Neil J. Young
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neiljyoung.bsky.social
Neil J. Young
@neiljyoung.bsky.social
1.5K followers 610 following 75 posts
Writer & historian of US religion, politics, and culture. New book: COMING OUT REPUBLICAN: A HISTORY OF THE GAY RIGHT (2024). Los Angeles. http://tinyurl.com/8vps3y82
Posts Replies Media Videos
neiljyoung.bsky.social
Grateful to have my thoughts included in this terrific @washingtonpost.com piece about the gay Republican running to be VA’s Lt Gov by @teoarmus.bsky.social

wapo.st/3WvuRqV
This gay Republican could make history. He’d like to talk about something else.
Virginia’s John Reid could become the country’s first openly gay Republican elected to statewide office. Attacks from within his party have made his sexuality an issue, he says.
wapo.st
October 31, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
tenuredradical.bsky.social
@neiljyoung.bsky.social and I discuss the role JD Vance plays in Donald J. Trump's administration: and whether he is the future of MAGA.

But before that? The Amazon outage, the destruction of the White House, Marjorie Taylor Greene's independent course, and more.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clkd...
Men Will Be Boys
YouTube video by Political Junkie Substack
www.youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
tenuredradical.bsky.social
On this week's podcast, @neiljyoung.bsky.social and I will be talking about this criminal activity on the part of ICE:
capitolweekly.net/inadequate-r...
Inadequate recordkeeping is not just a bureaucratic failure - Capitol Weekly
OPINION - While we often focus on the threat of being located, detained, and physically disappeared, a different kind of disappearance is becoming increasingly common: being digitally erased and rende...
capitolweekly.net
October 16, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
tenuredradical.bsky.social
This week, after the news summary, @neiljyoung.bsky.social and I talk about the vicious attack on the #JesusChristofLatterDaySaints chapel in Grand Blanc, MI--and dig into some Mormon history--including why you might not want to use the words "Mormon."

clairepotter.substack.com/p/no-place-o...
October 4, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
tenuredradical.bsky.social
This week, @neiljyoung.bsky.social and I sing the First Amendment Blues, and discuss how--in a bid to remove critical voices from public life-- MAGA rebrands cancel culture as "consequence culture"

youtu.be/F--kyfCh9o4
First Amendment Blues
YouTube video by Political Junkie Substack
youtu.be
September 26, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
tenuredradical.bsky.social
In this week's episode of the Political Junkie podcast, @neiljyoung.bsky.social and I discuss the expansion and consolidation of conservative media--and Trump's attacks on free speech.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqde...
Dying in Darkness
YouTube video by Political Junkie Substack
www.youtube.com
September 20, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
therevealer.bsky.social
@neiljyoung.bsky.social reviews Sister, Sinner about the preacher Aimee Semple McPherson, and considers similarities between McPherson’s fans and Trump’s—and why fans don't care when their idol lies.

Don't miss “American Trinity: Faith, Fame, and Fanaticism”!

therevealer.org/american-tri...
September 18, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
historypolicy.bsky.social
As culture war politics intensify, conservatives frame “traditional” family values as vital to national survival. This week, @neiljyoung.bsky.social traces how religious narratives persist in U.S. politics and underpin the Trump-evangelical alliance.

🎙️: tinyurl.com/2w7sjpm6
September 18, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
tenuredradical.bsky.social
Why did some Americans come to think Donald Trump was dead? After the news summary, @neiljyoung.bsky.social and I break it down. Here's the full podcast on YouTube--you can subscribe to our channel separately from the Substack if you choose!

youtu.be/6Mb9a3sl0Ks?...
Not Dead Yet!
YouTube video by Political Junkie Substack
youtu.be
September 7, 2025 at 1:46 PM
neiljyoung.bsky.social
I wrote about Claire Hoffman's excellent biography of Aimee Semple McPherson and and what it tells us about the American trinity of faith, fame, and fanaticism for @therevealer.bsky.social

therevealer.org/american-tri...
therevealer.org
September 4, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
therevealer.bsky.social
The Revealer's September issue features great articles from @miguelpetrosky.bsky.social, @neiljyoung.bsky.social, @anujbehal.bsky.social, @tiaphd.bsky.social, and others! Read it today!
September 4, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
ceaubin.com
HAPPY TGS DAY! On today’s episode we’ve got Neil J. Young @neiljyoung.bsky.social discussing Terry Dolan, the attack dog of the New Right — architect of ‘traditional values’ conservatism, fan of ruthless politics, and life-long closeted gay man.
July 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
neiljyoung.bsky.social
I loved recording this episode! Hope you’ll listen.
ceaubin.com C. E. Aubin @ceaubin.com · Jul 10
HAPPY TGS DAY! On today’s episode we’ve got Neil J. Young @neiljyoung.bsky.social discussing Terry Dolan, the attack dog of the New Right — architect of ‘traditional values’ conservatism, fan of ruthless politics, and life-long closeted gay man.
July 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
jstuart.bsky.social
An outstanding episode. The discussion on empathy and complicated feelings about historical actors is especially great!
ceaubin.com C. E. Aubin @ceaubin.com · Jul 10
HAPPY TGS DAY! On today’s episode we’ve got Neil J. Young @neiljyoung.bsky.social discussing Terry Dolan, the attack dog of the New Right — architect of ‘traditional values’ conservatism, fan of ruthless politics, and life-long closeted gay man.
July 10, 2025 at 6:10 PM
neiljyoung.bsky.social
I loved recording this episode! Hope you’ll listen.
ceaubin.com C. E. Aubin @ceaubin.com · Jul 10
HAPPY TGS DAY! On today’s episode we’ve got Neil J. Young @neiljyoung.bsky.social discussing Terry Dolan, the attack dog of the New Right — architect of ‘traditional values’ conservatism, fan of ruthless politics, and life-long closeted gay man.
July 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
ceaubin.com
THIS THURSDAY ON TGS: I talk with Neil J. Young @neiljyoung.bsky.social about Republican politics, the HIV/AIDS crisis, and this guy’s Pyrrhic victory. This episode really stuck with me afterwards.
Man in suit with face scribbled out
July 7, 2025 at 2:08 PM
neiljyoung.bsky.social
Happy to have my thoughts included in this terrific NY Times piece on Trump and gay Republicans: “They see Trump as a president who has given them unprecedented access,” Mr. Young said…. “They take that as proof that he’s not going to turn on them.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/21/s...
Is Donald Trump an Antagonist or Champion of the Gay Community?
www.nytimes.com
June 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
historypolicy.bsky.social
This week, Dr. @neiljyoung.bsky.social joins us to unpack the evolving ties between the Gay Right and the Republican Party—especially as the current Trump administration seeks to reinforce binary gender norms and curtail protections for LGBTQ individuals.

Listen here: tinyurl.com/29ws79hr
June 11, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
tenuredradical.bsky.social
A new drop at Political Junkie: this week, @neiljyoung.bsky.social and I take on LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the Age of Trump
clairepotter.substack.com/p/clap-if-yo...
June 6, 2025 at 8:10 PM
neiljyoung.bsky.social
DC folks, come join me at the Smithsonian today from noon to 1!
americanhistory.si.edu/events/calen...
Book Signing: Neil Young, "Coming Out Republican: A History of the Gay Right"
americanhistory.si.edu
June 3, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
kevinmkruse.bsky.social
Which news outlet is actually informing its readers about what happened?
davidho.bsky.social David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · May 25
Hard to believe they’re talking about the same event.
Headline from the independent: Trump gives rambling speech about trophy wives, golf and the 'great late' Al Capone in politically-charged West Point address Headline from the New York Times: Trump Gives Commencement Address at West Point, Stressing a New Era
May 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
katherinestewart.bsky.social
My latest on Trump’s misnamed “anti-Christian bias” task force for @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/1948...
How Trump Will Use “Anti-Christian Bias” to Entrench His Power
The administration plans to boost the political agenda of Christian nationalists while rolling back the civil liberties of everyone else.
newrepublic.com
May 9, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
joeblankholm.bsky.social
"Progressives Have Religious Freedom Too." My OpEd at @thefulcrum-us.bsky.social builds on my research on the variety among the nonreligious, including nonbelievers and spiritual people. Thanks to the Op Ed Project and @neiljyoung.bsky.social for their support. thefulcrum.us/governance-l...
Progressives Have Religious Freedom Too
At the end of March, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case about religious freedom. In late April, it heard two more. By summer, the Court could decide to give religious employers another tax br...
thefulcrum.us
May 5, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Reposted by Neil J. Young
tenuredradical.bsky.social
@neiljyoung.bsky.social and I wrote this for The New Republic: it might teach you something new about conservatives *and* gay people!
newrepublic.com/article/1943...
JD Vance Likes “Normal Gays.” Should We Count That as a Win?
The pursuit of being seen as “normal” has served the LGBTQ movement well. But is there such a thing as too normal?
newrepublic.com
April 28, 2025 at 2:14 PM