Season 4, Episode 14

Eric: 0:03

Hello and welcome to the Q lounge, I'm Eric

Gil: 0:06

and I'm Gil.

Eric: 0:07

join us as we discuss news stories and life situations, as they relate to the LGBTQIA plus experience, please visit us at theQloungepodcast.com and hit that subscribe button or listen wherever you get your podcasts. If you would like to follow us on social media, you can hit us up on Facebook @theQloungepodcast or on Instagram or Twitter @theQlounge. Hello and welcome to the Q Lounge. I am Eric. And

Gil: 0:35

I'm Gill.

Eric: 0:36

And welcome to another episode of the Q Lounge. Thank you for joining us. So Gill, how are you doing today?

Gil: 0:44

I am doing well. I am just, staying warm as I, a few episodes ago I was bitching about how hot it was here. Now it's flip side, freezing to death from the fog, but that's a good problem, that I'd rather keep Yes. Yeah. So overall it's been really nice. And then, obviously from the last episode, Chris'. Mother and aunt will be in town for his birthday. So's continuing celebration, I guess when this airs it's will pass. But yes. Pass, they're here. My in-law will be here in town. which you Eric,

Eric: 1:18

like from all of us at the Q Lounge, which is you and I. Yes. Wish Chris a happy birthday.

Gil: 1:25

Absolutely.

Eric: 1:28

I'm doing well. yeah, things can't complain right now, so that's always a good place to be. It's a little cold here as well, so we didn't really

Gil: 1:38

have a, You believe Fiesta,

Eric: 1:39

right? Yeah, we just got out the Balloon Fiesta, the International Balloon Fiesta, and I think all of two events because the weather was so terrible. There was one day, I forgot what day it was. I wanna say it was a Friday. Yes. So they were supposed to have the glow. The special shapes balloon glow. Yeah. For people who may not know that, and it was like cloudy throughout the city and first there was like one huge, massive storm cloud and it literally just went over the balloon park and dumped all this rain. It didn't rain anywhere else in the city, just in the balloon park.

Gil: 2:21

People not from New Mexico. This is normal for Albuquerque to

Eric: 2:25

happen. Yes. It always happens during the state fair and the balloon fiesta, which are like a week or two apart from each other. So yeah,

Gil: 2:33

if you're paying money to come to Albuquerque for Balloon Fiesta, which you should, but do you know, you do run a risk. This is not new. This has been happening for 50 years. there's some good years, nothing happenss and there's some rough years

Eric: 2:47

and it's so weird to me cause I was watching something the other day and they were talking about how the Balloon Fiesta is on your bucket list and it should be on your bucket list. And I'm just like, I hate the Balloon Fiesta. I don't hate it, but I just, Cause I grew up here so it's not spectacular to me cuz I've seen it so much and yeah, I'm just like, damn, I have to deal with all this traffic But if you've never been like it's cool to go to. It's cool to see. I can't, I don't wanna like shit on everybody's parade because I'm like, Oh, I'm from here and I'm just used to it all the time. So

Gil: 3:26

I lo I'm not from there. So I loved it Every year, I was living there. I went every morning. I was like, Yes, I'm going.

Eric: 3:34

And that's the thing, like I'm not a morning person. Yeah. So I don't want to go to the mass ascension cuz I have to be there by four 30 in the morning. Yes. To get like parking.

Gil: 3:44

You're just returning from the club

Eric: 3:47

Pretty much. That's how it was. I was like, I literally just got home from the club and now I'm leaving. Didn't we do that one time? We

Gil: 3:54

did we had an hour nap and then what? Straight there. We looked like death by the time it was done.

Eric: 4:00

Yeah. That was a good time.

Gil: 4:03

That was a good time to be young again.

Eric: 4:06

Yeah. But other than that, everything's pretty good. I saw the movie Bros. So if anyone hast seen, how was it? I liked it. I know there's some complaints about it being super whitewashed, which it is, but it was still representation for the LGBTQ community in a general sense. Correct. And there was still a lot of things that I related to the cast and the supporting cast is pretty diverse in and of itself. But I enjoyed it. I laughed out loud multiple times. so yeah, it was a fun time. I really liked it. Billy Eichner I thought was really good in it. Luke McFarland was really good in it. Ms. Lawrence is in it. If anyone watches the Real Housewives of Atlanta, Ms. Lawrence used to be on that show as a guest, made guest appearances every once in a while. no, it was really cool. I was just gonna say it was really cool, but it was entertaining. I will, I actually did not pay for my movie ticket. Someone else pay for me to go, but I would've paid for, I would've paid for the movie ticket cuz it was worth it. And it was a good movie. Okay. And it's like a two hour movie. Oh, damn.

Gil: 5:22

Okay, good. I got the budget for that. Yeah. Versus our typical about 60 Minutes it's

Eric: 5:28

kind, it's, in some ways it's if you think like Love Simon, which I know we talked a little bit about on this show, on this podcast. in some ways it's made for the straight audience so that, Love Simon was definitely made for a straight audience, correct? Yes, it was. Yeah. This one. Played into that a bit, but they did go into more LGBTQ themes and they dealt with a lot of LGBTQ themes. So it was still like for the mass consumption. So you have to make it quote unquote hetero friendly enough. Correct. But because it's about two guys falling in, love it. It ha isn't doing very well at the box office. which is a shame. I thought it was actually a very enjoyable movie. And honestly the fir, the reason why I went to see it or wanted to see it is cuz I was like, I wanna support LGBTQ stuff. this is representation, we need, this is a stu, this is a step and we need to go further. Correct. And this is a step, and like we've talked about many times, you have to have the allyship of the majority. So even within the LGBTQ community, If we want the Latino stories and we want the Asian stories and we want the Black stories, we want all that out there. But a lot of times it starts with the majority, which is the white population, the white male, gay population. So this is a step, and hopefully we can take several more steps. Yes. but yeah, I thought it was good. it was better than I thought it was gonna be and it was a lot funnier than I thought it was gonna be. And I identified with the main character way more than I thought I would. Yes. Was I guess a humbling experience and the fact that my life is really not that remarkable. It's pretty unremarkable. And that my plight is the plight of pretty much every single middle aged gay man in the world, That was, that kind of sucked. Yeah. To realize that I wasn't anything special but no, it was entertaining. I had, I should say, I identified with the first like 20 to 30 minutes of it. maybe 40 minutes. I don't know. Once he like found his love interest, then I was like, Yeah, I don't know what, if any of that's yeah, but that's, that was that. So I enjoyed it. I would recommend everyone go see it. I saw it the day before National coming out day, or I saw it the night before, but the movie ended after national coming out. Started coming out. But I saw like the 10 20 showing. Yes. And I think, yeah. and we're recording this the day after national coming out day, yes. And then it's gonna drop a week later. I know national coming out day was a week and a day ago from when you guys are gonna hear this, but, happy national coming out Day from the Q lounge. Woo. we love you all and whether you are out, you are scared to come out, you're not ready to come out. Coming out is your decision. It is on your terms, and we are here to support you and stand with you and see you and love you and embrace you regard for whatever situation you're in or want to be in. And it gets

Gil: 8:42

better.

Eric: 8:43

It gets better. And not everyone needs, honestly, not everyone needs to come out. You can come out to yourself and just be happy within yourself and just live your life authentically.

Gil: 8:55

Tell you that it's a huge weight off your shoulders when you do. It's very kinda,

Eric: 9:00

it really is like that exhale that they talk about and love Simon and that he has at the end of season one of Love, Victor. Those exhales really are there. They're very important. I had to get a Love Victor reference in there. Yes, of course. Okay. I don't get to talk about it anymore cuz the show was over, but I had to get that in there. And have you seen his thirst trap

Gil: 9:22

pictures? Oh, the devil. Not that I'm not saying no to it. It's just

Eric: 9:28

him and Mason Gooding and then Charlie Puth too. Oh

Gil: 9:33

yeah. Charlie P definitely has been doing it, but yeah. Yes, he has. Cimino definitely has been going full force with it.

Eric: 9:39

Yes. The baths have photos. Hello? Yeah. yeah, that's what's going on with that in my little bubble of your bubble. My bubble of what's the, my shielded bubble. I'm not in the world right now. So there's a lot going on in the world too.

Gil: 9:58

Oh yes, Lord. When has it Not, Especially since 2016. It's just what else? What else is going on now? The World's on Fire.

Eric: 10:11

pretty much. we

Gil: 10:12

still have, it's not literal, it's politically

Eric: 10:16

Yeah. But it might be literally here shortly. Hopefully not. But yeah, Putin's not getting his way and he's getting ready to throw a massive tantrum more

Gil: 10:28

so I know. I just, I don't get it. I just don't. I thought we've moved past this, but obviously we have not.

Eric: 10:35

No, we haven't. All these men are having dick measuring contests because they're all two inches hard and they feel emasculated. And I think, I honestly think dudes just fuck up everything. And we need more women in power.

Gil: 10:52

Yeah. We need a opinion to it. Yeah. it's just, it's tiresome. We've already seen this before. We're fighting for what, And that's my thing. It's like we're losing all, we're losing all these boys for what? I couldn't tell you. because you want these land suddenly, or I don't agree. Even as an American, Yes, we were in Iraq and Afghanistan, stuff like that. I don't agree. I still don't agree why we even went there. Yeah. Does that have our fucking. We have no business out there. We can't even get our shit at home. Why are we sending people out there for freedom and whatnot? You just had a ex-president try to overtake democracy on January 6th. Honey, let's focus on us.

Eric: 11:27

That's it. And those resume soon too. Although the Televis, presentation will have aired app before this episode drops. also it's interesting. I just saw this headline earlier tonight that one of his staffers at Mar Lago said that they were told that they needed to hide the boxes or they needed to move the boxes. Not hide, but they needed to move the boxes. After that subpoena from the FBI came in

Gil: 11:58

just.

Eric: 12:02

Sadly, I don't think he's gonna get punished enough because it's just not gonna happen.

Gil: 12:09

His followers need to be studied,

Eric: 12:12

studied, but also the Republican party. Yeah. So I just really quickly am having this issue. That's cuz it's just, it's coming up a lot because midterms are like right around the corner. Yeah. And when's oh, economy. That's fine. You can have the economy. Like I understand being concerned about it. I understand Wanting to have money to be able to put a roof over your head and to buy food for everybody, for your family. I understand that the economy is super important. I am not trying to say that it's not, but it is not on the same level as human rights. Yeah. And so many people are like ready to give up on equality and human rights just so that they can have that extra dollar. And I still don't understand that. Like how can you be okay with taking people's rights away? And I know we've talked about this to nauseam on this show and on this podcast, we don't need to spend a whole lot of time doing that. Again, I'm sure the audience doesn't want to hear me regurgitate everything we've already stated, but it's just something to think about. How many people are willing to say, Oh, I don't, I'm your friend and I accept you, but I don't care if we take your rights away because I want that extra $2 in my pocket. And I'm just like, Fuck you. I am not your friend. We have nothing in common. As soon as you're ready to take my rights away because you want a few extra dollars in your pocket, we're not okay. it should not have to happen to you for you to care about it or for it to matter to you. yeah. yeah, I mean we had that, what's Tuberville or something that senator who went on his rampage, his racist rampage, and then in LA we had those, The city council. Yeah. Yeah. Council. That was Aho. That was terrifying. I'm like, Correct. How are you a Latina with those opinions? And also shows,

Gil: 14:20

Oh, we know it's there. We know within the Latino culture, it's always been there. Yeah. About that. It's just one of those, like we,

Eric: 14:28

and she was a, she's a

Gil: 14:29

Democrats being discriminated. Yeah. There she is. but it's still there. Like I said, there's certain things that are above anything else below above party. The colorism in minor within minorities is a big thing. Colorism

Eric: 14:41

is a very real thing. Yeah. we talk about it a little bit in here. Like I'm pretty fair complected. Like I, so depending on who I'm around, I have at least, I pretty much always have light skin privilege. I may not have a white privilege unless I'm around people that are a lot darker than me. Yeah. But, I definitely have light skin privilege. Correct. And I'm not gonna deny that. Yeah.

Gil: 15:11

Yeah, I'm somewhere in between If I get too much sun, then oh boy. not a good thing. I tend very easily, I'm the color of what, why people pay to become

Eric: 15:21

yeah.

Gil: 15:22

with a little less orange. We know he's white passing.

Eric: 15:26

Yeah. Your husband.

Gil: 15:27

yeah. Chris is very white passing. he easily gets away with it versus I know they're like, We know, Here's something. I was the darkest person in my neighborhood in Seattle for three years. Oh, I can imagine. Oh

Eric: 15:44

yeah, by far. And you didn't even get any sun? Ah,

Gil: 15:48

oh God, no. And I still was the darkest person. Yeah. There was no, How was it? I was the only token minority.

Eric: 15:55

Yeah. Except for that one week I went to visit you.

Gil: 15:58

Oh yeah. Then

Eric: 15:59

there's two. Yeah. And I was probably as dark as you because I was coming from the sun. Yeah.

Gil: 16:07

Oh my goodness.

Eric: 16:09

speaking of the Latin culture, though, Cuba has legalized same sex marriage. Yeah. Which is a huge ordeal Yeah. As being a communist country that are now, I think, the 32nd country in the world to legalize it. So that's huge. Strides forward.

Gil: 16:23

Yes. Here we go. One

Eric: 16:26

by one. Yeah. Mexico just banned conversion therapy and it has made it a punishable crime.

Gil: 16:35

Good. So let's big fe you for the Latin cultures, cuz we, That's huge.

Eric: 16:40

Yeah. With the whole Latin attitude and stuff like that. It's huge. Oh yeah. I, it makes me feel better. Like it. Yeah. Come on with your bad self Latin. And then we just wanted just to address it. all the stuff going on in Iran right now with Mahsa. Amini. Yes. I'm totally broken up about it. I think it's completely disheartening what happened and what's happening to these women and what's happening to the students. I don't know if you heard about like in Sharif University, they like Yeah. Surrounded the students and basically had a massacre. we hear out the Q lounge. I'm gonna speak for both of us. I hope that's okay, Gill. But we stand with the people and with the women of Iran and Iranian, the Iranian people. one thing to remember, government and the people are not the same. So their government is crap. Their people are beautiful. Yeah. And I, the power of those women and the power of those people are inspiring and I hope they get the freedoms that they deserve. Yeah. it's this young generation, Generation Z across the world is what's gonna save this world.

Gil: 18:14

So

Eric: 18:16

on that note, we are gonna take a quick little break and we will be back.

Gil: 18:27

Hey Eric, did you know that the Q Lounge is on Newsly?

Eric: 18:31

Why? Of course, Newsly is an all in one audio super app. It's compatible with both iOS and Android.

Gil: 18:41

I love that. Newsly have trending podcasts from over 80 countries, plus awesome articles. Don't you just love reading?

Eric: 18:50

Oh, honey, no, I don't read. I'm read to and thankfully the Newsly's app reads stories to you in a natural voice. I can say up to date on any topic from tech, politics, business science, or even one Ms. Janet Jackson.

Gil: 19:10

Our listeners definitely need to download and use Newsle for free now at www.newsly.me or from the link or description.

Eric: 19:22

Don't forget to use promo code THEQL for a one month free premium subscription.

Gil: 19:28

So stop scrolling and start listening to newly.

Eric: 19:32

And we're back. So I know we were talking a little bit, you, we have some questions.

Gil: 19:43

Yes. So there was off of a talker. I was really enjoying some of the questions he was asking strangers, and I was curious if we were you and I, we could go back and forth with these. we're not strangers to each other obviously, but it's definitely some fun, a little bit different of the atypical. What's your favorite color, what's your favorite

Eric: 20:05

musician? And it might be stuff that we don't know about each other and it might be stuff that triggers other stuff.

Gil: 20:11

we're all like, because of four hours there section here,

Eric: 20:16

if that happens in this episode, will be broken up over the next four or five weeks. So right? It's a good thing we don't have anymore guests coming up. So

Gil: 20:28

oh boy, you ready for.

Eric: 20:31

No, but yeah, I can't, I was hoping to have a drink with me tonight, but I have to get labs in the morning, I'll be answering these. I work in the early morning, I'll be answering these totally sober, which is how I am most of the time anyway.

Gil: 20:45

Okay. Let's gotta kick this off because this one has been, on, especially on his page, been asked so many times, What was the name of your first love and why did you fall in love with them? and if you don't wanna disclose their name, obviously No. Yeah.

Eric: 21:05

I, I'm trying to think. Cause honestly, I've never really been in love. Okay. I've been in lust. Yes. I've, I did have that person who was like my, what they would say, quote unquote gay awakening. Yes, Which we've talked about, I think on our first episode, which was a specific bartender at a specific club that I used to go to. that's all I can, I know this is a, it's a terrible answer. People are like, I really can't go more than that. I, what infatuated me with them for him was, his confidence and his, he was absolutely beautiful and statuesque and super nice and super friendly and yeah, that's honestly, that's the only answer I can really give. I know that's terrible answer, but I haven't fallen in love, so I have no one to say. How about you?

Gil: 22:16

Oh, let's see. The first guy from my awakening, if you wanna look at it that way, was my, is my good, was my good friend. Zach, as you've men, I've told you before, and that was like that. He returned from Oregon, He left for a couple years from Oregon, came back, and I saw him in high school and then I was just like, it was one of those, I I, like I mostly knew I was gay, but it wasn't, still that, not quite sure. And then it was like a ho hi, I remember you kind of thing. yes, that was more of that one. the first time. I don't, and that's a, and this is that weird thing of. With my first boyfriend. I wouldn't say I was in love. And I think I've mentioned even then, I wasn't necessarily in love. Love from what I know now, like in a sense of with Chris and like at the time it felt painful. It felt, because it was that I was so tired of being alone that I told myself I had, I must be in love now kind of thing. Oh, somebody likes you, so you must like them. Okay. But it wasn't that true. if they got ended up in a hospital, would I be sitting there right by their side? It was more like a, I could be there

Eric: 23:32

Okay. So it wasn't even like a first love then like a puppy or a first love?

Gil: 23:38

I don't know what to describe it because it was one of those out of convenience. Like I dated out of con convenience.

Eric: 23:43

Okay. Wow. I did not know that. Like I'm, yeah, an audience, like I'm actually, I think everyone told

Gil: 23:49

me like, Oh yeah. Cuz everyone used to tell me, Oh, that must be your first love. I'm like, Is it? And I think it's because, like I said, I dated him because I was a part of me was tired of being alone. I'm like, there's other gu other guys that I saw that were in and out of relationships faster than I could believe in. They had half the looks I had and I was like, What the fuck is wrong with me? Kind of thing. And then I got the first guy who was interested and I'm like, okay. And then I was like, he likes me so I must like him. And then I developed more like feelings for him. But it was, took a lot of time, but it wasn't like ever, even if my, even when we broke up, it was still more painful of the situation that it wasn't necessarily of him directly. Okay. If that makes sense.

Eric: 24:32

No, that does, that makes sense.

Gil: 24:33

I, Or just if Chris left me, then it would be more of a full soul wrenching, yanked out of me kind of thing. Okay.

Eric: 24:42

Yeah. I mean you were pretty distraught over the first I was one. Oh yeah. I was there for that, but

Gil: 24:49

Oh yeah, I was ugly. I could only imagine. Now it just be like, Oh, and then a water sign to top it off. Oh God. Overdramatic. Yes. But That was it. That was, yeah.

Eric: 25:07

Wow. So would you say Chris is your first love then?

Gil: 25:12

I think so. Okay. I would say like genuinely, or what it, Yeah. From the definition, stuff like that. then

Eric: 25:20

what made you fall in love with your first

Gil: 25:22

love, kindness. He was nice. He's sweet. Okay. I really liked that It was calm, it was a little bit different. Like I said, I have me. In my personality, I renew what I am. So I needed somebody a little bit different, a little offsetting my eccentric ness or my, my mood swings as I been told Okay. That's, they kinda balance it out and I was okay. And, let's me be me without having to overly compromise. It's like a partnership and I like that cuz I need my independence also, my, I guess the illusion that I have full independence, even though I'm also dependent on him on a lot of things. But, just part of the relationship. But yeah, that's what I started falling in love. Oh, that's sweet. Yeah.

Eric: 26:09

What is one piece of advice that you live by?

Gil: 26:15

Ooh. I live by humility, and that's something that even with me and management that I love to stress to my younger, to my, anyone I train and, anyone within my department and stuff like that. And something that I've pretty much since I was a teenager try to live by. was humility. I know I'm not, I wasn't the best growing up with it. but it's definitely something that, and I know I completely a hundred percent, but as I've gotten older and as I've gone through, various experiences and challenges and stuff like that, is just remembering from that point of, shit, you're not perfect. And I think it's okay to realize that, that you're not perfect. You're gonna fuck up most of your life is failure. Let's be real. It's gonna be a lot of, Oh shit. And then that's where the wisdom, hopefully you listen or remember come from. and I try my best with it. I guess it's a work in progress. I think I'm practically perfect, but I'm not fully there. but humility definitely is one thing I try to advise. Okay. How about you?

Eric: 27:27

I actually lived by a few pieces of advice. Okay. to piggyback off of humility really quickly, someone had given me some advice that I tried to live by now. I'm not always good at it, but while it's good to be humble, you do not want to allow your humility to become your weakness. Oh yes. So I struggle with that a lot cuz I always wanna be like humble and I'm overly humble. a lot of times. And that's one piece of advice that I try to live by. Another piece of advice that I've actually, this second piece I've actually gotten a lot better with, especially as of lately, you can only control your reaction. So if something happens, some big situation happens, it's happened. you can't control what's happened. You can only control how you're going to react to the situation. So you're either gonna let it consume you and beat you up and overtake you, or you are gonna just be assure who you are in that moment and look at that situ and look at how you're gonna react. I've gotten pretty good at that one as of lately, so I do try to live by that. Live in your authenticity.

Gil: 28:44

Yes.

Eric: 28:47

shameless plug, and it's weird because, Oh, and then another one that I do also live by is, you're only as strong as your weakest basic. And a lot of the stuff I learned in dance, and that was something that was like literally picked from dance and basically it takes a village. Oh yeah. If you, when you look at just the grand scope of everything if you're willing to let these people go without, as long as you don't, then. your society's not gonna be and is not gonna be strong. You're still gonna crumble. And I took that from dance because it literally, people would give me a hard time all the time. Cause I was always taking basic classes and beginning classes and they're like, Why are you in a beginner's class? I'm like, Cuz you're only as strong as your weakest basic. if I can't do a move as strongly this direction as I can this direction, then that's my weakness. Yeah. And if I wanna be better all the way around, like I have to still strive to be strong in that. And I've taken that with me with society too. you can, you have to be there for other people. You have to lift everyone up. Yeah, I guess those would be the biggest ones. Another I'm like, and another one one that kind of like piggybacks off of, I, I'm like drawing a blank was once the show, like once the show's over, it's over. Yes. Like you don't need to critique the show. that's what rehearsal is for. So once the situation happens, this is like going back to like how you react to the situation. Once the situation happens, once the performance is done, it's done. Correct. So just move forward and that kind of goes back to the second piece that I was talking about. So yeah, that's my super longwinded answer cuz Eric doesn't know how to do anything shortly,

Gil: 30:52

But I agree with that. Once the show was done, it's done. There's nothing you could do. It's all reactionary. said there's nothing to change. Yeah. It happened. Yeah. Yeah, never. That's very true.

Eric: 31:03

Another piece really quick that I, that was given that was really good is don't take the moment away from your audience. So like, when you're performing a piece, just because what the au just because like you meant, it meant this to you and this is what the story was, doesn't mean that's what the audience took from it, but as long as they took something from. don't ruin that moment from them and be like, Oh it was about this, not that. Or Oh I just did so terrible on stage. that was a terrible performance. Cuz then you're just ruining that moment for people. Yes. So as it translates over, like we all see things differently and just because like you have an experience with this doesn't mean that those people have that experience. So don't throw salt on other people's journeys. and I will be quiet now with that question.

Gil: 32:00

here's the next one and this is where you feel in the blank. Fill in the blank. Okay. I want to thank myself for blank.

Eric: 32:09

this is a really hard one for me cuz I'm not usually very thankful for my, to myself, for anything.

Gil: 32:15

Uhhuh. I know that's why.

Eric: 32:20

Yeah, this one's gonna be a hard one for me. I think, you know what? Maybe it's not gonna be that hard. I am thankful to my Okay. I'm thankful for the fact that I have created a, I have created a safe space for others, or I have attempted to create a safe space for others. And I think that's what I'm most thankful for myself. if I was to thank me for anything, it would be the fact that I have created that space for others. I, yeah, I guess that's the only way, that's the only thing I can answer. I don't. Know what else I would thank myself for, because I just, I don't know, I'm like never that grateful to myself for anything, which is probably sad, but isn't just

Gil: 33:15

part of that. Yeah. Working, working on, I say it's working on, That's that,

Eric: 33:19

yeah. Humility becoming your weakness thing. yeah, I guess that would pretty much be, and I'm thankful for my love of Janet Jackson and my love. There we go. And my love of movement. And Janet Jackson's the Velvet Rope, which is the greatest album of all time, just celebrated its 25th anniversary. there we go. and my love of movement. I think I said that, but but honestly, yeah, creating a safe space for others. And even though like I'm a nobody, I recreated this platform. and. Have allowed people to come and share their stories. Again, it's still extension of creating a safe space, but providing a platform for people to reach others and to have that safe space, whether you come on our show or not, whether you listen to our show, some way that you feel heard and seen. So yeah. How about

Gil: 34:16

you? let's see. I want to thank myself for I, for listening to all the advice and acting on it versus trying to be cutting through where it's, I know everything, I am the right, and I used, I know I'm a little bit more cautious about things that I've always been because I've been blessed in that sense of getting a lot of advice from. Various people, growing up and the vice of going against those naysayers who were like, Oh, you're a biracial from a divorcee family, and, good luck with you. You're statistically not gonna do well. I'm doing well. I graduated. That was a lot of the things that I was told from other teachers, from other parents who would see me, and I'm very, I thank myself for keep pushing forward and I did not listen to those people. And I, was very cautious on who I'd got the advice from and acted upon it. and, it mostly for my life has worked out very well. like I said, be I am not that person jumping off the cliff, the first one jumping off the cliff. I am the one who's observing everyone. I'm like, Okay, ratio looks good, Let's go and I'm very, I wanna thank myself for that. Now I look, now I can look back a little bit. I'm like, Okay. So far it's done pretty well. Okay. Yeah, because, oh boy, there's, there was stuff when I was growing up. I look back now, I'm like, That wasn't nice of people to say. Cause easily could destroyed anyone. Yeah. Yeah. But I used to hear it a lot. These, to look right at me during those, what is it? My school in elementary, we have, like the parents day, my parents worked. I, there was no way my mom was gonna be able to make it. So I was sitting next to the teacher and I would see other parents walk you through and were like, Oh, look at him. Oh. And they would look at you with such pity And I'm like, Why me being pity full? I have a great family. I have, I know my parents, I know my, grandparents and aunts and it was a village that raised us. Yeah. Just cuz they're not there that one day doesn't mean that I come from a bad family. divorce doesn't mean anything. So I That's not

Eric: 36:25

a reflection of you at all.

Gil: 36:27

No. At all. And I, we see, I hear it a lot. I was teased for being short. I was, Oh, you can't do that. You can't, blah, blah, blah. I'm the shortest one of my managers and I'm the loudest one. and I stand out and I know that with personality and stuff like that, but yeah, if I sat there and listened to all of them, no, absolutely not. But that's what I thank my advice, Thank, wanna thank myself, for Yeah. Keep going. Keep

Eric: 36:55

me through. Yeah. That's all you can do. Yeah. Is there something you're trying to prove to yourself?

Gil: 37:05

Ooh, shit. I am trying to prove to myself that I am, I have value to this Earth. and I think that's probably one of My things is what am I bringing to the table? And it's not just from a financial or anything like that, it's just, and I, when I keep looking at things, it's just like in what, 40, 50 years from now, there's a great chance that I will no longer be here. And it's looking at myself is what impact did I have while I was here? Will I, in what way will I be remembered? What, And I keep trying to push myself as more what am I doing while I'm here? Am I enjoying life enough? Am I just focusing on, just make sure I'm following a, X amount of steps so that I look like I have a great life or, I think that's part of my thing I keep trying to prove to myself is that I have, I am valuable or I've made some kind of impact or some, there's something to me more than just I was born and died. he worked for his company for X amount of years as I, Sweet. And I think that's the part I've been struggling, yeah. And I, and that's what I keep thinking. and I guess why I, every time I feel like I'm going to keep moving up in my line of work, I always take that I have a freak out because a part of me is I don't want to just be a nine to five. And that's what I spent 40 years of my life doing. And then I only have five years to enjoy the earth or whatever I wanna do and gone the next day kind of thing. And I keep having this weird struggle of kind of finding that balance and what else could I do? Like I got into my degree for politics. I'm nowhere near it. I play politics at work, but that's not politics, that's not making any kind of impact. The corporation will be there regardless of what I

Eric: 38:52

do. You talk politics on this podcast though? Yeah, I

Gil: 38:55

do. And it's like, how do I get, do I wanna really be part of the system? And then I had this weird, like, how do I go in and if I go in, what happens? And I don't wanna be a sellout at the same time. Yeah. And that's where some of that fear becomes what? Yeah, I think it's something I'm trying to prove to myself. It's, I have more impact or I have things to give, I give back. But that's more of a, gonna be a me to me conversation when I'm right on my desk door kind of thing. You hope it's, I hope I'm nice to myself by then. Hope it's you.

Eric: 39:30

I wanted to make a comment about, the work thing. Yeah. You don't want to spend your whole life giving yourself to. Your work when if something happens to you, they'll replace you like the next day. So that's just something to keep in mind. as far as the question, yeah. It's I don't know if it's weird. My, I don't know if my answer's gonna be weird or not. I think at least at this moment, as I'm speaking in this moment right now I don't know that there's anything I'm trying to prove to myself. there's things that I'm trying to accept within myself Yes. And that I'm trying to learn, like I'm really trying to learn that it's okay to not be in my comfort zone. it's okay to fail. Yes. It's okay to fuck up. And I'm really working on accepting those facets of my life and letting go of the people pleasing part of my life. I am. Definitely trying to get outta that fawning aspect. Yes. And I am trying to leave behind the, not setting boundaries. but I most, I'm just working on accepting myself flaws and all, and not having to be that perfectionist and realizing that it's okay to, like I said earlier, fuck up and fail. Yeah. I'm actually trying to, I'm working really hard on embracing the failure and embracing being uncomfortable in a situation. So I don't think that I'm really trying to prove my, prove anything to myself. I'm just really trying to accept parts of myself and grow from other parts of myself. Does that make sense? Makes sense. That might be the shortest answer I've ever given. world. Clap,

Gil: 41:27

clap. Let's see. what is something you got over that you never thought you would? Ah,

Eric: 41:48

okay. there's a couple things that I've gotten over that I never thought I would. I'm trying to figure out, I'm trying to decide how deep I want to go with this though, so that's why there's the pause. And I don't, it's not really a hesitation, it's just more of a pause. One thing that I, this is more general or more, I don't wanna say it. No, that's not, that's unfair to say. One thing that I never thought I would get over was my love for dance and being a dancer. And I know that sounds probably like weird, but I al I often get asked why did you stop dancing? And I'm like, because it was no longer a joy for me because it was very toxic. Yeah. And then at some point I could only liken dance to an abusive relationship. Like I was constantly giving myself everything I had and it kept getting Yeah. Knocked back and No and all. Promises were getting broken and I was making all these strides forward and I kept getting, pushed back. And at some point, like it just became so, I became so broken from it that I didn't know who I was anymore because I just knew myself as the dancer. and I had no idea what was in store for me. every time I would be like, Oh, you, I would get invited to perform at like a small little function. I'd be like, Oh my gosh, yes. And I would perform at these small functions and I would get like that little high again. I'd be like, Oh, I'm supposed to be a dancer. And then reality would kick in and I was like, Oh damn, I'm not supposed to be a dancer anymore. And it was a lot of this back and forth thing. And at some point, and I wanna say it was in recent, like within the last like year or two, that I was finally able to be like, No, I'm not dancing anymore. I'm not performing anymore. It's, I can now look at it from, I can look now, look at it from an outside perspective and enjoy it. And I can dance. I can dance now freely and just have fun with it. But there was a point where I was just so back and forth with it that I just didn't think I would know who I was anymore, if that makes any sense. it was a pretty toxic situation at some point, and that's mainly the main reason why I got outta dance. A couple other things that, One thing that I don't know that I don't wanna say I'm over it, but that I've moved on from letting it completely dictate my being. Is some of the, situations that pertain to SA stuff. that I have, they no longer hold me there a lot of the time. I've been able to move on from that and they, although like I'm shaped, I am the person I am today because I was shaped from a lot of those situations, it no longer defines me as who I am. Correct. yeah, I think that would be what I'm willing to share. Yeah. And how about

Gil: 45:16

you? It's a lot. Yeah. No, it's a, to me it's always, that's a. It's a tough question because it's which part of it do we, there's certain things I'm petty about with. I never thought I'd get over, black pants with brown shoes. but I have learned to get over that or, or certain people releasing very, just continuously making bad music. Madonnas since 2007. her albums, I just knew how to get over fact. She's just gonna keep releasing music, whether or not we want it or not. it's happening. Thank you for that. I think in like seriousness though, this, I think it was definitely for me at least, it was marriage was something I didn't think I was going to do or wanted to do because a lot of it, it was. Letting yourself be vulnerable, which I'm not the best at because I'm very, Hold your composure, you keep things together. You're always in most control. as best as you can. and that is being very vulnerable because of what it entails. The, not just the legality of what it is as a contract, but, you're essentially saying that I'm giving half of me with this other person and, you're going from there. And it is not to blame my parents whatsoever. It just, they were in that situation. it just, the outcome of what happened was very trauma, I guess traumatizing, I guess I would say. now because it happened when I was younger, but I remembered enough of it and just the fallout that happened for years after the fact, gave, at least for me versus my sister, I was a lot more, Tainted by it in the sense of, I, I was very res the fact me getting meos like a, Oh shit, no, I'm good. I'll remain, boyfriends, whatever with somebody else for The rest of I'd rather go that route. I just didn't think it was gonna happen. forgot sake. It took me eight years to get married. that's already like some people's full marriage, already had six kids and then divorced by that kind of thing. it took me eight years just to get married. but I was very slow and I thank Chris for the patience about it, but I, it took me a long time to get over it, get over some of that fear and debt vulnerability to be, to do it. because it is the old breaker for some people, and I'm glad it wasn't an immediate one for him, because otherwise I would've been single with it very quickly because I've been very upfront about it also. everyone I've gone out with or something, that's come up and which you get married and I've been very open about it. And, I've always said, I didn't think I was, I told him I would, I don't think I will get married, but I said it, it could be a possibility. It changes. I'm letting it, but I genuinely did not think it would happen. And like I told Chris after this, Oh no, if you suddenly died on me, I will not get married to the next person. This wasn't he cash did. but you, that's something that was big even the day of, and while you were there at the wedding. I was panicked. I was, everything running through my mind. Are you good enough? Is this really you? Is this, everything negative. And that's very rare for me to have a lot of negative thoughts. But that day I was flooded and said, Don't forget your parents. Don't forget that. Look at them. I, it just, it was bad. And I had to like literally call myself from an anxiety attack. I was like, Whew. it's been fine. But yeah, it was, that's something for. That I had never thought I'd get over that fear.

Eric: 48:54

Wow. congratulations on that. Yeah, I'm sure Chris is very happy about that.

Gil: 49:00

He like to remind me how long it took me.

Eric: 49:09

what's the most painful thing you've been told?

Gil: 49:16

Oh, Huh. I'm drawn, I'm taking a pause on this one. your love is not good enough and I think that was one of the more, during that time period, I was told by somebody else that I started to fall for, or I was developing feelings and it was that you are not good enough. And I think it was more hurtful because it was one of the few times that me getting my, getting rejected and it, I was, it was just, I was, it was new to me because I'm not, I'm used to not being, I'm used to being chased, not being the one, chasing someone else. so that was, for the first time I was like that. Oh, shit. Because like I said, I've been called ugly names, stuff like that. Growing up mostly about hi, the obvious stuff. Height, hair color, or not a haircut, like a skin color, stuff like that. But that never phased me. But what I, like I said, for one of my parts of being vulnerable and stuff like that, and then just not getting that same thing back. it was. Painful. It was a little bit like that, huh? Yeah. that was not a great feeling at all. Yeah. And help with the later rejections and stuff like that. But it was definitely getting that first one off the bat, that first one hurt the most. and it was just a lot of What do you mean what? I'm confused here. Let's say this again. and yeah, realizing that I'm not everyone's type. yeah. That was a nice, ego, leveler. to say the least. yeah, that was the least one that I could, that I'll be more willing to talk about. But yeah. I'll witch you. What is the most painful thing you've been told?

Eric: 51:06

mine's similar. Not as far as like love, but being told that you're not good enough. Or And that just, I've been told that in many facets of my life, like you're not cute enough, you're not pretty enough, you're not skinny enough, you're not tall enough, you're not light skinned enough. Oh, you're too dark. Your laugh is too loud. You sound gay. and then that, that triggered into my homophobia that I had. Yeah. But at the time, I had so much internal, I know at the time that, that's one reason why I don't really like my voice. And I've always had issues with my voice as we, I alluded to when we were talking to Chris, I remember like when I used to play soccer when I was younger. Yeah. And I went to a, I was at a soccer camp and the coach was like, You shouldn't be playing soccer. You're built like a football player. You need to play football. And I'm like, I don't wanna fucking play football. I wanna play soccer And that stuck with me really harsh. And then after that, I just totally gave up on sports altogether. Yeah. so yeah, I think that's been most, that's, and it's painful to just be told that you are not good enough. Anything you do is not good enough. You're not smart enough, you're not attractive enough. And then you just start to believe it. So I am doing a lot of self work to not believe that anymore, but I still fall victim to that all the time. Of I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough because I just pretty much live in that cycle of belief. Yeah. And yeah, I think that's probably the hardest thing I've ever been told.

Gil: 52:57

I was gonna say, it's at least, I don't know if it's for you. I am way more harsh on myself than anyone is. That's why it's very hard for me to say, somebody said something that I already haven't said to myself. Oh, yeah.

Eric: 53:09

I'm, yeah. I we're always our harshest critic. I remember I keep like going back to dance and so I apologize to that. But I remember I was at a workshop with this like really big name dancer and she was talking about, and I may have talked about this on the podcast, I'm not sure, but, she was talking about our own inner self talk. And if someone else was telling us stuff like that, what we tell ourselves. we'd be like, Who the fuck do you think you are? Like true. You have no right to talk to me that way. Or if they were talking to our friend that way we'd be like, Who the fuck are you? don't talk to them that way. But when it comes to us talking to ourselves, Yeah. We don't stand up for ourself to ourselves, so we just believe it. I have a bad habit of projecting those opinions that I have of myself. I don't wanna say on to other people, but from other people. So I'm super concerned with what I think other people think about me, but what I think they think about me is all the things that I think about myself and I put it on them thinking that they are thinking that of me.

Gil: 54:20

Oh, gotcha. Gotcha. Got you.

Eric: 54:22

that is also a cycle. I am working on breaking right now.

Gil: 54:26

you've improved a lot over the years. Yeah. But this is a work in progress. It's work in progress.

Eric: 54:33

It takes, which is how Janet ended ment rope.

Gil: 54:40

one of my favorite quotes, and I've quoted her, like I said, I love me some Mo Rose. If you happen to watch Shits Creek, that's a great series to watch. And then one of my favorite, absolute favorite quotes, and it's something that I've had to look at because I know I, I'm not the best at taking photos. I. Because I'm always looking at myself. I'm always critiquing the way I look in the photos. Oh my God, look at your cheeks are too fat, your, waist, whatever the hell it is. to quote her directly. and this is from her cab, The cabaret episode, is allow me to offer you some advice. Take a thousand naked pictures of yourself. Now you may think, Oh, I'm too spooky, or Nobody wants to see these tiny boobies, but believe me, one day you'll look at those photos with much kinder eyes and say, Dear God, I was a beautiful thing. And it's true because I have looked back at some of my younger photos and, like photos from a couple years ago even, and I was like, What the hell was I bitching about? Or, I was so unhappy about just certain things. And I was like, Gilbert, you're. it's okay. This is part of the aging process. Things are not gonna be as side as they used to be. Your hair is gonna go a little bit more gray now. It's just, it's part of the process, and that's okay. Yeah. But that was one of my favorite things from Moira when she said, I was just like, teared up immediately. Oh my God. So anyways, let's move on to our final question.

Eric: 56:07

Oh, I have one, one more question. Oh, you have, Oh yeah, go ahead. no, you do your

Gil: 56:11

question first. Okay. Let's go with one here. let's end with, or at least for me, let's go with, what is one dream you've accomplished?

Eric: 56:26

what is one dream that I have accomplished? well, one dream that one dream that I've accomplished is actually providing a space for people to be themselves and to voice their opinions and to share their thoughts and to bond with other people and to build a better community in a more supportive community, even if it's a small community right now. that's one thing that I've always strived to make people feel better about themselves, or I've, at least I've tried to, I have not always been good about it. But I guess that's one dream that I have achieved. I was an entertainer for a while, which has always been a dream of mine, but I'm still pursuing that dream to make it to like the next level. I published a book, which I never thought I would do, and then like I wanted to do it and then I was, had dreams of doing it, but then I was like, No, I'm not gonna do it. And then I eventually did it. It wasn't the type of book I thought I would publish, but it was still me public taking a step to publish something, what a dream that I have accomplished as I'm starting to believe in myself again, and I'm starting to reconnect with myself again. That is,

Gil: 57:54

that's excellent.

Eric: 57:58

And I may not ask my question because I think we're leaving on a happy note. Okay.

Gil: 58:05

for me, a dream of mind that I accomplished, it felt like I never was gonna fucking ever do. It was a two parter. Was, I guess I have a couple of little dreams I did. Little for me, checklists that I did hit. my dream of being the first Gilbert to finally graduate college. which I was very proud of that moment, it was very overwhelming when I was walking down, I was like, Yay. I finally, I did it, because I didn't think I was going to fish, or it was moments where I was like, I've gotta walk the hell out of this place. paying off my student debt, I was very, felt really accomplished. because of all the stress that I went through with it getting, like I said, I think I've talked on this podcast before, the harassing calls, the what are you gonna pay This is more your credit score's more important than feeding yourself. but I was really just, it was that relief of not having that looming thing. It was just one of those dreams just to be outta debt, at least for that moment. I'm in a different kind of debt now, but not at the time. welcome to adulthood. and then I, a little dream of mine was to be like you with a mother hen to the young gay ducklings, if you wanna say, And I've, when I was younger, I would obviously go to your places, like my safe haven. Like I, I loved it. I was always like, Oh, is Eric Oh, I go to you mother hen. And then I in turn ended up becoming that place in a lot of ways and awesome. During my, especially in Albuquerque, a little bit in Seattle, not so much here in the Bay. I think it just Yeah. But at least in those several years I was that place where people were opening up or, I have friends now or doctors and I'm like proud of them and Oh, great job. But I remember when they were coming out or exploring and trying to figure out who they were, and, I created that space for them. But I learned from you how to create those spaces for others. So it trickled down Oh, thank you. Yeah. But it was something that mine, I've always wanted to make sure that, because I knew the struggle myself and I never wanted others to go through what you, like me, being the oldest is that thing that you're making that pavement for somebody else, and that everyone behind you doesn't have to deal with the same burden that you went through. And that's fine. And I already knew, that's just my story, but hopefully the person right behind me is not going through the exact same thing. They're, it's a little easier. Yeah. And that's why, like with you, like I said, your struggle must have been longer than mine, but Right. I was right behind you, I was like, Okay. It made it be easy for me, with my coming out process and stuff like that. And I thought you were already out, created that space. Like I said, for the person right behind me who was a couple of 'em were, they had it a little bit easier and I hope that they are passing on the same wisdom down the line as well. But yeah.

Eric: 1:00:55

Awesome. I like that. Yeah. I am gonna ask you one more question. it's not the question I was gonna ask though. I'll save that question for another day, okay. And this is not on the list. Ooh,

Gil: 1:01:10

careful. Go ahead.

Eric: 1:01:12

But it plays off of a question you asked. Okay. What's the greatest thing you've ever been told about yourself?

Gil: 1:01:24

Oh shit. Oh wow. This is different. I'm so used thinking the opposite.

Eric: 1:01:33

I wanted to, since that last question you asked was a pretty positive one, I wanted to, I just wanted to keep up at the positive side and not end on a negative question, which was what my other question was gonna be.

Gil: 1:01:50

we weed on those ones plenty. no. That's, Oh my God. Yeah, it's a great question. probably the two things that I've been, someone loves me that somebody has, been told obviously that, and that's like that great kind of fill in where it's. not just from your family, but it's like a mutual from somebody who is not from, with you kind of thing. and the feelings are mutual. It's kinda oh my God, they, it's the same thing. It's a nice receptive kind of thing. And it's obviously come and the other one is your, for me it's It's kinda the egotistical, You're doing a better job to someone else. I love it. Cause I'm like, I'm, you're doing because I'm so critical of myself, especially when I'm in any kind of workspace. It's either at, I'm doing at school, I'm at, the way I'm working with my teams or anything like that. Like I. I very critical of myself. I'm not gonna be out there tuning my horn or view, blah, blah, blah. Let the results speak for itself. But it's nice once in a while to hear it when somebody else who's completely objective and they're just like, Hey, you're actually doing a damn good job. This is very, whatever the hell it is. And I'm just like, Oh. And it takes me a moment to pause because I'm so used to being like, Gilbert, how much work can you do? Let's go. Come on. you have to be the best. And it's just those moments of, am I, I don't know. And it's good. As much as I can be egotistical at times where I'm like, Oh, I did a confidence. Yeah, I got this. But at the flip side, it's nice sometimes to hear it from time to time because I, I tend to. Hold onto when someone says, Oh, you effed up on this. And I'm like, Oh. Oh, okay. We gotta keep going, but when I do hear you do well, I'm like, What do you mean? Is this a joke? but yeah. It's just when we do our podcast, I like to make sure we have a, we have a nice flowing podcast or, I make sure it doesn't look like we, we look at least semi-professional, Semiprofessional, other ones that like, they're sloppy. I've listened to other things. I'm like, Oh God, just, it's a hot mess. no. But I just try to, I take pride in what I do, but what it's, when you hear it like that positive, I'm like, Oh, I, That feels nice. Yeah. especially for, one of the things for me that I heard, especially from my dad who was very, it's, he and I have, we, he and I have had our ups and downs, throughout the years, and it's always been very, I guess it's that typical father, son, Then I'm gay to throw in a little bit extra there. and he's, the Latino machi. Okay. He's my dad's old. a little fashioned things. But it was nice to hear that from him. how proud he was and it was that, it was nice. Like I said, it's different from your mom. Yeah. Cause she, she'll scolded you, but it's, she's, ultimately, with my mom, it's always been proud of, but it's to hear from your dad. Cause I don't hear a lot of that. where it was Huh. Oh shit. slowed down a second there. but it was nice. He said it right before my wedding, which kind of surprised me, took his legs that he was the one who helped. And, probably my mom forced him a little bit more but he was, like the fact and of everything and yeah, it was, that's one of my more Huh. Nice. Thank you kind of moments. Oh, but you,

Eric: 1:04:47

I'm gonna share four but they're all in the same wheelhouse. Yeah. So there's more like four examples. So one of them is actually the, you just gave me one. Oh, when you said I was a mother, mama hand to you or mother hand to you. And Yeah, I did create that space for you. Yeah. So that is like one of the best things I've ever been told. Like when people say, You've created this space for me, I feel comfortable or confident in myself because you've per, you've made me feel safe and that I can say that, or that I can voice that. So that's one of the best things I've ever been told. And so thank you for that. another thing that I've, I had someone who, and these last, these are gonna go to dance, I might just give three examples. I might, I don't know, but, One person that had always wanted to be an actor and she was kept getting cast for the same types of roles. And she, it just, her dreams were not happening. She took a class, my, a dance class of mine, just on a whim, just like I think to fill the schedule, Uhhuh And, she, one time after class said that she had to thank me because she had always wanted to be an actor and her heart was being broken from the acting world. And after having taken my dance class, she ne wasn't even thinking about acting anymore. She wanted to be a dancer and she is a professional dancer and she's doing her thing and she's doing an amazing job. And, Yeah. So that was just also a great thing that like I was able to help someone realize other dreams that they may have or a dream that they didn't even know they had, but then that they were, yeah, good enough for that. probably the greatest thing I've ever been told, and this has happened to me a couple times, but I'm gonna give one example. again, with Dance a, I don't think I've talked about it on this podcast I may have, but this, I was performing at a show with the student actually, that I was just talking about in the last example. We were doing a show together and we were in Colorado performing and apparently there was a little boy in the audience. Who was watching me perform and was like, I didn't know that boys could do that. I didn't know boys could dance like that. And he was just like in such awe with it. Yeah. And then he went on to study dance and became a dancer after having seen me perform. Oh. So that's probably the greatest thing I've ever been told. Yeah. That. But like I said, they all go together. Like I provided a safe space, So people were able to discover those things about themselves and be themselves authentically. And but I would say that's probably the greatest thing I've ever been told to know that like I literally helped someone to pursue that. Yeah. Cause I guess. I know I said there was four examples, but I'm just gonna give the three cause I think that's enough. Wait,

Gil: 1:08:12

that's so cute. Oh my

Eric: 1:08:14

God. Yeah. I still like, when I'm feeling really down about myself I think about when I was told that and I was, that will help a lot of times help pull me up. Hey, Gill. I was just having a discussion with another one of our guests being flagged on social media. There really needs to be a place where queer content creators can share their content without the fear of being flagged or

Gil: 1:08:45

silenced. Well, Eric, they need to check out the adult social media known as asm, this adult social media.com,

Eric: 1:08:55

the adult social media.

Gil: 1:08:57

What's that? It's the best social online space for adults. Whether you're a content creator, a model, an adult related business, or a fan of any of the above, then you definitely need to check it out.

Eric: 1:09:11

Awesome. A place for models and content creators to connect with their fans.

Gil: 1:09:16

And that's not all you can pose, chat, create groups, sell or purchase content. Plus they have a, uh, dating feature where you can connect with other fans of adult content. Great. Sign me up. Go to the adult social media.com. Sign up for a free, or you could purchase a verified account and start connecting with other adults that appreciate adult content.

Eric: 1:09:44

I'm headed over to the adult social media.com right now.

Gil: 1:09:49

yeah, these were some great questions. I actually, it's a little bit different. Made you kinda, I think we both first like on stuff like, Yeah. I'm actually almost curious if any of our listeners ever wanted to, like you hear a question or stuff like that, that we just went through. You guys wanna submit your. Responses, set it down our way. I would love that. Open to read it.

Eric: 1:10:18

Yeah. Yeah. And if you want us to read your name, we can, If you want it to, if you want, keep it anonymous. We're totally down for that too. So yeah, if you hear any questions that you want to answer, respond to, if you wanna respond to some of our answers, please feel free to, You can do that at wgi theqloungepodcast.Com or info.theqlounge@gmail.Com.

Gil: 1:10:47

Yes. We're also on Twitter. We're

Eric: 1:10:51

also on Twitter. You can find this @theQLounge.

Gil: 1:10:54

Yeah, we're on the Twitters. The Instagrams, Yes. Heck, we might even throw up my space just for the hell of it.

Eric: 1:11:02

I read all dms. So yeah, Not that the Instagram or Twitter Q lounge. Messages have a lot of dms, but there's one or two.

Gil: 1:11:16

You're flooded with fives at a time. Okay, we got this

Eric: 1:11:23

we're still in single digits. but no, this was fun. Yes. So thank you everybody for joining us. Thank you everyone. I want to give a huge shout out to the adult social media.com. Thank you so much for sponsoring us and sponsoring this podcast. Please remember to check out the adult social media.com and we will catch you on the flip side.

Gil: 1:11:57

thank you for listening to us. We hope you enjoyed your time in The Q Lounge. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions on topics, or if you would like to be a guest or contributor, please email us info.TheQlounge@gmail.Com or through our contact page at theqloungepodcast.com. Don't forget to subscribe to continue listening wherever you get your podcasts. If you want to be our sugar, daddy hit that donation button.

Eric: 1:12:23

Until next time live in your authenticity.