This week’s episode is equal parts tender and furious: after reflecting on the moving short The Dads and the difference between being an ally and a co‑conspirator, Jason and Nate unpack how their own childhoods shaped their parenting, why they strive for a balance of warmth and structure with little Lizzy, and the small, everyday moments—cheeky giggles under a blanket, painted nails, a teacher’s concern—that both heal and teach them; then their warmth turns to alarm as they expose a coordinated campaign and hundreds of state bills aimed at stripping rights and resources from LGBTQ families, reminding listeners why love, rage, and steadfast presence are all necessary to protect the life they’ve built.

ACLU Anti LGBT Legislation Tracker: https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights-2026?state=

This week on Two Gay Dads we sit down with Stephen Chukumba, co‑founder and advocacy/outreach coordinator of Rainbow in Black. Stephen shares his powerful origin story as an accidental advocate, frontline strategies for supporting Black trans and gender‑expansive youth, and how families — especially fathers and single parents — can show up as true co‑conspirators. We discuss community building, resources (including a dating/disclosure guide co‑authored with HRC), racial dimensions of anti‑trans attacks, the fight over trans athletes in the courts, and a moving family story about patience, boundaries, and eventual acceptance. Plus: This Week in Gay News — adoptions stalled, dangerous deportations to Iran, Iowa’s expanded “don’t say” push, and joyful trans mutual‑aid in Florida.

Takeaways:

• How to support Black trans youth and their families in culturally specific ways
• Practical advocacy steps: local organizing, telling stories, contacting officials
• Why patience, firm boundaries, and community outreach matter
• Joyful resistance as a form of survival and organizing

Actions:
Subscribe, rate, and share — and if you’re moved by Stephen’s work, learn more about Rainbow in Black and ways to support local trans organizations and legal defenders (ACLU, Lambda Legal, local clinics).

Hosts: Jason & Nathan
Guest: Stephen Chukumba — Rainbow in Black

Resources:

www.rainbowinblack.org

www.stephenchukumba.com

Trigger warning: discussion of violence, immigration enforcement, trauma, and political repression.

In this urgent, off-format episode of Two Gay Dads, Jason and Nate step outside their usual adoption and family topics to respond to the escalating crises they’ve witnessed — from Minneapolis where ICE actions coincided with the murder of Renee (Becca) Good, to nationwide targeting of educators and communities of color. A former law‑enforcement officer, Jason recounts what he saw on the ground, and Nate shares practical steps their family is taking to prepare (wills, apostilles, emergency funds, researching immigration options). They unpack signs of authoritarianism, why civil resistance matters, and concrete tactics and networks (including Freedom Trainers) that build collective power. They also recommend podcasts and resources listeners can use to stay informed and take action.

This episode is a call to speak up, document injustice, protect your loved ones, and build the 3.5% movement of civic resistance. Listen, act, and share.

Resources Mentioned:

Freedom Trainers: https://freedomtrainers.net/

Podcasts:

Pod Save America

Pod Save the World

Strict Scrutiny

The Ezra Klein Show

Autocracy in America (The Atlantic)