14 Queer New Year's Resolutions You Can Make in 2019

14 Queer New Year's Resolutions You Can Make in 2019

The New Year is finally upon us, and all we can say is THANK. GOD. 2018 was loooooong AF. With the ever-so-bright 2019 now on our doorway, PRIDE would like to offer some New Year's resolutions for all the queer people out there! 

While we may not be able to change the entire world in 2019, we can sure as hell change ourselves. So here are 14 queer New Year's resolutions for you! 

1. Spend less time on Grindr

We’re not going to tell you to get off all hook-up apps for good, because let’s be real for a second. How many times have you promised yourself you’re never going to redownload Grindr? And how long did that promise last? A month? Week? 24 hours? That’s what I thought. So let’s be realistic here. Instead of saying no Grindr forever, let’s instead make our New Year's resolution to spend less time on it.

2. Learn your queer herstory

What happened at Stonewall? Do you know? (Do you think people died there like Derrick Barry thought?) If I asked you who Marsha P. Johnson is, could you answer? (You should be able to. There was a huge Netflix documentary about her that came out recently.) Where does voguing come from? Go ahead and go down a Wikipedia hole and learn your queer herstory!

3. Resist harder

Some of us, of course, have done a better job than others. Some of us have been protesting nonstop, signing petitions, and making calls. We've been resisting since day one and haven’t stopped. Some of us simply retweet a piece about Trump’s most recent assault on humanity and call it a day. If you can, do more. Resist harder.

4. Diversify your music from pop divas

The "Your Top Songs 2018" playlist that Spotify created for me taught me something crucial: I need to diversify my music. Pop divas like longtime LGBT ally and icon Ariana Grande are great, but there’s a whole new world of music out there (beyond the divas) that is just waiting to be explored.

5. Be better at safe sex

Yes you’re on PrEP, and that’s awesome! But did you know you can still get other STIs while on PrEP? It’s always good to wear a condom. On PrEP and abhor condoms? That’s fine too. Just get tested regularly and be honest about your sexual activities and risk with your partners.  

6. Have more nights on the town without getting drunk

I get it. Alcohol loosens you up. It makes you more sociable. It’s liquid courage. Yes, of course. It works that way for most of us. But every time you go out, you shouldn’t be getting LIT. Your poor body needs a break.  

7. Try something outside of your comfort zone

Go to a sex party, let your buns hang out at a nude beach, go on an actual date. Think of something you’ve always wanted to try, and do it. Who knows? We may experience a nuclear holocaust in 2019. It really is now or never.

8. Take a trip to a gay mecca

Go to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Australia. Carnival in Rio. Or if Rio is too far, go to Carnival in Provincetown. Don’t forget to go to Fire Island at literally any point during the summer, too.  

9. Have less FOMO

I guarantee that as you’re scrolling through this slideshow, you are missing an infinite number of more fun things to do. That’s the way the world works. Just know, however, there will be more epic parties. There will be more get-togethers. There will be more fun times.

10. Explore Drag

Everyone is a drag critic. This is in large part due to the popularity of RuPaul’s Drag Race. I’m not going to say you can’t critique drag unless you’ve done it. I’m not a painter, but I feel like I’m allowed to critique art. I’m allowed to say what I like and don’t like. That said, go get yourself in drag. Put on the six-inch heels. Block your brows. Tape a wig to your head. Lip-sync for your life. You will realize it’s a hell of a lot harder than you think it is. These queens are just so good they make it look easy.

11. Learn to love your body

If you learn how to do it, please email me directly, because as queer men, I feel like this is a nearly impossible task. That said, God knows some of us have learned. Maybe this is the year you learn how to as well!

12. Call out sexual assault in both gay and straight spaces

In plenty of straight and gay spaces, sexual assault occurs. If you see something, say something. Yes, it’s an awkward conversation to have, but it’s crucial that you have it.

13. Be present in the moment (aka not on Insta, Grindr, Facebook, etc.) 

Unless you are getting paid to post things on Instagram or it’s your damn job, take a chill pill. I’m not saying you can’t snap a photo of yourself or the party you’re at. Go for it. Have fun. But don’t spend six hours taking photos while your friend awkwardly waits besides you. They’re hanging out with you to actually hang out with you—not to watch you take photos of yourself.

14. Try being a little more versatile

Do you always top? Try bottoming. Stop ignoring that prostate. It’s literally God’s gift to all men. Only bottom? Try topping, and stop ignoring that dick of yours!