Communities of gay men and the larger LGBTQ communities continue to face challenges from trauma to addiction, to ongoing discrimination. But that's not the full picture. In this episode we explore the challenges while also talking about the incredible strengths and resilience of gay men. We headed to a few bars in the Castro during Pride Week and asked some of the men we met to tell us their stories about facing – and overcoming – challenges.

The Expert

Jamie Moran is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over thirty years experience in mental health and health care settings, focusing on gay men dealing with depression, grief and loss, HIV/AIDS, family, homophobia, intimacy and relationship issues. He has extensive training and experience facilitating groups in varied settings encompassing diverse groups of people. Jamie provides psychotherapy for individual adults and couples. He is also a certified group psychotherapist, currently leading six groups in the bay area out of offices in San Francisco and Menlo Park. www.jamiemoran.com

Credits

Written & Produced by: Lily Sloane + Kip Williams Theme Song: "Maruumba" by Topher M. LewisAdditional Music + Sound Design by: Lily SloanePhiladelphia Pride News Clips: More Color More PridePride Flag, Drag Race Finale, Gay Men's Golden Girls | Gay Weekly RoundtablePhilly Unveils New Pride Flag (CBS Philadelphia)Gay Rainbows Can Have Black & Brown Stripes - The New LGBT Pride Flag | David LevitzEpisode Image: "Together" by John St. John (used under creative commons)

Special Thanks to the strangers at the bar for talking to us as well as Twin Peaks Tavern and The Mix for letting us hang out.

Visit atherapistwalksintoabar.com for links and more information.