What starts as a forced professional partnership between two men from opposite worlds becomes a story of unexpected connection, emotional unraveling, and the kind of love that doesn’t just hold you—it heals you.  Starting this week, Blind LGBT Pride International proudly presents Crown & Collide, an exclusive original romance series dropping new installments every Tuesday and Friday.  Expect slow-burn chemistry, corporate drama, and emotionally raw revelations—alongside special bonus content and interactive segments that will invite you into the world of Crown & Collide like never before.

Meet Luke McAllister. Precise. Private. And trying desperately to stay invisible. Luke is a financial supervisor brought into Vaughn & Sons International to help stabilize operations. What no one knows is that Luke isn’t just good at keeping the numbers balanced—he’s also spent most of his adult life keeping his grief, his past, and his heart tightly locked away. Quiet doesn’t mean weak, though. And when things start to spiral? Luke is the man with the spine of steel and the soul full of storm clouds.  Then there’s Noah Vaughn Jr. Charming. Entitled. Beautiful. And crumbling beneath the surface. Noah has been raised as the heir to an empire, coasting on charisma, wealth, and the carefully cultivated illusion of control. But when his parents leave him in charge of the company—alongside Luke—he’s forced to confront a reality he’s been avoiding: he might not be enough. Not for the company. Not for himself. And certainly not for the one man who sees right through him. 

They were never supposed to be more than coworkers. They were never supposed to see each other’s scars. But secrets don’t stay buried forever.  And neither does longing. 

Coming in the first few weeks of Crown & Collide:       •       A financial discrepancy that could ruin the company—and a cover-up that links Luke and Noah in ways neither of them saw coming.         •       A kiss sparked by fury, fear, and unbearable want.      •       A confession in a penthouse apartment that changes everything.  •       Victor Vaughn’s return—and his first calculated move to tear them apart.        •       Jaclyn Vaughn’s awakening. A mother reclaiming power, secrets, and maybe the company itself.    •       Alyssa McAllister’s fierce loyalty as she becomes her brother’s protector—and Noah’s unlikely conscience.       •       And two men who will discover that sometimes the only way to truly heal is to stop pretending you’re not broken. 

And yes—there’s Cinnamon.  Technically, she’s Alyssa’s dog.  But Cinnamon—a scruffy, opinionated little mutt with golden curls and a well-documented fondness for blueberry muffins—has decided that Luke is her person now. She will tolerate Alyssa. She will be indifferent to Noah. But Luke? That’s her human.  We’ll meet her properly soon. She has a lot to say. 

Get ready to fall for Crown & Collide.  Because sometimes love doesn’t whisper. Sometimes it kicks down the door, throws your spreadsheets in the air, and dares you to feel everything you swore you never would again.

And now…Blind  pride, international proudly presents: crown collide.
By Anthony Corona.

The Spark and the Match
Luke had been at Vaughn & Sons International for all of six weeks when he realized three crucial things:        1.      The coffee in the breakroom tasted like regret and cardboard.   2.      Everyone whispered Noah Vaughn’s name like it was either sacred… or cursed.     3.      And Noah Vaughn himself? The golden heir with the midnight eyes, perfect stubble, and muscles that looked like they were sculpted by a Greek deity who got horny halfway through? He was going to be the death of him.  It wasn’t just that Noah was beautiful—which he was, unfairly so. It was that he knew it. He walked like the building belonged to him (technically, it would one day), and smirked like everyone else was just an amusing footnote in his sparkling, bottle-service life. 

Luke had seen him come in late three days in a row, sunglasses still on, still smelling faintly of bourbon and bad decisions, and every intern still practically genuflected when he passed. 

Luke, of course, had spent ten years clawing his way through every rung of corporate finance like a polite velociraptor, so to be handed a cushy but “minor supervisory” title and told to keep an eye on the prince?  Hilarious.  He hadn’t asked for this. Not the job. Not the office politics. And certainly not the assignment that had dropped into his lap three weeks earlier—one that began in Victor Vaughn’s fortress of a corner office. 

Three Weeks Ago – Victor Vaughn’s Office  Luke sat stiffly in the high-backed leather chair across from Victor Vaughn’s monolithic desk, feeling both too formal and too exposed. Beside him—too close beside him—sat Noah Vaughn Jr., legs casually crossed, one arm flung along the back of the guest sofa like this was brunch and not a strategic power move disguised as a family update.  Victor’s voice droned with authority and finality. “Jaclyn and I are taking the cruise. Three months. The Mediterranean, then a tour of the Adriatic coast. I’ve needed this break for years, and the company’s in good enough shape to run itself. Mostly.”

  He turned his eyes, sharp and glinting, to Noah.  “You, son, are technically in charge. But Luke here,” he gestured with a nod, “will act as oversight. Quietly. Consider him your second. Or your conscience.”  Noah stiffened beside him. Barely. But Luke caught it. Caught the flash of anger and insult ripple across the golden boy’s perfect face. 

Luke didn’t want this either. He wasn’t here to babysit the CEO’s playboy heir. But telling Victor Vaughn no wasn’t an option you got more than once. 

Victor leaned forward. “I expect you to take this seriously. Both of you.”  Luke had tried to keep his face neutral, his spine straight.

Noah hadn’t spoken a word until they were halfway back down the hallway. When he did, it was a sneer through clenched teeth.  “Hope you like playing hall monitor,” he muttered. 

Luke had just sighed. “Hope you like being watched.” 

What Luke hadn’t said—not even to himself—was how unnerving it had been to sit next to Noah that long. To see him up close. To smell the faint trace of clean cologne under that arrogant exterior.  He was breathtaking. Raven hair styled like it had never known a bad day. Piercing blue eyes that burned with something dangerous. His body was sculpted, expensive, wrapped in Italian tailoring that hugged every angle like a lover.  But it was the mask that fascinated Luke the most. The performative ease. The perfectly timed smirk. Luke had worn enough masks in his own life to recognize when someone else was suffocating under theirs. 

From Noah’s side, the view hadn’t been much better.  Luke had that annoying kind of understated good looks that didn’t try. Sandy brown hair that curled just slightly when he got annoyed. Green eyes too observant for comfort. A runner’s build—lean, strong, deliberate. Nothing showy. But the kind of man who stood up straight even when no one was looking.  Noah hated how much he noticed him.

  “You know you don’t have to micromanage everything, right?” Noah’s voice was silk laced with annoyance.

He was leaning against the doorframe of Luke’s office, arms crossed over his designer shirt, smirk in full effect. 

Luke didn’t look up from his spreadsheet. “I don’t micromanage. I prevent implosions.” 

“Oh,” Noah said, straightening, “is that what you call being an uptight prick now?” 

Luke’s head shot up. “Wow. Did you rehearse that in the mirror this morning or did it come to you on your sixth vodka soda?” 

Noah laughed, deep and throaty, and stepped inside. “You really don’t like me, do you?” 

Luke turned back to his screen, jaw tightening. “You make it very easy.”  But he did like him. That was the problem. He liked the sharp lines of his face, the arrogance that practically steamed off him, the flash of something real he saw on the rare occasions Noah let his mask slip.  And now Luke had found something that could destroy it all.

 It had started as routine. A few numbers off. A vendor invoice too vague. But Luke’s gut never lied to him.  And when he followed the trail—quietly, carefully—he discovered Noah had made a deal. A bad one. Lazy, ill-advised, and potentially criminal. Funds moved where they shouldn’t be. A risk that could have bankrupted a subsidiary and left the whole company exposed.  Luke spent six nights undoing it. Quiet transfers. Reallocations. Phone calls under aliases. Legal loopholes slipped through like whispers in the dark. No one would ever know.  But Noah did.  Because Noah wasn’t stupid. And because Noah had watched Luke watching him. 

The confrontation happened in Noah’s father’s office. The very office he wasn’t allowed to use but had claimed anyway.  “Want to explain why there’s a deleted trail in last quarter’s audits?” Noah said without preamble, spinning Luke’s laptop around with a self-satisfied grin. “Or should I?” 

Luke exhaled slowly, his hand twitching. “You don’t want to do this with me.” 

“Oh, but I do.” Noah stalked closer. “You think you’re some white knight, huh? Coming in, fixing messes behind everyone’s back like you’re better than the rest of us?”  “No,” Luke snapped,

standing. “I don’t think I’m better. I think I give a damn. Something you’ve never done for longer than it takes to pop a bottle of Dom.” 

That hit. Noah’s face faltered—just for a second—and then darkened. “You think you see me, but you don’t know shit.” 

Luke stepped in. Closer. Too close. “I see exactly what you are. You’re terrified. Of not being enough. Of your father being right about you. Of screwing up because deep down, you know you’re coasting on charm and nepotism.”  “You’re an asshole.”  “You’re a coward.”

 Their breathing synced in rapid fire. Heat radiated off them like they were standing in a furnace.  And then, the silence stretched—just long enough for thoughts to rush in. 

Noah’s inner monologue: God, he’s close. Too close. And I should hate him for it—but I don’t. I want to—hell, I want to shove him away, but more than that I want to grab him and let this mask fall for just one second. But if I tell him what I’ve been hiding… if I show him the truth, then he’ll have all the power. He could ruin me. He has every reason to turn this mistake into a weapon and take my crown. So why hasn’t he? Why is he saving me? What the hell does he want from me? 

Luke’s inner monologue: He’s hiding so much. I see it in the way his voice cracks when no one’s watching, in the way his shoulders drop for just a second before the bravado returns. He’s wearing that $3,000 suit like it’s armor. But I know better. Because about a week and a half ago, I followed him. I needed to see if he was playing a longer game. What I saw… changed everything. I saw him in a place no one else would think to look, being someone no one would ever expect. Unguarded. Kind. Completely… real. And now I can’t unsee it. I don’t want to. 

“You should’ve let me fail,” Noah said, his voice quieter. Almost… raw. 

“I couldn’t,” Luke said, teeth clenched. 

“Why not?” 

Because I wanted to protect you, Luke thought.

Because no one’s ever protected me, Noah thought. 

And that was when it broke.  The kiss came fast, brutal. Teeth. Tongue. A desperate crash of want and fury. Fingers digging into shirt collars. Groans swallowed in mouths that shouldn’t fit this well. Years of sarcasm and disdain turned molten in seconds.  And under it all—electricity. A jolt. A need. The kind that ran bone-deep. The kind that whispered you are safe here.  Luke felt it in the pressure of Noah’s mouth. The way his body pressed too close but didn’t overwhelm. There was a question hidden in the kiss. And it wrecked him. 

Noah felt it in the shake of Luke’s hands. In the hesitation before surrender. And something inside him, something old and bitter and lonely, began to unravel. 

When they finally pulled apart, gasping, Luke’s forehead was pressed against Noah’s. 

“Because I believe in you,” Luke whispered. “Because I see what you could be if you stopped pretending life’s just one long frat party.” 

Noah stared, stunned. His hands still clutched Luke’s waist like he might vanish. 

“I covered your ass once,” Luke said. “I’ll never do it again. But I’ll never betray you either. It’s done. Buried. You’re safe.” 

Silence. Noah’s eyes searched his, wild and confused. 

“Then what now?” he asked, voice breaking like a boy’s. 

Luke smiled. Sad. Soft. “Now you decide if you’re going to be the prince everyone rolls their eyes at… or the king your father hoped you’d become.”  And he walked out.  Leaving Noah standing there, lips swollen, heart hammering, and wondering if he’d just been given the greatest gift of his life…  or the one chance he was destined to waste

The post Crown and Collide: A BPI Serial Romance, Part 1 appeared first on Blind LGBT Pride International.

As you will see and Bill and Susie‘s conversation outline below, we’re not only looking for ally voices. Members of the community can help shape How allies think about and offer their support as they stand with us in these truly unprecedented times. If you are available, please consider joining us at 4:30 PM Eastern, 1:30 PM Pacific.

We will disseminate the zoom information when we put out the reminder later this week on the Announce list.

Here is the conversation Outline:

For this month’s Savvy Ally discussion, we propose diving into a crucial and timely conversation:

• As allies, how can we best support the LGBTQ+ community in these times when advocacy and awareness are more important than ever?
• As allies, how can we ensure we are actively advocating for our LGBTQ+ friends and family in ways that truly matter?
• How can we, as allies, make sure our messaging and advocacy efforts genuinely reflect the needs and voices of the LGBTQ+ community?
• Most importantly, what do you, as LGBTQ+ individuals, need from us right now to feel supported and uplifted?

We envision this discussion to be about listening, learning, and taking action in meaningful ways, so join us on Saturday, February 22. Check the announce list for the meeting details or contact the media team at media@blindlgbtpride.org for more information.

To know more about Blind LGBT Pride International, visit www.bpi.gay.

The post All paws on deck: The Savvy Ally discussion February 22 appeared first on Blind LGBT Pride International.

  The key is distraction, folks. Get us angry. Get us divided. That’s the playbook.  We saw it happen just recently—MAGA extremists openly mocked a blind witness at a Capitol Hill hearing. Cruel, juvenile, disgusting—but more than that, it was strategic. They know that when we’re outraged, we’re focused on the offense instead of the bigger picture. They want us tweeting, ranting, and arguing amongst ourselves instead of uniting against the very real policy threats that are happening behind the scenes.  Because while they’re putting on this circus, here’s what’s really going on:        •       

Donald Trump and Elon Musk are forming an alliance that threatens disability rights in ways we’ve never seen before. Musk, handed unchecked power as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), now has access to sensitive government data. He’s pushing policies that put essential disability protections—like Section 504—at risk.     •       Fourteen state attorneys general have launched lawsuits against DOGE, warning that this overreach could dismantle vital protections. But how much attention is that getting? Instead, the news cycle is filled with reaction clips and partisan bickering.      •       This isn’t just about the blind community. This isn’t just about one hearing. This is a test run—a way to see if we’ll let anger pull us apart or if we’ll stand together across disabilities, across movements, and across the political spectrum to fight back.

 And while this is happening, attacks on transgender and non-binary citizens are escalating at an alarming rate. Laws are being proposed and passed that strip away their rights to healthcare, public spaces, and even their ability to exist legally as their true selves. The Stonewall National Monument—sacred ground in the fight for LGBTQIA+ liberation—is being scrubbed down to just “LGB,” erasing the trans and non-binary leaders who were at the very heart of the movement. The same forces trying to dismantle disability rights are working just as hard to erase queer and trans identities, to roll back reproductive rights, to criminalize Black history, to silence Indigenous voices, to make America a country where only Christian, white, heterosexual, cisgender men hold full personhood under the law.  So

here’s the challenge: don’t react to their cruelty—react to their policies.     •       Support the attorneys general who are fighting against this. Call their offices. Donate if you can.     •       Reach out to your senators and representatives. Flood their inboxes and phone lines. Demand accountability for DOGE and transparency around Musk’s unchecked influence.         •       Make noise in the media. Contact journalists, write op-eds, bring the focus back to policy, not personality politics.   •       Build coalition. The disability community is powerful, but we are strongest when we work together. Connect with other disability advocates. Reach out to civil rights groups. We all have a stake in this fight.        •

        Join organizations like Blind LGBT Pride International. Organizations like Blind LGBT Pride International are shining a light through the dark, straight at the truth. They spotlight the issues and provide ways—small, large, and in-between—for people to engage in access and advocacy. BPI is the only organization serving the intersection of the blind and low-vision community within the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. Get involved, follow trusted sources of information, and support nonprofits and journalists who are speaking their truth.

You can start by joining the Blind LGBT Pride international family, and movement at www.bpi.gay.  

They want to divide us. Let’s show them just how united we can be.

Yours,
Anthony Corona
He/Him
 Host and Producer of Sunday edition
sundayeditionac@gmail.com
and
Vice President, Blind LGBT Pride International

The post Magda and Muskrats Want Us to React… But How? appeared first on Blind LGBT Pride International.

Imagine waking up on your birthday and being told you don’t exist. Worse yet, that you never
existed. And moving forward, you won’t have a place here. Imagine visiting the legendary Stonewall National Monument—the site where a courageous rebellion ignited a movement—only to find out that your identity has been erased. That is the Valentine’s Day present millions of Americans are waking up to on a day that’s supposed to celebrate love.
A Systematic Erasure The National Park Service (NPS) has removed references to transgender and queer individuals from the Stonewall National Monument’s website. The site, which previously acknowledged “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+)” individuals, now only refers to “lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB)” persons.[¹] This erasure is not accidental. It aligns with an executive order signed by Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, directing federal agencies to define sex strictly as male or female. As a result, transgender identities are being systematically removed from government documents, websites, and policies.[²] This isn’t just about a website. This is about stripping away identity, history, and rights. The Plan to Divide and Destroy This administration is attacking not just the LGBTQIA+ community, but also the disability community, civil rights protections, and any person or group that does not fit into its narrow, regressive vision of America. Government entities are being pressured to erase transgender, nonbinary, and questioning individuals from existence. Corporations and private entities are being encouraged to do the same. This is a strategy as old as fascism itself: erase identities, pit communities against one another, demonize differences, and encourage hatred and violence. The ultimate goal? To divide, conquer, and consolidate power in the hands of the few. A Theocracy in the Making
For many of us in the LGBTQIA+ community, just turning on the news or opening our phones is an act of horror. Why? Because every day, another piece of our existence is being legislated out of public life, all under the guise of “Christian values” and “purity.” This should horrify all of us. Make no mistake—Trump does not believe in God. Trump believes he is God. And unless you bow to him, you are the enemy.
First, they came for the migrants and the immigrants. Then, they came for the disabled. Now, they’re coming for the LGBTQIA+ community. And next? It’s only a matter of time before women are forced back into the kitchen, barefoot, barred from the workplace, and stripped of autonomy over their own bodies. This administration is laying the groundwork for a tiered citizenship system. Who will be deemed a “true American” next? Will it be determined by skin color? National origin? Religious affiliation? The question isn’t if more groups will be targeted—it’s when.
A Playbook Right Out of 1930s Germany Right-wing politicians and MAGA extremists will deny it, but the truth is undeniable: Trump and his oligarchs are using the same propaganda tactics that fueled the Nazi movement. They are defining an “ideal citizen.” They are erasing those who don’t fit the mold. They are encouraging hatred and division. And they are daring us to look away. Look in the mirror. Shake your ancestry tree. If you are not a Putin, you are not safe. This is the moment to fight back. Because if we allow this erasure to continue, history tells us exactly where we’re headed. And by then, it will be too late.

Media Contact:
Anthony Corona (He/Him)
Vice President, Blind LGBT Pride International
Email: media@blindlgbtpride.org

For more information and to support BPI’s mission, visit www.bpi.gay.

The post Happy Valentine’s Day, LGB—And the Only Tea Is for Trump appeared first on Blind LGBT Pride International.

Blind LGBT Pride International (BPI) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the rights and dignity of all people as the organization commemorates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On this day of reflection, BPI acknowledges the ongoing critical need for advocacy—work that remains as essential now as it was 25 years ago when the organization, then known as BFLAG, was founded.

Marking its 25th anniversary, BPI celebrates a significant milestone in its journey to dismantle barriers and confront injustices affecting the blind and LGBTQIA+ communities. However, this milestone coincides with a moment of political and social challenge. On a day honoring Dr. King’s fight for equality, the nation witnesses the inauguration of a twice-impeached former president facing 34 felony charges, a figure who incited a violent attack on democracy.

“While we will not say, ‘Not my president,’ we resolutely commit to holding this administration accountable—to the Constitution, to the ideals of democracy, and to the protection of human rights for all,” said Anthony Corona, Vice President of Blind LGBT Pride International.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, BPI calls on its members and the broader LGBTQIA+ community to stand in solidarity with the most vulnerable among them, including transgender individuals, youth, and others facing heightened discrimination and violence. At the same time, the organization honors the trailblazers who paved the way for today’s LGBTQIA+ Americans to live openly, proudly, and authentically.

Dr. King’s words—“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”—continue to guide BPI’s mission to champion equality and advocate for a world where every individual can thrive without fear of prejudice or exclusion.

“We don’t want the importance of observing the work and celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to be overshadowed by this inauguration and all the fear it brings to members of our community and the disabled community at large,” Corona added.

BPI encourages all members of the LGBTQIA+ and disability communities to honor Dr. King’s legacy by extending support to one another—standing behind, beside, and in front of those who need it most. Together, the organization vows to carry the torch of progress and ensure the light of justice shines brightly for generations to come.

Media Contact:

Anthony Corona (He/Him)

Vice President, Blind LGBT Pride International

Email: media@blindlgbtpride.org

For more information and to support BPI’s mission, visit bpi.gay.

The post Blind LGBT Pride International Observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day: A Call to Advocacy, Unity, and Accountability appeared first on Blind LGBT Pride International.

Blind LGBT Pride International (BPI) announced today that it has officially ended its affiliation with the American Council of the Blind (ACB), effective January 1, 2025. This decision reflects BPI’s unwavering commitment to championing human rights and advancing principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA).

BPI has thrived during its affiliation with ACB, growing into a dynamic and self-sustaining organization. However, significant differences regarding DEIA priorities and ACB’s stance on critical human rights issues have led BPI to pursue independence.
“While we will always advocate for blind and low-vision individuals, the narrow approach taken by the American Council of the Blind compelled us to seek a path that aligns with our core mission,” said Anthony Corona, Vice President of BPI. “This independence empowers BPI to establish strategic partnerships within the LGBTQIA+ and blind and visually impaired (BVI) communities, both in the United States and around the world.”

Despite the separation, BPI remains committed to serving as a resource and subject-matter expert for ACB and other organizations when called upon. The organization will continue to offer safe spaces for communication, networking, referrals, and social connections, while expanding its advocacy efforts to create a more inclusive future.

In 2025, BPI will celebrate 25 years as the only global organization dedicated to supporting the unique intersectionality of LGBTQIA+ and BVI communities. This milestone offers an opportunity to honor past achievements and reaffirm its mission to foster inclusivity, equity, and belonging.

For more information about Blind LGBT Pride International, please visit
www.bpi.gay.

Media Contact:
Anthony Corona
He/Him
Vice President, Blind LGBT Pride International
media@Blindlgbtpride.org

The post Blind LGBT Pride International Ends Affiliation with American Council of the Blind appeared first on Blind LGBT Pride International.

Blind LGBT Pride International (BPI) Affirms Commitment to Human Rights by Opting Out of Jacksonville Convention

The American Council of the Blind (ACB), the parent organization of BPI, will hold their annual conference and convention in Jacksonville, FL, in July 2024. Amid Florida’s divisive and hostile political climate towards marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ+ community, BPI initially sought to collaborate with ACB to ensure a safe and inclusive convention experience. This effort included a human rights speaking demonstration at Jacksonville’s City Hall Park on July 8th, developed in conjunction with the Jacksonville Mayor’s office, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer, and the Sheriff’s Department, to showcase Jacksonville’s commitment to human rights for all.

However, following actions taken by the ACB Board of Directors on January 30th, 2024, which retracted endorsement and support for the planned demonstration, BPI found it fundamentally critical to reassess its participation. The Board’s decisions signaled a departure from standing with marginalized members and advocating for collective human rights.

“In choosing to opt out of the Jacksonville convention, we assert our dedication to protecting and uplifting the rights of our transgender siblings, pregnant individuals, people of color, and everyone impacted by Florida’s unjust legislation,” stated Tristan Snyder, co-chair of BPI’s Advocacy committee.

After thorough discussion and reflection, BPI chooses to prioritize the well-being and rights of all marginalized communities by repealing our participation in this year’s ACB convention. This decision stems from a position of strength and a deep commitment to our core values.

“We encourage our community and allies to join us in this decision to stand in solidarity for human rights, demonstrating through our actions that we demand safe and inclusive environments for all.”

“BPI has been a proud affiliate and supportive partner of the American Council of the Blind since 2000,” says BPI President Leah Gardner.
“However, the recent actions of the ACB Board convey a message that the safety and dignity of all attendees do not hold as much importance as its relationships with grant and corporate sponsors. It is with a heavy heart that BPI must withdraw all programming and participation from ACB’s annual conference and convention. We will select a delegate to vote virtually at the conference and convention as the democratic process remains the best way to secure human rights. While we are deeply disappointed by the recent decisions of the ACB Board, we remain hopeful for a future where the dignity and safety of all convention attendees is paramount.”

For more information about Blind Lgbt Pride, please visit:
bpi.gay.

The post Blind LGBT Pride International (BPI) Affirms Commitment to Human Rights by Opting Out of Jacksonville Convention appeared first on Blind LGBT Pride International.

I wanted to bring something different and unique to this special Issue and to BPI in general. I am a writer and using my talents an idea was born. This story is part 1 of 10 and I plan to release one part per month to the BPI membership going forward.
Nick and Jason are characters I am deeply fond of and I hope you all will enjoy them. Romantic with erotic undertones this is their story…

Best Friends Brother

Five long years may have changed Jason in many fundamental ways but as he crossed the bridge taking him back into town, he could not name even one of them. That is what his hometown always did to him, slapped him right back to the angry boy who roared over this bridge with the intention of never returning. When his best friend first asked him to be in his wedding, he knew at least one more time he would have to face the place he had ran from determined to show them all. Show them he was not his father, the town drunk, was not trash, show them he could make something of himself. Intellectually he knew he had gone way beyond what most of the town had predicted but he still dreaded the stares and the whispers, dreaded the questions. Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself for the thousandth time he was here for the one person in this town who had taken the time to see the real Jason, who had been a friend most of the time his only friend. He would stand at the alter with Mike and his brother, celebrate his best friends’ marriage, and get out as fast as he could. Determination crept slowly through his body as he turned onto main street. A throaty chuckle rumbled through his chest as he realized the small town centered on one avenue that was not even half of his NYC block.
A loud clanking with rocking shudders and a big white cloud of smoke ripped through the car just after he made the turn onto main street. “Seriously” Jason screamed slamming his fist against the steering wheel. He angled the car into the first available spot a moment before the car gave one last sad shudder and died. The burning oil smell was overwhelming and making him tear up, it was not embarrassment he swore to himself. “Dam car,” he muttered getting out praying no one would notice him. No such luck, pulling up beside him was one of the towns two cop cars. So much for grabbing his stuff and sneaking away before anyone spotted him and discreetly arranging a tow. The sheriff had hated his father and made it his mission to broadcast every embarrassing trouble the drunk found himself involved in; it would not be long before the town was buzzing about this.
It was not the old sheriff that got out of the cruiser though, that was clear the moment the driver’s door opened. The old sheriff was large, hell large was polite, he was enormous and the officer stepping out was anything but judging from the coiled arm and tight-fitting shirt this man was built. Recognition dawned for Jason as the cop turned toward him.
“Afternoon,” the hunky Sherriff greeted Jason with the million-dollar grin he remembered so well. “I’d bet this week’s paycheck your gonna need a new head gasket, mechanics a few blocks from here’ I’d be happy to give u a lift there”
“Gee Nick… or Sherriff Miceli now I suppose…” Jason grinned at the look of confusion crossing the cops face. “I know it’s been some time, but I remember where Maynard’s is. ”
Nick’s cop eyes scanned Jason over trying to place the face and suddenly recognition dawned. “Holy shit…. Jason Davenport” Nick rushed over pulling Jason into a crushing bear hug. “dam NYC been really good for your bro, I hardly recognized you.”
Relaxing now Jason smiled and returned the hug with vigor. Maybe his luck was not running out after all, but he wondered why Mike had never mentioned his brother was now the town sheriff. They settled into a comfortable catch-up small talk while the smoke cleared and Jason grabbed his bags from the back seat.
“Where are you staying?” Nick asked.
“I figured I’d grab a room at the bed and breakfast.” Jason said as he opened the passenger door of the cruiser.
“Leave it to Mikey,” Nick replied with a chuckle. “Both the BnB and the motel are fully booked with wedding guests.”
“Fuck!! How long do you think Maynard will take with my car? ‘ Jason asked while mentally calculating his options to the motel in the next town.
“Monday at best. It is too late for Maynard to get a parts order out today. ” He explained as Jason’s apprehension grew. Glancing over at Jason he saw the concern etching across his brother’s best friends face. The protective instinct kicked in along with flashes of memories from the past. Nick had always thought of his brothers’ friend as an un-official little brother. “But I happen to know of a rather comfortable room.”
Where,” Jason asked in apprehension.
“I guess Mike didn’t fill you in about me at all “
“I wouldn’t let him talk about the town at all,” Jason replied sheepishly. “but I didn’t mean you”
“Well, when I took over as sheriff, I celebrated by buying the old Preston place,” Nick said pulling into Maynard’s garage parking lot. “I’m still renovating but I can offer my pull out.”
It did not take long to decide for the car, but Nick had been right about the timetable. While he was waiting for the weather worn mechanic to work up a price Jason casually studied Nick. Five years had not changed the cop much, at least not physically. Tall, dark and handsome would be a weak description, he was all that yet so much more. The confident way he carried himself did not make the softer moments seem odd at all they seemed natural. Jason remembered all the times Nick has stood up for him when they were kids, and how the summer before high school when Jason wanted to be on the baseball team both he and Mike spent an entire summer helping him train. Compassionate jocks were a rare breed yet that is exactly what the Miceli brothers were.
When they finished with the mechanic, they headed over to the old PRESTON place. It was an old corner lot Victorian that had been vacant for as long as Jason could remember. A big sprawling house on an overgrown lot it was the kind of house that courted haunted rumors while also the host of many a teenage party. Jason’s first kiss was at one such party his freshman year of high school with a sophomore goddess named Kelly. He was not surprised Nick would buy and restore the place, since they were kids Mike and his brother had been fascinated with the house and its legend. In the late 1800s Eliza Preston had inherited the house from her preacher father. It was said that the elder Preston was a fiery preacher that ran both his congregation and household with iron fists and sharp tongue. Three years to the day Eliza inherited the house the shy demure girl vanished. When the county searched the property the bones of fourteen men who had gone missing over the three years were discovered. The ghosts of Eliza and her men were said to roam the old house. None of the owners since had ever lived in the house for more than three years. Jason wondered and then asked how long Nick had been working on the house.
“Last week was my third-year anniversary,” Nick turned onto his home street. He chuckled and his trademark grin spread across his classically Italian face. “Not afraid of a few ghosts are ya J?”
Jason’s jaw dropped as they pulled to a stop in front of the old Victorian. Nick had obviously invested a lot of time, energy, and money over the last three years. The facade was painted in a cheerful blue and white gingham with sunny yellow accents that gave it a happy storybook feel. The old saggy front porch gone and replaced with a sprawling wrap-around complete with the requisite rocking chairs. There was not a trace of spooky or rundown left about the house or gardens surrounding it, Jason let out his breath and followed Nick up the path towards the house.
“It’s stunning….” Jason said looking around the great room off the foyer. “If walked me in here blindfolded then took it off in here I would never be able to guess this was the old PRESTON place “
Nick glowed with pride as he gave Jason the penny tour of the first floor. The kitchen was all chrome and marble with a glass enclosed breakfast nook. In the formal dining room Nick had restored the black walnut to its glory, polished to a gleam it was perfectly complimented with a long table and breakfront made from recycled black walnut and accentuated with antique lace. A full butler’s pantry and office were done up modern but in keeping with the style of the house, but it was the library that had Jason’s jaw dropping all over again. There were two humongous built-in bookshelves on either side of a long-distressed leather couch, situated under a big bay window. Two more flanking a mounted 82-inch lcd while the other two walls were lined with books and DVD’s. Jason had forgotten that about Nick, his love of reading. The packed shelves were just shy of overflowing, one whole wall of hard covers and the remaining three stacked full of paperbacks. A quick glance showed him a few of his favorites and some he had never heard of.
A memory blanketed him, of Nick reclining on the couch while they waited for Mike to finish his chores. He had been absorbed in some science fiction book, had not even noticed Jason standing in the doorway, and he had had the luxury of just watching him. A little smile had slowly crept across those full lips and Jason had tried to imagine what he was reading, what could make him smile like that. Then he had scratched idly at his stomach, and he had started watching his long fingers instead, as they curled slightly onto his hard stomach. When he had sighed Nick looked up and broke the spell. The sight of all those books in his house made him glad… and a little hopeful.
“Wow Nick….” Jason shook his head to clear the memories and the shot of lust. ‘This place is…. amazing.”
“Thanx,” he said softly looking at Jason with new eyes. “The first floor is done but I’m afraid my bedroom and bath are the only finished rooms upstairs.” He moved out of the library and back into the foyer where Jason’s bags were waiting. “Let’s get you settled into the guest room; Mikes bachelor extravaganza starts in just over an hour”
A quiet contemplative mood seemed to have settled over both back in the library, and although he did not quite feel uncomfortable, Jason was suddenly nervous around his old friend. They both reached for one of the bags and as their hands grazed Jason felt a jolt of electricity run up his arm and land in his heart and loins simultaneously. He followed Nick up the stairs and into a room that obviously had not gotten any attention yet. Old and fading wallpaper covered in dandelions and butterflies on the wall, and very careworn mauve carpet blanketed the floor. The guest room was not dirty, although a thin layer of dust covered the exposed surfaces, loud flowery linens covered the bed and matching easy chair. An old-fashioned washbowl and pitcher centered on an old, battered chest of drawers was the only nick-nack and there was one sad print of a sailboat centered above the bed.
“This was my aunt Bet’s housewarming gift,” Nick said grimacing. “She insisted and I didn’t have the heart to tell her no. The wallpaper you might remember the rest my aunt’s attic treasures.”
“It’s great,” Jason’s voice hitched in his throat with the obvious lie. “I’m so grateful you’re giving me a place to stay.”
“I should let you settle in and get ready. You can use my bathroom, I’m gonna grab a quick shower now …should be done by the time you unpack.”
“Thanks,” Jason said stepping towards Nick extending his hand.
A casual handshake was not in the cards however, as he stepped forward, he tripped over his duffle bag and would have ended up face first on the floor if Nick did not react quickly. Before he could take a breath, he was wrapped in the sheriff’s powerful arms, face pressed literally up against an extremely hard cloth covered chest. Jason began to tremble as he sucked in air and slowly looked up. He was as sure as he was the sun was yellow that his face was painted a lobster red, yet right at that moment in Nicks arms a safe, calm feeling crept down his spine. Nick’s hand instinctively cupped the back of his neck and when their eyes met Jason was sure the intense look behind the eyes staring into his was desire. A sigh escaped as Jason felt those strong fingers against his tender flesh. The eye lock just seemed to go on and on and Jason did not dare to even take another breath.
“I uhm…….”, “Are you ok?” They both blurted out simultaneously effectively breaking the spell, but Jason would swear on a stack of King James that Nicks fingers gently caressed his neck as he released him.
“Ok, yeah…. shower….” Nick said shaking his head as he drifted out the doorway.
“Oh my god….” Jason whispered sinking to the bed still slightly trembling.

Stay tuned next month for part 2 The Bachelor Party (the stripper is not the only one getting naked)

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In the last 20 years, the world has exploded with so many new means of communication and BPI always led new trends, culminating with a wildly-popular Whats App group and an ever-changing Inside Out; but our members wanted more, and Pride Connection was BPI’s answer.
Late last year, BPI’s Board of Directors decided to create a podcast to further the voices of advocacy, education, and, of course, the fun our affiliate is known for. It was an interesting journey with a few stops and starts, until we partnered with ACB Radio, and began creating shows.
Since February of this year, Gabriel, Leah, and Anthony have helmed BPI’s Pride Connection. Tim Cumings and Byron Lee have worked behind the scenes to produce a show that is one of the most listened to within the ACB family of podcasts.
We started the party with important subjects, such as: blind parenting, online dating, working blind and of course, the various colors of the LGBTQ rainbow.
BPI members have highlighted topics and persons of interest to our intersectionality; one of the brightest of those being our phenomenal interview with transgender Councilwoman Rosemary Ketchum of West Virginia. Celebrities and authors, LGBTQ shows, and music have been fun topics covered.
Recently, BPI members have stepped into the roles of co-hosting and creating show topics and ideas. With almost a year into this fantastic journey, our podcast is only getting better and better. With more participation from the Membership at large, we are considering taking a bold and brave step to grow our platform and global exposure by partnering with the Patrion platform.
Pride Connection was once a tiny kernel of thought that transformed into a weekly blend of education, personal stories, and surprising revelations. We strive to create community among all listeners through our dynamic presentation, candid commentary, and promotion of empathy. Once, Pride Connection was a glimmer of a concept. We achieved more than we ever imagined since our debut in March of 2020.
Please join us as we continue to raise the bar higher. We are proud of the work we have accomplished but know we are capable of so much more. So, stay tuned in and involved; help keep the connection strong.

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