What is a “Side” | Gay dating terminology explained by gay rugby playersThis episode starts with a question that’s been showing up more in dating conversations and apps lately: what does it actually mean to be a “side”? We break down the basics of “top,” “bottom,” and the newer term “side,” which refers to guys who are into intimacy, but don’t include bottom or top in what they want.We talk about labels, communication, and where preference ends and misunderstanding begins.Is being a side selfish? Or is that just what it looks like when people aren’t familiar with the term yet? At the end of the day, it’s about how people define themselves—and how we talk about what we want without judgment.
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Michael Henry on why Gay Culture is a delicate ecosystemSubscribe to the Gay Rugby Podcast! https://shorturl.at/OztS0What happens if you try to delete part of gay culture and who actually gets to decide what stays?In Episode 47 of the Gay Rugby Podcast, recorded in Los Angeles, we sit down with comedian Michael Henry and pull on that thread. What starts as a simple question turns into a wide-open conversation about how gay culture actually works right now, less like a clean narrative and more like a living ecosystem, where everything from gay dating apps to nightlife, from therapy language to hookup culture, is connected whether people like it or not.We talk about what’s shaping modern gay relationships in 2026, and why gay dating culture still revolves around apps like Grindr even as more people burn out on them. Grindr culture has made connection instant, but also disposable, and that tension shows up in everything from how people present themselves to the biggest unspoken lies people tell on dating apps. At the same time, there’s a quiet shift happening; cruising culture and real-life interaction are creeping back in, as people start looking for something that feels less curated and more immediate.Language plays its own role in all of this. Gay slang evolves fast, and terms like “trade” don’t mean what they used to. What once described a specific type now floats somewhere between identity and attraction, reflecting how fluid gay identity has become. That same fluidity shows up in how people think about themselves, especially with the rise of therapy culture in the LGBTQ community, where self-awareness, boundaries, and “doing the work” are part of everyday conversation, for better or worse.Then there’s the visual side of it. Body image in gay culture is still front and center, especially in cities like LA, where the pressure to look a certain way hasn’t gone anywhere; it’s just evolved. Whether it’s gym culture, cosmetic tweaks, or the way people curate themselves online, there’s a constant push and pull between authenticity and performance.All of it feeds into a bigger question about cancel culture in LGBTQ spaces. If something feels toxic, outdated, or fake, should it be removed? Or does taking one piece out of the equation change everything else? The more we dig into it, the clearer it becomes that gay culture isn’t built to be simplified. It’s messy, contradictory, and constantly evolving—and that might be the point.Empowered by Friend of Dorothy: https://friend-of-dorothy.com/Elevate your well-being with our thoughtfully curated range of products designed specifically for gay men.New episodes every week.Filmed, edited and produced by Jack HigginsExecutive Producer Ozzie LunaConnect with The Gay Rugby Podcast on social media! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gayrugbypodcast/Tik Tokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gayrugbypodcast?lang=enYouTubehttps://shorturl.at/OztS0Views and opinions in the podcast do not reflect the views and opinions of the Los Angeles Rebellion Rugby Club

What does it mean when you don’t believe in God, but still find yourself asking for forgiveness anyway? In this episode of The Gay Rugby Podcast, comedian Matt LeGrand joins the conversation to talk about spending 20 years as a missionary, unpacking religion, identity, and what happens when belief systems start to fall apart but the habits remain.They get into religious conditioning, guilt, sexuality, and the strange ways those early teachings stick with you long after you’ve moved on. It’s a conversation about faith, deconstruction, and the lingering voice of conscience that doesn’t always match what you believe anymore. And what does rugby have to do with spirituality? A mix of comedy and honesty about where you come from, and what it takes to unlearn it.