EP. 66 - Zachary Cohen: How the Ali Forney Center Changes Lives

In this episode, we welcome Zach Cohen, who shines a light on the incredible work of the Ali Forney Center, a lifeline for homeless LGBTQ+ youth. Born from the legacy of Ali Forney, a young advocate who sought safety and justice for his peers and was tragically murdered in the streets of New York, the center provides housing, meals, medical care, and life skills to thousands of vulnerable youth every year. With a mission to protect and empower, the Ali Forney Center continues to grow, offering hope and a fresh start to those rejected by their families. Discover the impact of their work and how you can support this vital cause.

 In this episode, John Kazanjian, recounts the profound impact of his mother’s death during his college years and how he honored her dreams by excelling academically and professionally, even achieving acceptance into Harvard. He reflects on navigating life as a closeted gay man during a conservative era, his 35-year relationship with his partner Jack, and the devastation of Jack’s passing. Through personal reinvention, entrepreneurial ventures, and the development of the Soul Intelligence System with a close friend, John found solace and purpose. His story is a powerful testament to the courage required to embrace life's challenges and live authentically.

In this podcast episode, Dan Bolen welcomes Raymond Macon, both former Jehovah's Witnesses, to discuss their personal experiences of being disfellowshipped from the church for being gay and acting on it. They reflect on the impact of organized religion, the challenges they faced with guilt and shame, and how they ultimately found freedom in embracing their true selves. Their conversation sheds light on the restrictive nature of certain religious doctrines while emphasizing the importance of personal authenticity, acceptance, and love.

Mike Krupit has a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics from Queens College in New York graduating in 1985. He started as a software engineer and worked his way up to Chief Technical Officer, and then the Chief Operations Officer and finally CEO of a company called CD Now which sold music on the internet. Mike is now the owner of his own company called Trejectify which is in leadership development, organizational development and business growth coaching. Mike was married for 36 years and has a son who is a teacher in Florida and a daughter that is 29 years old. Mike knew he had same sex attraction during his younger years. However, he was raised during the AIDS crisis and was fearful of coming out for many years. He realized the greatest fear of denying or fooling himself. It’s quite a story of how he came out to his wife and son and daughter late in life and also his professional clients and peers at the age of 60 years old. This is fascinating story of the courage that Mike used to be his authentic self with his beautiful wife and his two children. The outcome is courageous and inspiring!  Mike can be reached at [email protected]  

Matt Christofaro has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from University of Rhode Island in 2010 and a MBA in Global Business Leadership & Marketing from Johnson & Wales University in 2012. Also he is a Licensed Thrive Programme Coach . Matt suffered for over 22 years with panic attacks . He had tried all types of therapy and help which was not working. However, he stumbled on a company called Thrive company and thought he would “give it a chance”.Matt was totally surprised that it worked for him even though he was skeptical. This has had such an impact on his life that he wanted to share it with others and became a Thrive Programme Coach. This company is very popular in the UK. The founder of the company who treated patients came up with three reasons that would make people feel better ,do better and thrive in their life. 1.Feel  more control of your life 2. Build high self esteem. 3. Develop high social confidence . Surprisingly this program would be completed in six to eight weeks. The Thrive Programme has helped over 60,000 people mostly in the UK and Europe and is being  introduced more fully in the United States. It has helped many people, whether their heterosexual or part of the LGBTQ  community . Several of the licensed coaches at Thrive are part of the LGBTQ community. I want to encourage my listeners to listen to this podcast.and see if it is an option for positive mental health for you. Matt can be reached at [email protected] and Instagram: thrive.with.matt 

This is for audiences 18 years and older. Viewer discretion advised. Part two will show how Travit continued to be violently and sexually abused by his aunt Annie and finally how Travit was able to use courage to overcome his fear and leave. This is the end to a tragic story and yet a story of courage and faith that Travit had . May all my listeners get the lesson in this always protect our children.

This is for audiences 18 years and older. Viewer discretion advised.   Tavit Kazanjian was  born in the United States. His mother was Arabic and Greek and his father was Armenian. They were both born in Syria but married in New Jersey. Tavit has two older sisters. His entire family moved to Arizona because  his father‘s cousin wanted to get a large lot of land where everyone could live. Travit  Ladidn’t realize he was different until about 10 years old .Tavit was overcome  with severe shame and trying to do everything  he could to be more masculine and not so effeminate.Tavit was from a large extended family, His mother being the oldest of seven children and an aunt , Annie the youngest of the seven. Since Tavit was in Arizona he  flew back to visit his  extended family in New Jersey. Even though he did not know his aunt Annie well only had seen her one time before ;he ended up staying at her house. Annie was a violent person physically ,mentally and emotionally .When Travit Was 11 years old Annie started sexually abusing him until he was 18 years old. None of his his  family, except one of his sister and cousin gave him any help. This is an emotionally told  tragic story. It’s a pwereful  amount of courage that Tavit had to break this cycle of abuse. This is the first time he has told his story publicly. Our listeners will see the tragedy of not helping our young children out when they are physically and sexually abused . You will have feelings of outrage, anger, and frustration when our children are not protected. 

Cameron Call has a Bachelor Science Degree in Exercise Science from  Brigham Young University in Provo Utah ,and a Doctor Degree in Chiropractic (DC) in 2015 from Parker University in Dallas, Texas . Cameron grew up as the “perfect Mormon boy“. He served as a missionary in Nashville, Tennessee, did high-level work with the bishop in the church , was married to his wife in the Mormon Temple in Mesa Arizona. He had so much shame and so much internal homophobia of being a gay man. Cameron produced three beautiful children .He also is an excellent pianist started playing when he was seven years old . Even though he loves to play the piano, he continued to use this  as one of the ways to hide himself authentically. What  makes Cameron story so incredible is his internal homophobia which went on for years and his denial of his authentic self and the tremendous shame he had to overcome by using courage. You will see the tremendous amount of courage that Cameron displayed. You will also be impressed with the peace he has with being his authentic self. Another thing that’s incredible in this story it has a happy ending  and you’ll have to listen to the podcast find out what that happy ending is . . 

Faythe Huston was a 70 year virgin , how in the hell did this happen? Faythe has a Masters Degree in Counseling and also a Masters Degree in Spiritual Direction. She grew up in a conservative, religious family, never married or had children. Faythe believed in the Hero Journey which had a “called to adventure “which brought her so much energy she could not ignore it. She will talk about the well-known Hero Journey and the different stages involved in the Hero Journey .Faythe did not want to die without having the experience of sex and intimacy and began to explore the area of sexuality and sex in her life. Faythe is a seeker by nature and discovered a program called” Surrogate Partner Therapy “ (SPT). A client meets with a surrogate partner weekly as well as talking afterward with a sex therapist. This program is for those who have had little or no sexual history, those who have had sexual abuse or trauma, and those who experience pain with sex or have other sexual issues .As a heterosexual woman she had concerns and fear . However she used courage to overcome her fear. Faythe will describe her own journey . She says “ This last year and a half with SPT has been the most incredible journey I have been on in my whole life “. This is a fascinating podcast which will appeal to both male and female heterosexual allies, LGBTQ and even those that are Transgender. Over half of the clients of SPT are men . You must hear this podcast. It is eye-opening, vulnerable, and powerful.

Stonewall Rebellion /Riot took place , June 28th 1969 early in the morning. The Stonewall Inn was a LGBTQ bar located in Greenwich Village in lower Manhattan, New York. This was a safe place where LGBTQ people could come and spend time together . During this period of time in New York it was illegal to be gay as well as the majority of other states in the United States . Early in the morning on June 28 the police came to raid the patrons at the bar. Raids were common by the police at Stonewall but this one got violently out of hand .The police use extreme force and the 200 patrons back . The riot went on for almost 5 days. Sonewall riots are widely considered the watershed event that transformed the gay liberation movement and the 20th century fight for LGBTQ rights in the United States. One year later on June 28, 1970 the first pride events were held in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Many of the rights that LGBTQ people have today i.e. the freedom to get same sex married , freedom in the military to be gay or lesbian came from the basis of what happened at Stonewall This is truly our history, and we must not forget the courageous people who fought back and led others be proactive in fighting for the gay rights .You will find my commentary enlightening and show all of us why we must have a voice and to be proactive for fighting for LGBTQ rights.