Dr. Joe Normandin talks first love, Drag Race, and neuroscience!

Today, I talk with Dr. Joe Normandin, who was in Teen People's October 1999 issue. Joe and his then-partner were featured in an article called 'Happy Together', which profiled young lesbian and gay couples in the United States. This was just twelve months after the murder of Matthew Shepard, a young, openly-gay man in Wyoming. Teen People not only noted this sad anniversary in their October 1999 issue, but provided practical advice on coming out, as a post-script to the article in which Joe appeared.

Joe struggled with his sexuality as a teen, but found peace with himself by "nerding it out", and learning about the science of sexuality. Today, Joe’s the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Neuroscience Institute at Georgia State University. I spoke with him over two interviews, during the early weeks of the Coronavirus pandemic, and in the wake of intense protest against police violence in America.

Notes:

Teen People is recorded in Kingston/Katarokwi, the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat.