Back-to-school time can be daunting for any parent, as we leave our children to the care of others and subject to peer circles that we can’t fully control. LGBTQ parents may have particular concerns, too, about how welcoming and inclusive the administration, teachers, coaches, and students will be to our children, especially in states with school-related anti-LGBTQ laws. I’m not here to tell you it will all be fine, because I can’t make such guarantees, but I will offer some advice based on seeing my son through 12 years of public school and into college.

Like rapid fire bullets from an AK-47, American gun carnage is set to repeat. Random shooters can fell anyone, anywhere: at church, school, or the Dollar General in Jacksonville, Florida.

Once upon a time there was Key West.

My partner asked me to open our relationship after we have been in a committed monogamous relationship for the last six years. I am seriously considering it but I feel a bit lost in how we can do this without us damaging our trust and intimacy. How can we navigate this relationship change? 

Welcome to ‘Ask John Porter’ – a column sharing a source of wisdom, support, and empowerment in the colorful world of LGBTQ+. Porter’s advice column is a safe space where questions, concerns, and curiosities about life, love, identity, and everything in between are welcomed with open arms from contributing writer, John Porter. Your voices matter, and your experiences can inspire and help others on their journeys

During last week’s GOP presidential debate, the candidates punted on climate change. Vivek Ramaswamy exuberantly declared, “climate change is a hoax.” Nikki Haley, whose debate performance was otherwise reasonable, thinks China and India should reduce their carbon output first. Ron DeSantis, who rejected the form of the question, has called climate change “left-wing stuff,” and blames “wokeness” rather than escalating climate claims for the disappearance of property insurers in Florida.