Baby Gay: Queer Culture Unfiltered

Brian Wenke: Building Hope for LGBTQ+ Youth | It Gets Better

PJ Brescia Episode 54

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0:00 | 57:15

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On this week’s BabyGay™ Podcast, host PJ Brescia (they/them) sits down with Brian Wenke (he/him), Executive Director of It Gets Better, for a powerful conversation about LGBTQ+ mental health, queer visibility, and how organizations like It Gets Better are working to support LGBTQ+ youth before they reach a point of crisis. Recorded at the historic Black Cat in Los Angeles, this episode explores resilience, identity, and the power of storytelling to help queer people feel less alone.

Brian opens up about growing up gay in suburban Ohio in the 1990s, navigating bullying and identity, and finding salvation through theater and storytelling. Together, PJ and Brian discuss trans visibility, the evolution of LGBTQ+ representation in media, and why visibility still has the power to save lives. 

Links:
It Gets Better: www.itgetsbetter.org
It Gets Better (YT): @itgetsbetter
Brian Wenke (IG): @brianwenke
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Coming out looks good on you! 🌈

BabyGay™ Podcast, a 2026 Webby Honoree for Best New Podcast, is released every Thursday and hosted by PJ Brescia (they/them)—a 2025 Out100 honoree—celebrating queer stories, self-discovery, and the power of authenticity.

Produced by Tom Gault and PJ Brescia

Special thanks to The Black Cat.

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