think the book accurately reflects some of the issues that are faced by blind LGBT people when dealing with the sighted LGBT community?

D.B.  Brandon, thank you very much for inviting me. It was an awesome experience to be part of the manuscript development process for Afflicted and I appreciate this opportunity to get the word out about Blind LGBT Pride International and issues facing people who are vision impaired and LGBT. [Read more…] about Interview with Don Brown from Blind LGBT Pride International

Where Vaginas Collide – Interview with Erica Tremblay

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Erica TrembleyToday I’m taking with Erica Tremblay (AKA Go-Go Gidget), filmmaker and Co-captain of the LA based Angel City Derby Girls. Erica is currently creating a documentary called The Vagine Regime (the VR) that focuses on lesbian, bisexual and transgender skaters within the fast growing sport of roller derby. Erica also produced the highly successful fitness series “Roller Derby Workout” and her first short film “Tiny Red Universe” won several festival prizes. Erica recently published her first comic book, “The Mad Maxines,” included in an anthology with Oni Press. [Read more…] about Where Vaginas Collide – Interview with Erica Tremblay

To Mom (A letter from a gay son)

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The following is from Gay Family Values. It was a letter attached to the video you will see below. It was so touching that I thought I would re-share it here with you, because sometimes we forget just how hard it is, even for today’s LGBTQ youth, to come out to their parents. 

To Mom,
Mom I have been trying to talk to you for a while now but I just can’t bring the words to say it. So, I am writing you this letter instead. I just want you to know that it isn’t because I don’t feel like I can’t talk to you it’s just that I can’t bring myself to say the words.

So for a while now I have been struggling with myself internally. I have hated myself for a really long time and as scary as it sounds I thought of suicide as the only escape. I then thought of you, my family, my friends, and all of the other things that I would miss out on. What you have to understand is that this was and still is really hard for me. I’ve tried for the longest time to change but I just can’t . I would give anything to be different but this just is not going to change about me. By this point you can probably tell that what I am going to tell you is that I am gay. And I am sure you always knew. [Read more…] about To Mom (A letter from a gay son)