Some stories don’t shout. They hum. They make you want to sit down with a glass of wine in a crystal goblet and a cookie someone’s grandmother taught them to bake.
This week on The Queer POV: Friends, Loves, & Life, I talked with Kevin Chiodini, who pronounces it Key-oh-dee-nee thank you very much, because it’s Italian and he’s earned the right to say it like they do back in Lombardy. Kevin’s the kind of person you notice not because he’s loud, but because he’s so completely himself. You get the sense that he knows who he is, and he’s okay if you’re still figuring that out for yourself.
Kevin grew up in Rockford, Illinois. A place with good schools and a lot of churches. Being out wasn’t exactly on the syllabus. He didn’t come out until his early thirties, and even then, he didn’t make a big announcement. No rainbow confetti moment. More like, “If you ask, I’ll tell you.” And most people didn’t need to ask. They already knew. They were just waiting for him to catch up.
And maybe that’s the most Kevin thing of all. No drama, just grace.
He’s got a thing for tradition, especially the kind that comes with china cabinets and family stories. The crystal in his home isn’t just pretty. It belonged to his grandmothers. It lived through weddings and birthdays and probably a lot of coffee after Mass. Kevin doesn’t hoard these things. He honors them. And when he sets a table, he really sets it. Cloth napkins. Flatware. Champagne flutes that you’re allowed to break once, but only if you’re very sorry.
Health matters to him too. He’s a regular at the gym, mostly for his heart. His dad had a hard go of it, and Kevin decided a long time ago he’d do everything he could not to follow that path. He lifts weights, does spin class, and eats pretty healthy unless there’s biscotti involved. Then all bets are off.
He moved to Palm Springs in 2018. Left his old life behind, sold a house he loved, and started over. It wasn’t easy. But it was time. And now? He’s content. Single. Open to dating. Not desperate for it. He likes his life. And that’s not nothing.
We talked about queer history too. He mentioned Harvey Milk. Said we should still be talking about him. Still learning from him. Still reminding each other that visibility matters, even now. Maybe especially now.
I agree!
Kevin’s story isn’t one of wild reinvention. It’s quieter than that. It’s about learning to trust yourself. To let go of what people expect and live the way you want. It’s about routine, and crystal, and knowing what time the gym in the morning. 5am. And sharing your family biscotti recipe with friends.
It’s about doing the thing that scared you. Then doing it again. And then one day realizing you’ve built a life that fits you just right.
Thanks for listening! Until next time, be bold, be free, be you.
-David
#FriendsLovesAndLife, #KevinChiodini, #QueerStories, #ComingOutLaterInLife, #LGBTQVoices, #FamilyTraditions, #CrystalCollector, #BiscottiBaking, #PalmSpringsLife, #QueerHistory, #AuthenticLiving, #ChosenFamily, #GayMenOver30, #DavidBegorPodcast
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