🎙️ Because of Them: Pride Then, Pride Now | Pride Finale

New episodes every Thursday | Hosted by Blaine & Reed

This episode is a love letter to the icons who made Pride possible—and a truth check on what it means today.

As Blaine and Reed wrap up the Because of Them arc, they sit down over coffee for a raw, reflective conversation about how far we’ve come as a community—and what still weighs on us. From the evolution of the Pride flag to the commercialization of queer joy, from honoring Bayard Rustin and Marsha P. Johnson to remembering the 49 lives lost at Pulse, this Pride finale blends history, heartbreak, and hope.

We talk about the joy and grief wrapped up in this month, the forgotten voices, and why it matters that we keep telling these stories—even when it’s hard.

🔍 What You’ll Hear

• Pride vs. Profit: How corporations reshaped Pride—and how we’re taking it back
• Pulse Nightclub Reflections: Reed’s personal connection to the tragedy, and the grief and grit that followed
• LGBTQ+ Icons & Unsung Heroes: From drag queens to quiet caregivers, the people who showed up before it was safe
• The Rainbow Flag’s Legacy: What Gilbert Baker’s original flag stood for—and why every stripe still matters
• Love Without Labels: A real convo on monogamy, open relationships, and why judgment has no place at Pride

⭐ Key Takeaways

• Pride started as protest—and it still is.
• Corporate sponsorship doesn’t make or break our movement.
• Remembering Pulse reminds us what’s at stake.
• Flags evolve—because our community does too.
• Monogamy, polyamory, and everything in between deserve respect.

⏱️ Chapter Breakdown

00:00 — Did That Gay Thing Happen? (game)
 05:51 — Pride’s Shift in Tone
 06:42 — Corporate Influence vs. Grassroots
 14:27 — Reclaiming Pride for Community
 17:30 — How Pride Celebrations Evolved
 20:20 — Unsung Heroes of LGBTQ History
 22:46 — Pulse Nightclub & Collective Grief
 33:46 — The Rainbow Flag’s Story
 42:37 — Legacy of LGBTQ Icons
 44:59 — Drag Culture’s Impact
 48:01 — More History Makers
 50:12 — LGBTQ+ Representation Then & Now
 55:21 — Monogamy vs. Open Love
 1:00:36 — Why Community Still Matters

💬 Keep the Conversation Going

Who made your Pride possible?
 📩 Email us at [email protected]
📲 Follow @coffeewithgays on every platform and @coffeewithgayspod on TikTok and share your story.

Because Pride didn’t start with us—and it sure as hell doesn’t end here.

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