Gay Man, Lesbian Space
GO’s Special Projects Editor reflects on what he’s learned—and unlearned—contributing to a publication shaped by queer women.
Working at a lesbian magazine as the only cis man, gay or otherwise, has been a study in both contrast and connection. I’ve spent my career in queer media, immersed in LGBTQ+ storytelling, fluent in the shorthand of our shared experience. We’re outsiders who’ve had to learn how to read the room, to move through the world with an awareness that most people take for granted. But no matter how queer I am (very, for the record), my understanding of queer culture has mostly come through a gay, male lens.
So when I started this job, there was an adjustment period. I’ll admit: I didn’t know who Doechii was. I’ve still never seen The L Word. And while I wasn’t out of my depth, I quickly realized that my version of “queer fluency” wasn’t quite as universal as I thought. It became clear that the nuances, humor, and references flying around the office sometimes go over my head. But rather than feel disconnected, it sparks curiosity. It’s an invitation to zoom out and expand the way I experience queerness.
This will no doubt come as a shock to read, but this space doesn’t center masculinity, and that’s been refreshing. It’s shifted my energy and pushed me to notice what happens when stories and priorities aren’t filtered through the usual hierarchies. When things aren’t written, edited, or spoken with men in mind. Even queer men. Even me. That shift has made the work feel more collaborative and less competitive.
The experience has made me a better editor. I’ve had to listen differently. To check my instincts. What I think sounds “punchy” might land as flippant. What I’d call “relatable” might not be. It’s a subtle shift in perspective, like adjusting the color balance on a photo, but it’s changed how I show up. It’s altered how I appreciate queerness, media, and my own relationship to both. It’s also deepened my respect for how representation shapes not just what stories get told, but how they’re told and received. Mostly, I feel lucky. Lucky to be an invited contributor at GO. Lucky to work with queer women who are brilliant, funny, and sharp. Lucky to expand my own queer literacy every day. And grateful to participate in a vital media space that’s by and for queer women, where their stories and perspectives take center stage without compromise.
Dan Tracer is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience in queer media. His work has appeared in Queerty, LGBTQNation, Into, and GayCities, covering culture, politics, and the evolving landscape of LGBTQ+ representation.
