Therapy For Gay Men

What happened to Jazz Jennings? As a gay therapist, I break down what I Am Jazz filmed and aired themselves — from puberty blockers at 11 to gender surgery at 17 and the complications that followed on camera.This is not about regret. This is about what happens when medical transition of a feminine kid is turned into TV — and what no one on that show would say out loud.This is a follow-up to my Avery Jackson video. Same question: what are we doing to kids who may have grown up to be gay?👉 Work With Me: https://www.michaelpezzullo.com/work-with-meThis video is commentary and education under fair use. All show clips belong to TLC / I Am Jazz and are used in short selects for critique.#jazzjennings #iamjazz #transkid

He won Mr Gay World 2025 — but before the crown, Giulio Spatola was fighting chemsex.Licensed therapist Michael Pezzullo sits down with Giulio for an unfiltered conversation about addiction, shame, and what recovery actually takes for gay men.In this interview, Giulio shares his personal journey through chemsex, what kept him trapped in the cycle, and how he rebuilt his life to get clean. We go beyond the story and break down the why — why so many gay men get pulled into chemsex, how shame and escape play a role, and what real recovery looks like from a therapist's perspective.If you or someone you love is struggling with chemsex or addiction, you are not alone and change is possible. This video is for education and conversation only and is not a substitute for therapy.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Giulio02:07 Giulio's entry into the chemsex scene07:21 The psychological appeal of chemsex10:11 The impact of neurodivergence on addiction26:03 How chemsex impacts gay men's sexuality31:04 Winning Mr. Gay World42:34 The importance of honesty and social support in recovery53:04 Exploring sober sex and masturbaton01:00:42 Giulio's advocacy work and future plans👉 Work With Me: https://www.michaelpezzullo.com/work-with-meSupport & Recovery Resources:- US: SAMHSA National Helpline 1-800-662-4357- UK: https://controllingchemsex.com/#gaymen #chemsex #addictionrecovery

Has the gay rights movement gone too far? Michael talks with Ronan McCrea about why some gay men are walking away from TQ activism — and whether LGB and TQ advocacy still belong under the same political umbrella.

👉 Work With Michael: https://www.michaelpezzullo.com/work-with-me

Ronan explains why persuasion, coalition-building, and support from straight people were central to the success of the gay rights movement — and why he believes parts of today’s LGBT movement have moved away from that strategy.

We also look at what’s happening in the UK, whether Britain offers lessons for the United States, what happens to activist movements after many of their original goals have been achieved, and a larger question: can gay men and lesbians take our hard-won freedoms for granted?

👉 Buy Ronan’s Book: https://a.co/d/003JlqY5
👉 Learn more about Ronan: https://www.ronan-mccrea.com

I’m Michael — a licensed therapist and coach for gay men. I break down the psychological and cultural patterns affecting gay men, so you can see the pattern and change it.

Chapters
01:53 The Evolution of Gay Rights
06:03 Why Straight Support Mattered
14:04 The Future of Gay Rights Activism
23:11 Cultural Perspectives on Homophobia
30:00 Sexual Freedom and Cultural Norms
33:01 Restraint and Sexual Culture
35:00 Acceptance vs. Affirmation
44:50 Corporate Involvement in LGBTQ+ Rights
56:08 Activism vs. Everyday Gay Life

#gaymen #gayrights #gayhistory #LGB

Simon B. Amaya Price once identified as transgender and lived socially as a woman. Today, he has detransitioned—and he has serious questions about how he got there.In this conversation, Simon describes the role therapists and medical professionals played in affirming his gender identity as a young person, the resistance he encountered from his parents, and the extraordinary pressure his family says they faced—including being presented with the stark choice of a “dead son or an alive daughter.”I say the things about gay men no therapist will say — for gay men done being talked around. Sophisticated, honest talk on sex, relationships, and shame. Subscribe if that's you.Chapters:00:00 — Simon’s Story: From Transition to Detransition06:45 — How Environment Shaped His Identity12:30 — Gender Ideology During Adolescence18:05 — What Happened During Social Transition23:27 — Doctors, Parents, and the Push Toward Medical Transition28:12 — Why Simon Now Questions Gender Affirmation32:36 — Gender Identity vs. Sexual Orientation34:24 — Medical Intervention for Minors39:24 — Masculinity, Labels, and Learning to Accept Yourself43:55 — The Contradictions Simon Sees in Gender Ideology48:35 — Helping Young Men Feel Comfortable Being Themselves👉 Work With Me: https://www.michaelpezzullo.com/work-with-me 👉 Learn about Simon: https://www.linktr.ee/simonamayaprice#Detransition #GenderAffirmingCare #GenderIdentity #TransgenderYouth #MentalHealth

A few months ago, I stumbled across a reel on Instagram that caught my attention because it was a gay man saying something he apparently wasn’t supposed to say: Marsha P. Johnson didn’t throw the first brick at Stonewall.That opened a much bigger conversation. Why did that story become so widely repeated? Why is challenging it treated as taboo? And what does that tell us about who gets to shape gay history and LGBT culture?Daniel-Ryan Spaulding and I talk about Stonewall, Pride, gay male identity, ideological conformity, and what happens when gay men question the approved narrative.One criticism I keep hearing is: “We need to stand together. Don’t be divisive.” I reject that. I think truth is what unites us—not lies.Enjoy.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Daniel and His Work01:56 Revisiting LGBTQ+ History and Marsha P. Johnson06:30 Cultural Shifts and the Decline of Traditional Values12:42 The Evolution of LGBTQ+ Activism18:30 Personal Experiences and Observations on Pride23:30 Anti-Semitism and the LGBTQ+ Community26:36 The Role of Culture in Political Change28:43 The Bullying Tactics of Ideological Groups31:27 The Toxic Environment of the Gay Community34:11 Radicalization and the Loss of Individuality39:20 The Role of Gay Men in Society44:35 Navigating Modern Gay Identity49:25 Conclusion and Future Directions👉 Work With Me: https://www.michaelpezzullo.com/work-with-me 👉 Follow Daniel on Substack: https://substack.com/@danielryanspaulding#GayMen #GayHistory #Stonewall #LGBTCulture #GayRights

Why do some gay men go to such extreme lengths to feel connected?I sat down with bestselling author Johann Hari to talk about loneliness, addiction, shame, sex, validation, social media, appearance culture, and the deeper psychological needs that drive destructive behavior. We explore why people can chase connection through sex, success, attention, substances, and external approval—and still end up feeling more alone.We also talk about authenticity, the difference between being seen and truly being known, why shame and humiliation rarely create change, and what real connection may actually require. 👉 Get Johann's Books: https://www.johannhari.com👉 Work With Me: https://www.michaelpezzullo.com/work-with-me 0:00 Intro2:00 Johann’s Viral TED Talk13:42 Why the Opposite of Addiction Is Connection30:04 Why Shame Is So Toxic for Gay Men38:02 Are We Glorifying Unhealthy Sex?50:13 Shocking Statistics About Loneliness1:01:21 Finding Your Intrinsic Motivation & Values#GayMen #JohannHari #Loneliness #MentalHealth #GayMensMentalHealth

A few weeks ago, Matthew Vines and I were complete strangers.

Then we both found ourselves in the middle of the same controversy for saying something pretty simple: we prefer to be called gay—not queer.

What interested me most wasn’t the label itself. It was what happened when we challenged a narrative that people assumed we were supposed to accept.

The public reaction was intense. The private reaction was very different.

That raised a bigger question for me: How much room do we actually give people to disagree within their own communities?

Matthew comes from a very different background than I do, and we don’t agree on everything. But that’s part of why I wanted to have the conversation.

We talked about gay identity, Christianity, queer theory, gay rights, and what it means to think for yourself without walking away from the people you care about.

Can you be gay and asexual?

In this episode, I break down what it can actually mean to be both. Asexuality doesn’t necessarily mean having no arousal, no fantasies, or no sexual life. For some people, arousal may show up more through fantasy or solo sexuality, without the same drive to direct that sexual energy toward another person.

We’ll also explore why someone can still clearly experience their sexuality as gay: their fantasies, romantic attraction, intimacy, and erotic world may still be centered around men.

I also talk about the confusion that can come from trying to understand yourself in a gay culture where sex can feel central—and how to distinguish asexuality from low libido, anxiety, or simply avoiding sex you actually want.

If you’ve ever wondered why you feel gay but don’t relate to the way other gay men describe sexual attraction, this episode may help you make more sense of your experience.

👉 Work With Me: https://www.michaelpezzullo.com/work-with-me 

Are gay men allowed to define our own sexuality? I react to a provocative article about gay male attraction and discuss why its framing taps into longstanding stereotypes about gay men.

Gay men have spent decades fighting the idea that there’s something wrong, dirty, or deviant about our sexuality. In this video, I explain why gay men should be able to challenge those stereotypes wherever they appear.

👉 Work With Me: https://www.michaelpezzullo.com/work-with-me 

My “gay, not queer” post sparked a much bigger reaction than I expected. But this episode isn’t about rehashing the argument.

Instead, I’m talking about what the backlash got me thinking about: why so many gay men struggle to use their voice.

We’re often taught early to stay agreeable, avoid rejection, and be the “best little boy in the world.” But what happens when that follows us into adulthood—and even into our own community?

In this episode, I talk about owning your identity, tolerating disagreement, having the courage to be different, keeping your sense of humor, and refusing to put yourself into another closet just because your opinion isn’t popular.

You don’t have to agree with me. But you should be able to speak for yourself.

Interested in therapy or coaching? Work with me:
https://www.michaelpezzullo.com/work-with-me