The Unspeakable with Meghan Daum
The Unspeakable Podcast
Andrew Sullivan on Where Trans Activism and Gay Rights Collide
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Andrew Sullivan on Where Trans Activism and Gay Rights Collide

The gay rights pioneer discusses how trans rights activism and political polarization threaten gay rights.

Early access to November 13, 2023 edition

Paid subscribers get early access to my interview with gay rights pioneer Andrew Sullivan.

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This week, Andrew Sullivan joins The Unspeakable to discuss the evolution of LGBTQ rights and debates. He and Meghan explore how the trans rights movement intersects (and sometimes conflicts) with the goals Sullivan advocated for gay men like himself in the 80s/90s, such as marriage equality. They also discuss his views on the physical realities of transitioning and how the language surrounding “trans kids” and “conversion therapy” are being co-opted in potentially dangerous ways

Andrew and Meghan also revisit messages from the AIDS crisis that inaccurately claimed everyone was at equal risk. Despite criticism, Andrew believes that moderation and reason will ultimately triumph over the impassioned, ideological discourse surrounding gender identity and sexual orientation.

Andrew Sullivan and Meghan Daum discuss how trans rights activism and political polarization threaten gay rights and the physical limitations of transition.

Guest Bio

Andrew Sullivan is a political commentator, a former editor of The New Republic, and the author or editor of six books. You can find his Weekly Dish newsletter here.

📰 Meghan’s 2012 Believer article about her 1996 New York Time Magazine article about HIV/AIDS public health messaging.

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Discussion about this podcast

The Unspeakable with Meghan Daum
The Unspeakable Podcast
The Unspeakable Podcast is a weekly interview show hosted by writer Meghan Daum. It's a place for conversations with writers, scientists, philosophers, artists and all kinds of interesting people about topics that have been deemed "unspeakable." Of the many podcasts offering nuanced conversations, this is the only one with official Nuanced AF merchandise available at the Nuance Store.
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