Bammer and Me

Jacob Butchoff: Self Destruction to Self Acceptancence Feb 6, 2026 4121 This week I talk with Jacob Butchoff, a British man whom I connected with through a friend I serendipitously sat next to on a plane. His life story is incredibly interesting: he harbored deep self hatred for being gay which sent him on a violent journey, one we’re pleased to say he's on the other side of. Today, he helps kids and adult communities alike with their identity struggles, demonstrating

Johnathan David Katz: Homosexuality Through Art History Oct 3, 2025 2677 Joining me this week is accomplished art historian, genre and sexuality lecturer and gay rights activist, Johnathan Katz. He takes us on a journey through not only his life and career but the discoveries he's made in the history of homosexuality through the lens of art history.

Perry Brass: Southern, Jewish, Impoverished, Gay Sep 13, 2025 3796 Perry Brass, the accomplished author, playwright and founding member of the Gay Liberation Front joins me to talk about his incredible life as we discover many parallels between us, and discuss many more amazing memories and achievements. It is an honor to converse with a man who has seen and done so much for the gay community as well as art and culture as a whole.

Dastan Kasmamytov Returns: Mountain Climbing and New Activism Efforts Sep 12, 2025 2202 Dastan returns to talk with me about his mountaineering activities around the world and the community he has built with it as well as his more recent escapades in gay rights activism, an update on his ban from Kyrgyzstan and more.

Art Smith & David Kennerley: Gay Bars Through The Ages Apr 26, 2025 4458 Back after almost 1 year! Today's episode is also available as a video on our Youtube at www.youtube.com/@BAMMER47Mike Art Smith of YouTube Channel Gay Barchives fame and David Kennerley, author of Getting In, a history of gay clubs in 90's NYC, join me, Mike Balaban, to talk Gay Bars Through the Ages. We remember our favorite spots, how our coming out stories were hotly formed by gay bars and sp

Suzie Kruger: London Fetish Maven Jun 7, 2024 2507 Suzie Kruger felt like she just fell into the role, but has maintained one of the most impressive careers organizing Adult Parties across London Europe and the rest of the world. Join Mike on a journey with icon, Suzie Kruger as she tells us all about her trials and tribulations at the vibrant center of the UK sex club scene.

Mohsin Zaidi: The Remarkable Journey of a Gay Muslim Mar 1, 2024 2877 In this heartening episode, join Mike as he engages with Mohsin Zaidi, a passionate lawyer, LGBTQ activist, and best-selling author of "A Dutiful Boy". Learn about Mohsin's remarkable journey from a poor London neighborhood to his rise as a celebrated lawyer amidst the challenges and triumphs of growing up as a gay Muslim. Gain deeper insights into the complexities of societal norms, cultural iden

Peter Tatchell: Fearless Human Rights Activist Dec 15, 2023 3801 It's an honour to have Peter Tatchell on the podcast, a fearless LGBTQ and human right's activist who's launched social movements the world over including in some of the most politically dangerous countries. He and Mike talk early life, influences and trajectory and his own gay journey both in Australia and in the UK, as well as his work founding OutRage! and many other amazing human rights projec

Prof. Steve Gillon: Modern Historian and Documentarian (Friend of JFK Jnr.) Sep 29, 2023 3704 Steve Gillon recently retired following 40 years as a professor of American history at some of the most prestigious universities in the US and UK where his students appreciated his dedication to storytelling even more than his in-depth knowledge of history. He also served as long-time spokesperson for the History channel on A & E cable network. Listen to Steve share details from his (previousl

Alexandra Billings: This Time For Her Jul 21, 2023 4028 In her epic roller-coaster of a memoir, "This Time For Me" Alexandra Billings muses on her unlikely journey as an accomplished actor and performer as well as her other lives in sex work, as a HIV positive activist, not to mention a huge LGBTQIA+ icon. Join Mike and Alexandra as she dishes about what she thinks of the next generation of queer activists! We had such a great time with Alexandra and y

Barney Frank: 30 Years of Kicking Prejudice’s Ass May 15, 2023 3109 Barney Frank represented Massachusetts in Congress from 1982 to 2012, thirty years in which he was one of the most powerful, smartest, and wittiest politicians in DC. He was also the first LGBTQ Congressman to voluntarily come out while in office, a highly controversial move in 1987 during the height of the AIDS crisis. I interviewed Barney remotely from his home in Ogunquit, Maine (where he now

Eric Cervini: Young Gay Historian Making Waves Feb 22, 2023 3099 Today the accidental gay historian interviews a young, credentialed historian illuminating gay history and actively working for representation on TV and beyond. Eric Cervini has been and continues to be incredibly busy; having written a NYT Best Selling and Pulitzer Prize finalist book in 2020, writing and producing "The Book of Queer" TV series in 2022 with more still in production, and most rece

Barbara Poma: Pulse Night Club Owner and LGBTQ Activist Dec 23, 2022 3385 We're lucky this week to be joined by Barabara Pomo, staunch ally. Shaped by the loss of her older gay brother to AIDS in the late 1980s, Barbara Poma has become an integral part of the LGBTQ community. First, she bought and managed the Pulse Disco in Orlando, Fla., turning it into a multi cultural haven for queers and their families and after a tragic terrorist shooting and the deaths of 49 patro

Stanley Stellar: Legendary Gay Photographer and Historian Sep 30, 2022 4250 Iconic photographer Stanley Stellar, 77, has been documenting queer life and male nudes since 1976. When he began, most media outlets wouldn’t even feature images of men with their clothes on. Best known for his street photography, Stanley was present and shooting during many milestones in gay history, including the Christopher Street piers, gay pride marches, the HIV epidemic, Mr. Leather competi

Lilly Ann Velez: Ecuadorian Woman of Trans Experience Aug 6, 2022 4125 We're lucky enough to have as out guest, Lilly Ann Velez, a 39 yo Ecuadorian woman of trans experience. She explains misconceptions and describes the spectrum of trans experience, all while sharing with us the almost 30 year journey she's taken to becoming the woman she is today.

Hudson Taylor: Athlete, ally, fighting homophobia and transphobia in sports Jun 17, 2022 4298 In 2010, three-time All-American collegiate wrestler Hudson Taylor slapped a gay-equality sticker on his headgear before a match, leading to an interview with OutSports, an LGBTQ media outlet. Afterwards, he heard from 2,000 mostly closeted athletes who were moved to see a straight ally standing up for them. After that, Hudson founded Athlete Ally, which focuses on getting sports organizations t

Khalleed Ahmed Part 1: The Journey of a Gay Somalian Refugee May 3, 2022 2451 Khalleed Ahmed and his family fled civil war in Somalia, spent eight years in Kenyan refugee camps, and finally were given asylum in the United States. Join us as we listen to Khalleed share his journey to becoming an openly gay, Islamic, cardiac surgeon and an inspiration for others living in countries where they can't be themselves (Part 1 of 2 interviews)

Dastan Kasmamytov Part 2: Leading the first LGBT Mountaineering Team in Kyrgystan. Apr 15, 2022 2721 Dastan Kasmamytov, a 30 y.o. Kyrgyzstani, is an LGBTQ activist and founder of Pink Summits, an LGBTQ mountaineering team attempting to scale the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. When that's completed, Dastan will become the first Kyrgyzstani citizen to accomplish this feat, which ought to greatly change the perception of LGBTQ people in an Islamic country where

Dastan Kasmamytov Part 1: Outed on national TV in Islamic Kyrgyzstan Mar 8, 2022 3476 Growing up in the central Asian nation of Krygystan, Dastan Kasmamytov had no idea he’d ever become an LGBTQ activist. But, when he was outed in national media at 19 and a fatwa was issued by the Islamic religious authorities, urging their followers to stone him to death, that path became inescapable. Find Dastan @dastanik & His Pink Summits Project @pinksummits Follow Our Instagram & Twitter @b

Andrew Tobias: Author of ”Best Little Boy in the World”, Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee and LGBT Activist Jan 10, 2022 3173 Andy Tobias' journey from being the "Best Little Boy in the World" (the title of the best-selling coming out memoir he authored under a pseudonym while still in grad school in 1972) to serving as the first openly-gay Treasurer of the Democratic Party from 1999-2016 is a fascinating one. Growing up in a suburban Jewish household where he was taught that helping others was imperative, Andy has dedic

Kevin Jennings: LGBTQ Activist, Author, and Historian Sep 6, 2021 2880 Kevin Jennings grew up in a southern trailer park, son of a homophobic itinerant Baptist preacher, was the first in his family to go to college (on a full scholarship at Harvard), and took the risky step of coming out while he was a high school history teacher in 1989. He quit that job in 1994 to form what has become the leading LGBTQ anti-bullying educational organization in the country, served a

Jim Fouratt: From Civil Rights to Gay Rights Aug 7, 2021 3191 Jim Fouratt has been in the right place at the right time: he co-founded the leading anti-Vietnam war group in the 60s, he was present at all four nights of the Stonewall rebellion in June 1969, and he was an assistant to legendary music producer Clive Davis at Columbia Records. Listen as he shares his recollections of those momentous experiences.

Khalleed Ahmed Part 2: The Journey of a Gay Somalian Refugee Jul 14, 2021 2500 Khalleed Ahmed and his family fled civil war in Somalia, spent eight years in Kenyan refugee camps, and finally were given asylum in the United States. Join us as we listen to Khalleed share his journey to becoming an openly gay, Islamic, cardiac surgeon and an inspiration for others living in countries where they can't be themselves. (Part 2 of 2 interviews)

David Mixner: Longtime Civil Rights, Anti-war, and LGBTQ Rights Activist Jun 24, 2021 3228 David Mixner has been an author, political strategist, and civil rights activist for more than a half-century. He was first involved in the civil rights movement in the 1960s and later became a prominent LGBTQ rights advocate. A close confidant of President Bill Clinton in the early days of his administration, David had a falling out with Clinton when the new President backed away from his pledge

Paula Harrowing: British queer activist Jun 2, 2021 2907 Paula Harrowing, a 49 y.o. British queer activist describes what it was like coming out into London's vibrant and diverse lesbian club scene in the late 80s and 90s only to be greeted soon thereafter by the arrival of AIDs. While nursing her gay male friends who were succumbing to that disease, she noticed the paucity of health services for women and children with HIV, prompting her to found a non

Michela Griffo Part 2: A Pioneer in Women’s and LGBTQ Rights Movement May 9, 2021 3467 Michela Griffo talks about the battle for LGBTQ civil rights from the first NYC Pride March in 1970 onward, the arrival of AIDS in 1981, the formation of real gay and lesbian community after that, and where the LGBTQ movement goes from here.

Michela Griffo Part 1: A Pioneer in Women’s and LGBTQ Rights Movement Apr 25, 2021 3834 Mike talks with Michela Griffo about her life as an early and active member of the National Organization for Women in the late 1960s, a link to the Stonewall era, and one of a dozen or so participants from the first Gay Pride March in NYC in 1970 who’re still with us. She joins us today to talk about the sense of community that existed then and how different things are today

Dave Kopay: First NFL Player to Come Out of the Closet Apr 12, 2021 2437 Dave Kopay was the first prominent athlete to come out and the first male athlete in a major professional league to do so when he publicly disclosed he was gay in 1975. A hero to many LGBTQers for his courage, he paid a permanent price in being shut out of coaching jobs in colleges and at the pro level.

Joel Tucker: The Backstreet Cafe Shooting Sep 15, 2020 1646 Mike interviews Joel Tucker twenty years later: one of six survivors of the horrendous Backstreet Cafe shooting in Roanoke, Va. on September 20, 2000.

Cliff Morrison Part 2: The World’s First AIDS Ward Mar 15, 2020 2147 Cliff Morrison talks about forming the first AIDS ward in San Francisco General Hospital in 1983, as well as, his recent involvement in the making of “5B”, an award-winning documentary about that experience (now available on Amazon).

Jacob Tobia: A Coming-of-Age Gender Story Feb 8, 2020 2426 Jacob Tobia is a gender-nonconforming Los Angeleno who’s on a roll. Three years ago, they landed a job as an executive assistant on the hit Amazon series "Transparent." Shortly after, Jacob released a New York Times best-selling memoir, "Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story," and secured an option from Showtime to develop a TV series inspired by their life. Jacob talks about their life journey and brin

Stu Fenton Part 2: Confessions of a Male Escort turned Addiction Counselor Jan 14, 2020 2247 What do you do after you’ve been a Colt porn model, male escort, and drug addict? After kicking his drug addiction, Stu Fenton spent ten years getting his degrees in psychotherapy and gestalt therapy, opened a private therapy practice, and now counsels LGBTQ chemsex addicts in a private clinic, R 12, in Thailand on how to overcome their addiction. Stu shares his story of how he turned his life aro

Rob Smith: Creating Gender-free Fashion Dec 22, 2019 2510 Rob Smith, founder of The Phluid Project, talks about his journey from his life as a successful fashion executive to creating the world’s first gender-free clothing brand.

Cliff Morrison Part 1: The World’s First AIDS Ward Dec 5, 2019 2251 Cliff Morrison arrived in San Francisco as a nurse in the late 1970s, as AIDS was about to erupt. In 1983, while working at SF General Hospital, one of the epicenters for the new disease, he was tasked with forming the world’s first hospital ward dedicated to serving people with AIDS. In the first of two episodes, Cliff tells Mike Balaban about that time.

Stu Fenton Part 1: Confessions of a Male Escort turned Addiction Counselor Nov 14, 2019 2271 Stu Fenton has had quite the life! In his early twenties, Stu was a Colt model and a male escort. That high life led to drug addiction, multiple near-death overdoses, and eventually rehab. Currently, he manages a chemsex treatment center in Chiang Mai, Thailand, one of only five in the world focusing on LGBTQ patients.

Frank Carducci, NYC Avant-Garde Theatre and Stonewall Oct 31, 2019 1792 Mike talks with Frank Carucci, a life-long New Yorker, about working in the NYC avant-garde theatre scene, the Stonewall riots and life in NYC over the last 60 years.

Poet Edward Field Part 3: Gay Life in 1950s New York Sep 30, 2019 1990 Ninety-five-year-old renowned poet Edward Field shares stories about gay life in NYC amid the social change of the 1950s, and life with his partner of 58 years, Neil Derrick.

Poet Edward Field Part 2: Being Gay -After WWII Sep 12, 2019 1548 Renowned poet and author Edward Field discusses with Mike, his colorful and bohemian life after WWII, including his life in France and Greece developing his craft as a fledgling poet, and 1950s gay life in Manhattan and McCarthyism.

Poet Edward Field Part 1: Life as a Gay Soldier in WWll Aug 22, 2019 2362 Mike Balaban interviews renowned poet and author Edward Field. At 95 years old, Edward shares his experiences as a gay man in the military during World War ll, talking about his affair with his master sergeant in boot camp under the noses of his fellow recruits; his adventures as a navigator on bombing raids over Germany; and experiencing gay life in post-war Europe.

Coming Out Aug 5, 2019 1857 Mike talks with 25-year-old documentarian, Caleb Holland, and compares their experiences coming out. In 1975, Mike, in his mid-twenties, was attracted to other guys, but successfully hid it from all who knew him. Almost 40 years later, Caleb relates how he was constantly told he was gay by others, even though he had no awareness of it until he was 19 in 2012.

Author David Nimmons discusses gay community Jul 10, 2019 1747 In this episode, Mike interviews Dave Nimmons on gay male bonding and how gay men can find meaningful ways to connect and create community. David Nimmons, a former president of NYC’s Lesbian and Gay Community Center, is the author of “The Soul Beneath The Skin: The Unseen Hearts and Habits of Gay Men” and has conducted workshops and guerrilla actions across the U.S. to help gay men tap into their

LGBTQ Activist Eric Sawyer and the Queer Liberation March Jun 27, 2019 1649 Mike Balaban talks with LGBT Activist Eric Sawyer about the Queer Liberation March on Sunday, June 30, 2016, which runs three hours before the NYC World Pride March, and why we need this more than just a celebration of LGBTQ rights.

Self Discovery Jun 12, 2019 1823 Cross-generational perspectives on LGBTQ issues and themes from a 66-year-old gay activist/historian and a 25-year-old. millennial documentarian.

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