39. He Played With Dolls. A chat with writer, Luis Ignacio Andrade

The Gay Podcast for Everyone

My guest today is Luis Ignacio Andrade. He's a writer whose collection of essays in He Played With Dolls, chronicles his life as a Latinx gay male growing up in a family dominated by machismo. The title highlights the stereotypes that folks have about gender and boys showing interest in "girl things": dresses, dolls, and Barbies.
In our chat today, Luis shares how he dealt with a lot of shame for those things growing up and how a seemingly small gesture from an uncle gave him a sense of acceptance when he needed it the most.
He also shares how after a lot of bumps along the way, his relationship with his mom has done a complete 180, and today she is one of his biggest allies.
If this episode leaves you with just one thing, I hope it's to remember a person who did that one thing or said that one thing that was so meaningful to you and left such an impression in your life that it's made the biggest difference. And I hope it inspires you to be a positive influence in someone else's life.
[00:00:22] Intro Clip
[00:01:06] Episode Intro - about the episode
[00:03:58] The story behind He Played with Dolls
[00:08:18] Small gestures, significant impacts
[00:10:52] Fitting in vs Belonging
[00:13:11] Did God make a mistake?
[00:17:02] Writing about traumatic experiences and inserting humor
[00:18:32] The bond gay men have with their mothers
[00:19:45] When your mom becomes an ally
[00:22:11] Facing rejection from our own (LGBTQ+) family
[00:23:42] A mother's fear
[00:29:03] Writing about vulnerable topics and experiences
[00:31:55] The rupture in relationships and the possibility of repair
[00:36:08] Growing up LGBTQ+ today
[00:39:57] The importance of being a positive example for LGBTQ+ youth

Follow Luis Ignacio Andrade on Instagram or at heplayedwithdolls.com
follow the podcast: theygaypodastforeveryone.com
Instagram: @thegaypodcast_foreveryone

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Chapter

1. 39. He Played With Dolls. A chat with writer, Luis Ignacio Andrade (00:00:00)

2. Intro Clip (00:00:22)

3. Episode Intro (00:01:06)

4. The story behind He Played with Dolls (00:03:58)

5. Small gestures, significant impacts (00:08:18)

6. Fitting in vs belonging (00:10:52)

7. Did God make a mistake? (00:13:11)

8. Writing about traumatic experiences and inserting humor (00:17:02)

9. The bond gay men have with their mothers (00:18:32)

10. When your mom becomes an ally (00:19:45)

11. Facing rejection from our own (LGBTQ+) family (00:22:11)

12. A mother's fear (00:23:42)

13. Writing about vulnerable topics and experiences (00:29:03)

14. The rupture in relationships and the possibilities of repair (00:31:55)

15. Growing up LGBTQ+ today (00:36:08)

16. The importance of being a positive example for LGBTQ+ youth (00:39:57)