This year we’re proud to have Dr. Carlton Thomas join Impride for The Big Gay Improv Show on July 1st at 8pm at the Diversionary Theater. The improvised show will be based on Dr. Carlton’s life and stories. The show features an ensemble of queer improvisers who will take inspiration from the real stories Dr. Carlton shares that night to then improvise comedic scenes. Get your tickets here.
Dr. Carlton is a board-certified and Mayo Clinic-trained gay gastroenterologist from San Diego, California who used pandemic downtime to create an education platform. “I feel like no one really got queer health and sex education in school and there is so much we all need to know,” Dr. Carlton told Out Magazine when he was profiled as one of the Out 100. He said, “My direct messages are always open for personal questions that people often find too embarrassing to discuss with their doctors.”
During the MPOX outbreak, Dr. Carlton helped educate (including a live video with White House deputy director Dr. Demetre Daskalakis) and helped find treatment for tens of thousands of men across the world. When the mainstream media wasn’t getting information about MPOX and its prevention out there, Dr. Carlton offered “tough love advice”, as described by The New York Times, and “the gay community listened.” He told Out, “[MPOX] really reminded me of the AIDS epidemic, but with less mortality from it. I knew I had to do my part and I hope that shows others the power that social media and one person can have.”
When named one of QUEERTY’s PRIDE 50 for 2023, Dr. Carlton described using his “heightened profile … to gain a foothold in places where information on gay health issues may be lacking.” He said, “I have been doing sex education and queer health shows in conservative states. I just did the Austin Kink Weekend where I taught ‘Butt Stuff’ … I have things in Orlando, Florida, in August and Houston, Texas, in October and in September.”
Dr. Carlton won the President’s Award from the National Association of Leather International and was recently in The Advocate discussing “Questions Every Gay, Bi Man Should Ask at Their Physical.” He’ll be honored as a Hero of Pride at San Diego Pride’s Spirit of Stonewall Rally on Friday, July 14.
Follow Dr. Carlton Thomas on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget your Impride tickets to see him with The Big Gay Improv Show on July 1st at 8pm at the Diversionary Theater!