Lloyd Vliet

The first time Rashad M. Davis walked into a Gay Social coffee meetup, he almost turned around. He had seen an ad, felt a pull, and then - like many of us do when we’re on the edge of something new - felt the hesitation creep in. He was looking for connection beyond apps and screens, beyond the comfortable routines that can sometimes keep us isolated without us realizing it. What he wanted was simple and huge at the same time: people. Real ones. A circle to call his own. So he stayed. And...

We have all been there. At Target, passing someone in the same aisle. At the local coffee shop, waiting for your drink. Standing in line at Trader Joe’s, just another person in the neighborhood. And the thought crosses your mind. Is this person gay? Single? Looking for friends? Are you going to walk up and say hi? Probably not. That would sound crazy! And what if they are not gay? What if they are, but not looking to talk? The fear of rejection has a way of stopping a conversation before it...