Should kink be allowed at Pride? It's one of the biggest debates in the LGBTQ+ community and we're diving into it without holding back.In Episode 54 of the Gay Rugby Podcast, Jack Higgins and Ozzie Luna celebrate Pride Month while tackling some of the most controversial conversations happening in queer culture today. From leather culture and pup play to family-friendly Pride events, LGBTQ+ history, sports, and visibility, we explore where Pride has been, where it's headed, and why these conversations matter.We discuss whether fetish gear belongs at Pride, the role of leather and kink in LGBTQ+ history, how Pride evolved from a protest into a global celebration, and why understanding queer history is more important than ever. We also talk about representation in sports, the Los Angeles Dodgers Pride Night controversy, LGBTQ+ inclusion in rugby, corporate Pride, and whether younger generations fully understand what previous generations fought to achieve.This episode isn't about telling you what to think-it's about asking difficult questions, hearing different perspectives, and starting meaningful conversations within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. Along the way, we debate whether Pride is still a protest, if kink and leather should remain visible at Pride events, how queer athletes are changing sports culture, what true allyship looks like, and why LGBTQ+ visibility continues to matter in 2026.Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community, an ally, a rugby fan, or simply curious about the future of Pride, we'd love to hear your perspective. Drop a comment below and join the conversation.This epsiode was brought to you by Hey Sweet Cheeks (Queer-owned Sexcare + Skincare)Use our code GRP20 to get 20% off https://heysweetcheeks.co/If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode of the Gay Rugby Podcast. Your support helps us continue creating honest conversations about LGBTQ+ culture, rugby, Pride, and queer life.

What started as a lighthearted attempt to call out our guest quickly turned into one of the most honest conversations we've had on the Gay Rugby Podcast.This week, we're joined by Big Dipper, co-host of the Sloppy Seconds podcast, musician, comedian, and one of the most recognizable voices in queer media. We finally confront him about comments he made regarding gay rugby, but what follows is a much bigger conversation about community, identity, belonging, and the complicated relationship gay men have with each other.Along the way, we dive into bear culture, LGBTQ representation, queer creators, social media burnout, gay dating, inclusive sports, and why it can sometimes feel harder to find acceptance within the LGBTQ community than outside of it. Big Dipper shares stories from his career, talks about building a successful LGBTQ podcast, reflects on his experiences in queer spaces, and opens up about the insecurities that can persist even after years of success. One of the most fascinating parts of the conversation centers on a question that many gay men have asked themselves at one point or another: why do we seem so willing to celebrate each other from a distance, but struggle to support one another up close? It's a conversation about queer identity, community dynamics, internalized homophobia, and the challenges that come with creating authentic LGBTQ content in an increasingly crowded digital world.We also talk about gay rugby culture, LGBTQ athletes, bear community stereotypes, creator life, online criticism, queer music, mental health, and what it means to carve out a place for yourself in modern gay culture.If you've ever felt like an outsider in your own community, wondered why LGBTQ spaces can sometimes feel divided, or questioned where you fit into the broader queer world, this episode will probably hit close to home.The Gay Rugby Podcast explores LGBTQ sports, queer culture, travel, dating, relationships, mental health, and the stories that bring our community together. Hosted by Jack Higgins and Ozzie Luna, each episode features candid conversations, unexpected perspectives, and plenty of laughs along the way.Empowered by Friend of Dorothy: https://friend-of-dorothy.com/Elevate your well-being with our thoughtfully curated range of products designed specifically for gay men.New episodes every week.Filmed, edited and produced by Jack HigginsExecutive Producer Ozzie LunaConnect with The Gay Rugby Podcast on social media! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gayrugbypodcast/Tik Tokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gayrugbypodcast?lang=enYouTubehttps://shorturl.at/OztS0Views and opinions in the podcast do not reflect the views and opinions of the Los Angeles Rebellion Rugby Club

Do Rugby Teams Shower Together? Comedian Joseph Schles joins The Gay Rugby Podcast!Subscribe to the Gay Rugby Podcast! https://shorturl.at/OztS0Most people who have never played rugby have the same question: do rugby teams actually shower together after a match?After a recent trip to Barcelona, Jack finally has an answer.In this episode of the Gay Rugby Podcast, Jack and Ozzie unpack what it was like stepping onto the pitch with a rugby club in Barcelona, navigating the language barrier, experiencing a different rugby culture, and finding out firsthand which rugby stereotypes are true and which are complete nonsense.Joining the conversation is comedian Joseph Lesch, whose career has taken him from comedy clubs to performing for thousands of LGBTQ+ travelers aboard Atlantis Events cruises. Together they trade stories about sports, travel, body confidence, queer community, and the strange social dynamics that happen when a bunch of sweaty rugby players head for the locker room after a match.Part rugby story, part travel diary, and part comedy hang, this episode offers an inside look at a side of rugby culture that most people never get to see.Subscribe for new episodes of the Gay Rugby Podcast, where rugby, comedy, travel, and LGBTQ+ culture collide.This epsiode was brought to you by Hey Sweet Cheeks (Queer-owned Sexcare + Skincare)Use our code GRP20 to get 20% off https://heysweetcheeks.co/New episodes every week.Filmed, edited and produced by Jack HigginsExecutive Producer Ozzie LunaConnect with The Gay Rugby Podcast on social media! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gayrugbypodcast/Tik Tokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gayrugbypodcast?lang=enYouTubehttps://shorturl.at/OztS0Views and opinions in the podcast do not reflect the views and opinions of the Los Angeles Rebellion Rugby Club

Has queer visibility gone too far? In Episode 51 of the Gay Rugby Podcast, queer pop artist Zee Machine joins us for an honest conversation about LGBTQ visibility, representation in media, and whether increased visibility has helped the community or made LGBTQ people a bigger target in today's political climate.Zee Machine shares his journey growing up in Hong Kong, discovering music, and building a career as an openly queer artist. We discuss the privilege of growing up in a supportive family, how acceptance shaped his confidence, and why he's never felt the need to hide who he is. Zee also reflects on his experiences playing rugby as a teenager and how sports, identity, and self-expression intersect.From queer media representation and LGBTQ rights to music, culture, and authenticity, this episode explores some of the biggest questions facing the queer community today.Subscribe for more conversations about LGBTQ culture, rugby, sports, entertainment, and queer life.Empowered by Friend of Dorothy: https://friend-of-dorothy.com/Elevate your well-being with our thoughtfully curated range of products designed specifically for gay men.New episodes every week.Filmed, edited and produced by Jack HigginsExecutive Producer Ozzie LunaConnect with The Gay Rugby Podcast on social media! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gayrugbypodcast/Tik Tokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gayrugbypodcast?lang=enYouTubehttps://shorturl.at/OztS0Views and opinions in the podcast do not reflect the views and opinions of the Los Angeles Rebellion Rugby Club

Why do gay men love bald, grumpy guys? On Episode 50 of the Gay Rugby Podcast, we sit down with Emmy-nominated filmmaker, artist, and content creator Marquis the Honeybear to unpack attraction, confidence, masculinity, body politics, and the psychology behind “types” in gay dating culture.Marquise the Honeybear is known for blending comedy, queer storytelling, and conversations around Black queer identity, body positivity, nightlife culture, and self-expression. He’s also the writer, director, and star of the upcoming film “Ornithomancy,” a bold new independent project exploring queer identity and human connection.In this episode, we debate why bald men are so attractive, whether “grumpy guy energy” is secretly hot, and the difference between confidence and bitterness. We also get into body politics in the LGBTQ+ community, beauty standards, attraction psychology, queer masculinity, dating preferences, self-image, and how gay men navigate desirability and authenticity.We also discuss why certain personality traits become attractive, how confidence changes the way people are perceived, and why knowing exactly who you are can be more attractive than trying to please everyone.The Gay Rugby Podcast explores queer culture, LGBTQ+ identity, sports, masculinity, dating, nightlife, body image, and the conversations happening inside the gay community right now.

This episode was brought to you by Hey Sweet Cheeks (Queer-owned Sexcare + Skincare)Use our code GRP20 to get 20% off https://heysweetcheeks.co/

Gay rugby players play would you rather on the latest podcast episode! Subscribe to the Gay Rugby Podcast! https://shorturl.at/OztS0In Episode 49 of The Gay Rugby Podcast, a group of gay rugby players sit down to play Would You Rather and it gets honest fast. What starts as a simple game turns into a series of uncomfortable choices, unexpected takes, and moments that say more than anyone planned to reveal.This episode is exactly what it sounds like: gay rugby players answering tough, funny, and occasionally chaotic questions on mic, with no real way to dodge them. It’s a look at how these guys think when the answers actually matter—or at least feel like they do in the moment.Recorded for The Gay Rugby Podcast, this one leans into quick reactions, real opinions, and the kind of conversations that come out when you stop overthinking and just answer the question.Empowered by Friend of Dorothy: https://friend-of-dorothy.com/Elevate your well-being with our thoughtfully curated range of products designed specifically for gay men.New episodes every week.Filmed, edited and produced by Jack HigginsExecutive Producer Ozzie Luna

What is a “Side” | Gay dating terminology explained by gay rugby playersThis episode starts with a question that’s been showing up more in dating conversations and apps lately: what does it actually mean to be a “side”? We break down the basics of “top,” “bottom,” and the newer term “side,” which refers to guys who are into intimacy, but don’t include bottom or top in what they want.We talk about labels, communication, and where preference ends and misunderstanding begins.Is being a side selfish? Or is that just what it looks like when people aren’t familiar with the term yet? At the end of the day, it’s about how people define themselves—and how we talk about what we want without judgment.
This epsiode was brought to you by Hey Sweet Cheeks (Queer-owned Sexcare + Skincare)Use our code GRP20 to get 20% off https://heysweetcheeks.co/

Michael Henry on why Gay Culture is a delicate ecosystemSubscribe to the Gay Rugby Podcast! https://shorturl.at/OztS0What happens if you try to delete part of gay culture and who actually gets to decide what stays?In Episode 47 of the Gay Rugby Podcast, recorded in Los Angeles, we sit down with comedian Michael Henry and pull on that thread. What starts as a simple question turns into a wide-open conversation about how gay culture actually works right now, less like a clean narrative and more like a living ecosystem, where everything from gay dating apps to nightlife, from therapy language to hookup culture, is connected whether people like it or not.We talk about what’s shaping modern gay relationships in 2026, and why gay dating culture still revolves around apps like Grindr even as more people burn out on them. Grindr culture has made connection instant, but also disposable, and that tension shows up in everything from how people present themselves to the biggest unspoken lies people tell on dating apps. At the same time, there’s a quiet shift happening; cruising culture and real-life interaction are creeping back in, as people start looking for something that feels less curated and more immediate.Language plays its own role in all of this. Gay slang evolves fast, and terms like “trade” don’t mean what they used to. What once described a specific type now floats somewhere between identity and attraction, reflecting how fluid gay identity has become. That same fluidity shows up in how people think about themselves, especially with the rise of therapy culture in the LGBTQ community, where self-awareness, boundaries, and “doing the work” are part of everyday conversation, for better or worse.Then there’s the visual side of it. Body image in gay culture is still front and center, especially in cities like LA, where the pressure to look a certain way hasn’t gone anywhere; it’s just evolved. Whether it’s gym culture, cosmetic tweaks, or the way people curate themselves online, there’s a constant push and pull between authenticity and performance.All of it feeds into a bigger question about cancel culture in LGBTQ spaces. If something feels toxic, outdated, or fake, should it be removed? Or does taking one piece out of the equation change everything else? The more we dig into it, the clearer it becomes that gay culture isn’t built to be simplified. It’s messy, contradictory, and constantly evolving—and that might be the point.Empowered by Friend of Dorothy: https://friend-of-dorothy.com/Elevate your well-being with our thoughtfully curated range of products designed specifically for gay men.New episodes every week.Filmed, edited and produced by Jack HigginsExecutive Producer Ozzie LunaConnect with The Gay Rugby Podcast on social media! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gayrugbypodcast/Tik Tokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gayrugbypodcast?lang=enYouTubehttps://shorturl.at/OztS0Views and opinions in the podcast do not reflect the views and opinions of the Los Angeles Rebellion Rugby Club