Issuu

HEMP BAN

AND THE INDUSTRY

SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 6 | VOL 3 4, ISSUE 44 | FREE

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CREATIVE SERVICES Creative Director Haimanti Germain

DIRECTOR OF SALES Marsha Blacker

CONTRIBUTORS Jeff Polk Abigail Feldkamp

ON THE COVER:

McKenna Graham

Photo by Plateresca, Shutterstock

FEATURE: Lawmakers’ hemp ban aims to destroy the industry they created 8

MUSIC

ARTS AND CULTURE

ETC

Chief Executive Officer Chris Keating

LEO Weekly is published by LEO Weekly LLC. Copyright LEO Weekly LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed herein are exclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Publisher. LEO Weekly is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express permission of LEO Weekly LLC. LEO Weekly may be distributed only by authorized independent contractors or authorized distributors. Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO) is a trademark of LEO Weekly LLC.

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t’s Monday morning and Jan H. is starting her day. At 78 years old, after two hip replacements and knee surgery, she says pain has unfortunately become part of her everyday life. Thankfully the products available at her local hemp dispensary have helped. Like many from her generation, it wasn’t until the Farm Bill passed in 2018 and hemp derived THC became legally available that Jan became curious about trying cannabis as a way to address her health challenges. This availability has been a game changer for her quality of life. “I’ve tried pharmaceutical options in the past, but for me, they often left me feeling groggy, tired and like I didn’t want to do anything,” she says. “At my age, I don’t want to spend my days feeling that

way. I want to enjoy them.” Jan H. is not the only one. According to Nancy Roberts, co-owner and CEO of One Love Hemp Dispensary, a large proportion of the clientele who visit their recreational dispensaries are repeat customers who use the products exclusively to address serious health concerns like cancer, insomnia, PTSD and MS. “We serve thousands of adults,” says Roberts, “many are over 50 and use our products for sleep, pain relief, relaxation… It is a safe alternative to alcohol that is easy on the liver and is not addictive. We have helped countless people have better, healthier and happier lives.” Unlike the products at Kentucky’s new medical marijuana facilities that tout hefty price tags and low dosage restrictions on

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gummies, these hemp derived products are significantly more affordable and offer options with the higher milligrams necessary to address more severe ailments. The barriers to access hemp derived products are also significantly lower. Consumers don’t have to jump through the expensive and time-consuming hoops that they do when applying and paying annually for a medical marijuana card. There is no need to see a doctor to get qualified. They merely have to be 21 or over and bring a legal ID to prove it. Roberts and co-owner of One Love, Jana Groda, are rigorous about the vetting of their merchandise for purity and safety, assuring they adhere to current regulatory standards outlined by the state and have certificates of analysis that detail

the chemical make-up of each product on their website. Likewise, their employees are meticulously trained—most are certified cannabis consultants and interpeners (think weed sommelier) from the Trichome Institute. Unfortunately, due to the upcoming federal hemp ban, a provision introduced by Senator Mitch McConnell, access to hemp-derived goods may soon be coming to a screeching halt on November 12th, leaving those who depend on them for sleep or chronic pain, high and dry. Roberts worries that if the hemp ban goes into effect these same customers may be driven to travel out of state to procure their products or, even worse, to a completely unsafe black market. As for Jan H., she worries about losing her

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quality of life saying, “hearing that prod- industry Senator McConnell’s provision is ucts like the ones I rely on could poten- set to destroy dominated Kentucky’s agritially be taken away genuinely scares me. I cultural marketplace long before tobacco know how I felt before I found them, and I and corn. According to the record, the know how I feel when I go without them. first hemp crop in Kentucky was planted The thought of having to return to days near Danville in 1775. It was used for all when I had less energy, more discomfort kinds of industrial purposes like textiles, and nights when I couldn’t get the rest I paper, vehicle insulation and even as rope for many of the boats that went into needed is very concerning to me.” Not only that, but the ban will decimate battle during WWI. Some historians even what a 2026 report by Whitney Economics claim some of the first American flags were estimates is a $47-$65 billion-dollar indus- made from hemp. It remained a prolific try. According to the Associated Press, crop well into the 1920’s. However, with between 300,000 to 400,000 jobs will be the passage of the Marihuana Tax Act of lost and approximately 1.5 billion dollars 1937, its production was banned across in tax revenue will be forfeited. Efforts to the United States. From 1970 to 2018 all delay the ban are in motion even as this parts of a cannabis plant and its derivatives article is being written with new develop- were considered marijuana and thereby a ments every day. Currently, a month-long Schedule 1 controlled substance. It wasn’t until 2018 with the passage of extension to delay the ban until December 12th has already passed the senate and is the Agricultural Improvement Act, also expected to be pushed through by the U.S. known as the Farm Bill, that the longHouse of Representatives at the beginning standing restrictions on the cultivation of September. That’s one more month for of hemp was eliminated. The Farm Bill law-makers and hemp advocates to try removed hemp and derivatives of cannato scramble together a plan to save this bis with extremely low concentrations of the psychoactive compound delta-9industry and prevent the fall-out. Interestingly, hemp is not new to THC (no more than 0.3 percent THC on Kentucky-- or even the nation. The a dry weight basis), from the definition of 10 | LEO WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 6, 2026

marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. The Agriculture Improvement Act that sought to provide farmers with more opportunities did that and so much more. Opening the door to hemp led to a diverse and flourishing cannabis marketplace, creating all kinds of new jobs, businesses and tax revenue to boot. During testimony in 2019, then Principal Deputy Commissioner of the FDA, Dr. Amy Abernethy stated that the result of the Farm Bill “has been that storefronts and online retailers have flooded the market with these products… FDA has seen CBD appear in a wide variety of products including foods, dietary supplements, veterinary products, and cosmetics.” Abernathy went on to say, “As this new market emerges, we have seen substantial interest from industry, consumers, and Congress. However, in the midst of the excitement and innovation, FDA’s role remains the same: to protect and promote the public health.” But the years that followed did not provide a consistent regulatory framework. And that volatility was both frustrating and confusing for business owners and consumers. “For businesses like ours, compliance isn’t something we resist,” says Roberts of One Love Hemp Dispensary, “it has unfortunately become a full-time job. We have changed products, packaging, vendors and operating procedures repeatedly as regulations have changed. We’ve removed products from shelves, reformulated products, changed how and where products can be sold and invested significant amounts of money trying to stay open and operate legally. What frustrates us the most about the current situation is responsible hemp businesses have been supporting sensible regulation for years. Yet it seems we are the group that takes most of the hits. We are still competing against hundreds of irresponsible businesses selling illegal products, yet the focus has remained on responsible hemp businesses that are selling third party tested, safe and compliant products.” Roberts points to the fact that it isn’t hemps legal presence that is the problem, but the lack of a consistent regulatory framework to protect consumers and provide industry operatives with dependable rules to run their business by. Consumers have also been met with confusion as beloved products that are available to them one week may suddenly disappear from shelves overnight. But the upcoming legislation due to go into law at the end of this year will be the most devastating yet, and many consumers of hemp may not even know it’s coming. Back in 2025, as negotiations dragged on to reopen the government during a historically long shut down, Senator Mitch McConnell saw his opportunity to close what he claimed was a “dangerous loophole” in the Farm Bill. In the final hours, as pressure mounted to pass government funding bill H.R. 5371, Senator McConnell and Representative Andy Harris (R-MD)

tacked on a provision that would recriminalize hemp. Specifically, the provision adds the laws that mandate no more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container, no cannabinoids, regardless of concentration, that are synthesized or manufactured outside the cannabis plant and no cannabinoids with similar effects to THC as determined by the Department of Health and Human Services. This would remove around 95% of the hemp marketplace, estimate industry executives, and offer no viable option for hemp businesses to stay afloat. McConnell claims his motivation stems from the intoxicating products being marketed to children, noting their resemblance to popular snacks and candies and their widespread availability in corner stores and gas stations. When approached for comment on the ban and possible extension, McConnell’s Communications Director Stephanie Penn stated, “Senator McConnell is firmly opposed to the extended delay on the regulation of hemp included in the continuing resolution. This extension would continue to expose our nation’s children to unregulated, intoxicating, hemp-derived THC products.” However, hemp advocates claim more clear regulation, standards for packaging and consistent enforcement would prevent most of these issues. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are hustling to save hemp. “Gov. Beshear, believes protections can be put in place for children without hurting an industry that supports a lot of people-especially those in our agriculture industry,” says Scottie Ellis, Communications Director for Gov. Besehear. “Congress has the power to address this ban, and therefore Kentucky’s Congressional Delegation should step up to protect our people, their livelihoods and our economy.” In late July, US Rep Angie Craig (D-MN) and Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) introduced the Lawful Hemp Protection Act (H.R. 9830) to propose a federal regulatory framework for lawful hemp. Before that, Senator Rand Paul introduced the Bipartisan Hemp Safety Enforcement Act that would empower states and Tribal governments to oversee their own regulation. Though none of these bills have come to fruition, hemp advocates continue to explore solutions. When asked how lawmakers like McConnell are preparing for the massive economic impacts and widespread job loss following the ban, McConnell’s office had little to say--only deferring to McConnell’s floor remarks from November 11, 2025, during which the senator stated, “Industrial hemp and CBD will remain legal for industrial applications — such as seed, stock, fiber, grain oil.” Yet, talking to Kentucky’s farmers tells a different story. Many like Jason Marshall, Judge/Executive for Harrison County and former hemp farmer, says there is no viable marketplace for industrial hemp in Kentucky.

“There’s no infrastructure, no processing facilities, no buyers… the only thing that’s established in Kentucky with hemp is CBD. So, as far as industrial hemp or textiles, we have no infrastructure and no markets that I’m aware of. I’ve been involved for about 12 years now and I don’t know of any market that I could produce a textile hemp crop and sell it to.” As a result, Marshall says none of the farmers he knows have planted hemp this year. In fact, according to Abram Phillips, a farmer interviewed by Louisville Public Media in August, many farmers are still sitting on large biomasses of hemp from last year as demand and prices for their product dropped dramatically in immediate response to the legislation’s passage in November of last year. “As an official and farmer, it’s going to be a great loss to the state of Kentucky,” says Marshall, “You know, it could have been a great opportunity for the Kentucky farmers, Kentucky small business owners, and it’s just really sad that this has become political. I feel like we’re being banned because of alcohol, pharmaceuticals and just being lobbied heavily by competitors. It’s a great loss of opportunity for Kentucky.” As the sad march towards prohibition continues, it’s worth noting that even if lawmakers are able to scrabble together a longer extension or maybe even pass legislation to actually save the hemp industry entirely, there is damage that has already been done. For example, Devin Foley, founder of Pop’s Premium, a company that produces hemp derived vape and edibles, was recently forced to shut down his business. As a father of three children trying to support his family he was no longer able to employ the “wait and see” strategy. After starting Pop’s Premium in late 2021 and experiencing significant success, Foley was able to grow his business, at one point employing up to eight people. He was also able to provide a better life for his family, buying a new, bigger house and vehicles for he and his wife. Then, everything changed after the passage of the hemp ban in November 2025 and Foley noticed a sharp decrease in orders. “Our sales have basically plummeted to almost nothing,” he says, “we were projecting for November [2026] being the end but we didn’t anticipate that the sales would just come to a complete halt like this.” Foley’s plan is to sell off what merchandise he has and cut his losses-- though he concedes doing so will not provide even enough financial return to begin his next venture. He also worries about keeping up with his current cost of living in an already economically challenging time. His predicament, unlike some businesses, was not caused by improper management or bad choices, but instead by circumstances outside his control. Now, as he prepares to close down permanently, he points to the hypocrisy of the ban, telling a story about grocery shopping with two of his kids.

“I went for groceries the other day and my five-year-old daughter and nine-yearold son ran up to these drinks begging me to buy them. The drinks that they were intensely attracted to were alcohol that looked like Yoo-hoo and I think the other was a Trix cereal flavor,” says Foley, “I don’t understand how one of the biggest arguments for politicians to ban hemp is marketing toward children, or accessibility to kids when these alcoholic products are on the end cap at arm’s reach.” Like many from the cannabis world, Foley believes part of the motivation for the ban may have been pressure from the alcohol industry. Currently, some of the proposed legislation to save hemp includes the possibility that cannabis, specifically THC drinks, would be overseen by the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau). Cannabis business owners have related trepidation about this possibility, likening it to being policed by their competitor. Today, congressional researchers and hemp industry operatives are still patiently waiting on the FDA’s guidelines outlining which cannabinoids are covered in the ban and recommendations on hemp product containers. The information, which is critical for legal compliance, is now six months late, legally due back in early February. This quagmire has created even greater disruption for the hemp product industry in the interim all while thousands teeter on the precipice of joblessness. “I think people hear ‘hemp industry’ and imagine a handful of vape shops,” says Nancy Roberts, One Love owner, “They don’t realize how large the industry actually is-- there are farmers, extraction facilities, manufacturers, testing laboratories, packaging companies, printers, graphic designers, delivery companies, warehouses, distributors, sales representatives, accountants, software providers, landlords and thousands of retail employees whose livelihoods are connected to hemp.” Though we can track how many dollars are due to be lost if the federal hemp ban stands, seeing the human and community cost all round us will truly bring those numbers to life. When we encounter citizens left jobless, families unable to pay their bills, buildings left empty, and businesses shuttered its worth asking who we are really protecting here-especially when a little bit of commonsense legislation and work on the part of lawmakers could save it all. You can weigh in on the federal hemp ban by contacting your US Representative or reaching out to Members of Congress’ offices through the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. When you call, ask to be connected to the office of your legislator.

Depiction of medical marijuana Bukhta Yurii Senator Mitch McConnell Christopher Halloran, Shuterstock

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MUSIC

AN INTERVIEW WITH MODISTE: THE SYNTHPOP GROUP TAKING LOUISVILLE BY STORM BY ABIGAIL FELDKAMP

Modiste embodies what Louisville has been waiting for. Composed of lead singer Sydney Sleadd, synth master Dennis Stein and guitarist Kyle Stallings, the group has gained massive attention despite only meeting each other in January 2025. Featuring synths and drum machines from the 80s as an integral part of the sound, as well as immersive lighting, visuals, vintage TVs and Sleadd’s costume changes, Modiste showcases that they are more than just music, they are an experience. The group captures an authentic 80s sound and performance that has even those who were not yet born during that time yearning for it. Modiste perfectly mixes the 80s elements with qualities that are unique to them, creating a truly memorable energy. They debuted their first album Nothing More Than a Machine last Friday, August 7th and celebrated by playing a show at Zanzabar. LEO

attended the show and chatted with 2 out of 3 of the group, Sydney Sleadd and Kyle Stallings.

LEO: How are you feeling tonight upon the release of your first album? SS: I am feeling so grateful and excited. It was a beautiful show with Jay Jayle playing and with so many friends and family and people that I’m meeting for the first time here. The sound was incredible because Dave Chale who mixed our album also did the mixing [for tonight’s show]. I’m just a little bit surreal and stunned. We just played our first show as this band in December, so the fact that we created this album and kind of built the following that we have in what feels like a short amount of time is just a little bit nuts. So, I’m very very happy and very very excited. LEO: What’s your experience as an artist in Louisville?

SS: Oh man, I’ve been playing in Louisville for the past about 15 years. I started out under the stage name Alabama Brown when I was like 20 years old. I played country songs because that’s all I could play was three chords on the guitar. It just kinda came out like that, and I really liked the process of song writing. I did some open mic nights. Then I created the band Sydney Sleadd and the Swarm and played with them for several years. And then the Louisville Rock Lottery in January is where I met these guys, but I have been playing in different music iterations and different volumes kind of all over the place in Louisville for several years now. LEO: Since you’re a newly formed band, what’re some of the driving factors for the creation of your art/brand? SS: Well, this is the guy to ask. Kyle is in charge of a lot of the branding and graphics for Modiste.

KS: I know it sounds weird. I’m not one of those people that [are] like “Oh I hear colors”, because I don’t do that, but like I just visualize things whenever we play. It just really comes easily. Lots of neons and things like that I think are kind of par for the course for us. SS: A lot of Twin Peaks. A lot of David Lynch. KS: Definitely Lynchian things and some 80s nostalgia. You know, that sort of thing. You can find Modiste’s album Nothing More Than a Machine wherever you stream your music and can purchase it on their website.

Courtesy photo

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ARTS & CULTURE

SONIC LIVE IN CONCERT IS HEADING TO LOUISVILLE: WHAT MUSIC DIRECTOR SHELBIE RASSLER HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE SHOW BY ABIGAIL FELDKAMP

Sonic Live In Concert is heading to the Louisville Palace on October 17th. The show will honor 35 years of Sonic, bringing to life one of the most iconic video games of all time, through a live performance via electronic elements, vocalists and rock musicians paired with footage of iconic levels and boss battles from the games over the years. LEO had the pleasure of conversing with Sonic Live In Concert’s music director Shelbie Rassler about the show and how it spans over generations. LEO: How do you approach the scope of featuring 35 years of Sonic in one setlist? SR: I would say that’s kind of the exciting challenge of this show. Sonic Live In Concert and the tour in general has, like you said, 35 years of music. There are fans that have been with the franchise since 1991 alongside people who discovered it through a game or a

comic book or a movie that came out more recently. So we really wanted the concert to feel like a journey throughout the entire history. We’ve picked music that represents each of the sort of places along the timeline of these 35 years.

LEO: What are you preserving about the original style of Sonic music and what are you changing within that? How did you approach that part of it all? SR: It’s interesting because, especially with the video game music throughout the Sonic Universe. When it was originally written, it had a very specific job to do, which is to accompany the game play and motivate the character. But now that we’re bringing it to the concert stage, we get to take all of the themes and the songs that people know and love and kind of ask ourselves how do we make this explode off the stage and create this immersive experience

into the Sonic world. We have our live musicians, our rock and roll players, our vocalists, and lots of electronics, as well as a synchronized HD video screen that is projecting visuals from the games and the different Sonic themes and scenes and zones and everything along the way. So it becomes more than just listening to a soundtrack. It feels like you’ve sort of stepped into the Sonic Universe and that’s what we tried to do with the music for the show.

LEO: What are you most excited to show audiences? SR: My favorite thing about these live in concert performances is that we get to share this music with perhaps people who haven’t had a chance to experience live music in this way before or haven’t seen live instrumentals on stage. What’s so special about the Sonic Universe starting 35 years ago is that there are people in their 40s and 50s who grew up

playing the original game on the Genesis and how much it’s evolved since then. It’s so special that they now get to come to this concert and have this incredibly nostalgic experience seeing their favorite scenes on screen as well as hearing their favorite songs and melodies and everything. But even more special is that they often bring their children along now. They get to have this shared experience with the next generation where they’re sharing things that were really important to them and filled their childhoods and their lives growing up. They get to share it with their children and experience the joys of live music. So that’s what I’m always most excited to see going into these tours.

LEO: What made you want to take on this project? SR: I think exactly what we just spoke about, which is getting to share this exciting energy filled music with so many people around the country, as well as our other ensemble who is going to be doing the world tour out in the UK and throughout Europe. It’s very exciting. There’s just so much adrenaline and energy to this show specifically, so I was super excited to jump on board and get to rock out every night. It’s so much fun. Purchase tickets to see Sonic Live In Concert.

Courtesy photo

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SAVAGE LOVE

THE BACKLOG BY DAN SAVAGE Been away for two weeks — happy to return to a packed inbox. Let’s get to the questions! — Dan Hey Dan: I’ve wavered on sending this but I need advice. The issue is that there’s a woman I’ve known most of my life. We are very close and as close to an open book friendship as I can think of. We’ve shared everything. I now realize that I have romantic feelings for her that I never acted on. I’m 35, she’s 36. The wrinkle is that she’s now married with three children. Our correspondence has recently gotten kind of flirtatious. I get the sense that she’s not happy in her marriage and I’m waiting for it to run its course. I want to be a supportive friend but I’m also interested in her in a way I’m almost certain she would reciprocate given the right circumstances, maybe years from now. What’s my best course of action here? Personal Advice Is Needed The fact that this woman seems unhappy in her marriage isn’t proof that 1. she’s actually unhappy (married people love to complain) or that 2. she’s unhappy enough to do something about it (relationship satisfaction isn’t the only variable here). Middle-aged, married, and responsible for three kids is an incredibly stressful stage of life, especially in a country that seems determined to make being a parent as difficult as possible. And as women in straight marriages almost always do more than their fair share of the household labor and childcare, straight married women have a lot to complain about. (Here’s hoping this woman’s husband is doing his fair share.) So, while this woman, like a lot of middleaged moms, may fantasize about alternative timelines… timelines where she’s married to someone who helps out more and impregnates her less often… it doesn’t follow that she would leave her husband to be with you or anyone else. Zooming out: If your conversations with this woman were actually flirtatious (“kind of” flirtatious sounds like dickful thinking)… and if you knew for a fact that she was unhappy in her marriage (because she’d told you exactly that)… I might encourage you to tell this woman how you feel. But unless and until things escalate — unless and until she starts saying things like “I wanna fuck you” and “I want out of my marriage” — there’s a good chance you’re reading things into your conversations with this woman that are probably untrue. If things get unambiguous, PAIN, maybe then you could risk saying something to her. If she wants out of her marriage, knowing how you feel might encourage her to get out sooner. But unless and until things get unambiguous… unless and until it’s she’s the one telling you what you wanna hear, TITS, and you’re sure it’s not just your dick telling you what you wanna hear… your best course of action is to STFU. P.S. Supportive friends don’t have ulterior motives.

Hey Dan: I’m a bisexual married male. I came out to my spouse before I slept with a man for the first time, which I did with her permission. In the end I contracted a sexually transmitted infection during that first foray. I have a question about doxy and a follow-up question about gym etiquette. (I can’t really ask my doctor because I live in Texas.) How soon after a sexual encounter should I take my doxy? I think my mishap was due to me misunderstanding the directions. Which leads me to my gym question: I joined the gym for community more than anything else. I am not happy with my body, but it seems as though my body won’t be holding me back. I have been propositioned a few times and I love feeling desired by other men like this! I’ve heard stories about sexual things happening in the showers at the gym, but I don’t know whether this sort of thing is officially okay. Is messing around in the showers or the sauna actually okay? Thirsty In The Shower 1. Doxy directions really aren’t that complicated, TITS, and they’re easily googled. But I’m here to help: You should take a 200 mg dose of doxycycline as soon as possible after you have sex with another man — ideally within 24 hours, but no later than 72 hours — but you shouldn’t take more than 200 mg in a 24-hour period. (So, if you have sex with some dude in the morning and take doxy immediately after, TITS, don’t take another round of doxy if you have sex with some other dude in the afternoon.) Taking doxy greatly reduces your risk of contracting (and passing along) syphilis and chlamydia; it also reduces your risk of catching/spreading gonorrhea. You should also be on PrEP, which will protect you from HIV. And if you can’t talk to your doctor about these things, TITS, you need a different/better doctor. 2. A gym is not a sex club, TITS, so it’s not okay — officially — to mess around with other guys at the gym. But the stories you’ve heard aren’t urban legends: unlike men putting gerbils in their asses (a fading urban legend that’s just had new life breathed into it), out gay and bi men have been known to mess around at gyms in gay neighborhoods. (Closet cases, on the other hand, mess around at gyms near megachurches.) For many men, the fact that it’s not okay — because a gym is not a sex club — is part of the thrill. But you have to be discreet, vigilant, and surgical: don’t mess around in front of guys who haven’t clearly signaled an interest in either messing around or watching other guys mess around (that’s the discreet part), keep one eye on the door to the sauna and knock it off if someone else comes in (that’s the vigilant part), and don’t draw things out (that’s the surgical part). Guys who are indiscreet, careless, and sloppy about messing around at the gym get their memberships revoked. P.S. If you actually wanted to cancel your gym membership — something many gyms make nearly impossible — getting “caught” messing around at the gym may be the best way to do it.

P.P.S. To learn the difference between friendly smile-and-nod eye contact at the gym and come-join-me-in-the-sauna eye contact at the gym, get your hands on a copy of Leo Herrera’s (Analogue) Cruising: A Manual.

AFW, you have to stop prioritizing his feelings over your own. Tell him that you’re unhappy and that your marriage is at stake. If that motivates him to do something about it and you see lasting change, you can stay. If it doesn’t and you don’t, you should leave.

Hey Dan: I’m a 24-year-old woman married to a 27-year-old man. We’ve been together about six years and our sex life has always been off. He was a virgin when we met, and I struggled with low libido for a few years due to a hormone issue that has been fixed. He was the opposite: he wanted to bang nearly every day. Over the last two years sex became more one-sided. There’s less foreplay, less stuff for me, and he just focuses on whatever helps him finish. I suggested spicing things up, I talked about things I enjoyed, and even flat-out asked for more. He would say, “Sure, yeah, I guess,” and then nothing would change. When I told him I was frustrated he said he gets embarrassed when we do things my way. (I like a little light restraint/choking.) But his “embarrassment” now extends to him being uncomfortable with any foreplay at all. He says he sees himself with his “third eye” and he feels disgusted when he attempts “my” things. So, while we’re having sex pretty frequently, the sex we have is one-sided and all about him. He has body-image and self-esteem issues, and I want to be as sensitive as I can be talk with him about needing more. I’m afraid that it will sound like he isn’t enough. I love him but I’ve cried myself to sleep every night this week because I feel used. A Frustrated Woman

Hey Dan: I don’t know if you’re aware of Chris Gallant. He’s the Democrat nominee running to represent New York’s 1st Congressional District. This district — which covers the eastern halves of Long Island and Fire Island— is currently represented by Nick LaLota, the worst kind of ass-kissing Trump Republican. Chris was in the news this week because he did some modeling for Mr. S. Leather when he was in his early twenties and someone found the photos and sent them to the New York Post. This seems like something your readers and listeners might want to know about. Gay Old Photos I wasn’t aware that a gay military veteran, air traffic controller, union leader, and volunteer firefighter — Chris Gallant — was running for Congress until after the New York Post published photos of Gallant looking amazing in a harness. Gallant immediately released a pitch-perfect statement in which he said he was proud of who he was and would not be “embarrassed or ashamed” into dropping out of the face. (He then sent out a fundraising pitch.) The Suffolk County Democratic Committee, to its credit, stood by their man: the only thing the old photos prove, the organization said in an Instagram post, is that Republicans are running scared and that “Chris Gallant has a six-pack.” (And shouldn’t the man representing half of Fire Island have a six-pack?) The fact that Gallant may be kinky — most of the models Mr. S. works with are actually kinksters (ahem) — is an argument in favor of sending him to Washington. People into BDSM understand the importance of consent, so sending Gallant to a place crawling with men who don’t seem to understand the importance of consent is a good idea. Also, given that everyone under the age of 40 (Gallant is 37) has dirty photos out there somewhere, disqualifying people like Gallant from holding public office — disqualifying people with dirty pics out there — is going to make our already awful gerontocracy problem even worse. Gallant for Congress!

So, when it comes to the things you need — including basic foreplay — your husband has a third eye like a Flock camera: it’s always on, it sees everything, AFW, and being surveilled like this (something he’s doing to himself) makes him too embarrassed and self-conscious to make sure sex is pleasurable for you too. But the magic Flock camera in his head snaps off the second he starts doing whatever he wants. So, putting in a little effort to make sure his wife is aroused before he sticks his dick in her? Third eye says no. But sticking his dick in his wife and using her like a masturbation sleeve — behavior that hurts you, disgusts me, and should embarrass him — that doesn’t offend his third eye. You’ve already told him what you need repeatedly, AFW, and nothing has changed. Unless you’re prepared to put up with this shit for the rest of your life — unless you’re willing to be held hostage by your husband’s intermittently crippling self-esteem issues — you should leave him. You’re only 24, AFW, and you don’t mention kids. You’d be For the full article, go to leoweekly.com better off on your own with a vibrator and some decent bondage porn than stuck with Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your a guy who treats you like a sex doll. DTMFA. question for the column to mailbox@savage. P.S. Choking during sex — even light love! choking — is dangerous. Ask your next boyfriend to hold you down by placing his Or record your question for the hands on your sternum and collarbones, not Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan! around your neck. P.P.S. Even if you’re not ready to leave him, Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 6, 2026 LEO WEEKLY | 17

18 | LEO WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 6, 2026

NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE CROSSWORD PUZZLE (This crossword was previously published in LEO Weekly)

HOLD YOUR DOZE BY CHRISTINA IVERSON AND KATIE HALE Puzzles Edited by Joel Fagliano

Grunting ox, by another name

Christina Iverson, of Ames, Iowa, is an associate puzzle editor at The New York Times. Katie Hale, of London, is an assistant crossword editor for The Los Angeles Times. This is their fourth Sunday collaboration for the magazine. As mothers of young children, they often draw on themes from real life — this puzzle was inspired by a congested toddler.

Poetic preposition

Show with the Church Lady and Target Lady, for short

Bill in a till

Change for a 32-Across, perhaps

Having a studious appearance

Treats that Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith picked as runner-up to Doritos for ‘‘best snack in America’’

ACROSS 1

End of the line?

Agnus ____ (motif in Christian iconography)

Tiniest amount

Question from someone with a lot of outstanding debt?

‘‘No promises . . .’’

Biblical king of Judea

Spice Girl Halliwell

Oversight

Over which announcements about pep rallies might be heard, for short

French companions

Hubris

Lead-in to marine or marathon

The house, to a blackjack player

1993 Beck single

Break up the band, say

Charades, but not chess

Certain wedding role

Grass

‘‘If that missing house title ever does show up ...’’

‘‘Bye Bye Birdie’’ actress ____-Margret

56 57

refrain ‘‘____, ___ ba-doop’’

106 Gym rat’s focus

Fusses

Weaknesses

107

____-weekly

How one might punnily define ‘‘Saran’’ or ‘‘sari’’?

110

Tour guide’s remark at the challah factory?

Perform very well, in modern slang

Makeup of a tiny twisting ladder

Cheeky

116

Out the ____

‘‘Keep going!’’

Follows a recipe direction

119

‘‘Hmm, hard to say . . . ’’

Tuna type

Actress McDonald

Do wrong

Underwater steerer

120 Fictional dog with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Nincompoop, more vulgarly

DHL competitor

Matcha, e.g.

Stevedore’s complaint?

Like cutting the line

Champagne specification

Whitman of TV’s ‘‘Parenthood’’

Chocolate mint brand

Paper pack

Like a redhead’s temperament, it’s said

South ____, river through Denver

‘‘No need to find a professional illustrator!’’

121

Cry of delight

122

Supporter of the arts?

123

Lazy river conveyances

124

Question of ownership

125

Checked the license of, informally

126

Farm home

127

Spreadsheet button

DOWN 1

1991 crime drama starring Warren Beatty and Annette Bening

One of many in the Colosseum

Name that means ‘‘night’’ in Arabic and ‘‘purple’’ in German

Change form

‘‘No worries’’

Teacher’s instruction in a class on pointillism?

100 Utensil drawer compartment

Pants, informally

101

What ‘‘Eat’’ stands for in the mnemonic ‘‘Never Eat Soggy Waffles’’

Biblical verb

Olympic event with masks

Giveaways in some common scams of the 2010s

Salt-N-Pepa hit with the

102 103

Post-op locale NASA shorthand for a spacewalk

Luau greeting

‘‘And Still I Rise’’ writer

Drink for which Pliny the Elder recorded a recipe

Con

Coming from both sides

Sum thing

Fragrant additive to beauty products

It’s like ‘‘-like’’

Kaitlin Olson’s role on ‘‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’’

Do wrong

Kosher

Sign

Wide receiver ____ Beckham Jr.

Certain arm muscles, in brief

Not accept a refusal

Caption for an absent student, say

Morgan Stanley subsidiary

Official OKs

‘‘Then again . . . ,’’ in text messages

Video-game company that published Frogger

Goes in a hurry

Trust in

Give a sharp hit

Widely admired person

Prey of polar bears

____ Lanka

‘‘You have a face for radio,’’ for one

Cause to rise

Makes sense

For

Where a golf ball sits

Golf-ball indentation

Home to Firenze

About 40% of a hectare

Knitting stitch

Small, painful bump

Lack of energy

What context is, in a saying

Country that becomes a language if you remove its last letter

‘‘My turn’’

Info in an ‘‘About Us’’ section

Frosting alternative

They might cover your back

Stored for the night, as a bus

One of the Starks on ‘‘Game of Thrones’’

Hatches, e.g.

Masters of underwater camouflage

Sent express

104 ‘‘Parlez-____ français?’’ 105 Some godmothers 107

National dish of the Philippines

108 Member of an isolated colony, once 109 Meeting for two 111

A ‘‘waking dream,’’ per Aristotle

112

Senate staffer

113

Little annoyance

114

Sacred

115

Promises to pay

116

URL starter

117

Gratified groan

118

Metaphor for a house with young children, perhaps

Answer Key

SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 6, 2026 LEO WEEKLY | 19