Getting out to vote, big gay apps merging, matriarch Mama Vi, artist Anthony Hurd Daily Inspiration: Ask for what you want * Life is too short to beat around the bush or hope what you want lands in your lap * When you know what you truly want, state your intentions, ask for it, own it. * Take the risk, even if it’s a long shot. * If you don’t get it, at least you tried. Check In: * New recovery and spiritual mentor * Retreat weekend Early Voting * Early voting open in many states * Mail-in voting underway * Utilize opportunities to free up in-person space on poling days Gay Apps Rising * Scruff buys Growlr – Back in the LGBTQ+ family * Grindr buys Freddie – Expanding footprint of telehealth service for PrEP and other meds. Trailblazer: Mama Vi * Viola Johnson know as Mama Vi is an elder, historian, and advocate within our international leather, fetish, and kink communities - a living and celebrated matriarch. * Born in 1950, she entered the leather community in the 1970s and over the decades trailblazed a path to become a prominent figure and long time mentor. * She is one of the eight original founders of the Mid-Atlantic Onyx Pearls, a sister leather organization to ONYX. * She is the founder of the Carter Johnson Library, which archives thousands of books, posters, and newsletters documenting the history of S/M and leather culture - one of the most respected leather archives in the world. * She has served on the board of directors for the Leather Archives & Museum in Chicago and the Leather Hall of Fame. * She is the author of multiple books including most known “To Love, to Obey, to Serve: Diary of an Old Guard Slave” * She has received countless awards from the Leather, Fetish, and Kink community including the Leatherarian Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, the FORA Award in 2019, and the Race Bannon Advocacy Award in 2020. * The Carter Johnson Leather Library & Collection became a living historical resource for scholars, activists, artists, and community members seeking to understand leather culture. * Website: https://www.carterjohnsonlibrary.com/ Catch Of The Week: Artist Anthony Hurd * Artist, Designer, illustrator living in Austin TX or Albuquerque, NM. * Works in acrylic on wood with originals and prints available * Beautiful romance of real people, imagined and unseen. * From his about, “ I recently found that my inner child has been craving one thing, the representation that didn’t exist. Queer people of all ages, body shapes and sizes as well as skin color basking in the glory of loving tenderness. Taking up space in nature, in public. New love, old love, friendships and beyond, it’s a vulnerability most queer people didn’t grow up with in my age. So I’m painting it, I’m planting those seeds, I’m paving new roads and amending old contracts I had with myself. “ * Website: https://anthonyhurd.com/ Please drop your comments on YouTube or email them to daddysam@atouchofgay.com * Website: atouchofgay.com * Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky: atouchofgaypod * Audio Podcast drops on all major platforms every Sunday * YouTube Podcast drops a day early on Saturday * Our Podcast plays on GayPHX.com streaming radio every Monday at 10:00am This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atouchofgay.substack.com
