There’s an infamous scene in RuPaul’s Drag Race season 6 where Bianca Del Rio asks Trinity K. Bonet, “Let me ask you a very fair question, what do you do successfully? Quickly.” Trinity responded with silence. The silence had little to do with his inability to deliver a comeback but more to do with his inability to genuinely answer the question.
Reflecting on that scene, I can’t help but see some of myself and of many gay and queer men in Trinity. Especially, if the question had been centered around happiness.
Being a homosexual in a heteronormative world is challenging to say the least. Some of the greatest challenges that arise from this reality are the challenges we face within ourselves. If there is a silver lining to any of this, it’s that there is a great deal that we can do to help heal and strengthen ourselves mentally and emotionally. We have the power to be happier.
Matthew Dempsey is a gay psychotherapist based in Los Angeles who has a popular YouTube channel that is primarily dedicated to discussing gay men’s mental health.
In Matthew’s video titled, 5 Ways To Be a Happy Homo, Dempsey explains the 5 practices that can significantly increase our overall happiness.
1. Gratitude – Practice daily gratitude.
2. Open Up – Be vulnerable.
3. Play – Play with what you love.
4. Kindness – Be kind to others … obvi.
5. Surrender – Let it go. Surrender the need to control for happiness.
Watch 5 Ways To Be a Happy Homo:
Featured gif: Matthew Dempsey