Stereotypes

On this episode of Stereotypes, Christopher Beale delves into the intersection of neurodivergence and queerness with Alicia Valenski, a bisexual, neurodivergent author, and world traveler.  They discuss the challenges LGBTQ+ individuals face in finding safe and inclusive travel destinations. Alicia shares insights from her latest book, Lonely Planet's LGBTQ+ Travel Guide, which is sourced from locals to offer authentic and safe travel recommendations for queer people.  They also touch on the current climate in the US and other parts of the world regarding the safety of queer travelers. The episode promises a deep dive into the importance of visibility and inclusion in both travel and identity. LINKS The full 40 minute interview. Alicia Valenski Lonely Planet's LGBTQ+ Travel Guide Stereotypes Live: Pride, Protest and Punchlines  

Whether through his myriad contributions to style, his talk show, or his run as a judge on Project Runway All Stars there is a good chance that you know Isaac Mizrahi. But you may not have known that for Isaac Mizrahi, all of that work in fashion, the success, the failures, was actually his plan B. How Isaac Mizrahi climbed to the top of the mountain in fashion, then got back to Plan A this time on Stereotypes. LINKS Isaac MizrahiIsaac Mizrahi PerformanceChristopher BealeRadioQueer.com

On this episode of Stereotypes: Straight Talk From Queer Voices, host Christopher J. Beale sits down with Sister Roma, a prominent member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, to discuss hookup safety amid an increase in violence targeting queer individuals through hookup apps. “I was scared for my community, and I was pissed off!” - Sister Roma The Sisters, known for their activism and HIV/AIDS outreach since the late 1970s, launched a simple three-step safety campaign called Safety First, Sexy Second where they encourage you to: “Buddy Up, Hook Up, Follow Up.” -

Black Native trans professional wrestler Nyla Rose grabbed attention when All Elite Wrestling signed her, and even more when they made her the first trans World Champion. That was 5 years ago, but it's a very different world today. AEW's Nyla Rose stops by Stereotypes. LINKS Nyla Rose on IGChristopher J. BealeStereotypes PodcastStereotypes.LiveAEW TIX

San Francisco based Queer South Asian recording artist Miraaj recounts his journey from growing up in Dubai with a crush on Ricky Martin, to coming out and moving to America to make music. Plus, Miraaj shares the inspiration for his new song and video "Secret" out now. Hear the full 40 minute interview on Patreon, click here. LINKS MiraajChristopher J. BealeStereotypes

Cory Allen spent a number of years on Michelle Obama's personal Secret Service detail, standing next to the most powerful couple in the world as an out and proud gay man. What was it like being Michelle Obama's Secret Service Agent, and what were his favorite moments…that he can talk about? From the Grammys to the World Cup, finding love, becoming a father and reconnecting with Michelle Obama, Cory Allen tells all in his book “Breaking Free” and on this episode of Stereotypes. LINKS Cory Allen https://www.coryallenbooks.com/ Christopher Beale https://christopherjbeale.com  The full 35 minute conversation with Cory Allen (out Wednesday 2/22) on Patreon. https://patreon.com/realchrisjbeale  Alicia Keys, Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga Open The 2019 GRAMMYs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqrBK9wmHl8

Anita Bryant has died, and if you've noticed queer people celebrating a bit you might be wondering why. At the beginning of the modern LGBTQ rights movement, she was probably the most visibly anti-LGBTQ person in America. This time on Stereotypes, why those of us in the know think Anita Bryant was wicked. LINKS StereotypesPodcast.org Christopher J. Beale Patreon AP News *NOTE: This episode was reuploaded on 1/11/25 to swap out a piece of archival audio that was of poor quality.*

Meet Toni Cannon, a charismatic trans man known for his acrobatic strongman performances, which combine feats of strength with dramatic flair. “ I wouldn't say I had the worst family experience with being trans or queer, but it was challenging.” – Toni Cannon Toni shares his journey of coming out as trans, discovering acrobatics, and eventually joining San Francisco's Circus Bella. Plus, how his act playfully critiques toxic masculinity.   LINKS The full conversation with Toni Cannon Toni Cannon on Instagram Circus Bella Christopher Beale  

Trans synth rock duo The FMs was conceptualized and created by longtime friends Matte Namer (she/they) and Frankie Rex (he/they). After releasing one album and recording parts for another, Rex suddenly died. Namer has dusted off Rex' vocal tracks for two new albums, and has their sights set on the future of The FMs. - LINKS Hear the full interview with Matte Namer Christopher Beale The FMs  

On this episode of Stereotypes: Straight Talk from Queer Voices, Christopher Beale introduces us to Lynne Jassem, a remarkable queer performer and pioneer whose journey began 75 years ago when she started exploring her gender identity at the tender age of three. Despite living as a butch lesbian, Lynne never fully embraced labels like non-binary or transgender, preferring a playful ambiguity in her self-identification. Hear Lynne's fascinating life journey and clips of her autobiographical solo show, "Tap Dancing with My Pronouns: The He/She Life of Richard Greene." – To hear the full 20 minute conversation with Lynne, join me on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. You'll also get each episode of Stereotypes early!  

Stereotypes has been away for a bit, host Christopher Beale shares an important update. LINKS StereotypesPodcast.org ChristopherJBeale.com Patreon.com/RealChrisJBeale

Standup comedy from LA-based comic Nina Nguyen, plus her take on representing transness in her comedy, and performing as a Trans woman in the male-dominated business of standup. Recorded at the San Francisco Eagle during Safewords Comedy Showcase “Laughs In Trans Nation” on August 28, 2024. LINKS Follow Nina on InstagramFollow Christopher on InstagramStereotypes Christopher J. Beale Team Wonder Dave  

"This is the city's backyard. An early morning walk will take a visitor past dozens of small businesses: metal benders, plastic molders, even casket makers. At five, they set down their tools and return to the suburbs. A few hours later men in black leather will step out on these same streets to fill the nearly thirty gay bars, restaurants and sex clubs." - Mark Thompson, 1982 Ringold Street, or Ringold Alley in San Francisco's SoMa or South of Market neighborhood, helped to start a kinky sexual revolution in the city by the bay. Ringold played host to the first two “Up Your Alley” street fairs before the moved to Dore Alley in 1987, but not many know the history of this once popular gay cruising spot in San Francisco's leather district. Gay author, activist, writer and leather educator Race Bannon takes us cruising and shares stories of the Ringold Alley that was, and what it's inspired in today's LGBTQIA2S+ community. LINKS Race Bannon on Substack LeatherWalkOn Guard Salon PodcastChristopher J. BealeStereotypes Podcast

The 2024 Paris Olympics just concluded and this year's games were possibly the gayest ever, from Lady Gaga and Celine Dion in the opening ceremony, to an astounding number of queer athletes crushing the competition in every sport imaginable. Jim Buzinski from OutSports.com breaks down the medal haul from Team LGBTQ, plus we chat bulges, divas and Tom Daley's retirement this time on Stereotypes. LINKS Stereotypes Podcast The full interview with Jim Businski on Patreon OutSports.com Christopher J. Beale  

This November, Americans will vote in possibly the most important election of our lifetimes between the Republican nominee former President Donald Trump, and Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. This time on Stereotypes, I'll talk to political experts from the Political Breakdown podcast about just what is at stake for LGBTQIA2S people in the 2024 election. LINKS The full conversation on Patreon Political Breakdown from KQED Stereotypes Podcast Christopher J. Beale  

Ellen Scanlon, host of the the How To Do The Pot podcast shares the story of how cannabis served as a major source of comfort for AIDS patients in the eighties and early nineties. You'll learn about Meridy Volz, the woman behind Sticky Fingers Brownies, and her daughter Alia Volz, who witnessed the transformative power of compassion and community from a young age. Discover how delivering cannabis brownies to AIDS patients provided relief and hope, and learn about the pivotal role this played in sparking a national legalization movement for medical cannabis. - Subscribe to our friends at How To Do The Pot wherever you listen to podcasts. - Hear the extended interview with Christopher Beale and Ellen Scanlon on Patreon. Connect with us at StereotypesPodcast.org.

The queer community turned out and turned up this weekend for the 2024 San Diego Pride Parade & Festival. Learn the history of pride events in San Diego, meet the founder of Play Catch With A Dad and Mr. San Diego Pride 2024 Eric de la Torre. Plus hear music from KoGee Soul Reprise on this week's Stereotypes.

This time on Stereotypes, a group of queer creators of color who noticed something missing in entertainment, “what was missing was us,” and they set out to do something about it. Join Christopher Beale and guests, executive producer Tony Taylor, and Ashley Jaye, she is directing this summer's “Mighty Real: A Sketch Variety Show” created by and for LGBTQIA2S people. LINKS It'sQwere Christopher J. Beale StereotypesPodcast.org

There's a little historic riverfront town in Northern California that queer people flock to each summer. It started as a logging town, but today tourism is the primary business in Guerneville.  Learn how the queer community saved this little town from ruin after a devastating flood, and became a thriving queer destination. HOST: Christopher J. Beale Connect with us on Patreon, or at StereotypesPodcast.org  

Love it or hate, drag is a hot topic of conversation now. And you really can't understand how we got to this point nationally without heading to San Francisco.  Today — in a story Christopher produced for the KQED podcast Bay Curious — we're taking a crash course through decades of drag herstory to better understand it's larger impact on San Francisco, and the country. Links: How SF's Drag Queens Shaped the City (and the World) Peaches Christ on Stereotypes Support Christopher on Patreon

This June Disney hosted a collection of LGBTQIA2S-targeted ‘pride nites' at Disneyland. This is only the second year in Disneyland's nearly 70 year history where the company has actually created their own pride experience…so…how was it? Christopher Beale reports from inside Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite 2024, and Bethanee Bemis from the Smithsonian gives us the timeline of queer celebrations inside the happiest place on earth.

The “I” in LGBTQIA2S stands for intersex, which represents a seemingly endless list of possible combinations of our human X and Y chromosomes.  Some intersex individuals are misdiagnosed with various other ailments in their youth — like Klinefelter's Syndrome — and ultimately have to make difficult, life and identity-altering decisions in adulthood. Like actress and intersex advocate Juleigh Mayfield, who was forced to transition to female in her forties. HOST: Christopher J. Beale

Gay and bisexual men are more likely to be in open relationships, but Frank Arthur Smith says that is seldom represented in pop culture. With his queer comedy series Open To It, he aims to change that. Open To It is available on Out TV, Amazon, and opentoitseries.com. HOST/PRODUCER: Christopher J. Beale

We kick off Pride month (and season 3!) in Brecksville & Broadview Heights, Ohio. The pair of conservative small towns hosted their first LGBTQIA pride in 2023 to much success, then local residents tried to shut it down. The fight for 2024 on Stereotypes. HOST: Christopher J. Beale LINKS: Brecksville & Broadview Heights PrideStereotypesPodcast.org  

My holiday gift to you, four stories about drag holiday traditions: “Thanksgiving with Carmella” by Christopher Beale “Creating Our Christmas” by Jinkx Monsoon & BenDeLaCreme “No Christingmas in Russia” by Katya Smirnoff-Skyy “Christmas Eve Eve” by J. Conrad Frank Happy holidays, see you in 2024!

Elizabeth Carter is a Black, queer, mother and director raising her son among the San Francisco Bay Area's LGBTQ community. Attending drag events has always been normal for their family and when politicians began trying to pass drag bans around the country, she responded by staging a show about drag queens set in Florida. Responding to hate with authenticity, and humor this time on Stereotypes.   Featuring Christopher Beale, Elizabeth Carter and J.A. Valentine. - ChristopherJBeale.com

Peaches Christ is a San Francisco drag icon, a self-professed cult leader, horror queen, filmmaker, activist, comedian, and a singer all rolled into one. With a drag career spanning more than 20 years her impact on queer, drag and film culture are obvious.   We talk drag, activism, RuPaul's Drag Race, Jinkx Monsoon, Heklina and more with Peaches Christ on Stereotypes. - Hosted by: Christopher Beale Guest: Peaches Christ

Christopher J. Beale presents Stereotypes: Straight Talk from Queer Voices

Chris and Charles are military veterans living in Central Florida with their non-binary kid Eric. They arrived in Florida just as Governor Ron DeSantis began his outright attacks on the LGBTQ+ community and now they've had enough. They are raising money to leave Florida and an uncertain political future. - DONATE TO CHRIS & CHARLES' GOFUNDME - Find Christopher Beale online at christopherjbeale.com

Tre'vell Anderson is an author, journalist and observer of pop culture. Over the years, as they moved through their own coming out journey, Tre'vell noticed a problem with the way Trans people are portrayed in media. Are negative representations on screen, causing violence off screen? - Support Christopher's work on Patreon to hear the full 70 minute conversation behind this episode, details at christopherjbeale.com

“The most famous gay movie theatre in the world.” - Gerard Koskovich In San Francisco's gay neighborhood there is an ornate, historic movie Palace called the Castro Theatre. It towers over the Castro neighborhood with its bright neon blade sign, and art deco marquee. But lately, the marquee hasn't shown much of anything, and the theater seems as deserted now as it did during the pandemic. The Castro Theatre's new managers want to renovate the space, saying the very future of the theater depends on its flexibility, and resulting financial viability. This would involve some changes to the traditional movie theater layout that have the LGBTQ and film communities divided. The arguments have reached San Francisco City Hall, and the fight is getting ugly. This time on Stereotypes — in a piece I made for the KQED podcast Bay Curious — I'll show you why this little theater plays such an important role in LGBTQ history, and take you inside the fight for the future of the Castro Theatre. - Support my work on Patreon and receive early access to Stereotypes and hours of bonus content! That, and all of my work are at christopherjbeale.com. - Christopher Beale

Are there enough LGBTQ+ people represented in stand-up comedy?   Our guest, comedian Wonder Dave, thinks not. How he's working to change that, with a Queer Comedy Night at the San Francisco Eagle, this time on Stereotypes: Straight Talk from Queer Voices. - Support Christopher's work on Patreon with a monthly gift, and receive the full, un-edited interviews for each episode of Stereotypes and fun bonus content. - Produced by Christopher J. Beale

One drag queen's journey from the US Mexico Border to San Francisco. From the closet, to being an openly gay, and non-binary role model to another generation of queens. And how the support of her family and friends inspired Betty Fresas to shoot for the stars. - To hear the unedited 90 minute interview recorded for this story, click here. - Support my work with a financial gift, hear my latest and find me on social media through christopherjbeale.com

Monogamy wasn't working for Julian, so he decided to try something new. What he found, is happiness. - Catch up with Christopher, hear his work, and make a donation at http://christopherjbeale.com

Mike & Goran met on Grindr. A few weeks later, fate complicated their relationship. How is living together after less than a month going? - Catch up with Christopher at ChristopherJBeale.com 

Meet the newly elected transgender Bishop Reverend Doctor Megan Rohrer and learn what the Bible actually says about queerness. - Get in touch, make a donation or find more of Christopher Beale's work at StereotypesPodcast.com. - To watch Bishop Rohrer's installation ceremony, click here.

Stereotypes has gone radio! Huge thanks to Eric Jansen from Out In The Bay on KALW San Francisco!

His congregation, many of them healthy young men, were dying from a terrible disease. There was no cure, there still isn't. One thing helped with the pain, marijuana, but it was illegal. The true story of how a San Francisco pastor changed the definition of “communion,” and committed felonies to comfort his flock. - Stereotypes was created, hosted, written and mixed by Christopher J. Beale. Editorial support from Josh Taylor and Kyana Moghadam. Special thanks to Jim Mitulski. - For more information on HIV testing and education head to HIV.gov

Everyone's coming out is different. Some folks can't come out, and for many — when we finally do — we discover that there are more questions on the other side. Meet Rae, a gender non-binary person who has learned to treat coming out as a process the length of a lifetime. Plus, Chris shares how he got caught in the act and forced out of the closet in high school. - You can contact Christopher Beale on Twitter, and connect with the show at StereotypesPodcast.org.

Stereotypes — Straight Talk from Queer Voices debuts Monday, August 2. StereotypesPodcast.org

Debuts Monday 8/2 at StereotypesPodcast.org