Regarding the special 'gays & their pets' print issue

This month, O&AN is featuring pets—our own pets, and the pets of our friends and readers. Reader response was overwhelming, including poignant stories of how special pets had saved their owners’ lives. There were so many of these that few of them could be printed, so be sure to look to our online articles to feature these stories at greater length!

We wanted to feature pets because, in our community, pets have long played a particularly important role in our lives and wellbeing. In a world where LGBT people still often face rejection from friends and family, pets provide unconditional love. In a world where many barriers against LGBT adoption remain, adopting a pet gives many an object for their unconditional love. In dark moments they provide light.

I remember when I first got divorced. I was living on my own for the first time in my entire life, having transitioned from the dorms at Emory straight into married life. I spent every day with my son at home, so I was rarely alone. Suddenly, I was all alone in an apartment that felt cold and empty as a grave. I had a bit of a nervous breakdown, I admit, and my ex decided I needed to take one of our dogs. She even paid the pet fee. And suddenly I wasn’t quite as alone, though Joan did lick more than a few tears away.

There is also a kinship between a common LGBT experience and that of so many animal companions. As I mentioned earlier, so many LGBT people, especially youth, find themselves abandoned, homeless, without care. Likewise, so many of our pets come to us from shelters, from pounds, where unwanted animals are abandoned by their former families. The grateful expressions, the absolute devotion, these pets give their adopted families, the humans who want them without condition, is amazing.

O&AN has long partnered with the Nashville Human Society to introduce Nashville’s LGBT community to some of the pets available for adoption, with the help of NHS’s Kenneth Tallier (pictured above with his “Funky Bunch”). Remember, when you’re ready to grow your furry family, there are thousands of animals out there who have been cast aside already—don’t buy, head down to your local shelters or the NHS and adopt.

 

 

 

 

WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

Keep readingShow less
by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

Keep readingShow less

Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

Keep readingShow less