Joe Polito is a Canadian social media creator and model. He grew up in a traditional Italian Catholic family, where he felt pressure to conform to masculine norms. Polito realized he was gay after developing a crush on his high school best friend. He came out to his family when he was 19, which came as a shock to them. Polito now uses his platforms to share funny and relatable LGBTQ+ content. His goal is to create content that helps younger closeted versions of himself feel less alone.

1. JOE POLITO
GAYGENDA
JANUARY-MARCH
ISSUE 003

3. was founded in 2021
GAYGENDA
Issue 003
January-February-March 2022
Writer
GAYGENDA
P.O. BOX 579
K0A 2T0
North Gower, ON
2022 GAYGENDA All rights reserved.
None of the contents within this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in
any means (electronic, photocopying, screenshot, recording, or otherwise)
without the express prior permission of the publishers. The depiction, likeness,
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persons and entities.
Writer
Senior Editor
Content Editor
Content Editor
Eva Clark
Erika Della Cioppa
Katie Mulcahy
Hannah Dickson
Marrisa Doud
Editor in Chief
Tanner Armstrong
GMOO3
Redefining the Gay Agenda
SHOP GAY
Find out more by visiting gaygenda.org
Cover by
Joe Polito
Cover Styling
Janelle Abbott
Joe Polito's Top Supporter
Youssef Nassib

4. IN THIS ISSUE
Eric Sedeño, the Internet's
Bestie, on his chaotic gay
content
Eric Sedeño
@Ricotaquito
Pursuing Your Passions
and Embracing Your Truth
with Joe Polito
Joe Polito
@Journeybyjoe
Transitional Identities: A
Conversation with Left at
London
Nat Puff
@leftatlondon (Nat Puff)
Being the Main Character
of Your Own Life with Noah
Davis
Noah Davis
@noahdavis
PHOTOGRAPHY: MADISON KIRKMAN
WARDROBE: JANELLE ABBOTT
PHOTOGRAPHY: ANGEL STRANGIS
09
13
17
21

5. IN THIS ISSUE
Government-
Sanctioned
Discrimination
of LGBTQ+ Kids
Canada to End
30-Year
Discriminatory
Blood Ban
PUBISHER'S
NOTE
It's hard to believe that we are already signing off on
the first quarter of 2022. This magazine marks our
third issue of Gaygenda, and our team is continuing
to implement a steady stream of improvements!
Ultimately, our goal with Gaygenda magazine has
always been to introduce readers to inspiring
creators, activists, and ideas that are making a
difference for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. In
GM003, we had the incredible opportunity to
connect with four individuals who make the world a
better place for us all, each in their own unique way.
At the end of the day, we strive to put role models on
the cover of Gaygenda—especially for the sake of the
2SLGBTQIA+ youth in our community. We are
excited to continue to highlight and platform
2SLGBTQIA+ excellence as we dive deeper into
2022.
Tanner Armstrong
Editor in Chief | GAYGENDA
Hannah Dickson
Marrisa Doud
Erika Della Cioppa
Katie Mulcahy
25
27

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10. Florida House Passes Controversial "Don't Say Gay"
Bill
LGBT Identification in US Ticks Up to 7.1%
A Woman Is Cured of HIV Using a Novel Treatment
Germany Announces the Country's First-Ever
Commissioner for LGBTQ+ Affairs
Trans Flag Planted at Antarctica's Highest Peak to
Celebrate 'Resilience' of Community
2022 Winter Olympics Were Officially the Gayest
Ever As Swaths of Open LGBTQ+ Athletes Compete
HIV Diagnosed More among Heterosexuals than Gay
Men in the UK
New Zealand Bans Damaging Conversion Therapy
Practice in Landslide Vote
HEADLINES
180+ Dehumanizing Attacks on LGBTQ+ Rights Are
Being Pushed by Lawmakers in the US
07

11. HEADLINES
Mj Rodriguez Has Made History as the First
Transgender Actress to Win a Golden Globe
LGBTQ+ People in Afghanistan Continue to Face
Grave Threats since Taliban Takeover
Apple Adds Gender-Neutral Siri Option Voiced by
Queer Person—Meet ‘Quinn’
Britney Spears to Write Tell-All Memoir in 'One of the
Biggest Book Deals of All Time'
Greece, France, Canada to Address Absurd Blood
Bans on Gay and Bisexual Men
Trans People in Ukraine 'Stuck' in Kyiv
following Russian Invasion
Moderna Confirmed That the First Participants Have
Been Dosed with Its Experimental HIV Vaccine
TikTok Bans Deadnaming, and Pro-Conversion
Therapy Content
08

12. ERIC
It’s always a breath of fresh air to see a
creator online bringing nothing but pure
joy. Eric Sedeño, AKA ricotaquito online,
brings his personal brand of chaotic,
lighthearted humor to TikTok in short
videos that show you just how much fun
he has making them.
Eric lives in New York City, uses he/him
pronouns, and describes himself as “a gay,
male, Hispanic, annoying person”—his
words, not ours. Eric’s bubbly personality
makes him likable and relatable, so I
would leave out the adjective “annoying”
if it were me. Eric was always a happy kid,
but he wasn’t super popular growing up,
so he learned how to find joy in what was
available.
Eric was raised in Texas, which has a
reputation for being pretty conservative.
His family is Catholic, and Eric remembers
being taught that being gay was wrong.
He heard things like that all the time
growing up, so naturally, he hid who he
was to fit in. Like most queer people, Eric
eventually went off to college, where he
was able to make new friends and explore
who he was. He says that since this time,
he’s felt like he’s in a constant state of
growth and learning how to love himself.
MARRISA DOUD | ERIKA DELLA CIOPPA
I grew up in Texas, which is obviously
pretty conservative, and my family is
Catholic. I was scared to admit things to
myself. I grew up wanting to fit in, so I just
really didn't want to be gay for a long
time. I think once I went to college and
really explored myself—internally and
externally—I just realized that I had been
lying to myself. Like, I knew in middle
school, but it was the acceptance that
was really challenging. I just had to have
some experiences that allowed me to
understand that it's okay, and to meet
people who I knew would accept me
either way. Once I had some supportive
people around me who weren't going to
abandon ship, I felt totally ready to tell
them, and explore myself while being
open about it.
Can you share some of your
coming out journey?
09

13. “I think when I started really being okay
with myself and loving myself is when I
found support,” he says of his time in
college. He found that establishing a
group of people who accepted and cared
about him helped him come into his own.
That’s something that the internet has
made so much easier—online
communities (like Gaygenda *wink*) can
help isolated kids feel like they are not
alone.
And TikTok creators like Eric also help
with that in unbelievable ways. Eric says
he’s always had a love for social media
and the way it helps people become more
engaged, but he didn’t start really
participating until after a big breakup.
Since starting his TikTok during the earlier
part of the pandemic, he’s gained over
700k followers. He never expected this
kind of success, but he’s glad to have it
and be able to spread joy and positivity in
whatever ways he can. His community
has helped him in this way, too.
One of Eric’s favorite TikToks he’s posted
was a “virtual hug” to his community. In
this video, Eric was everything you could
ever want in a hype man. Evidenced by
over 20,000 comments, this viral video
touched the hearts of everyone on the
FYP. I don't know about you, but that's the
kind of wholesome content I want on my
feed—and I'd like to see it much more
often!
ERIC SEDEÑO
ILLUSTRATIONS: ERIC SEDEÑO
When you're gay, you have to look
introspectively, and there's levels to it.
You have to accept that you're gay, and
be able look in the mirror and say, "I'm
gay," and try to be okay with it. After that,
you have to really learn how to love being
gay and how to love yourself. Going
through thoughts like "what's wrong with
me?" is the hardest part of the process,
but you have to learn to appreciate
yourself for who you are. I think that
process has really allowed me to love
myself and find joy in myself.
Where do you think your joie de
vivre comes from?
I was crying while reading the comment
section for that video. I've literally never
had so many nice and loving comments in
the comments section before. It was really
overwhelming—I almost didn't even post
the video because I thought it was really
cheesy. At the end of the day, I was really
glad that I posted it.
After posting your 'virtual hug' video,
what went through your heart and
mind while reading the comments?
This year, I want to focus on building that
relationship a little more. I think it's pretty
funny—sometimes they're mean to me
and sometimes they tease me, but I think
that, in their heads and in mine, we're like
internet friends, and I really love that. I
think that my relationship with them is
pretty open, but I do think it's like an
internet friendship. We're all like best
friends in some weird way, for sure.
How would you describe your
relationship with your audience?
10

14. Talking with Eric was an absolute joy, and if
you want to experience that joy for yourself,
go check out Eric on TikTok and Instagram
(@ricotaquito), and on Twitter
(@theericotaquito). He also teased that he
may have some YouTube content coming in
the future, so keep an eye out for that. The
world is a better place with creators like Eric
using their platforms to spread positivity and
happiness.
When asked what he thought his greatest
blessing was, Eric said, “that I’m not a glass-
half-full or half-empty kind of person, but a
‘there’s no water in the glass, but I’m still
happy I have the glass’ kind of person.” That
kind of giddy optimism is so rare with
everything going on in the world, and it’s
absolutely beautiful to see someone use
their platform to share that. When asked
what he's learned about life, Eric shared his
belief that the point of life is to “chase the
serotonin.” If you take nothing else away
from this, take that. Go out there and do
what makes you truly happy. Life is simply
too short.
@RICOTAQUITO
@RICOTAQUITO
@THEERICOTAQUITO
,,
Chase the serotonin.
ERIC SEDEÑO
ILLUSTRATIONS: ERIC SEDEÑO
11

15. ERIC SEDEÑO
ILLUSTRATIONS: ERIC SEDEÑO

16. JOE POLITO
@JOURNEYBYJOE

17. If you’re looking for hilarious and relatable gay
content to fill your feed, look no further than
Joe Polito, AKA journeybyjoe on TikTok and
Instagram.
Joe uses his platforms to forward his modeling
career, share his experiences traveling, and
express his prowess as a photographer. Plus,
his TikToks are funny, relatable examples of
what it's like to be part of the LGBTQ+
community today.
JOE
POLITO
Before we dive into it, however, we have some
things to clear up. We asked Joe if people had
any common misconceptions about him, and
he says that people tend to think he’s super
short. He tells us that this is not the case at all—
believe it or not, Joe is actually 6 feet tall!
Betrayed by his camera angles, Joe is
delighted anytime someone is surprised by his
stature when they recognize him in public. A
short king Joe is not!
MARRISA DOUD | ERIKA DELLA CIOPPA
Joe Polito was born and raised in Toronto as
part of an old-fashioned Italian family. Growing
up, he attended Catholic schools and believed
he had to uphold a certain type of masculinity,
so he played sports, dated girls, and had a lot
of guy friends. Over time, he began to realize
there was something different in his
relationships with the girls he was supposed to
like, compared to how people around him
dated. He finally knew he was gay when he
developed a massive crush on his high school
best friend—which, as we all know, is a staple
of a closeted gay upbringing.
Joe was around nineteen when he came out.
He first told his best-friend-turned-crush, then a
cousin, then his whole immediate family over
dinner one evening. While his family is super
supportive now, the news came as a massive
shock to them at the time. It was up to Joe to
educate his family on the LGBTQ+ issues that
they knew nothing about.
I create my content
for the younger
version of myself
who was still in the
closet.
,,
14

18. Not a lot of people know this about me,
but I was a huge basketball competitor
and played a lot of sports during high
school. As you can imagine, going to a
Catholic elementary and high school was
extremely challenging, on top of the sport
team environment. Knowing that I was
gay, and then hearing all of this talk
referring to 'gays' in a negative
connotation was hard. I also felt the need
to uphold this 'masculine standard,' which
was really difficult, especially when I was
younger and just trying to figure
everything out.
It took a lot of growing up for me to realize
that it's fully okay to come out and to just
be yourself. There are so many other
people that are going through the same
thing, and knowing that just made me feel
like I wasn't alone.
Did you experience any confusion or
denial about your identity?
In situations like this, Joe’s words of wisdom
are: “Patience is key.” Coming out can be
tricky—family is sometimes especially difficult,
but if they’re willing to work with you and
learn, that’s a big step in the right direction.
Education is the most important thing—it’s
what has gotten us to this point as a
community. Be patient and tell them who you
are. If they want to listen, they will.
@JOURNEYBYJOE
@JOURNEYBYJOE
JOE POLITO
@JOURNEYBYJOE
A lot of kids experience the same thing when
they come out to their families. Not only do
some people—especially older generations—
not know about queer issues or people, they
also don’t realize how much there is to know.
They don’t know they’re missing the details,
so the responsibility falls to the kids to
educate them.
15

19. Joe’s TikTok account currently has over 325k
followers, and his Instagram isn't far behind at
145k. He uses his platforms to document his
life and experiences—sharing his life with
others is a joy that he’s harbored since he was
young, inspiring him to get his first camera
when he was around ten or eleven years old.
He was influenced by YouTubers like Tyler
Oakley and Joey Graceffa, who provided a
large portion of the queer representation
available on the internet at the time. Joe says
he could see himself creating content online
as his career forever, and he’s even
considering getting into YouTube so that he
can create longer, more substantial videos.
“I create content for the younger version of
myself who was still in the closet,” Joe says of
his work on TikTok. Representation is very
important, and having so many people
actively participating in creating that
representation is changing the landscape of
the internet for the better. Still, some people
will never understand how much it means to
see someone like you being themself. Joe
does what he does so that a younger
generation of queer kids don’t have to suffer
in isolation the way he did growing up.
We asked Joe for some parting words of
inspiration, and he implores you all to
remember that you’re not alone. If you ever
feel that way, there’s a whole community of
people who will support you. He also advises
people to try “prioritizing what makes you the
most happy, not living up to other people’s
standards.” It’s definitely easier said than
done, but I think this is great advice.
You can find more of Joe Polito on TikTok &
Instagram (@journeybyjoe). He’ll have
information coming soon about his upcoming
merch release and, if you're interested in
traveling, he’s hosting a group trip to Bali this
summer through TrovaTrip. You can find more
info on his socials about this very exciting
opportunity. Joe’s content is lighthearted, fun,
and inspirational, and he is one of many
creators we admire for providing much-
needed representation for the LGBTQ+
community.
We also talked about how coming out helped
Joe build confidence while playing with
gender and fashion. Studying abroad in
Europe allowed him to really explore who he
was and what made him feel the most
confident. During that time, he started doing
photoshoots and getting into modeling,
which eventually turned into a successful
career in social media.
Yes, especially when it came to upholding
that masculine standard. At points, I
maybe over-masculated myself to better
fit in. I didn't want anyone to think that I
had the slightest bit of femininity in me,
because maybe they'd think I was gay. I
would watch what I said and everything
because I was just so afraid of someone
calling me out. I definitely was on guard
with how I expressed myself. But after
coming out, all of that went out the
window. Today, I can just be whoever I
want because I'm free now, and it's really
a liberating experience that just feels
right.
Was it difficult for you to let your guard
down while you were closeted?
16

20. LEFT AT LONDON
PHOTOGRAPHY: MADISON KIRKMAN
WARDROBE: JANELLE ABBOTT

21. LEFT AT LONDON
PHOTOGRAPHY: MADISON KIRKMAN
WARDROBE: JANELLE ABBOTT
My name is Nat, and my artist name is Left at
London. My pronouns are she/her… I feel like
my gender is doing a shift—I don't know what
to, but we're going to find out. How do I
identify? I don't. I simply exist and hope for the
best. I feel like gender is something that is very
much influenced by the way we interact with
the world, the way that we have been raised in
this world, even beyond childhood—and
being raised literally means just growing and
changing in one environment to me.
LEFT AT LONDON:
Can you please introduce yourself?
?
Christ, no! It has been overwhelming at points
—to the point where I didn't want to see that
process happen, whether that be through
denial or literally ending my life. I feel like now I
am in a much more consistently self-aware
place, which is great, but sometimes self-
awareness means being aware that you know
nothing about yourself, and that is okay.
Even if you are in the same place, you can look
outside your window and see the changes
from day to day, season to season, year to year.
The world is changing around you and you
can't expect yourself to stay the same. [Nat
laughs.] I’m just now remembering that this
came out of the question, ‘how do you
identify?’ which is such a basic and easy
question to answer, usually.
That question, ‘how do you identify?’ is a
question that's taken for granted, because it
takes a lot of courage to know that how you
identify is how you are. It takes a lot of self-
knowledge to know that same thing, and it
takes a lot of self-respect to acknowledge that
how you are and how you self-identify can
change.
Are you always excited by your
own evolution?
LEFT AT LONDON:
?
LEFT AT
LONDON
HANNAH DICKSON | KATIE MULCAHY
Left at London, also known as Nat
(she/her), is an indie-pop musician, poet,
and online personality from Seattle,
Washington. She launched her online
career on Vine, growing a following for
her comedy and song parodies, and
began releasing her own music in 2017.
She has since released several popular
songs, including Pills & Good Advice, 6
Feet, and Kudzu. Her lyrics often cover
topics surrounding mental health and
navigating the world as a queer person.
Nat sat down with us to talk about
identity, self-exploration, and music, and
to share with our readers that it's okay to
explore and be fluid in your identity.
TW: MENTION OF SUICIDE
18

22. LEFT AT LONDON:
How did you get started with
music?
?
I don't know what my intentions were when I
started getting into music, but I just really
wanted to play drums, and my dad was like,
‘you should learn piano first,’ and I was like,
‘cool, I’ll learn piano.’ Then I started learning
guitar. That was my primary instrument for
years and years and years, to the point where I
was trying to get a degree at my community
college in guitar performance.
It was around this time I realized I could be a
producer, and I started working more and more
on my production skills. It wasn't until the
pandemic that I bought a bunch of plug-ins
and really started working to understand what
each plug-in did, trying to understand what
makes songs sound good to me, and how I can
make my songs unique. I want people to see
me growing and changing along with my
music, and I think that my music, because it is a
representation of me, represents that growth
and that change. Now that I’m in the position
that I’m in, I want to finish these albums, release
them all, and not pay as much attention to the
reaction.
That is a question and a half! I appreciate
questions that make me think. I feel like the
way that you unlearn things is mostly just
critically asking yourself the same questions
that you have already been told the answers to
and going from there.
One thing that I’ve been trying to do lately is
meditate a lot more. I will just focus on my
breathing in a dark, quiet room until I’m
focused on nothing, and then out of the
nothingness comes my subconscious. When
you sort of…talk to your subconscious like that,
you start understanding, ‘this is what I’m really
thinking about, this is really what's giving me
anxiety, this is what's really keeping me from
finding peace.’
LEFT AT LONDON:
Can you share your process of
unlearning unproductive beliefs
about yourself?
?
LEFT AT LONDON:
Do you ever experience the feeling
of backsliding?
All the time. I think the really interesting thing
about life is that once you reach a goal, you
can un-reach that goal. This was what my
entire debut album was about, specifically in
the scope of mental health.
You are going to fail at things that you were
succeeding at in the past, and that's okay. As
long as you understand what to do when you
fail, because it's likely to happen, and it’s likely
to happen often. Being able to just accept that
and say, ‘well, that's life,’ sometimes is all you
need.
?
Checking in with yourself. When I say
'checking in with yourself,' I’m not just talking
about asking yourself a question and
answering it immediately. I’m talking about
stripping yourself of everything but the one
thing that you want to focus on.
One of the things that really helped me
understand my gender was laying down,
closing my eyes, and imagining literally
everything being stripped of me until I was just
left with, ‘what is my gender?’ and trying to
understand that and see that change.
How do you better accept that it's
okay for your life and who you are to
be constantly changing?
LEFT AT LONDON:
?
19
Left at London's next project is
confirmed to be the EP “Transgender
Street Legend Vol. 3"

23. @LEFTATLONDON
@LEFTATLONDON
@LEFTATLONDON
LEFT AT LONDON
PHOTOGRAPHY: MADISON KIRKMAN
WARDROBE: JANELLE ABBOTT
As emphasized by Nat, self-exploration
and personal reflection can be the key
to learning new things about your
identity, and can help you learn to
connect more deeply with yourself. Our
identities are fluid and ever-changing,
and while that might be an
overwhelming concept, our queerness
is what gives us the ability to adapt,
change, and grow over time. We
cannot wait to hear the next Left at
London album, and to see what Nat
does next. To keep up to date with
what Nat is up to, and to watch for new
music from Left at London, follow her
on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter, and
check her out on Spotify
(@leftatlondon).

24. This drive to be a better singer and
performer spurred his obsession with
singers like Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé,
Boyz II Men, and Brian McKnight—trying to
figure out how to mimic their vocal patterns
and iconic riffs. As a queer person in a
conservative community, Noah never
imagined he would have a career in music.
Noah Davis is an artist, singer, songwriter,
and is “in the business of being a bad
bitch.” The LA-based musician is known for
his absolute bops with catchy lyrics that
speak to the queer experience and are
enjoyed by everyone. We got the insider
info on how Noah got started in music, what
it means to write music about queer
relationships, and his new album, Nursery
Crimes.
Growing up in Arkansas with parents who
were both pastors, Noah first started singing
in church. Noah explains that when he first
started performing, he was nervous and
“really bad,” often comparing himself to
others, but soon realized that “not being
great” was just not the vibe: “That was not
going to work for me, because being the
main character of this family… I do have to
be the most iconic.”
NOAH
DAVIS
HANNAH DICKSON | KATIE MULCAHY
I am an artist, and
I’m not creating art
for other people.
,,
He “wanted to take music seriously, but
being from such a small place that's super
conservative… It felt like there were far too
many hurdles.” Noah kept singing and
creating music for fun and in church, but
never thought it would go any further than
that.
After auditioning for American Idol (and the
iconic Katy Perry “wig” moment) in college,
Noah began to realize that there was a real
opportunity to gain a following and to share
their music with people. With a quickly
growing online fan base, Noah now had a
reason to leave Arkansas, explaining their
thought process as, “Listen… It would be
rude if I didn't give them all the music that
they're so desperately wanting and
needing, so I’m going to move to Los
Angeles.”
21

25. For Noah, song creation is a collaborative
process, combining the talents of different
amazing, creative people. “I’m a really good
writer and I’m a really good singer, but I can't
produce for shit,” Noah explains. “So I love
working with people who can add their own
artistic spin to what they're doing, add their
own vision to it…. It's always just going in with
friends and being like, ‘What's the best or
most fun thing that we can make today?’”
Clearly, this process of creative collaboration
has been successful, as Noah’s music has
surpassed 341,300 monthly listeners on
Spotify, all released independently without
the help of a music label.
Motivated by these challenges, Noah began
to write his own songs on the piano, and
discovered he really enjoyed the process.
Describing the surreal feeling of hearing his
voice on his first recorded song, Tickin’ on Us,
Noah says, “I was like, ‘Oh my god, that's me
singing my lyrics that I wrote, over a song that
has my name on it.’” This feeling soon
became addictive for Noah, and he started
writing more songs, releasing more music,
and putting in the work to grow his career.
Noah says that after the release of his hit song
Tea, he wanted to “put effort and mindfulness
into creating a whole album. A whole piece of
art.” This would manifest into Noah’s first
album, Fuck Flowers, which was released in
2021.
After arriving in LA, Noah realized he had
underestimated what he was getting into and
how big the competition would be. He
remembers thinking: “Oh wait… Y'all are
writing your own music? No one told me that!
They did not say that on Instagram.” Noah’s
family back in Arkansas was supportive, but at
the same time they were skeptical, which
gave him the drive to “prove to these people
that I know what the hell I’m talking about,
and I am just as iconic as I said I was when I
was fourteen and telling everybody that I was
going to be famous.” Noah needed to prove
that he could find success and happiness as a
singer, not only to his family, but also to
himself, saying, “I needed to prove to
fourteen-year-old me that, 'hey, you did
exactly what the fuck you said you were
going to do.'”
It's super crazy because on one side of the
wheel, I feel super proud of myself and my
big fat juicy brain, but then I see people
who do have huge teams that are doing
"better" because they have so much help.
So sometimes it's super frustrating to
know that I'm creating at the same level
and the same quality but it maybe doesn't
get the same level of attention as other
people.
Experiencing this level of success
without a PR team or marketing is really
rare. What's that like for you?
Of course, having to heal from the
common traumas of growing up in the
conservative Christian South, and having
to maneuver coming out to my family and
losing relationships because of it. It's all
just very weird, and it's a thing that a
human shouldn't have to think about. As a
human being, I shouldn't have to think
about who I'm going to offend or creep
out, especially in my own family. Also,
being the person who is now educating
my family at the same time. A big thing
people don't realize is that when you are
the one who steps outside of the box, you
also tend to be the educator, and you
tend to catch a lot of flack for that. You'll
get a lot of offensive questions and
triggering topics thrown your way, but
you feel required to explain them with
grace because it's your family and you
want them to learn. I think at the end of
the day, conversations and patience are
the easiest ways to get to people.
What have you had to endure to
become the person you are today?
22

26. While queer artists and musicians are gaining
more and more popularity, there is still a
drastic lack of queer representation in the
music industry. Noah tells us that, while there
are so many music icons who are sex symbols
changing the way our culture views sexuality
and art, there is a lack of music that
specifically represents the queer experience,
saying, “Can I listen to Beyoncé talking about
getting dick and relate? Sure. But if it comes
from another queer person whom I know has
had shared experiences with me, and they're
writing this music and being liberated by it, I
think it gives new meaning and visibility to
that person.” These feelings inspired Noah to
write a whole album about sex and
relationships. The queer experience of love
and sex is so different and follows a different
timeline than the heterosexual norm, and
Noah explores this and his own history
throughout Fuck Flowers.
Although he has queer experiences that
inform many of his songs, Noah’s music is not
just for gay people. He wants to create music
that everyone can enjoy, explaining, “I wanted
to create something that did have a storyline
of a queer person that queer people could
relate to, but that was also just good pop
music that anyone can vibe to. I didn't want it
to be so queer in nature that it felt like only
queer people could listen to it…. Let a gay
person's music be part of your sex playlist.
That's what we need.” Noah does it for the
girls and the gays, but also the straights, the
bisexuals, the enbies, and everyone in
between.
These moments of collaboration, struggle,
and creating, releasing, and promoting Fuck
Flowers independently without the help of a
label pushed Noah to become a better
version of himself as an artist and writer.
Moving forward, Noah wants to put out more
music that can inspire and help others, while
still making art that is for himself first. “I am an
artist, and I’m not creating art for other
people,” he explains. “I’m creating art for me
that I share with other people, and it's not their
job to like it or dislike it. If you don't like it, it's
just not for you.”
Two of Noah’s newest songs, Twinkle Twinkle
and Hush Little Baby, are part of their
upcoming EP, Nursery Crimes. This album is
experimental and versatile when it comes to
genre, with Noah explaining, “I want to do
everything, and I don't want to be constricted
by genres.” In Nursery Crimes, Noah turns
nursery rhymes into rap songs, and ends the
tracklist with a ballad, allowing listeners to
experience the diversity of his range.
Queerness encourages genre-bending and
experimentation within the arts, and Noah’s
music does exactly this. We are so excited to
hear the rest of the album, and to see what
comes next for Noah. To watch for new music
and to stay up to date on what Noah is up to,
follow him on Instagram and Twitter
(@noahdavis50), and on TikTok
(@noahdavis).
@NOAHDAVIS
@NOAHDAVIS50
@NOAHDAVIS
23

27. NOAH DAVIS
@NOAHDAVIS

28. In the early months of 2022, we have already seen some
major disturbances in the world, including new attacks on
LGBTQ+ rights in America. You would think that, by now,
people would start to get over themselves and let queer
people be, but I guess not. Florida and Texas are under
siege this week, but they aren't the only states to
introduce bills or acts that could potentially be harmful to
LGBTQ+ youth.
In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott encouraged teachers and
other professionals to report parents who give their
children gender-affirming care. This started with Attorney
General Ken Paxton, who likened gender-affirming care to
child abuse, and now the state government is looking to
investigate parents of trans children. At this time, this has
not been admitted into Texas law, and the opinions of
Attorney General Paxton and Governor Abbott hold no
legal precedence, though it is terrifying to think that men
in those positions can spread these kinds of thoughts.
It’s not the first time Texas has been under the microscope
for unfair treatment of LGBTQ+ youth. In 2021, a new bill
was introduced that said any student who wanted to
participate in sports in a Texas school had to provide their
birth certificate and play for the team it stated. If a trans
boy wanted to play on the boy's team but was assigned
female at birth, he would have to play on the girl's team.
This bill put kids at greater risk of alienation, diminished
their chances of success in their chosen sport, and led to
more bullying and discrimination.
Then came Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill,
which has become known by critics as the “Don’t Say
Gay” bill. The bill passed Florida’s House of
Representatives and is now waiting for its time in the
Senate, where a similar topic has recently been discussed.
The bill would ban the discussion of certain LGBTQ+
topics in schools, to make sure all education is “age-
appropriate.”
Government-
Sanctioned
Discrimination
of LGBTQ+ Kids
MARRISA DOUD | KATIE MULCAHY
25

29. This brings lawmakers and social justice advocates back
to the Equality Act. The Equality Act seems to be an
unattainable dream that would amend the Civil Rights Act
of 1964 to include LGBTQ+ people, and make
discrimination in terms of housing, employment, and
public accommodations illegal. The act passed the U.S.
House of Representatives in 2019 but was shot down by
the Senate, citing religious opposition.
There is a very easy way to simplify this debate. Do
lawmakers care about LGBTQ+ youth or not? Yes or no?
It’s starting to seem like the answer is no, and the effects
on the mental health and wellbeing of kids who are
actively being discriminated against by their own
government will be detrimental.
So what can we do? Keep people talking. Use social
media to spread the word about how much these bills
hurt us. Talk about how important LGBTQ+ history is, and
how much of the modern world it affects. Don’t let fear
keep you quiet.
And finally, keep saying “gay.”
Florida’s House of Representatives also passed the “Stop
WOKE Act,” which would affect how teachers and
employers handle the discussion of critical race theory.
While representatives of the bills claim they are not trying
to be malicious, both bills make it ten times easier for
those in positions of power to gloss over queer and black
history. Avoiding discussions like this makes LGBTQ+
issues more taboo, stigmatizes the LGBTQ+ experience,
and isolates students even more.
According to a poll performed by the Public Opinion
Research Lab at the University of North Florida, roughly
49% of Florida citizens were against the bill, but it passed
anyway. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis expressed
support for the bill, but never said flat-out whether he
would sign it.
AY
SAY G
26

30. Canadian Blood Services is recommending they end
their problematic ban on blood donations from men
who have sex with men and trans women.
Currently, men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans
women who have not had sex reassignment surgery
cannot donate blood unless they have been abstinent
for three months. Canadian Blood Services and Health
Canada both cite concerns about increased risks of HIV
transmission as a reason for the ban on donations.
After years of advocacy from the queer community,
Canadian Blood Services has finally declared that they
would like to end the blood ban and the waiting period
for donation, shifting towards a “sexual behavior-based
screening for all donors and collection types…screening
all donors, regardless of their gender or that of their
sexual partners, according to the risk associated with
their sexual behavior.” With Canada dealing with its
continued blood shortage, this new model would keep
the blood supply safe, while allowing a new group of
donors to contribute.
Canada to
End 30-Year
Discriminatory
Blood Ban
HANNAH DICKSON | ERIKA DELLA CIOPPA
This change comes after almost 30 years of restrictions.
Beginning in 1992, Canada introduced a lifetime ban for
MSM and trans women, after the Tainted Blood Scandal
of 1985, wherein the Canadian Red Cross (the
predecessor to CBS and Héma-Québec) failed to test or
screen donors, and over 2,000 Canadians were given
HIV-positive blood. Although this incident wasn’t the
fault of the queer community, it’s us who have been
held accountable for this incident. In 2013, this policy
evolved and MSM and trans women became allowed to
donate, but only if they had abstained from having sex
with other men for 5+ years. This time frame has
continued to shrink over the past several years,
changing to 1 year in 2016, and 3 months in 2018.
However, many still refer to these policies as
discriminatory and based on harmful stereotypes, rather
than science.
27

31. These outdated policies contribute to longstanding
prejudices against the queer community, and it’s time
for them to go! To learn more about these policies, or to
sign the pledge to support ending Canada’s blood
donation ban, visit https://allbloodisequal.ca/
For many years, Canada has been dealing with a blood
shortage, but rather than screening all potential donors,
MSM and trans women who have not undergone sex
reassignment surgery are kept from donating. Recently,
Calgary, AB, and London, ON have been used as test
cities for these new screening policies, and MSM have
been able to donate plasma as long as neither they nor
their current partner have had any new partners in the
last 3 months. Plasma can be donated every 7 days, and
with it being used to treat many different illnesses and
conditions, the demand has been rising in Canada and
around the world. Additionally, since the waiting period
to donate blood was decreased between 2013 and
2018, there has been no increased risk of transmittable
infection from donated blood, and the Public Health
Agency of Canada has stated that, “between 2009 and
2018, there have been no reports of HIV transmission
through blood transfusion in Canada.”
Canada’s Liberal government promised to make
repealing this policy a priority in 2015, and again in
2019, but Canadians are still waiting. This promise was
not included in the party’s 2021 platform. Although the
NDP (Canada’s more left-leaning party) and the
Conservative party rarely agree, both parties have called
out the Liberals for using LGBTQ+ issues as virtue
signaling and failing to follow through.
Canadian Blood Services has historically argued that
this policy is necessary because HIV is more prevalent
within the queer population. However, HIV doesn’t
discriminate and can be transmitted to anyone,
regardless of sexuality or gender. Many of the people
who are advocates for changing these policies have
argued that switching to a set of screening questions
that focus on behaviors (in addition to the rigorous
testing already in place) would be a safer and more
science-based approach that would be less harmful to
the queer community.
28

32. 3. Watch our Insta stories
to contribute to each issue!
Participate in our polls and swipe-ups to be
featured in the magazine community page.
2. Join our Discord
Community
Get in on the action by joining our community
server. Meet new people, make new friends!
The gay agenda is here,
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Welcome to Gaygenda!
4. Assume your rank in
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Show up with pride in your identity in any way
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1. Become a Gaygenda
Member on our site!
Exclusive posts, gift cards, pride flags, every issue of
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5. Support Gaygenda's plans
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Spread love and kindness to each queer creator
and small business you see online.
29

33. how hot everyone
is (bisexual)
not being straight
it makes me feel
beautiful
women
being different but still
feeling like you belong
that i don't have to settle
for the bare minimum
(men)
I just love how happy we get
when we finally come out,
s**t's hard!!
the ability to dress in
whatever way i damn
well please
how spicy our
personalities are
What do you love
about the 2SLGBTQIA+
community?
being able to see another
gay person and immediately
become friends
Anonymous
Reply
Being as hot as
possible
Anonymous
Reply
I love being proof that
there is no one way to
correctly be human.
Anonymous
Reply
having flavour <3
Anonymous
Reply
Anonymous
Reply
Anonymous
Reply
makes you a stronger
individual
Anonymous
Reply
EVERYTHING
Anonymous
Reply
Anonymous
Reply
it's let me have great
friend groups with fellow
LGBTQ members
Anonymous
Reply
feeling more safe with
other LGBT+ people
Anonymous
Reply
Anonymous
Reply
Anonymous
Reply
the excitement
never dies
Anonymous
Reply
Anonymous
Reply
Anonymous
Reply
Anonymous
Reply
Anonymous
Reply
A selection of responses to our recent Instagram stories!
@gaygendamagazine
30

34. “LOVE
IS
NEVER
WRONG.”
—
MELISSA
ETHERIDGE
NOAH DAVIS | LEFT AT LONDON | JOE POLITO | ERIC SEDEÑO
X
GAYGENDA 2022 | ISSUE 003