By John Hayden

OutClique changed my life. That statement is not hyperbole. It is 100% true.

In 2018, I suddenly realized that I had two parents in their seventies. While both were still able to get around and travel, I realized that I wanted to enjoy the good times and be able to go to them on a moment’s notice when the bad times came.

That meant leaving a 25-year career as a TV journalist.

I had met Dr. Steven several times socially. When I was shopping around for an interview with Hugh Jackman, I pitched him the story. He passed. However, he did offer me work on other stories.

The first article I ever had published in OutClique was about a trans woman who became an ordained priest. Though she was from the Northeast, she did much of her training in South Florida with Holy Angels.

For me, it was transformative. Most of my interviews in TV news were about five minutes long. Now, here I was, taking my time to get to know my interview subject. We laughed. We talked about things that would never make the story but helped me frame my perspective.

Since then, I’ve met dozens more people and told their stories. When someone trusts you enough to tell their story, it is truly an honor.

Two and a half years later, in October 2020, I left broadcast TV and went full-time freelance. While I do write for local and national outlets, OutClique remains special.

They say you never forget your first. That is certainly the case with me. Dr. Steven took a chance on me. He encouraged me. He somehow can sense when something is off with me and calls.

Dr. Steven is more than a publisher and community chronicler; he is my friend. I am forever grateful to him and the OutClique team. I look forward to writing an essay for the 200th issue.