Matt Cullen. Photo by Ashley Purnell
BY JOSH BEISLE
Matt Cullen has made it his mission to help destigmatize topics like gay sex work and amplify important issues such as the misrepresentation of trans men and women.
On his popular YouTube show, Our Queer Life, he shines the spotlight on those in the community who have lived in the shadows for too long: ballroom queens, gay Orthodox Jews, gay cowboys in rodeo, adult film stars, and trans women who are addicted to illegal plastic surgery.
Matt’s belief is that viewers who identify with the people he spotlights in Our Queer Life may get a better understanding of them and perhaps, feel a bit of empathy for their plights. “In these divided times, it is more important than ever before that the LGBTQ+ community and its allies make an effort to find common ground with one another. We’re stronger together, so let us stand united.”
We spoke with Matt Cullen from his home in Los Angeles.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned from interviewing so many people who are fighting to live their authentic true selves?
Matt Cullen: The biggest lesson I have learned is the true inner resilience we have as human beings. In the darkest of times, the people I have interviewed have been able to pick themselves up and live another day. Their strength is something I carry with me everywhere I go.
Is there one key element that all of these people share? Where do they get their strength?
MC: I think it is the want for love and true acceptance. I think it’s what we all desire: acceptance for who we are, for how we choose to live our lives, and for who we love. Many of the guests I’ve had on have lost contact with their family since choosing to live authentically for themselves, and while that is horrible, I think many find their strength through that as well. Realizing that sometimes, when you want to live your life for yourself and no one else, you may lose people in your life. But through that, you find your inner strength. We truly have one life to live, and it’s for us to live and no one else.
Is the queer community a true rainbow of acceptance or do we simply co-exist in our own letters (LGBTQ) and labels within the community?
MC: While I would like to think that the queer community is a true rainbow of acceptance, I think, lately, there has been a lot of segregation within the letters of our community. I truly hope that my series helps bridge those separations. We are stronger together as one.
How do you suggest we open our hearts and minds to people in the community we wouldn’t normally engage with?
MC: I think the best way to open our hearts and minds to people is to listen. So often, as a society, we are quick to talk and to put people into a box. If we can just take a minute to listen, to ask questions, to find the similarities, we may come to realize that we are all so much more alike than we would think. My series has opened me up to talking to all different types of people, and I have left every interview feeling so inspired and deeply connected to the person I am interviewing. We may walk very different walks of life, but after our conversation, I’m reminded that we are similar in so many ways.
How many interviews have you done at this point?
MC: I have done over 100 interviews! It has been a life changing experience that has changed who I am as a man.
Do you have a whole team supporting you or is Our Queer Life a one-man operation?
MC: This is completely a one-man operation! It is my everything. I eat, breath, and sleep this show. Editing it, scouting interviews, booking travel, making thumbnails, clipping it for Instagram and TikTok. Our Queer Life takes up every minute of my day, but I wouldn’t want to spend my time any other way. Being creative, putting my work out into the world, having these deep conversations; these are the things that keep me truly happy.
Which stories that have meant the most to you?
MC: It’s hard to pick what stories have resonated with me the most, but when I think back on my show, I think my time with Mousie has been extremely impactful. Mousie was a street hustler who had spent most of her life in and out of prison. She’s a trans woman, and will stand up for anyone in our community that is getting picked on or is in need of someone to help win a fight on the streets. She believed people outside of our community looked at us as weak, as easy targets, so her mission was to show them that we are not to be messed with. She is no longer with us, but I carry her and her stories with me everywhere I go. She always told me how much she believed in me, how I was her little brother, and I feel her with me as the show grows and reaches more people.
What do you hope viewers ultimately take away from the Our Queer Life series?
MC: I simply hope they are reminded how strong, unique, layered, and truly beautiful LGBTQ+ people are. The stories we share on Our Queer Life make me proud to be a part of the community.
New episodes of “Our Queer Life” air weekly on youtube.com/@OurQueerLife
