The 20 Queer Q's series seeks to capture LGBTQ+ individuals (and allies) in a moment of authenticity. We get to know the subjects, what makes them who they are, and what they value.

The goal of these intimate conversations is to leave you, the reader, feeling like you just gained a new friend, a new perspective, and that you learned something new about or saw a different side of someone—maybe someone that you don’t see online, but someone that’s maybe like you.

This week we're getting to knowTy Mitchell, a writer and adult entertainer who has been featured in Out and The New Inquiry. Learn about Ty’s thoughts on queer representation in media, what he looks for in a partner, and more!

Name: Ty Mitchell

Age: 26

Preferred Pronouns: He/Him/His

Sexually Identifies As: Gay

What do you love about the LGBTQ+ community?

I love our ability to create spaces for ourselves and for each other. I think the queer community, by necessity, had to learn inventive ways of how to take care of each other through death and marginality and I think that’s created imaginative ways of being together that are really fun and playful. I think that playfulness is central to how I view the queer community. 

What are your thoughts on PrEP?

I’ve been on PrEP for about four or five years. I think that anybody who enjoys unprotected sex should be on it and I don’t think enjoying unprotected sex is something to be ashamed of. I think PrEP works; the empirical data has proven that it works.

What are your thoughts on dating in the LGBTQ+ community? 

I guess dating is harder by virtue of there being a scarcity of queer people. It’s a little easier in gay cities like New York, LA, or San Francisco, but I think when you’re outside of there it’s a lot harder to find people. That kind of scarcity can make it hard for queer people to feel confident and secure in how they navigate their relationships. 

What does Pride mean to you?

I think Pride means developing structures, whether they’re physical, community structures or structures within yourself that can stand independent of the larger institutions that we’re subject to. I think Pride is about creating something that can be independent of things like gender norms, patriarchy, the police state, the state at all. I think Pride is about building things that are authentic, that we can rely on, and that bring us fulfillment because these structures that already exist, don’t.

What’s a song you consider to be an LGBTQ+ anthem?

"Get Outta My Way" by Kylie Minogue.

Do you believe in love?

Absolutely. I think love is a practice. I think love is built, love is earned. I think it’s something we can practice every single day with all different kinds of people. 

What are values that you look for in an ideal partner?

Equity, someone who can respect my independence and who has their own desire for independence. Mutual respect, a good sense of humor, and being in touch with their body, sexual chemistry. 

Describe what being queer is like in 3-5 words. 

Magical. World-Building. Caring. Loving. Resilient.

How do you feel about LGBTQ+ representation in media?

I think it’s evolving in a way that’s pretty positive, but I don’t think that what we see in TV and movies is the end-all, be-all of our community, or our community's struggle for justice. We would live better, richer lives if we had things like better healthcare and affordable housing than seeing our friends on magazine covers. I know it makes a difference, it means a lot to young people who are closeted, who feel alone. I think those representations expand the realm of possibility of what you can be and who you can be. I just don’t think it should be a singular priority and it increasingly feels like it’s all we know how to talk about when we talk about a post-marriage equality LGBTQ+ movement. 

What is something you want to change about yourself in the next 6 months?

I want to write another essay and I want to stay consistent about my sugar waxing regiment. 

Fill in the Blank: When I think of comfort, I think of _________.

Reading a book on my couch on a nice day with a hot cup of coffee.

What do you feel most insecure about?

My work ethic and my ability to stay motivated to do the things I need to do to survive in this tough world. 

What are you most confident about?

My sexuality, in the sense that I know how to express it and I feel no shame around it, which is a pretty cool achievement. 

What is the title of the current chapter of your life?

The First Openly Gay Porn Star.

Night in or a night out?

Night out.

Do you feel that people are as authentic online as they are in person? 

Yeah, they might even be more authentic online. 

Fill in the blank: In 5 years I want to _________.

Publish a book. 

If you could shadow anybody for a day, who would it be?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

How much does your LGBTQ+ identity play into your overall identity?

It’s what’s paying my rent, so I would say 100 percent, and I’ve always been that way. When I came out I thought, "If I’m gay I want to be the best gay I can be." And it’s morphed into queerness being the lens through which I express a point of view and feel confident in my body out into the world and I love that. 

What value/quality has being queer given you? What have you gained?

It’s given me a lot of independence. 

Keep up with Ty Mitchell on his Twitter and Instagram!