Jeff Leavell
Jeff Leavell is a writer living in Los Angeles and Berlin. He writes about queer culture, politics and nightlife. His book, Accidental Warlocks, is available on amazon.com. You can find him at his website, jeffleavell.com, or on Instagram.
How I Make My Ultra-Long-Distance Relationship Work
People are quick to foreclose possibilities in life. But I won't let an obstacle like distance keep me from the man I'm falling in love with.
The Compassion I Feel for My Drugged-Out Gay Bar Patrons
I've seen drugs ruin lives working the door of an LA gay bar. But as a former addict, I know that sobriety only comes from within—and that we can't judge others, no matter what.
The Love I Found When I Returned to Queer Nightlife
Like I witnessed in New York's club scene in the 80s and 90s, today's queer parties are a space for the marginalized to gather and resist the evil overtaking our world.
How Abandoned Queer Kids Find the Strength to Love Their Families
I've heard enough stories of rejected queer children to last a lifetime. No two are alike, and none are as cut and dry as you'd think.
I Found Out I Was HIV Positive at a Gay Bar
What it's like to emerge from a life-changing moment into the arms of strangers.
Cruising in Public Is Something It Could Never Be Online: Human
In praise of the old-fashioned joys of the flesh.
From the Door of a Gay Bar, You See the Scope of Life—and Death
I see a lot working the door at gay bars in Los Angeles. Twice, patrons taught me what it really means to have a community.
How I Learned to Give Up Control in My Open Relationship
Why loving someone means allowing them to be who they are, even when that person is no longer in sync with who you are.
On Being Older, HIV Positive, Polyamorous, and Free
A visit with my lover in London reminded me that you can either be burdened by social constructs about how to live your life or free from them. I'm choosing the latter.
Why Gay Men Need to Get Past Masculinity
Drag queens can be leather men. Bears can be feminine. And the more we reinforce the opposite, the less ground we'll gain under Trump.
Why My Completely Open, Boundary-Free Relationship Works
While some may think there's a limit to the amount of love one can give, I discovered in London that the more my family expands, the more I feel the opposite is true.
How My Three-Way Relationship Survived a Mental Health Crisis
When my husband, Alex, saw his life thrown into chaos by bipolar disorder, it left my boyfriend and me in the lurch. But together, the three of us have proved stronger than one crisis.