QueerCentric Featuring Musician Tom Goss

Photo by Dusti Cunningham

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Inside:

DESIGNER

GRAPHIC EDITOR

EDITOR

Team

TOM GOSS PODCASTS QUEER READS QUEER STYLE

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Jonathan Shuffield has worked within the media industry for over 20 years. From television to radio, from podcasting to writing for publication and film he has firmly planted his foot in the media world. He has become a bold voice in the realms of entertainment and politics. Queer Centric is a needed and important part of that voice and he is proud to stand at the helm.

Always remember, If our voice held no power, they wouldn’t try to silence us, indeed the most powerful weapons any of us have are the breath in our lungs and the stories we possess. Tell your story.

Kurt Schmierer is an artist, graphic designer, photographer and lover of all medias TV/Radio/ Magazines. Kurt has owned and run an online magazine called Proud Times for 8 years as Graphics Editor, Interviewer and the person who helped set up countless stories and coordinated over a dozen writers coast to coast. The magazine went from nothing to interviewing George Takei, Cyndi Lauper and backstage with Elton John in a short 8 years.

Shelby (she/her) has a history of worrying too much about what everyone else thinks. Since turning 40, she has decided to live for herself-all sass and zero expletives to give. Proudly driving in the left of center lane, she wears red lipstick on thin lips, over the top sunglasses and drives an older than her VW Bug with holes in the floor pans on her way to decorating consultations.

From the Editors Desk Representation matters! We have said it a million plus times and it has never rang cliche.

The more ground we make here the truer and sharper the cry. In the more than two decades since I came out a lot has definitely changed. Media finally has begun to show my fellow LGBTQIA+ siblings in the tapestry they portray as life.

May the celebration of this not go unnoticed, but we still have a ways to go.

I am not satisfied, we have not fully integrated into the creative reflections around us. It is not just the hetero-normative culture of Hollywood, it is in the very portrayals of us in our own media, in the production companies developing our stories, in the editors’ offices choosing our models. I have lived in that starstruck city, I have sat in meetings in that land of illusion, I have fought to sell the idea that I exist.

There is nothing more heartbreaking than an “LGBT” production company foregoing you simply for being you. “You are super funny, but….” “You’re writing is great, however……”

I checked the line up that was chosen for public consumption. I didn’t need to be given a memo, the truth was laid out in front

of me. I’m not 30, my body isn’t just this side of porn. Sex was chosen over substance, as if I am not a sexual creature.

Before you put me on the shelf and label me bitter, don’t get me wrong. I remember the days when we were nowhere to be seen. I remember the thrill of witnessing a gay character on television, even if just for a second and even if it was a neutered stereotype, just an embodied punchline. I am thrilled that we have come so far, but why should we be satisfied?

Especially if in that word lies complacency, settling for just enough.

add to it. Instead of waiting for permission, we choose to boldly move forward creating our own path. We celebrate all of us, the rest of us! Because there is room for everyone, sometimes you just have to make the room yourself.

So if you have ever felt “othered” in your own community, maybe felt a little left of mainstream, or you have always felt like the odd one out. Don’t get bitter, raise your voice, take your place, stand tall in exactly the person you are. If you look around, you will find an endless sea of people celebrating with you. You will find QueerCentric here, celebrating the rest of us!

We all grew up wanting to see ourselves, our stories reflected in the art we consumed. I will not apologize for continuing to fight to see my reflection, to see the rainbow of the men and women in the world around me. It is our innate human desire drawn on cave walls from the dawn of humans to the launch of this very publication, QueerCentric.

We are here to offer a voice to the rest of us. To represent a queer world not so homogenized.

We do not want to take away from the version of us that is currently allowed the spotlight, we simply want to

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Tom Goss is a powerhouse singer/ songwriter, performer, story-teller, advocate, champion and any number of other celebratory adjectives you can assign to a beautiful human….and there’s another one. To sit in the room with Tom you would find it a bit extraordinary that so much passion and talent could fit into such a compact man and yet he has been delivering his gifts to the masses for well over a decade. Whether you know him from such fun songs as Rise, Bears, Round in All the Right Places, or his more personal releases Breath and Sound, All My Life, and the critically acclaimed and deeply vulnerable album, Territories, you have no doubt felt the impact of this artist.

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Photo by Dusti Cunningham

RISE My first music video!

Watch me confront all my former incarnations : )

BEARS Bears are amazing, fun and sexy. We should celebrate that often...

Round in All the Right Places My ode to round men. They’re intoxicating to me.

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It is obvious that Tom uses his music as a vehicle not only to tell a story, but to encourage you to connect with your own. “I didn’t start playing music until I was 18 so it came to me late. But it was watching live shows that really drew me in. I understood the power that music and songwriting had when it came to bringing people together. Music has a way of breaking down personal walls that I don’t think exists in any other medium. It cuts straight to the heart and teaches us things about ourselves that we would never realize without it. There is a power there, a truth, a hope. My goal is to use that as a positive force. I am inspired by people every day. If you can’t find inspiration everywhere you look, then you’re not seeing the world I see.

When I see our community, I see a community full of resilient, strong, brave and vibrant people.

I see stories that the world has tried to squash for hundreds of years unsuccessfully. I want to help tell those stories.”

That’s not to say that songwriting is always easy or came that way for Tom. “I didn’t train and I wish I had. Sometimes I really feel the limitations of my musical knowledge. That said, most of my focus is on connecting to a story and authentic emotion and I think I do that in spades. I suppose it comes easy at this point, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. I spent years writing hundreds of bad songs to get to the point where I could write a good song. I still write bad songs. Songwriting is like any skill, you work at it, you get better at it, but your execution isn’t always going to be perfect.”

Tom’s authentic and vulnerable style were not won easy, he gives a lot of credit to his

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Photo by Dusti Cunningham

I picked up the guitar because I was obsessed with Dave Matthews Band, so I’d say that was my heaviest influence early on. I wouldn’t know how to play the guitar without Dave Matthews. The heart centered simplicity of David Gray’s writing really helped me understand what made a song powerful. Over the subsequent 20 years I’ve run across folks that have influenced and inspired me in more ways than I can relay. Seal, Ben Folds, Childish Gambino, Sublime, Alexi Murdoch, Damien Rice, Mike Taylor, Jordan Rakei, JP Saxe, Matt Alber, Liz DeRoche, just to name a few.

Under The Influence

Dave Matthews https://www.davematthewsband.com/ Do You Remember (Live)

David Gray https://www.davidgray.com/ Heart and Soul

Liz DeRoche https://www.lizderoche.com/ Smile

JP Saxe https://jpsaxe.com/ Dangerous Levels of Introspection

Matt Alber http://www.mattalber.com/ Handsome Man

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husband, Mike, for helping him understand love and begin to connect with his emotions. “My parents did not have a happy marriage and divorced when I was young. That didn’t change their animosity for one another, and often those feelings were played out through their children. As a result, I shunned love and relationship at an early age. I didn’t want to risk the pain I associated with it.

When I met Mike, everything changed. I was healed and nourished in ways I could have never imagined. He’s the most wonderful man in the world.

He has always been there for me. Honestly, he believes in me far more than I could ever believe in myself. I wouldn’t be here without him. He is my biggest fan.”

Tom has been the first to be open and honest in his music about his relationships; family, friends and yes even marriage.

“Usually. I’m very open and honest in my art. At times

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Photo by Dusti Cunningham

that’s been difficult for them.

At times that’s been difficult for my husband as well. I can understand that. I spend a lot of time painting the world as I see it from my perspective, but there are a lot of other perspectives. I am grateful that no matter the song, nobody in my life is trying to stifle my voice, even if that voice hurts.”

Sometimes in Tom’s work his art comes directly from the pain he is experiencing as in his song Quebec, “My husband and I took a trip to Québec and when walking home from dinner he broke down and said “We are not us. There is another us to us. We are not special. We are no longer special.” It was the saddest and hardest thing I ever heard in my life. We stopped in the cold, smoke from the cold clinging to our lips and did our best to understand each other.

When we got back to our room I wrote his words down word for word and that became the

chorus of Québec, which may be the lowest and saddest part of our relationship.”

These are the tapestries that Tom Goss weaves not just for the benefit of those of us listening, but to process the world around him. His music, filled with personal tones, can at times feel like we are peering through a window into the very private moments of his life. “When I was falling in love with my lover I didn’t know how to act. I had flown to London to visit him in his home and I was trying to understand my role.

I am not good at expressing what I want, I am much more comfortable understanding how other people are perceiving a situation, then adjusting my behavior to whatever would make them happiest. So I was in another man’s house, in the bed of his husband, walking around the city together, you get the picture. Do we hold hands? Who am I when we meet someone in public. I

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had no idea what to do. I wrote the lyrics to Quayaside as I was having the experience, verse by verse on my iPhone. A quayside is a harbor, we don’t really have the word in America. He lives on a quayside, which is why that becomes a central focus of the track.”

Tom’s vulnerability is not only used to tell his own stories, but to become a looking glass onto our own. His recent release “Pride” is an anthem of all the pieces of each of our memoirs, “I was inspired by visiting my friend Ben in Reading, PA. Him and his partner Rich have been friends of ours for over a decade and they have built a vibrant community in Reading. We sat outside, visited his grave, and talked about the love they shared. I got to thinking about all the unnamed people who have made pride possible for us today, by loving who they love and doing it fearlessly. I posted on Facebook and asked for more stories and was immediately overwhelmed by the beautiful and inspirational stories that got us to where we are today” So whether you find yourself dancing to his song “Nerdy Bear”

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or reflecting on your own relationships through “Territories,” stop to take notice of how open and honest the writer is.

Think of the fearless way he exposes relationships, in all their ebb and flow, sunlight and fury, and imagine how hard that would be in your own life. It is through the eyes of an artist that we can see so clearly what we may miss in our own existence. It is through the raw emotion of the stories that a man like Tom Goss shares that we can experience the joys, the heartbreaks and the many minute threads that connect all of us. Now crank up that Tom Goss track and dance your heart out and maybe say a little thank you to the artists that tell our stories, that feel our pain, that understand the one thing that brings us all together, relationship.

I see a community full of resilient, strong, brave and vibrant people. I see stories that the world has tried to squash for hundreds of years unsuccessfully. I want to help tell those stories.

If you can’t find inspiration everywhere you look, then you’re not seeing the world I see.

Photo by Dusti Cunningham

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Maybe you are on the bus, or the commute to work is more than five minutes away, or maybe you just feel like avoiding others for the time being, well let us help you with some awesome podcasts for your ear-holes. Entertaining, informative or just weird it’s all here. Recommended from our artists and/or our crew, we would even welcome recommendations from YOU. Just email your pics to editor@thequeercentric.com Unfuck Your Brain (Tom Goss Approved!)

UnF*ck Your Brain is the podcast for highachieving feminist people who struggle with anxiety, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome.

If you know you’ve accomplished a lot professionally but still secretly feel like you’re unqualified….if you want to feel confident but you worry about what everyone else thinks about you...if you want to succeed but fear failure...this podcast is for you. In each episode Master Certified Confidence Coach Kara Loewentheil, J.D., will teach you how to overcome social conditioning and your own self-critical thoughts so that you can reduce your anxiety and insecurity, boost your selfconfidence, and get what you want in life.

An Older Gay Guy Show **Editor’s Pick** Multi-Award-Nominated LGBTQ Podcast aimed toward 40+ guys or anyone who enjoys a show that discusses older gay life and interests. Just because we are further along in age, it doesn’t mean our gay life has to be limited or boring. We are not invisible! We are the largest growing segment of gay individuals, so let’s keep our community vibrant!

Please join host Joey Hernandez as we talk and laugh about the trials and tribulations of growing older, sex, health, fitness, tv and films, personal stories and many other topics.

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Let’s Not Meet: A True Horror Podcast True horror stories written by those that made it out alive. First person accounts narrated and produced by Andrew Tate in an anthology of terror and suspense.

Atlas Obscura (A Tom Goss pick) Atlas Obscura’s mission is to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share. With its new podcast, Atlas Obscura cofounder and host Dylan Thuras will take listeners on an audio journey to discover new and hidden places; perhaps on the other side of the world, or perhaps in one’s own backyard. Once there, listeners will hear stories and history from the incredible people who make these places special.

Never Sleep Alone (From producer, Tom Goss) Sex and dating expert Dr. Alex Schiller* teams up with celebrity guests to tackle wild questions from anonymous callers in this hysterically funny podcast that entertains, empowers and educates. As The New York Times says: “Dr. Alex is darn good at what she does.”

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Whether you are relaxing on the beach, running away to a weekend cabin or simply laying low at home nothing is better than a good Queer Read. Here are our picks to make your summer reading list a bit more QueerCentric.

Rational Relating: The Smart Way to Stay Sane in the Crazy World of Love - Damon L. Jacobs Let’s face it, relationships can sometimes be hard to navigate, but author and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Damon L. Jacobs, is here to provide you with just the right tools for your relationship toolbox. In a time where we need to connect with each other more than ever, even the best of us can use a little brush up on the skills for nurturing the authentic and affirming relationships around us.

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The Artists Way - Julia Cameron After almost 30 years this book definitely stands the test of time.

It is still a must read, even a must DO for any creative soul looking to connect deeper with that creativity. If you have a creative block or simply find yourself a “shadow artist” and want to find ownership of your own creativity this book is highly recommended! Nourish that relationship with yourself, it is the most sacred relationship you have.

Flannelwood - Raymond Luczak We’ve all been there, haunted by the one that got away. Never truly understanding what happened or how it ended, all you have are the ghosts left behind. In the novel “Flannetwood” by author and playwright Raymond Luczak, we are allowed to delve into the self-indulgent emotions of times like these. Flowing like prose, speaking directly to our own vulnerable experiences, this is a great read for any season.

Spectacular - Zoe Whittall Named one of the best LGBTQ books so far in 2021 by Oprah Daily, this story has it all; from sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll to sexuality to family relationships. The synopsis itself

makes you want to grab your coffee and sit on your sofa and lose track of time. “Missy is a cello prodigy turned indie-punk musician whose band is on the ascent. Just barely in her twenties, this former band geek goes all-in on the sex and drugs parts of the rock n’ roll lifestyle, wanting not so much to shatter the glass ceiling of the scene’s boys club, as to become part of it—a girl with a boytoy in every port. The persona she’s constructed is upended when she falls for the female drummer in a fellow touring band.

When Missy’s lifestyle finally catches up with her, she’s forced to seek solace in the embrace of her mother and grandmother—two women who’ve also wrestled with carving out their own versions of independence.

Whittall’s knockout novel is a multigenerational riot of grrrlhood and womanhood, a brisk and wistful tour through the ambivalence of responsibility.”

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Just the Tips Own Your Space When people think of decorating their space, a lot of second guessing goes on.

You might absolutely love that patchwork sitting chair - but then the sneaky little asshole that lives in your brain says that great aunt Gertrude (who has never stepped foot in your home, seeing as she lives on the other side of the country in a posh assisted living commune) would have an absolute conniption if she saw it. So you look for something less fun, something more universally accepted.

Something, dare I say, boring?!? That will never do!

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You have less than traditional tastes. You have a lot of gifted furniture from when you were first starting out on your own.

While I’m no Marie Kondo; she definitely got one thing right. If something doesn’t bring you joy, and it isn’t useful - donate or toss it. That’s right. Those curtains mom gave you? Yeah, the ones you hate, but you would feel bad taking down? Take them down.

Right now. I’ll wait.

Feels liberating, doesn’t it?

I want you to think about the fact that for years now, we’ve been fighting back on the use of negative labels for our personal life. We’ve decided to turn society on its head. Just because you tend to go through condoms like water through a strainer; doesn’t mean that you’re a slut or a whore, you happen to like sex. A lot, and like having multiple partners.

We have entered an age of freedom, an age that seems to be embracing the Wiccan concept of “Do what you will, but harm none.” Why is that stopped at your literal front door?

There is no shame in getting rid of things that don’t work for you. There’s nothing wrong with repurposing or changing up a gifted piece. I personally have quite a few handed down (Some generations old) pieces of furniture. For a long time, I was afraid to change anything about any of the pieces. You know what happened? I got a wild hair up my ass, and took black paint and holo glitter to a desk that belonged to my husband’s grandfather. Yup. I saw a blue desk and wanted to paint it black. You know what? It turned out absolutely fabulous. Don’t believe me? Well, don’t ask the

sell, or it’s years and years into the future. Or maybe you rent, and SO WHY ARE YOU FOLLOWING OLD RULES? The only person that needs to be comfortable and cozy in your space is you. Although, I’m not going to be plopping my behind on a chair of nails anytime soon.

You might want to buy a thick cushion and toss it in a storage area for when guests do come over.

dishes. Here’s picture proof.

I’ve also taken liberty with one of our great grandmother’s huge dining tables (talk about sexually liberated people - those old time people had that in spades). We’re now using it as the entertainment stand for my husband’s ridiculously large tv.

It’s pretty nice, since it gives a space underneath for the dog’s to lay and have a cozy den, and the table works well for parties with the tv shoved all the way to the wall, there’s plenty of space to put snacks and drinks. I now repurpose and paint items with abandon!

cabinet, painted it your favorite color and filled it with Funko Pops - she’ll get over it. She gave it to you because she wanted to. It’s not like you had her cornered and threatened all of her decorative plates. (please tell me you didn’t) We are who we are. We don’t need to follow the design practices of old and go with what’s popular, or what makes other people comfortable in your space. That’s boring. We shouldn’t be decorating our spaces for the eyes of potential buyers when you might never

So why are we allowing others to tell us how our space should look? We sure as hell don’t let them dictate how we live our lives. Own it. Be free in your own space. It doesn’t matter what others think of what you find comfortable and soothing in the place that you live. Buy that bright orange set of pots and pans and the fluorescent pink dinnerware. Hang the nude self portrait proudly over your mantle.

Hell, buy that patchwork chair.

It’s cute as fuck.

Shelby Goatz, Owner of Blank Slate decorating services Part time writer, full time snarker

If you’re worried about what the gifters of these items that you have in your possession will think, guess what.

Yooooooouuuuu own the items, they have no say in what you do with them!!!! Bwahahahahahaha!

Seriously, though. They’re yours to do with what you please. If mom is upset that you’ve taken the doors off of that old curio

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