Blind LGBT Pride International - BPI

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Blind LGBT Pride International - BPI Blind LGBT Pride International (BPI) is a 501c(3) non-prophet focusing on issues of LGBTQ individuals who are blind

Blind LGBT Pride International, a special-interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (”ACB”), was founded in 1996 when a group of le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender (“LGBT”)and straight allies met at the annual conference and convention of ACB. The discussion centered on the needs of those who are blind and vision impaired and LGBT as that need was not being met in any organized national movement for the vision impaired and blind. In 2000, Blind Friends of Le****ns and G**s (“BFLAG”) was officially chartered in ACB. In 2009 the name was changed to Blind LGBT Pride International to better reflect the purpose and mission of the organization. The purpose of Blind LGBT Pride International (“Blind Pride” or “BPI”), a 501c(3) organization, is to offer advocacy, education, programs, alliances,and support for persons who are either blind or vision impaired and who are gay, le***an, bisexual or transgender.

08/18/2026

Friends of Dorothy

The Lessons of Oz, LGBTQ History, and Finding Home Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Saturday, August 29, 2026

2:00 PM Eastern

Presented by Blind LGBT Pride International

Hosted by Anthony Corona

With special guest contributor Suzanne Brockmann

What does it mean to be a Friend of Dorothy?

For generations, LGBTQ people used the phrase Friend of Dorothy as a way to identify one another safely during a time when being openly gay could carry tremendous personal risk.

But where did the phrase come from?

Why Dorothy?

And what can the Land of Oz still teach us about identity, belonging, chosen family, and finding a place where we can truly be ourselves?

Join Blind LGBT Pride International for a lively and interactive conversation exploring the history behind one of the most enduring phrases in LGBTQ culture and the lessons found within the classic 1939 film and the original Oz books by L. Frank Baum.

Together we will journey somewhere over the rainbow to explore the history of Friends of Dorothy and the coded language that helped LGBTQ people find one another.

We will talk about the transformation from black and white to color and how it can mirror the experience of coming out and discovering community.

We will explore the evolution of LGBTQ language and identity, along with some of the remarkable outsiders who populate the world of Oz, including Ozma, the Patchwork Girl, and Polychrome, the Rainbows Daughter.

And we will talk about chosen family, belonging, hidden communities, safe spaces, visibility, advocacy, Pride, and the people who walk beside us on our own yellow brick roads.

Most importantly, we want to hear from you.

If you plan to attend, please reach out and let us know.

And between now and August 29, we would love for you to share your thoughts, memories, favorite Oz characters, favorite storylines, and what the world of Oz has meant to you on our email discussion list or in the comments below.

This is not meant to be a lecture.

It is a conversation about history, culture, identity, community, and a story that generations of LGBTQ people have somehow found themselves reflected within.

Perhaps the enduring lesson of Oz is not that we should all be the same.

Perhaps it is that every scarecrow, every lion, every patchwork girl, every rainbow daughter, every wizard, every witch, every Dorothy, and every Friend of Dorothy deserves a place where they belong.

To express interest in attending or participating, please email:

[email protected]

To become a member of Blind LGBT Pride International or make a donation in support of our work, please visit:

www.bpi.gay

Saturday, August 29 at 2:00 PM Eastern.

Come follow the yellow brick road with us.

There truly is no place like home.

08/13/2026

THURSDAY SOUND OFF 🌈🦯⚡️

OK Blind Pride family, Thursday has officially gone off the rails.

Imagine this.

You are minding your own business, living your fabulous Blind and q***r life, when some rogue space alien with questionable judgment zaps you in the head with a mysterious laser.

You survive.

You are still Blind.

You are still q***r.

Those are NON NEGOTIABLE.

But something has changed.

That alien laser has given you ONE superpower.

Just one.

So choose wisely.

Maybe you have Superman level strength or can take to the skies whenever traffic gets ridiculous.

Maybe you have Wonder Woman energy, complete with an invisible jet, a truth detecting lasso and absolutely no patience for nonsense.

Maybe you are serving Batman brilliance, except your utility belt is actually organized and you can remember which pocket everything is in.

Maybe you have Spider-Person reflexes and can swing across the city, although somebody really needs to explain how we are navigating between buildings at that speed.

Maybe you have Aquaman powers and can finally get some answers out of the dolphins. 🐬

Maybe you are more X Persons and suddenly discover that the thing everyone underestimated about you was actually your greatest source of power.

Or maybe we go old school Saturday morning cartoon.

You could have the ridiculous luck of Scooby Doo and Shaggy or your very own Flintstones style vehicle powered entirely by your feet. 😂

Perhaps you simply shout SHAZAM and instantly become the most fabulous superpowered version of yourself.

But this is Blind Pride, so maybe your powers come with a little extra magic.

Maybe every time you tap your white cane, somewhere in the world one homophobic heart suddenly opens.

Tap.

Somebody rethinks what they thought they knew.

Tap.

Somebody chooses kindness instead of judgment.

Tap.

Somebody finally understands that different was never something to fear.

Pretty powerful cane. 🦯✨

Maybe your white cane transforms into a magical staff that can detect obstacles, summon transportation and make inaccessible touch screens sprout actual buttons.

Maybe it can part a crowded sidewalk faster than Moses and the Red Sea.

Maybe one dramatic sweep of the cane can make every person who has ever said YOU DO NOT LOOK BLIND suddenly hear themselves saying it back for the next twenty four hours.

Or maybe your guide dog gets zapped too. 🐕‍🦺⚡️

Now you are a superpowered team.

Maybe your dog can talk.

Maybe they can fly.

Maybe they can detect villains three blocks away.

Maybe they can telepathically tell rideshare drivers YES I AM A SERVICE ANIMAL before the car even reaches the curb.

And maybe your guide dog has their own superhero costume.

Because obviously.

And yes, you can absolutely choose the dark side.

Maybe you are a super villain.

Maybe your secret lair is spectacular.

Maybe you have a swivel chair, a dramatic cape and an unnecessarily complicated plan for world domination.

Perhaps your villainous superpower is making every inaccessible website instantly accessible.

Maybe every person who parks across a curb cut suddenly gets four flat tires.

Maybe every rideshare driver who refuses a guide dog mysteriously steps barefoot on a Lego.

Maybe… Every person who says a nasty, rude or crude comment about bathrooms is suddenly trapped in one for 24 hours with maniacal clowns, laughing… Teasing and insulting!

We are not judging. 😈

So here is your THURSDAY SOUND OFF challenge.

You have been hit by the alien laser.

You have ONE superpower.

What is it?

What are you going to do with it?

Are you a superhero, a super villain or something deliciously complicated somewhere in between?

What is your superhero or super villain name?

Do you have a secret identity?

Do you have a headquarters?

A Batcave?

A Fortress of Solitude?

An invisible jet?

A ridiculously fabulous penthouse headquarters with an elevator that actually announces the floors?

Do you have a sidekick?

Does your guide dog get powers too?

Does your white cane have powers?

Maybe the cane shoots rainbows.

Maybe it freezes villains.

Maybe one tap makes every crosswalk accessible.
Maybe two taps summon your superhero vehicle.

Maybe three taps make every person within a five mile radius understand that grabbing a Blind person without asking is NOT helping.

Now THAT is a superpower. 😂

And MOST IMPORTANTLY…

Tell us about the costume.

Cape or no cape?

Leather?

Sequins?

Armor?

Combat boots?

A fabulous utility belt?

Some kind of outrageous headpiece that makes absolutely no practical sense but looks incredible?

Does the cane coordinate with the outfit?

Does the guide dog have a matching cape?

Are we giving classic Superman?

Wonder Woman warrior?

Batman brooding dramatically in a corner?

Storm entering the room and immediately making everybody else look underdressed?

Or are you going full Saturday morning cartoon with colors, gadgets and a vehicle that could never possibly pass a safety inspection?

And remember.

NO curing blindness.

That is not how this particular alien laser works.

Blind stays.

Q***r stays.

Everything else is up for grabs.

Be creative.

Be ridiculous.

Be heroic.

Be villainous.

Build yourself an origin story.

Create your powers.

Name your headquarters.

Design the costume.

Upgrade the cane.

Power up the guide dog.

Give yourself a catchphrase if you want one.

Because somewhere out there in the universe, an alien has terrible aim and apparently Blind Pride is about to become the newest superhero universe. 👽🌈⚡️

THURSDAY SOUND OFF.

The laser just hit you.

WHO DID YOU BECOME?

Drop your superpower, your superhero or super villain name, your mission and your costume in the comments.

Bonus points for your superhero catchphrase.

Extra bonus points if your guide dog or white cane gets a superpower too.

I have a feeling we are about to create the strangest and q***rest superhero universe nobody knew they needed. 🌈🦯🐕‍🦺⚡️

08/06/2026

Family. Community. Belonging.

By Anthony Corona

A conversation has stayed with me over the past few days.

Recently, a friend shared a perspective that I had never considered before. It was not presented as criticism. It was not presented as a demand for change. It was simply an invitation to think about something through a different lens.

If you have followed my writing over the years, you have probably noticed that I often begin with greetings like "Hello family" or "Good morning family." I have always used that word to express warmth, welcome, acceptance, and a sense of belonging.

Then my friend asked me to consider something I had never really thought about.

For some people, especially within the LGBTQIA plus community but certainly not limited to it, the word family does not immediately bring feelings of comfort, safety, or belonging. Instead, it may bring memories of rejection, abandonment, abuse, trauma, or relationships that were never healthy to begin with.

That conversation stayed with me.

So I decided to spend some time reading. I found research about chosen family. I found research about family rejection. I found research about family estrangement and the incredible resilience of people who build communities of support after losing or leaving their families of origin.

What I did not find was a simple answer.

In fact, after doing the research, I am probably just as uncertain as I was when I walked away from that original conversation.

For many people, the word family represents healing. It represents the people who chose them when others did not. It represents home.

For others, that same word carries painful memories that can never be separated from the experiences that shaped their lives.

Both experiences can be true at the same time.

That leaves me wondering how we, as communicators, leaders, creators, and members of our many communities, should think about the language we use.

I want to be very clear about one thing.

If anyone has ever felt uncomfortable because I referred to a group as family, that was never my intention. My hope has always been to communicate warmth, acceptance, and belonging. Nothing more and nothing less.

But good intentions should never prevent good conversations.

So I would like to ask you.

When you hear someone refer to a group, organization, podcast, church, club, workplace, or online community as family, how does that word land with you?

Does it make you feel welcomed?

Does it make you uncomfortable?

Would another word such as community, friends, members, or colleagues better reflect how you experience those spaces?

Or do you feel that family, especially chosen family, remains the right expression for what people are trying to build together?

I genuinely do not know the answer.

Perhaps there is no single right answer.

Maybe this is one of those moments where listening is more important than deciding.

One of the things I value most about meaningful conversations is discovering that the same word can carry very different meanings depending on the life someone has lived.

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Not because I am looking to prove a point.

Not because I have already made up my mind.

But because I believe the strongest communities are willing to ask thoughtful questions, listen with open hearts, and continue learning from one another.

What does the word family mean to you?

08/04/2026

Extinction of the Bears: The GLP Medication Curse?

By: Anthony Corona, Founder of the Sunday Edition Family of Podcast

Every so often, a conversation begins quietly in one corner of our community before suddenly appearing everywhere.

That is exactly what seems to be happening around GLP medications.

Over the past several weeks I have found myself reading blog posts, opinion pieces, social media discussions, Reddit threads, and articles asking variations of the same question.

Are GLP medications changing bear culture?

Some writers have gone even further.

Is this the beginning of the extinction of the traditional bear community?

That title may sound dramatic, but it raises an interesting question.

Is a bear defined by appearance?

Or is a bear defined by culture?

Or is it something much more complicated than either?

For decades, many people have associated bears with larger bodies, body hair, facial hair, masculinity, warmth, community, confidence, and a celebration of bodies that did not necessarily fit mainstream beauty standards.

But now we are living through a medical revolution.

GLP medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound are changing lives.

Many people are using them to manage diabetes.

Others are using them under medical supervision to treat obesity and improve long term health.

For many, these medications are literally lifesaving.

That reality deserves respect.

At the very same time, members of the LGBTQIA plus community are beginning to ask how these medications may also be changing our social spaces.

Some Bear Week attendees have commented that gatherings simply look different than they did only a few years ago.

Others disagree completely.

Some say nothing has changed except people's waistlines.

Others insist that everything is changing.

I have read arguments that being a bear was never really about body weight.

Instead, they describe it as a culture.

A sense of belonging.

A welcoming attitude.

A community built around acceptance rather than appearance.

Others strongly disagree.

They argue that physical characteristics have always been part of the identity and pretending otherwise ignores decades of history.

Then there are people somewhere in the middle.

They believe a person can lose one hundred pounds and still be exactly the same bear they have always been.

Others wonder whether the label itself is evolving into something broader than body type alone.

Perhaps the most fascinating part of this discussion is that there does not appear to be one universally accepted answer.

Maybe there never was.

Every generation seems to redefine itself.

Every community evolves.

Every culture asks itself difficult questions.

Perhaps this is simply ours.

I also wonder whether we are unintentionally repeating a conversation we have had before.

Years ago, many people questioned whether younger LGBTQIA plus generations would continue identifying with traditional labels.

Now we are asking similar questions about body identity.

Not because someone changed who they are inside.

But because modern medicine may be changing what they look like on the outside.

Does that matter?

Should it matter?

Can someone remain a bear after significant weight loss?

Should our definitions evolve?

Or are we in danger of losing something culturally meaningful that deserves to be preserved?

There may not be one right answer.

There may only be honest conversations.

For Blind Pride, I think this discussion is worth having.

Not to judge.

Not to shame.

Certainly not to criticize anyone's personal healthcare decisions.

Those decisions belong between individuals and their healthcare providers.

Instead, I am curious about the community itself.

What are you hearing?

Have conversations like this reached your circles?

Do you think bear culture is changing?

Has your own definition of a bear evolved over the years?

Or do you think this entire discussion is much ado about nothing?

One thing seems certain.

GLP medications are changing medicine.

Whether they are also changing LGBTQIA plus culture is a conversation that is only just beginning.

I would genuinely love to hear your thoughts.

Footnotes

1. The New York Times recently explored how GLP medications have become a topic of discussion during Provincetown Bear Week, with participants expressing differing opinions about whether the culture is changing or simply evolving. This article helped bring a conversation already occurring within the community into mainstream attention.

Source: The New York Times, August 2026.

2. Reddit discussions in communities including r/gaybros demonstrate a wide range of reactions. Some posters argue bear identity has always been about community and belonging rather than weight alone. Others believe body type remains central to the identity. As with most Reddit discussions, these represent personal opinions rather than scientific consensus. [oai_citation:0‡Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/gaybros/comments/1vdmvsn/i_never_thought_i_would_see_an_article_about_bear/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

3. Researchers studying Reddit conversations about Ozempic found that users often negotiate identity alongside medical decisions. Some view GLP medications as empowering while others see them through the lens of social pressure and changing body ideals. [oai_citation:1‡Taylor & Francis Online](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15456870.2026.2623661?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

4. Articles examining the broader cultural impact of GLP medications note that these drugs are influencing conversations far beyond medicine, including body image, beauty standards, stigma, and personal identity. [oai_citation:2‡Vox](https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/496817/weight-loss-drugs-zepbound-wegovy-glp-1-stigma?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

5. It is important to distinguish between medical facts and cultural observations. There is no evidence that bear culture is disappearing. The discussion centers on how community identity may evolve as increasing numbers of people experience significant weight loss through GLP medications. This article is intended to invite conversation, not declare conclusions.

07/29/2026

🎉 Happy Hump Day Hurrah. Nicknames, Nonsense, and Names We Somehow Answer To. 😂💙🌈

By: Anthony Corona, Vice President

Happy Hump Day, BPI family.

Let's have a little fun today.

Every family seems to have them. Every group of friends creates them. Every workplace has at least one person who somehow winds up answering to something that has absolutely nothing to do with their real name.

Nicknames.

Maybe yours came from childhood. Maybe it was earned during school, at work, at camp, or because of one spectacularly embarrassing moment that your friends have refused to let you forget.

Maybe your partner has a sweet nickname that only the two of you use.

Maybe you invented one for yourself.

Whatever the story, we want to hear it.

I'll go first.

Being Italian, nicknames are practically part of the family tree. Sometimes they're affectionate. Sometimes they're descriptive. Sometimes they're just playful insults that somehow become terms of endearment.

When my little sister was learning to talk, she couldn't quite say Anthony. The best she could manage was Antnay.

Over the years, Antnay became Nay.

Then, as nieces, nephews, and younger cousins came along, somehow that evolved into Uncle Nay.

During my high school baseball days, my teammates gave me the nickname The Nine and a Half Iron.

That one pretty much explains itself. If you're curious about the rest of that story, send me a private message. 😂

The love of my life calls me Crazy Gorilla or Local Gorilla.

To the puppies, I'm simply Crazy Daddy. 🦮❤️

Those are just a few of mine.

Now it's your turn.

What are your nicknames?

Who gave them to you?

Is there a funny story behind them?

As we wrap up another incredible convention season, we have so much to share from both Austin at the National Federation of the Blind convention and St. Louis at the American Council of the Blind convention.

We've welcomed new members, met wonderful new friends, discovered exciting collaboration opportunities, and we cannot wait to tell you all about them in the weeks ahead.

But today, let's just have some fun.

Drop your nickname and the story behind it in the comments. We can't wait to read them.

To learn more about Blind LGBT Pride International, support our mission, or become a member, visit www.bpi.gay.

🌈💙🎉



























07/17/2026

BPI After Dark.

Dare To Share.

Happy weekend, everyone. Time for a little harmless fun. 🌈😂🍷❤️

We all have those moments.

The kind that make you want to disappear into the nearest pillow at the time.

The kind that years later become the stories everyone begs you to tell after a couple of drinks.

This weekend we want to hear yours.

What is the funniest mishap you have ever had leading up to, during, or immediately after an intimate moment?

I will go first.

Picture it.

About 11:30 on a Friday night.

I had just gotten home after spending the evening with cousins, aunts, uncles, laughter, and probably a little more wine than I should admit. 🍷🤣

I was barely a year into my blindness journey and was still learning to use VoiceOver and figuring out apps that had once been second nature.

Many of us are familiar with Grindr.

Back then there was a feature where you could save photos inside the app to make sharing easier during the getting to know you process. Or, let us be honest, the convincing someone you are worth meeting process. 😂

I thought I was selecting a few carefully chosen photos from inside the app.

You know.

The no shirt picture.

The tattoo picture.

The artsy cropped photo that leaves just enough to the imagination. 😎

Instead, somewhere between confidence and technology, I accidentally wandered into my regular iPhone photo library.

Completely unaware of what had happened, I happily sent what I believed were my chosen photos along with some very cheeky captions.

They were not my chosen photos.

They were pictures of my niece and nephew opening Christmas presents. 🎄🎁😂

Imagine receiving adorable family holiday photos paired with messages that made absolutely no sense whatsoever.

I had not mentioned that I was blind yet.

Trust me.

At that point I absolutely had to.

Thankfully he laughed.

I laughed.

The ice was broken instantly.

Spoiler alert.

He was at my place by about 1:00 that morning. 😄

Even bigger spoiler alert.

We were still laughing about it over breakfast that Sunday. ☕🥞❤️

Sometimes the moments that make us cringe the hardest become the stories that remind us not to take ourselves so seriously.

Your turn.

Keep it fun.

Keep it respectful.

Keep it lighthearted.

What is your funniest dating, romance, or intimacy mishap that you can laugh about today?

We cannot wait to read them. 🌈😂❤️

07/15/2026

🌈 Happy Hump Day everyone. 😂❤️🌈

Pride Month may be over, but apparently confession season is in full swing. 😄

Since we do not have a board meeting or a lot of official business happening this month, I thought it might be fun to have a little Happy Hump Day conversation instead.

Let's tell a few stories. 😂

Let's share a few laughs. 🤣

So here is this week's question.

What is the funniest thing someone has ever said to you or asked you as a blind LGBTQIA plus person while dating, flirting, in a relationship, or during an almost hookup moment?

I will go first, and I have two.

Not long into my blindness journey, I was on the famous hookup app Grindr. After I disclosed that I was blind to a potential, let's call him, partner. 😂 He replied with complete sincerity.

"If you're blind, how do you know if it's cut or uncut?"

Without missing a beat, I typed back.

"I ask my guide dog. One woof for cut. Two woofs for uncut." 🐕🤣

To this day I still laugh at that one.

My second story happened in a gay bar.

Someone looked at the sighted friend I was with and asked him, completely seriously.

"So... how does he know if he's hooking up with a guy or a girl?"

I did not have a clever comeback ready for that one. I was a little busy chatting up a potential candidate, if you know what I mean. 😂

My friend and I still laugh about that question every time it comes up.

So now it is your turn.

What is the funniest, most surprising, or most head scratching thing someone has ever said to you while dating, flirting, or navigating the wonderful world of romance as a blind LGBTQIA plus person?

Let's keep it lighthearted, keep it respectful, and most importantly, let's give each other a good laugh. 😂🌈❤️🤣

06/24/2026

🌈 Our Favorite Things 🌈

Presented by Blind LGBT Pride

Come one, come all.

Calling all of our brothers, sisters, non-binary siblings, transgender family members, q***r friends, and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community.

As Pride Month begins to take its final bow, we’re gathering for an evening of conversation, connection, laughter, and celebration.

Join us tonight, Wednesday, June 24, at 8:00 PM Eastern for “Our Favorite Things,” led by GailElaine Wilt.

Let’s share the people, stories, songs, and moments that have inspired us. Whether your favorites include legendary performers, unforgettable authors, iconic television characters, life-changing books, Broadway showstoppers, drag royalty, groundbreaking activists, or the songs that carried you through difficult times, we want to hear about them.

Are you Team Jack or Team Karen?
Madonna or Melissa Etheridge?
Laverne Cox or Elliot Page?
Jinkx Monsoon or Bob the Drag Queen?
Billy Porter or Hannah Gadsby?
Harvey Milk, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, or someone whose story deserves to be better known?
A classic coming-out memoir, a transgender memoir, a q***r romance, or a book that helped you better understand yourself and the world around you?

There are no wrong answers.

This is an opportunity to celebrate the people, art, culture, history, advocacy, and experiences that have helped shape our community across the full LGBTQIA+ spectrum.

Most importantly, it is a chance to get to know one another a little better as we celebrate Pride, friendship, chosen family, and the beginning of summer.

This is an open event for Blind LGBT Pride members and anyone who would like to learn more about our organization and community.

To receive the Zoom information, please email:

[email protected]

For more information about Blind LGBT Pride, visit:

www.bpi.gay

Bring your favorite memories.
Bring your favorite stories.
Bring your favorite songs.
Bring your favorite books.
Bring your favorite people.

Bring your favorite things.

We can’t wait to spend the evening with you.








***rCulture


Address

6371 Pent Place
Houston, TX
33014

Opening Hours

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

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+17865475465

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