Season 5, Episode 6 (Diane and Sky)

0:31

Hello and welcome to the Q Lounge, a podcast where we like to discuss new stories and life situations as it relates to the lgbtqia plus experience. I am Eric

Gil: 0:41

and I'm Gil,

Eric: 0:43

and we are super excited to be joined with Diane and Sky. How are you guys today? Are gals today?

Diane: 0:51

Hi. Good. We're doing good. It's been a busy day, but we're doing

Eric: 0:55

well. That's good. What have you guys been up to?

Diane: 0:58

We took our kids, her babies two class today, So fun. Both of our our younger pups, they go to a class on Sundays and then I had a piano lesson after that cause I'm doing a piano lesson with this teacher. She's about 77 years old and she's just fantastic. She comes over every couple weeks and helps me out.

Eric: 1:17

Oh, that's amazing. I love that. Sounds super fun and super productive. I was lazy and like late in bed for four hours and then laid on the couch for another 10.

Sky: 1:28

you're my scary animal.

Eric: 1:33

I was gonna go for a bike ride and play with my rope flow, but it got windy and I was like, yeah, I'm good. I did all that yesterday.

Gil: 1:43

Of course.

Eric: 1:47

Thank you guys for being on the podcast. We're really ha excited to get to know you guys more and get to know you better. When did you realize that you were part of the L G B T Q I A community. And how did you realize,

Diane: 2:00

you go babe, or do you want me to go.

Sky: 2:04

Go ahead, We'll start with Diane.

Diane: 2:08

Ok, let's, ok. Today, because I was invited to this, I was like, wait, what? I'm in the lgbt, kidding. I wanna say it was when I moved to Albuquerque I'm from Texas originally. I grew up in El Paso. My family lives in Austin. And when I moved here, I made friends everyone I knew, I met working out to find fitness. I met one person. And then from there I met everyone that I know to this day, But I, oh my goodness I'm trying to remember who it was that I met. I don't remember exactly, but I met someone and I started hanging out with this group of girls. who also liked girls. And I was like, oh wow. Yeah. I had never been a part of a group like that, ever. I had some things with girls in the past, but it wasn't like I was part of a community or anything like that. So we would go out and I think that's where I met you, Eric So I got a job at Sports and Wellness. And this is where, that's where we met. Yeah. Yeah. This is where Eric and I met, and this is and then we would go out on the weekends and there was like eight or nine of us girls that would go out and Eric

Sky: 3:14

and

Eric: 3:15

I'm just re I'm just remembering that one of the first things I told you was I have bruises all over my knees. I was at the Pulse all weekend.

Diane: 3:22

Yeah. Yeah. Now

Eric: 3:24

the Pulse is a gay club that used to be here.

Diane: 3:27

And we had a great time. And so just hanging out with this big group of girls and a lot of them identifying as, lesbians or whatever they introduced me to going to gay pride, to going to gay clubs, to doing these types of things and the just being open and having like other female partners or girlfriends or whatever. And that's the first time that I probably came to the realization that, oh look, I have a little community that I belong in. And it really felt like a community as well at the time, oh, awesome. Yeah. So I think that was it for me. Great.

Sky: 4:01

How about you Sky? I had a girlfriend in kindergarten, Oh, awesome.

Eric: 4:05

Ok. You knew back in the day,

Sky: 4:09

No, yeah, as a young. Child, I was the middle. I have an older sister and a younger sister. Growing up in a really small town there was definitely a lot of lesbians and gay guys and even bisexual people, but nobody was out in those terms. nobody said anything in those kinds of ways. It just was, and nobody talked about it. I knew from a very young age that I was attracted to females. But then I was also told and brought up in the way that I should be with men or males, as a teenager and whatnot. It wasn't until I was about 15, 16 years old when I was just like, no, this is who I am. I. I am trying to do what you want, but I want to do what I want. good for you. What I wanna do with women though. Yeah, so being in female relationships from a, younger teenage years and then being moved out on my own, I definitely was around a lot more lesbians and a lot more like bisexual girls here in Albuquerque as opposed to the small town I grew up in. And it just made me feel like I finally belonged somewhere. Okay. I finally fit in and I didn't have to pretend cuz I was really tired of pretending. It's exhausting, isn't it? It, yeah, it really is. Trying to con be what somebody else wants you to be, to kinda conform to a I don't know, just what, people see me and they're like, oh, you're so pretty. I don't really think so, but, whatever. And then obviously I'm supposed to be with like a guy because of it. like for whatever reason there's this big like stereotype with, oh, you're a lesbian, who's the butch? And the relationship. Yeah. It's so gross. What kinda question is that? I'm confused here. Yeah. Yes, I do build stuff. We were talking about that earlier, aside from this, but I don't really feel like there needs to be like a butch per se, or, whatever. I don't really like those terms. They're super

Eric: 6:23

problematic. I'm glad that they're kinda like being dismissed now. I

Sky: 6:26

think if it floats your boat and you're gravy with it, then good for you. But me personally, that's not what I don't. Just be yourself. And I don't really think that matters. Yeah.

Eric: 6:36

So it's crazy how we all try to fit into certain roles and expectations that society puts us in, whether it's actual society or family or anything else. And we're like, yeah, we're supposed to be in this role. We're supposed to behave this, or you're supposed to act that way. And that ends up becoming part of our struggle of acceptance and coming out and everything else.

Sky: 6:55

Absolutely. Absolutely. For sure. I know a lot of growing up I was in a Catholic family, so that was a little I'm definitely the black sheep out of the bunch. But yeah, as I grew up finding out that I'm not the only black sheep in the family, my family has actually fooled lesbians, so there's nothing awesome

Eric: 7:16

That's great.

Gil: 7:18

How did your friends and family take it? Because like I said, you grew up. One mask you're wearing Sure. And then your real mask comes out really who you are. How do they take it?

Sky: 7:27

Honestly, I lost a lot of friends. Okay. Even friends that were bi or secretly in relationships with other women that weren't out being that I was not going to stay hush about it and that I was very open to expressing the way I felt about another person or even holding hands or just being in any kind of, close with another lady in public that was like, no, you do not. And I'm like, what's the problem here? And I did lose a lot of friends and a lot of family too. Oh wow. So I have my little family now and. Yeah. Diane stuck with me whether she likes it or not. Sorry babe. That's ok.

Diane: 8:18

I was gonna say so when I came out to some of my friends, I I had a bit of a different experience. So my brother outed me because, oh no, we had a, we had an argument. And so then my brother, he called my grandma, my mom and everyone. And I am not sure. So my grandma, she knew, but then she was just ignore this conversation. And then she moved on with life, never really addressed it, but she's always had a problem with it, she's gotten very religious now that she's older, so it's not anything she'll ever accept, okay. But oh, that's what I mean. It's okay. She's always been a difficult person, so I wouldn't expect anything different. My, my stepdad kind of, he was like, oh yeah. He's oh, when I met your mom, she was seeing both men and women too. Yeah. It was kinda like everyone outing each other, kinda a thing. My mom was actually I remember having a conversation, a little small smidge in conversation. And she was, it wasn't like a big, huge deal, so that was nice. And my sister, who is, I'm the pro, the closest two in my whole family, it didn't matter. Like we were just cool. It didn't matter. My friends that I've had since high school, I hung out with a lot of girls. Like we had a big group of girls that we hung out with and my best friend's response would probably always crack me up. She was like, oh. And she's were you ever attracted to me And I was like, no. Not really. Just cuz I like girls like, also, or whatever. It doesn't mean that I was attracted to my friends and she was like, why not

Sky: 9:48

I was like,

Diane: 9:49

that's freaking weird. You know what I mean? Yeah. It was kinda a, it was, it's a interesting, but luckily I don't feel like I was shunned by anyone that I truly wanted their acceptance or anything like that. Even though my grandma was difficult, I didn't necessarily feel like I needed her acceptance because I didn't really have it either way. But it was interesting.

Eric: 10:11

I'm glad you had a more positive experience. Yeah. I think it's funny how the straight community's always I'm not a lesbian, I'm not a woman, so I don't, but hearing your account of it, but like with men, they're like, oh my God, he's gay. Don't like me, don't like me. Or Yeah. And you're like, I'm not attracted to every dude that I

Diane: 10:28

see. Yeah. Just cause Then they get Yeah. Then they, yeah.

Eric: 10:34

Yeah. Why not? My shoulders are bigger than you. Yeah, exactly. Seriously, dude,

Diane: 10:38

No, it's funny.

Eric: 10:41

Did you have any personal struggles surrounding your coming out or were there any disparities socially or culturally

Sky: 10:48

for you?

Diane: 10:50

For you babe. Do you wanna talk or you obviously I'm like trying to be polite cause Do you want me to answer or you wanna answer? Go ahead. Yeah, go ahead. Personal struggles. I definitely feel like it's a it's more of a challenge to not be part of the mainstream, normativity. like Sky was saying earlier where people are like, oh you're not like, cause I consider myself like pretty, pretty neutral in the middle. I can dress pretty girly. I like wearing some makeup, when I go out, I like to, but I, I can also I don't ever really come off too much but or anything. So a lot of people will be like oh. They're like, oh, I'm married and they're like, assume it's a guy. or I'm also a Buddhist, but people will assume, I'm a Christian or Catholic just being, cuz I'm, Hispanic and live in this area. Yeah. I'm like, no, I'm like, like you got me pegged all wrong. I like I feel like I constantly have to explain myself and that's something that, that's a personal struggle. I don't really like having to explain myself all the time. Because there's always like these assumptions, like the normativity thing, it's just like you have a conversation with someone and they just assume they know a lot of things about you because of your age or how you look or different things like that. So for me, that's something that I could totally do without and that is something that I think the younger generation does have absolutely. Does have more of a handle on, and I feel like all the generations before us paved the way for us to be more comfortable in our own skin. And to be who we are out with other people. Because that assumption is going away. Yeah. No, it is, but it's something Yeah. That we've gotta deal with.

Eric: 12:26

It's and we've, Gill and I have talked about this a few times on our, the podcast you're constantly like having to come out and come out again and again, it's like a lifetime of coming out cuz everyone puts you in that, like you said, that heteronormative Yeah. Box. And you're like, no, we're gonna open this flap and we're gonna open this flap and we're gonna tilt this motherfucker on its side.

Diane: 12:47

Yeah. If you get a new job. Yeah. Or you meet a new friend or you're in some other social circle. like that you're not normally in here. You go

Gil: 12:56

Yeah. Gonna airdrop our bio. Here we go.

Diane: 12:59

right? Yeah. Who's gonna ask like, how am I gonna do this? And I'm not a big labels person. I really don't consider myself to be one way or another. I don't identify necessarily as being a lesbian. Okay. Or I don't identify as being I just, I just don't really I'm not into labels. I see how they can be helpful for other people. I see how other people want to be identified as certain things in the world. I'm just really not that person. If you know me, I'm just like a circle. I'm just like, I don't know. I'm just flowing. I'm just rolling along. I don't really wanna have to stop and make myself a square for you. What I mean by that is like fit into a category. So that you can be more comfortable, I have Yeah, I'm more than that. I'm more than you're an enigma. Yes. Or a label for you, yes, I am married to a woman, but doesn't necessarily mean that I identify only as that and I feel uncomfortable. Constantly having to label myself for somebody else's comfort. I really rather not,

Sky: 13:58

Yeah. How about you Sky? Oh, I'm a lesbian She's cool

Diane: 14:03

with the label. I, when people ask, I'm like, oh, yeah, she's a lesbian, It's just kinda our like, hard thing, yeah.

Sky: 14:10

Yeah. Diane's my wife and I'm the lesbian in the group, so there's that I, yeah, labels don't bother me. I think if like she had touched on, if you're more comfortable identifying in one way or another than good for you. As far as constantly coming out, I feel that I, have met different clients or through jobs, or a long time ago I was working at a healthcare facility and the charge nurse that I worked under, found out that I was in a lesbian relationship for the longest time. She thought that I was in a relationship with a guy and I was like her favorite. But the second that she found out that I was with a woman, oh my goodness, she made my life a living hell. She gave me all of the shit jobs. And it was just, it was really hard. And it was like they had a chapel on site and she would always make it like a requirement for me to take my clients to the chapel. And it wasn't because my clients needed to go it was because she was, they were trying to like, pray the gay away kind of a thing, wow. And that's great, but No, thank you. I'll pass Wow. Yeah, so it, it, it is a constant cycle of coming out and I think that there are some people that again, are taken back when, they first meet Diane and I especially if we're, Looking more presentable. we don't look like your normal we just look like, we could be just like really good friends or something like that. Just like on a date night out or something like that. but not, I don't think that people would necessarily view us as a couple unless they really get to know us. and then they see it, But we've been together for a million years at this point.

Eric: 15:50

prehistoric

Sky: 15:50

times. Yeah. No, ask Diane. She can tell you how long we've been together.

Diane: 15:54

Yeah. I'm not a good, I'm not good at time, but I say sky's sky's ability to be. really does make me more comfortable, you know what I mean? like I said, I don't really like the box or the label, so I hesitate when meeting somebody to put myself in that right away because I feel like it's just like human nature. To, oh, Eric, the gay guy, or oh, Diane. You know what I mean? Yeah. Oh, boom. I'm like no. Especially if I'm working, I'm like, no, I really wanna get to know someone first, or for somebody to get to know me first. Before I can start slapping labels on myself because I, especially, just professional jobs or different things like that. It's just Awkward when people right away label you. I don't like that. I want to be known for me as a person, not as a label, but I will say just being like with Sky, like she's very open and things like that. I really needed that. Because I felt like I could be more closed off just because I'm so aversive to the labeling that I, it really helps me. I am a lot more comfortable with myself because of how comfortable she is with he. I really, that's great. I can appreciate

Eric: 17:01

that. It's interesting when you're talking about labels and the assumptions, like that's the, that's one downside about being labeled is because all these assumptions come with that label. Like people have already, like written out that label and whatever, all the key points to what it is. I oscillate back and forth. I understand being labeled as far as we need to have that representation, we need to have that recognition. We need to like, let people know that we are out here too. So there's an importance to being labeled, but then there's also like that downside that you've mentioned because all these assumptions are coming in with it and people think they just have you figured out and they're gonna think of you as this way without ever getting to know you.

Diane: 17:38

Yes. Exactly. Yeah. That's been my experience in some ways. So therefore, I. I'm just like, no, I don't give up a, like I think you and I have talked about extroversion and introversion before. Oh yeah. A lot of people think I am extroverted because I am like outgoing and I can talk to basically anyone. And I, I feel very comfortable with myself. So people do think that, but I'm actually very introverted and I'm just like, oh no, you're gonna have to work to peel those layers, We're gonna have to, we have to be comfortable. Spend some time together if you wanna get to know me I'm not just gonna give you three labels so you can walk away and never get to know me. Yeah. If we don't get to know each other, that's fine. That's okay with me. If we don't, it wasn't meant to be, we're not gonna be friends. That's cool. I have a lot to do anyways.

Eric: 18:25

Yeah. You like work full-time. You have two jobs and you're in a master's program. Like

Sky: 18:30

you're,

Diane: 18:31

I'm like, if I'm not gonna give people anything. Unless you deserve to be within my space and take some of my time. I don't really feel the need to satisfy your need to label me. That's just how I feel. I think that's

Sky: 18:46

beautiful.

Gil: 18:47

there's nothing wrong with that.

Eric: 18:50

You just dropped the mic interview over. I'm just kidding.

Gil: 18:54

Oh, sorry. I'm enjoying this. what's your, what's the importance of pronouns? Cuz it's something that I know we've been all disc discuss, or Eric and I've been discussing at length also as well as I wouldn't say it's modern trend, but it's definitely more in the forefront and part of the woke community. Yeah. What is, what do you guys feel about that?

Diane: 19:18

Go ahead babe.

Sky: 19:19

Go. Okay. I don't have a problem with it. I don't necessarily ask people, if someone, identifies as they, he, she, whatever, I, to me it doesn't bother me any It can get a little tricky. I'm not a spring chicken anymore even though

Eric: 19:38

I'm in my five is not old.

Sky: 19:40

Yes. I'm in my second round of twenties and that's fine. It's just being I guess mindful or aware that somebody goes by a specific pronoun and just trying to be respectful of that. But it doesn't bother me any.

Diane: 19:54

Yeah, I, and I can see how it's very important to some people. I feel like I definitely want to respect whatever somebody wants to be. I know like I said, I'm fairly, or I'm fairly, I don't know if I said it, but I'm fair, I'm comfortable being a she or they i, but I I'm ju I'm comfortable with the way that I was born as a female and just being all these different versions of what a female can be. But I totally understand if somebody is not comfortable in their own skin in their, in the gender that they were assigned at birth, I feel that it is very important for them to be acknow. for who they feel in their heart. So if, if I meet somebody who wants to be he, then I know that's like deep and it takes a lot of courage for them to ask the world to to acknowledge them as something different than they were born. but it must mean a lot to them to be asking that. So I do feel it is important in the way that somebody maneuvers through the world and their comfort level with other people around them.

Eric: 20:57

What ways do you think we can do better as a community?

Sky: 21:02

Do you

Diane: 21:02

have ways Hi. I feel like lesbians really need to step it up on the dressing, on the outfits. say that you nailed

Sky: 21:15

She, she's not the baggy sweats on a date night out. She's not about that. And I, but I'll, but I will say I do agree with that, but even comes when it comes to straight men, because we have been out at like restaurants and the girl is

Eric: 21:27

I'm guilty of that too. The girl

Sky: 21:29

is dolled up. You know what I mean? Oh, that's wrong. Their lady is dolled up and yet he's in some joggers and, and a brand new hat or something like that. That is not dressed up like fuck, like shower be presented for her. She tried, you give it a try, I do get that, but,

Diane: 21:44

okay. Alright. on a serious note though. I feel like our community is like oversexualized. So I feel so that's one of the things like I have some trouble with is just that I'm not sure if it's our community's issue or other people's issue with it, but I don't feel like the idea of who you love or whatever, it doesn't have to be so sexualized. So I feel like a lot of times people focus on the fact that you're having sex. Two men are having sex, and or two, like women oh, what's going on there? I'm like, I don't know. It's just probably as interesting as it is, like when a guy and a girl are together, like it's interesting that it's not that interesting. it's just two people like making each other feel good. And that varies from couple to couple.

Eric: 22:32

So are you saying that oversexualized, like in outward perception of what a gay relationship is or an L G B LGBTQ relationship is?

Diane: 22:39

Yeah, I just feel like the focus is on the sex between Okay. Those two people versus just two people. They're drawn to more things than just the sex part of it, like I like women versus men and it's not really like the sex part that is that different for me. It's the fact that I like the way that females communicate better. I like just there's different aspects of being with a woman. It's not like the sex part, and I'll do things, babe. Hell stop it. Yeah. But that's just me is every single time I feel like that's the focus, or like gay pride, like I do like gay pride, but I do feel like it's oversexualized a lot of times. I'm not saying that we can't have fun and, get crazy or whatever, but I do feel sometimes that the community represents itself too sexually. And then that's what we get remembered for. Like you go to a pride parade, and then there's kids, and then it's we're trying to oh e everybody makes a family. But the whole focus like is like very sexual and I feel like, oh man, like we're taking away from a lot of important aspects that we could be representing that aren't just that. Okay.

Sky: 23:49

I love pride. I'm, I've been a pride person for forever, and I will probably always celebrate and participate in pride for as long as I can. But I do agree with Diane when it comes over sexualized, especially to the parade portion of it, because there are people of all ages, all backgrounds, all, there's people that are curious about it and want to learn more. And if that is their comfort zone with just going to a parade and getting their feet wet, if you will, with exposure or experience. you want it to be as positive as possible. And if your first interaction or your first Time of seeing any lesbian or gay couple or anything like that, but it is being more like vulgar. Then it can be a turnoff. It could be like I don't know if this is, maybe I'm not gay. You know what I mean? because that's not how I view myself. I don't view myself as being like that aggressive when it comes to different types of public displays of affection or things, I don't know. Just things of that nature. Okay.

Eric: 24:53

Yeah. That's fair.

Sky: 24:54

I think I know here we have, the fairgrounds where they do the after parade situation and I think there, you're behind. Closed walls. And I'm not saying you have to be behind closed walls or anything like that, but it is a paid event. And if you want to see different types of performers or different types of events or things like that, then that's a little bit more of a venue to embrace that as opposed to just like a public. Yeah.

Eric: 25:19

I think that's, oh, go ahead. Sorry. No. No, I just, I think being the community is nuanced in a lot of ways and as far as like you go, you were talking about the perception or people just obsess over like the physical, sexual part of it and they don't think about the intimacies and the romanticizing that comes along with it. I consider myself as, although I identify as gay, like physically and sexually, like I consider myself more biromantic cause I tend to be more drawn emotionally and mentally to women. So I can see where that is. That's going to a comment you had made earlier, Diane. This is gonna lead me to a five part question. coming up but Diane taking notes. As far as like the over sexualization or promoting that sexualization when people are coming into our spaces. I think a lot of it also though, and we've had this discussion on the podcast before, where a lot of times we're going through our teenage phases in our exploration phases later in life because we weren't allowed to do that cuz we were so closeted and so closed up. So once we're allowed to do that, we just go full throttle with it and it's just living our life in. Our experiences in experiencing what we would've experienced like 5, 10, 20 years ago when we were teenagers maybe 60 years ago. And you're like, oh my gosh. This is what it was supposed to be like and everything like that. So I don't know that, but the sad part is because as you guys alluded to, that's what gets remembered. And then that's get that's is what people view and that's the lens they put on. So that leads me to my next question of do you think, what do you think about stereotypes and do you think the stereotype comes first or do you think the action that promotes the stereotype comes first? And then are there any stereotypes that you are pigeonholed into and what it's your opinion on. How people treat stereotypes. And I think I'll end those questions there. that was a lot of questions all wrapped into one. They all deal with stereotypes,

Diane: 27:30

okay. So about what you said about I've actually heard a lot of that as far as the gay experience it is that, people get a chance to live out their, like more like adolescent type years as they're older because they weren't allowed to date. So all of a sudden they're like dating for the first time and they might be 30 years old. You know what I mean? And it's actually it's a plus minus though, because one of the things that I love about the gay community, and even me when I moved here I was like 24, 25, And one of the things that I just loved about the community was, how youthful it was. Like I can hang out with in the gay community and it's just fun. it is so much fun. Even me like, at that time 25 years old, whatever, like my friends from PA were like already married, had kids they're like on that downslide, you know what I mean? Yeah. They're just, where I was like, yeah, holy shit. Like I had party back then too, yeah. But man, it was so much fun and there were people, older than me. just having so much fun. I had just so much fun. And I know if I wanna go somewhere and have a good time, gay community is the best way to do it. You're not gonna see us at a straight club having a great time. That's just boring, it really is, it's boring when you go to straight. You wanna have some straight people know this too. You wanna have some fun, you gotta go out where the gays are at. Uhhuh

Sky: 28:56

That's where all the, that's where all the straight people are now. Is that the gays? Yeah. Yeah.

Diane: 28:59

It's true. Yeah. We have but it's just and that, so it's a plus minus, It's sad that I want future generations to be able to be an adolescent and adolescent. But I definitely don't ever wanna take away the fun from the gay community. And that's not what I mean by being oversexualized. Oh no. I wanna have fun. Like I wanna party, but there's a time and a place and there's a time where people are watching us, such as Gay Parade, where I wanna be more responsible as a community. Sure. But hell no. If we're out, let's have fun. You know what I mean? Wear whatever you wanna wear. Wear your chaps or

Eric: 29:33

They have a pair of those. Yeah.

Sky: 29:35

Oh, lemme borrow 'em sometimes

Diane: 29:40

she fucking would. Yeah. Sorry.

Eric: 29:43

Can cus as much as you want on this. Don't worry,

Diane: 29:46

I was like, oh God. Yeah. But seriously, like I, I wanna hold onto that youthful nature and I want it to be different, but I want people to be able to accept themselves younger and all that stuff. What was the second part of the question? Cause I know I was thinking about a lot about

Sky: 30:00

that

Eric: 30:00

part. Oh, I asked about what do you think about stereotypes? What comes first, the stereotype or the action? Are there any stereotypes you've been pigeonholed into? And what are your thoughts on that?

Diane: 30:12

I feel like the stereotypes are diminishing. Okay. I feel like people see are seeing, oh those two, they're together. I see younger couples. I see older couples together. I see a ton of butchy straight women, so they're really I've been surprised by a lot of women. I'm like, she, I'm stereotyping somebody, ironically, right? I'm like, oh, you know this lesbian. And she's oh, my husband. I'm like, what the hell? I kinda so I kinda feel people are the, they're becoming less and less, I do feel that way. Because I don't feel like we are no longer in the place where we see that all lesbians look this way. All gay men look this way and or they act that way or they talk this way. I feel that those things are diminishing, but I think that when they do occur, they might feed into each other in some way. Okay. And Go ahead Ben.

Sky: 31:02

Yeah, I would have to agree as far as like them feeding into each other. Just my personal experience, meeting somebody and being open about who I am as a person and being in a relationship with female and things like that. Like automatically there's like a flood of questions and they are all typically like stereotype type questions. And, it has nothing necessarily to do with anything that I've done or said. that automatically feeds that. It's just maybe their experience their ignorance, I'm not sure. But yeah I do hope that most, not only stereotypes within the gay community, but just like in general I hope that they do fade away because it, it does try to like, again, box people into a specific space where that's not necessarily the case. It could be an open-ended box yeah. Where,

Diane: 31:54

go ahead. Okay. So I wanna say so we have different experiences and that's because like our work culture is different. So I'm an educator, so we're very aware of of ourselves. Like we get trained on this type of thing. Like people are just, we have to act and be a certain way because we're working with kids who are very impressionable and things of that nature. It's just the culture of our job. Whereas she works at where like I, I'll be really honest, like I feel weird going to because I know, because like I know they know about her and people are like completely like oogling, like as soon as I walk in, they're just like, and I've told her, I was like, I felt so weird when I come here. And it does have a lot to do with the fact that it does have so much to do with the fact that. They are looking at me because they wanna see like how much of the stereotype we fit. And I feel that a lot more in like her workplace than mine, where I work with people who are more diverse in so many ways. I feel d there might be more diversity than we know, but as far as I know, Leah you're like the token lesbian at your place, right?

Sky: 33:03

No, I mean there's a few that are there, but I definitely don't look the way they do. Okay.

Diane: 33:09

So they expect me to be really buting because she'll be like, they, I don't feel like they're buting, so they like, expect me, and then they're like, oh, she's not what we thought you'd be taller. Just kidding. they, I'm gonna take more like the guy roll and then they see me and I'm just like, I don't know, just like a normal, just like middle, I'm not like too buty or too fair. Just kinda a regular, so I do feel like the stereotypes, they do affect you differently depending on your environment, So me I will be dealing with that as much as somebody who works in a different type of environment, I'm very privileged in that way. I feel like I'm very privileged in that way because the people I'm around are very accepting. At least publicly. Yeah. No, that's other places. Yeah. Other places. It's not as it's not as it's more normal not to be accepting in some places, and I think a lot of people are still struggling with stereotypes because of

Eric: 34:03

that. Yeah. No that's a good point. What do you think are the importance of queer spaces?

Sky: 34:09

I think that they are very important. I just, I feel for somebody who's been out for a hundred years versus somebody who's coming out for the first time, you need to be able to feel safe in your environment. even if you're not like expressing yourself to the fullest extent or if you're again, just just, you're getting to know yourself and getting to know yourself in a safe space, I think is so important. Yeah. I know the first time that I ever went to Pulse or Blue, I felt. Comfortable in my own skin versus being, at other places where I was just a little bit more reserved, if you will. Yeah, absolutely. I don't know. In a previous job that I worked in I had I did hospice care and the lady that I was caring for was in a relationship and before she passed away, they were in the relationship for about 65 years, and she was with another lady and they lived together. And of course they were roommates for 65 years. The family knew. And, before she passed away they did come out. But having different conversations with both ladies they just said that they were so happy that. I was able to be here and now and have more of a safe space versus throughout their younger years. their safe space was going camping with, with other people and being like out away from people Yeah. To where they could be together and be in the kind of relationship that they wanted to experience together. And that was their safe space. I think that they would've enjoyed going out to dinner together and, possibly holding hands. Or going, dancing together. That was like a big thing. They showed me a whole bunch of photos of them, at different campsite,

Diane: 35:59

around, around the world

Sky: 36:01

actually. They'd be dancing around the fire with other couples and things like that and just, they were really beautiful photographs. I think it's important to have a safe space. Whe whether it's out in nature or clubs or, social events, any, anything like that. I think it's, I think it's really good, really

Diane: 36:16

healthy. I agree with that because a lot of people like do have a bad experience and they don't have a safe space. Like they might not have family. I feel that for a lot of gay people still, it's sad, but they don't have a holiday like Christmas to celebrate with other people. Not that, we celebrate Christmas in a traditional way, but like those times can be super extra lonely for people and for people to have a safe space. It's it's so valuable to them because you never know, like you might, this might be the only safe space that they're able to embrace. But one of the things that just just for me today is just There's a new fear about those safe spaces because they're being attacked. So so you're in this nice, safe space and with other people where you feel comfortable with yourself and you have this feeling of normativity. Oh, I walk in and everybody, everybody's like me. Just like the world is for most, straight white men, you feel that level of oh I'm belong. This is my space. I belong here. And one of the biggest fears that I have now is like, lack of a safe space due to terrorist type stuff, and I'm not talking about like terrorist hate crimes. Yeah. Police stuff. Like it's, I feel so sad when people do attack a gay club or something like that. Cause that might be someone's only place. But there is a new fear for that, for not just gay people, but for anybody who practice any specific thing. Jewish people. Yeah.

Sky: 37:47

Muslims,

Eric: 37:48

Schools now too, just schools have tried to very violent places. What are, and I'm not trying to hog all the questions from Gil but this just piggybacks off my last question. What's your opinion on straight people coming into queer spaces?

Sky: 38:05

I can answer on that one. Go for it. Just me. I've had plenty of different experiences where, I'll go to a gay club or things like that and I'm having a good time. If somebody wants to dance with me, I am all for it, but I don't feel that it's appropriate to start groping on somebody or being just inappropriate and in your bubble, whether I'm straight, whether I'm gay, it doesn't really matter. I just feel it's, I'm a person and be respectful of that. Being at some of I think 1, 1, 1 of the almond gay clubs there is now there, there is quite a bit of straight people that go there and they do tend to hit on, all of the females that are there. Yeah. And it's, if you're with your person and you're dancing with your person, then it becomes this it just becomes uncomfortable. It's no longer comfortable. You know what I mean? I think if you're there to have a good time, but not be a perv then great. You know what I mean? Or if you're there to have a good time and be a perv, then it better be with the same sex That's just, that's the kind of club that it is. So that, I

Eric: 39:11

dunno. Yeah, no I was honestly probably at the club you're speaking of just recently, Uhhuh, like a few weeks ago I went out dancing and take me next time. Okay. Yeah, for sure. Okay. I was like, wow, I feel like I'm in a straight bar right now. Yeah. It was so like weird and uncomfortable for me cuz I just saw all these bros like hanging out with their bros and like checking out all the girls and then they were just like boyfriends with their girlfriends there and it was just, and I don't wanna sound that way, but I was like, whoa, like you're intruding on our space now. Like I don't feel as comfortable. And if you've ever, if anyone's ever gone out with me, which I think all three of you guys have at least once or twice in your life I love to just throw down on a dance floor. Yeah. Yes. And I'm like, oh wow. Like all these like straight dudes are like around me am I supposed to be dancing or should I just like bob my head or go stand by the wall or something. Yeah. And that could just be like old school mentality too. Cause I know the younger generation's a lot more open, but

Gil: 40:06

but it's still a, I don't know, to me it's still be respectful of the area that you're in. It's I agree. It's same thing, like if something you have, you're going into a. I don't know, like some of the black churches were under fire. Absolutely. Like I said, you'll be respectful when you're going in. If you're coming in, you're like, oh my God, this is, I don't know. You're preaching a completely different verse in there. Yeah. You're being disrespectful of the area, sitting with the gay clubs and stuff like that. Like for us in the city, we used to have huge Halloween batches and stuff like that, but then straight guides started coming in and we don't have it because they started shooting it up. Because their small egos were getting hurt.

Diane: 40:42

I just had a small like visual of going to a straight club and just like hitting on all the girls. All awkward That's kinda, that is so there's plus minus, right? But like it is yeah, but I would just feel

Sky: 40:53

bad for the girls. That's so sad for them because if you're doing that then that, but that I dunno.

Diane: 40:57

No, but no, but, so that's what I'm saying is I love the rule of respecting the room that you're in, if I go to a religious place yeah, maybe I believe something differently, but I have to respect the space that I'm in. This is where I chose to walk in here, So I do think that like, when we do go to gay clubs and, guys see us dancing together and they're like, they like, try getting in there, and I'm like, dude, you're in a gay club. Yeah. If we're not gonna you, then you need to like, assume otherwise, I totally am with that. On the other hand, I do like the idea of when it's going right. I want there to never be a day where there is a gay club in some ways because I want us to feel comfortable everywhere we go and it to be fun everywhere that we go. Like I want it to be like, oh, all clubs are great for like gay couples, Everyone is here just having a good time and you can ask, or you can like, throw a hint, smile at someone, see if they're interested in you or not. Not just,

Sky: 41:56

I think just being respectful in general. You know what I mean? If somebody comes up to dance with me or dances with you, and we say, no, be respectful of that. You know what I mean? if you're some dude and you're in a gay club and you're like, trying to grind up all on me, you better believe that I'm gonna give you a dirty ass look. And if you don't back off after that, you're gonna get an elbow to the stomach, you're gonna get my I'm gonna stomp on your foot I'm gonna make a big scene because I'm not about that. You know what I mean? I think respecting people's spaces is extremely important.

Eric: 42:25

You're gonna follow the sing protocol.

Sky: 42:29

right? Yes, exactly. if it works. You know what I mean? Yeah. I'm just saying

Diane: 42:36

Eric, that reminds you always are like, I like your line. Because people be like, do you wanna dance? And I was like, I am dancing. Oh yeah.

Gil: 42:48

Where do you guys feel we are with the younger generation, the way that we're moving within the community?

Diane: 42:55

I, I feel like on some way it's so promising. And then in, in and then there's those communities of. Just hate that are also building equally as fast. so I feel like, oh, it could be like a generational thing. Like I'm always like hoping after all, and I'm not trying to be offensive in any way, but after all, like the bigoted white people move on that oh, that we can have better because the younger generation is more diverse. Those are like my hopes and when I'm, but I also see like the building of more of those types of people who are even more aggressive and that's scary to me. Yeah. Just like the. Trump followers. I'm like shocked. Sometimes yeah. How many people are actually like that in places that where ignorant is also brewing and breeding more, and I'm just shocked. So I'm not sure exactly I feel conflicted as far as that I feel like there's a lot of great things happening where people are, more open. Like you take a class now, everyone is, has their pronoun on their window. Everyone is like very respectful. Nobody wants to make anything. No one wants to be biased towards anything. There's a certain group of that oh, that's bias towards monogamy, or that's bias towards that, where people are really questioning those types of things. We shouldn't assume everyone likes a monogamous relationship. We shouldn't assume all these things about each other. and I really see a lot of that. But then, watching the news or I think that's where I see that type of thing is I'm shocked at how many people there are that are still anti-gay, anti like super racist and I'm like, holy shit, those are young people out there, that that are still ignorant and starting stuff or like trying to hurt other people and it's pretty shocking. So I'm not sure to be honest.

Sky: 44:48

No, that's fair.

Eric: 44:49

That's a good answer.

Sky: 44:50

Yeah, I think that social media has helped quite a bit as far as people having a platform and being able to be themselves in a comfortable space and this podcast wasting exactly. And being able to be themselves, be open, and people get to know firsthand. Oh, okay. They're pretty cool even though, I don't agree with their sexual orientation or I don't agree with, the pronoun they wanna go by, but they're more than that. and I think when people that maybe don't agree with the gay community or don't agree with certain. Beliefs or things like that, I think they'd need to like really see what it is that they don't agree with and learn, educate themselves, really get to know they're more than X, Y, and Z. They're more than, whatever. So I think that, the younger generation, or not even just the younger generation, but just people in general that are using different platforms to be able to be open and be themselves and things like that is helping with positive exposure. But then again, on the other hand, there are those that are doing the exact same thing with the negative So it's that scale where we need a finder a balance. And unfortunately there isn't one and there hasn't really been one. it's always tipped one way. and that needs to change. I think it's time for for the change to happen, for more people to really take a look in the mirror and say, okay, what is my problem with this? just from my side I have a decent relationship with my mom, but she says one thing to my face, and I cannot be her Facebook friend. I cannot be like, I can't have an actual, genuine conversation with her because she's not real. And that's, it's sad and it's hurtful because, she is my mom and she loves me no matter what. But then she'll say something that kind of contradicts that And it's unfortunate that she doesn't understand or she doesn't see how those types of comments or the things that she posts or things like that really have effect on our relationship. She wants to be closer, but yet she's also being the one that's pushing us away. In saying that, I am her daughter. I am a product in some way, shape, or form. Of what she exposed me to. So she needs to really take a step back and see where, if I'm in the wrong for being who I am, then what did she do wrong in raising me?

Gil: 47:11

you're raised at a straight household or relatively straight households.

Sky: 47:14

Yeah.

Eric: 47:14

We're

Sky: 47:15

exposed to that. Yeah. And, but she was, it was very strange cuz she was very open with a lot of things. like I, I knew about RuPaul a long time ago. She was all about RuPaul, but yet at the same time it was a no-no in her house. Oh, okay. So there's that like we're it's okay for make believe, or the idea of something, but not in actuality. Yeah. I don't know. I think that the new generation, as long as they stay strong, And they really find their group that supports them. I do feel like at some point in time that those scales are gonna tip and the people that are on the negative or against the l lgbtq plus community I think they're really gonna start to see where we're just people living our lives just like everybody else. Yeah.

Gil: 48:04

Yeah. Yeah. I was gonna say, especially with, I feel like especially we lost, when you're thinking about the our community, the way we have Quantum leap a hundred years ago to now, yes, we've made huge strides, but we also lost an entire generation to AIDS. So there's a. Gap in history also, that it's how are we feeling in, and then also within Gen X and older millennials, how are we now gonna try to change things also because we're being exposed, how do we buck the trend also? And I think it's taken a responsibility as now we are of age to and power. We do have financial, a little bit more financial power to change things and weed out some of the people who have been in office to meet too long. I'm from California, Diane Fe, thank God she's stepping out. The woman's 8,500 years old. Like I voted for her before, but that was like two terms ago. she, so just thinking also within progression within I think parties is how do we change the dialogue? I think also cuz we do have, I think we owe responsibility. I think especially my generation as a millennial, we're passive. We're this is the way it is. I know it sucks. Let me go get a bottle. Yeah, I think there's, it's true there, there's a lot of, compared to why Gen Z looks so fiery, it's because they're speaking up, they're using their platforms. And millennials, I think we've always got caught in that we got sucked into the boomer dialogue of what we should be. And a lot of us took a very, let's put my hands underneath my lap and call it a day. Yeah. The backseat. Yeah. Very passive

Sky: 49:38

I think when it comes to like political yeah. The presidency has a term, I think there needs to be a term for other areas in in politics. I think that if you have run X amount of times and you have not been voted for X amount of times, like there needs to be a deadline. You know what I mean? You can't run for beauty queen when you're a hundred. It's just, there's rules, And I think that there needs to be that in, in place in so many ways.

Eric: 50:02

We're huge advocates for term limits on this podcast. Yes. Including scotus.

Gil: 50:08

Everyone.

Diane: 50:10

I feel like Gil, you said a really important thing is we've we said like about the, being passive or whatever. But I feel like that's probably the one thing that we're gonna have to overcome is our human nature. Yeah. To just not deal with it. Yeah. Our human nature to be like, yeah, that's important, but someone else will fix it. Cause I know I feel like that, yeah. I'm like that important, but I really need to walk the dog right now. Or I really need to like accomplish my goals and do my stuff. Yeah. Which in some way, like that has always been my philosophy and I just don't know if it's like good enough. But I feel if I just am I've al I've talked about this I think it was like on another podcast actually about how Just having the courage to just be myself. Yeah. In front of other people or just I, I'm a teacher, so I've influenced a lot of students, just by being who I am. Like I've never been a great advocate, but I'm like, I just am who I am. Yeah. I'm like, oh yeah, this is my family, and just being open with who I am and, and that has something to do with the way that I advocate for people. Yeah. You know what I mean? Because even nowadays, I'll have students that I taught, 10 years ago, that they've come out. And I'm friends with them on, on Facebook or Instagram or different types of things. And I know that a lot of it has to do with the fact that I was out and they would saw me. I was just like, it's not a regular thing. I'm not like, it's just a regular thing. I'm not like making a big statement out of it. I'm not asking for your permission. I'm just like, oh yeah, you know what? And this is, my wife and our son, and this is our family and this is, and this is what we do on the weekend. We're just like normal people. And some kids would be like, oh, interesting. But that was, that's, that was it. Yeah. But, and I feel that some kids, especially some of the girls who are having trouble, were just like, oh, wow. Like holy shit. Like someone's like me and they're just open about it. They're just doing whatever, so I feel like just living your authentic life and being open and not asking for permission, it's a huge way to advocate, but it probably might not be enough. but people just don't know how to make it more, because when you do preach online, you're preaching to the choir most of the time. Cuz most of the people who are your friends or whoever you're talking to, they they believe the same thing that you do. So the question is just like, how do people make these changes? Yeah. The, I think we're posed with a huge question because we have other things to worry about as humans. I don't care about people's genitalia or where they're putting it, I'm like, shit, y'all we're gonna run outta water. Yeah.

Eric: 52:40

That's a

Diane: 52:41

bigger issue. Yeah, exactly. People are not worried about their genitals. Like across the world, people are worried about hunger. we have bigger things to worry about. I've always completely. Astonished with the stupidity of humans. I'm like, why do we care what color we are? Why are we caring about the color of a person or the genitals of a person or what they wanna do with them or anything like that? I do not care. I'm like, can we come up with some solutions to some real shit? There's not clean air. There's not clean water. Animals are dying. I'm like, there the, there are better things to, to worry about. And I think making sure that people understand that these are imp more important in some way, shape, or form. Like, how do we do that? How do we get to, for people to see the real problems? Not these made up like ideas that are all just basically just there's a word for what I'm looking for, but just like a mental construct. You know what I mean? all these are, there's real stuff that we need to worry about.

Gil: 53:43

What about drag Queens? You're an educator. Sorry.

Diane: 53:48

I know you're awesome to watch

Gil: 53:52

I cannot, yeah.

Diane: 53:55

Yeah.

Sky: 53:56

I love drag queens. Sometimes I just need to get some makeup tips and I watch some good videos.

Gil: 54:07

I learned how to roast people that way. It's ok, Bianca del Rio, please educate

Diane: 54:13

Yeah. It's just, it's shocking how people are obsessed with this kind of stuff, and I'm just like,

Eric: 54:18

Yeah, absolutely. It's crazy. We have some rapid fire questions for you. you guys you guys are the first ones to get our rapid fire question,

Sky: 54:27

Oh yeah.

Diane: 54:29

Now,

Eric: 54:34

so when have you felt your

Sky: 54:36

weakest.

Diane: 54:41

Honey, go ahead. When have I felt my weakest? Like just in general as a human being? Yeah.

Eric: 54:46

What's first that comes to your mind? Like a moment or a time or situation?

Diane: 54:52

I think when I I feel my weakest when I isolate myself because I'm in like, in a bad way and I just feel like no one's gonna I don't wanna connect. And then I realize don't isolate yourself. Get out there and like people will make you more comfortable. And I feel like my weakest when I'm not connected with other people. Okay.

Sky: 55:13

I would agree, but I have really bad anxiety, so it does hinder me a lot from taking those steps. I don't know, going for a walk the other day by myself was like a huge accomplishment. Just. Little things like that, I guess when I'm, in a mental funk, it's a gloomy day. So therefore I just am gloomy myself and and those types of things. It's being around people I want to be, but I can't because I struggle with my anxiety and things like that. So that kind of yeah.

Eric: 55:44

And when do you feel you're strongest or when have you felt your strongest? Me?

Diane: 55:54

I'll go either one. Cause I could tell you thinking I, I also do feel my strongest, I feel my strongest when I'm in the flow of life. And whether that can be ups down to whatever. But as long as I am connecting with the people that are important to me and I, and I feel. Open and a lot of times I feel the strongest when there's change flowing and I'm accepting it and I'm just like, wow, I can just really go with that. But it does have a lot to do with being connected with others. whether it's like at work, at home I feel the strongest when I do have those relationships and I'm willing to open up and be vulnerable with everybody.

Sky: 56:36

Love that. I think I feel the strongest when I don't know, when I'm with my person and we're having a good time with other people. Diane's family is very loving and accepting of me. And I don't wanna get emotional. But I didn't have that. So whenever we do visit them and I'm around that I feel very empowered to be okay with me. So it's again, being like around like the gay community, except they're all not gay But it's just it's like that same, it's that same vibe, I feel like I can be me and I'm accepted for who I am. all my flaws and everything, so yeah.

Gil: 57:19

What's a feeling you miss?

Diane: 57:24

What's a feeling? I miss? I miss, I really miss that feeling of belonging to a larger crowd. I really haven't had that for a long time. I really wanna have that. And Eric and I have shared that experience together where we have a community of friends and we hang out all the time. And I really miss having that feeling of a crew and yeah. Things that we do together. I miss that a lot.

Eric: 57:52

I love that. I miss that too.

Sky: 57:55

I've never had that, so I guess I do miss that, but I've never experienced that really. I guess in, in some ways, but not maybe to the extent. So

Gil: 58:06

what's a feeling you cherish?

Diane: 58:10

I cherish peace and I really cherish the comfortable solitude that I'm able to experience now that I'm a lot more grown up and just i, I just that feeling where I can just sit with my breath. and be relaxed and comfortable just even being by myself. I really cherish that.

Gil: 58:33

No

Diane: 58:34

pressure. Scott

Sky: 58:35

Oh my gosh. Dang it. No, shut up. Yeah.

Diane: 58:42

May I add to that and I'll help you? Yeah. The other feeling that I really cherish is like when Sky and I are just chilling at home and it just feels so good, like to be comfortable with our animals and it's just, we can just be, there's no, no TV or no music and we're just sitting there. In those moments. I love those little moments. Like I, those little moments are the things that I look forward to every day.

Gil: 59:14

and you remember those. It's mundane as it is. Yeah. what

Sky: 59:19

it's, it's very for me it's I do cherish those moments. It is very heartwarming because we have been together for such a long period of time at this point. And our relationship has had its ups and its downs, like a lot of other relationships. And we've made it this far and we continue to grow with each other. And I think that is beautiful. growing pains can be difficult, but, needed. And I just, I do cherish the fact that I have a partner who knows me, And understands me for the most part. And if she doesn't understand something, she wants to So that means a lot,

Gil: 1:00:02

Okay. And then we're gonna wrap it up with this one. I want to thank myself for

Diane: 1:00:06

Dot. I wanna thank myself for always being willing to put in the work to be a better person.

Sky: 1:00:16

think for me, I wanna thank myself for just being able to to be me. From early on I knew that I was not gonna fit into everybody's box. I was not gonna be like everybody else. I wasn't a cookie cutter mold, and I'm proud of that. I feel like it takes a lot of strength and a lot of courage and just a lot of acceptance within yourself. To be able to do that because you, you do risk losing a lot of people in your life. You do risk being judged or being looked at in a negative way, And for me I do wanna be around people who love me for me and it's hard to be able to do that, I think for some people. So for me, I think it's just, for being able to have the courage to be myself.

Eric: 1:01:12

I love that. Thank you. Thank you for sharing. Yes. Thank you guys for being on the show. We greatly appreciate it. Also, Gill, I want to thank you, Diane, for our logo because you're the one who designed our logo for us. So thank you so

Diane: 1:01:25

much. Anytime. It was fun. It was fun. Thank you, I was like, I know how much they love this podcast, so I want them to love the Yes

Gil: 1:01:36

You get smoothed off the wrinkles. I was like, oh, yes,

Diane: 1:01:39

There were no wrinkles. There were no

Eric: 1:01:44

But thank you guys so much. Thank you guys for joining us. Do you guys have any socials that you want to plug or DemTeez or anything like

Sky: 1:01:52

that? I am,

Diane: 1:01:52

My hobby is creating digital art, whether that is like creating a logo or customized hats, t-shirts. And I just enjoy doing that. So if anyone is ever interested in doing that, then please connect with me. Demteez.com basically. Okay. Look, look at demteez.com.

Sky: 1:02:11

I'm a dog trainer, so peace with love and paws. Awesome.

Eric: 1:02:15

Thank you. That's so great. If anyone wants to connect with us, they can check us out at the q lounge podcast.com. Hit us up on Facebook at the Q Lounge podcast, Instagram, Twitter at the Q Lounge. You can listen to us on any of the services that you get, your podcasts. And thank you guys

Sky: 1:02:36

so much.

Diane: 1:02:37

Thank fun.

Sky: 1:02:38

Thank

Diane: 1:02:39

you.

1:02:41

The Q lounge. The Q lounge. Be sugar daddy. The Q lounge. The Q lounge. In your authenticity. Welcome to the Q Lounge. The Q Lounge. Be our sugar Audi, the Q Lounge. Live your authenticity. Be our sugar down. Welcome to the Q Lounge. The Q Lounge Sugar down living. Welcome to the Q Lounge. The Q Lounge. Be our sugar Audi, the Q Lounge. Live your authenticity. Be our sugar down. Welcome to the Q Lounge. The Q Lounge Sugar down living.