The entire GAYBC Happy Hour team is gathered in sunny Palm Springs, California this weekend to take part in the 2023 LGBTQ+ Pride Festival that attracts tens of thousands to the Coachella Valley desert cities. Host Richie Roy has trekked from Upstate New York and shakes off the chill of Fall by warming up ears, hearts and minds with GAYBC founder and Happy Hour co-host Johnny Mac from the studio at headquarters.

This week’s episode is a special three-hour edition and focuses on serious topics like a very surprising ban on a book that has stirred controversy for more than 2,000 years with sex, violence, disasters, and incest. But, those imposing the ban have had a change of heart. Or perhaps it was divine intervention. There’s a discussion about the shocking disappearance from the Republican bid for the White House by “Get a Rope” ex-Veep Mike Pence. Have you heard about the latest scuffle regarding conversion therapy? Well, the guys have plenty to say about it and what should happen to parents who attempt to send their kids through it. Richie and Johnny also talk about threats to Trans people and the ongoing assault to their dignity with another stupid “bathroom bill” in the land of Potato Heads. And, speaking of the efforts to mess with transgender people, we learn more about what’s being faced by Trans people who have honorably served their nation in the U.S. military from Cassandra Leigh Williamson, who speaks with our Veterans Correspondent James Apedaile at the recent American Veterans for Equal Rights conference held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. James is just one of our special guests in-studio on this podcast while attending Palm Springs Pride.

Product recommendations and warnings and our mixology segment with a distinctly mid-century feel (though it may not have been the middle of last century) are all part of the fun and games as well as chillin’ with the friends!