Straight Male Allies Are the Best. Here’s Why
Spencer Macnaughton | Uncloseted Media Weekly Newsletter
Stephen. Kenny. Jacob. Justin. Matt. Dan.
Straight men. A demographic group that is often given a bad rep in the LGBTQ community. But just like we queer folk hate being seen as a monolith, I think it’s deeply unfair that we often cast straight guys as bad.
The straight men listed above have been some of my strongest friendships over the years. When I came out at 16, Jacob—who I’ve known since I was six—embraced me with open arms. In 2023, I wrote about my friendship with Stephen in The New York Times: about how I learned not to have my guard up around straight guys after becoming close with him and after he defended me when I was called a f*ggot on the rooftop of a bar in the Meatpacking district.
Stephen spoke about how he benefited from the friendship as well in that he could be more vulnerable with me because I’m gay. That meant speaking proudly about his love for Britney Spears, but also feeling comfortable talking about his mental health.
At a time when there is so much division and animus toward the LGBTQ community, we should welcome straight guys and other allies who want to get in the fight. That’s why I was so grateful when I met Peter Melnick, a new friend who pledged his support for Uncloseted Media.
“Ultimately, it's about standing up for what’s right, fighting bigotry and fighting evil that seems almost insurmountable,” Melnick told me on a recent Zoom catch-up. “The Jewish phrase is Tikkun Olam, meaning to heal the world. We all have an obligation to not just sit back and go ‘tsk tsk.’”
Melnick, an author and composer and the grandson of legendary musical theatre composer Richard Rodgers, says he always tries to give where his support will garner the most impact. “Uncloseted Media is a small organization, and the kinds of contributions I'm capable of giving, I think, make a big difference.”
Melnick, like Stephen and so many allies I’ve been lucky to have in my life, are part of a growing community of folks who see the need for LGBTQ journalism in 2025. They understand that exposing injustices and hate against the LGBTQ community will not only be good for queer people—it will be good for democracy and human rights, and will help all of us live better together as fellow Americans.
Cheers to Peter, to Stephen and to all the other straight men out there standing up for the LGBTQ community at a moment when it’s desperately needed.
Don’t forget to RSVP to our one-year anniversary party at the Stonewall Inn next Wednesday. Join us for a celebration of journalism and community!
We are nominated for an Eddie Award for our story about PrEP deserts in partnership with Fierce Healthcare. Thank you for the honor!
Manhunt underway after conservative activist Charlie Kirk shot dead on Utah campus (CNN)
New Alberta school books order bans explicit images of sexual acts (CBC)
LGBTQ Americans consider move to Canada to escape Trump: ‘I’m afraid of living here’ (The Guardian)
Amy Coney Barrett says supreme court rulings are ‘not opinion polls’ (The Guardian)
NRA says it opposes idea of banning transgender Americans from owning guns (CNN)
Over the next week, be on the lookout for new Uncloseted reporting:
🆕 Can you love more than one person and feel totally secure? Psychotherapist and author Jessica Fern dives deep into the heart of polyamory and attachment.
🆕 Liberty Counsel, a far-right Christian legal group, made the news last month when it was reported that the Supreme Court will formally consider their petition for a case to overturn gay marriage. We dig into their decades-long history as some of the most fervent opponents of LGBTQ rights.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to email me with questions, complaints and story ideas!
Spencer Macnaughton, Editor-In-Chief — spencer@unclosetedmedia.com
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