Unzipped: "Fairyboy"

The Cary Harrison Files’ “Unzipped”: Emmy-winning reporter Garrett Glaser! Known for his bold career and trailblazing moments, Garrett made history in 1994 as the first TV news correspondent to come out on air. In his memoir Fairyboy, he opens up about growing up gay in pre-Stonewall New York and shattering barriers in the media world. Get ready for a conversation full of grit, humor, and lessons on living your truth.Ah, the curious case of Garrett Glaser — a man who never saw a closet he wanted to stay in. If you’ve ever watched TV in the past few decades, there’s a good chance you’ve caught a glimpse of Garrett: the Emmy-winning reporter who graced the airwaves for ABC, CBS, NBC, and Entertainment Tonight, among others. His interviews with the biggest stars and most notorious figures — from Elizabeth Taylor to Charles Manson — are the stuff of TV legend. But behind the anchor desk and in front of the camera, Garrett was fighting a far more personal battle, one that would eventually define his entire career: the battle to be his authentic self.In 1994, Garrett made headlines when he became the first-ever local TV news correspondent to come out as gay while on the air. A bold move, especially in an era when the closet was still an institution. But Garrett wasn’t interested in hiding. He wanted to shatter the glass ceilings of the media world and show the next generation of LGBTQIA+ journalists that it was possible to thrive by being 100% out.His memoir, Fairyboy: Growing Up Gay and Out in Pre-Stonewall New York and Beyond, offers a fascinating time travel experience through the hidden world of gay New York before the Stonewall riots — from the infamous West Side Highway ‘trucks’ to the Continental Baths. But Garrett’s story isn’t just about coming out; it’s about making the impossible possible. From his childhood in the 1960s, when his mom sent him straight to a psychiatrist after he came out, to his rise as a trailblazing journalist who’d never compromise on his truth, Garrett’s story is one of resilience, wit, and a hell of a lot of grit.Alongside Fairyboy, Garrett’s legacy is a call to arms for all queer journalists: ‘Don’t hide. Don’t apologize. Live your truth — and use your outsider status to make the world better.’*In his new memoir, FAIRYBOY, Garrett rips the polite veneer off mid-century America and hands you a cocktail of wit, grit, and enough confessions to make your grandmother clutch her pearls — if she's still alive to clutch anything at all.From being outed by a stepmother with the maternal instincts of a Komodo dragon.....to becoming the first TV news reporter to come out on the air and still keep his job —Garrett's life has been a masterclass in refusing to play nice.He’s here today, bruised but unbeaten, to remind you why hiding who you are is a sucker’s game — and why being an outsider might just be the ultimate insider move. * Full Q&A transcript available elsewhere on this page.Garrett Glaser, Garrett, first off — "Fairyboy" is a hell of a title. I hear Betty Friedan's kid had a hand in that one. How'd that conversation go?Garrett Glaser, You were outed at 14 by your stepmother. Can you walk us through that lovely betrayal?Garrett Glaser, Most kids stay closeted for years. You were out and strutting almost immediately. Why do you think you were wired differently?Garrett Glaser, What was it like seeing Liberace and Mary Martin as a kid? Life-altering or just fabulous chaos?Garrett Glaser, Your father worked approving ads for The Boys in the Band. Did he have any idea how much those conversations would shape your life?Garrett Glaser, You came out on live television in 1994 — did you expect a career suicide note or a standing ovation?Garrett Glaser, Multiple sclerosis ended your TV career early. How did you handle having your identity shift again — this time not by choice?Garrett Glaser, You argue that being gay helped your career. Can you explain that, when so many still believe it’s a liability?Garrett Glaser, You’ve seen the gay rights movement stretch from survival to TikTok. Has the pendulum swung too far into parody, or is this just progress being messy?Garrett Glaser, For young LGBTQIA+ journalists listening right now: What's your best piece of advice that doesn’t sound like it came from a Hallmark card?It's not great it's the whole universe on Substack is asking for 5 bucks. Unfortunate that they don't allow other ways for people to be self-sustaining without having to bug readers. But if you're open to it, your support would be heartily appreciated! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit caryharrison.substack.com/subscribe