H.M. Gautsch

Writer, Geek, Artist, Photographer

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Will the World Ever Produce Another Leader Like Obama Again? (Reflection)

Will the World Ever Produce Another Leader Like Obama Again? (Reflection)

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The Strength of Allyship (Reflection)

The Strength of Allyship (Reflection)

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Growth Requires a Seat at the Table (Reflection)

Growth Requires a Seat at the Table (Reflection)

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Letters from War (Poetry)

Letters from War (Poetry)

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Pride, Protection, and the People Who Helped Me Survive

Pride, Protection, and the People Who Helped Me Survive

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An Open Letter to my Recruiters and Drill Sergeants

There are some people in this life who never fully understand the impact they leave on another human being. Their fingerprints stay behind anyway. Quiet. Permanent. Like boot prints hardened into Missouri clay after the rain finally dries. This letter is for those people. To Recruiters Lafler and Dehnke, Thank you. Truly. Unfortunately, the reindeer games had already started long before I…

An Open Letter to my Recruiters and Drill Sergeants

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What also stands out is the film’s cultural texture. Quebec filmmakers often bring a flavor to cinema that Hollywood struggles to replicate because their work is rooted in identity rather than formula. There is a rawness and intimacy to it. A willingness to linger in humanity instead of rushing toward commercial payoff. Pointe-Noire quietly carries echoes of Cajun and Francophone cultural influence as well, bridging histories and emotional commonalities across borders. To American audiences unfamiliar with that world, those details may seem subtle. To others, they are deeply intentional. That commitment to authenticity matters. #film #quebec #roydupuis

Pointe Noire (Film Recommendation)

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The reality is this: fear spreads faster than understanding when people stop seeing one another as human beings first. We are watching division become profitable, hatred become louder, and empathy become treated like weakness. That should concern every American regardless of political party, religion, military status, gender identity, or background. Because once violence becomes normalized against one group, history has shown it never stops there. Hate rarely stays contained. It grows like wildfire through silence, denial, and unchecked rhetoric.

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But intimate partner violence is only one piece of the storm cloud. Family environments and childhood experiences shape LGBTQ+ mental health long before adulthood arrives. Research highlighted by Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that LGBTQ individuals reported significantly higher rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) than straight individuals....

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Northbound Ghosts and Bloodlines (Essay)

There is something is humbling about watching your DNA story shift over time. One update says one thing, another reshuffles the map like the universe quietly whispering, “There’s still more to uncover.” For me, Ancestry DNA became more than percentages on a screen or colored regions stretched across Europe like watercolor paint across old parchment. Norway is rising to 45%. Austria is balancing…

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My heart is not currency, not casino chips pushed across velvet tables by people gambling on my softness like it’s entertainment. #LGBTQ #NotForSale

Not For Sale (Poetry)

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Looking Toward 2028: LGBTQ Rights, Veteran Advocacy, and the Future of American Policy

By H.M. Gautsch | Poetic Veteran The conversation surrounding the 2028 election cycle is already beginning to build momentum across America. For many voters, especially younger generations, LGBTQ Americans, veterans, and marginalized communities, the question is no longer simply about party loyalty or political theater. The deeper question revolves around leadership, policy, stability, and…

Looking Toward 2028: LGBTQ Rights, Veteran Advocacy, and the Future of American Policy

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The Studz Most Wanted era… yeah, that space was loud in all the wrong frequencies. What looked like a community from the outside had its own gatekeeping rituals. Jace and I felt it. That quiet, sideways transphobia from people who should’ve known better. The kind that doesn’t always shout, but lingers like a draft under the door. You don’t forget that kind of cold. #LGBTQ #Trans #Reflection

The Name Before the Language: From Mitch to The Trans Theory (Reflection)

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That’s where I hold onto her— MSG Gina Barton. During my medical board process, when everything felt uncertain, when identity felt like it was slipping through the cracks of paperwork and prognosis— She saw me. #amwriting #poetry #veterans

Family Isn't a Headline (Poetry)

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Despite this external perception, I was forming an internal framework that would later prove significant. One of the early influences contributing to this development was the television series La Femme Nikita. Through its portrayal of counterterrorism operations, discipline, and moral complexity, the series presented a structured narrative that contrasted with the ambiguity of my own experience. The central characters, particularly Nikita and Michael, embodied resilience, precision, and purpose within high-stakes environments. While the series was fictional, it introduced me to the concept of counterterrorism and the possibility of engaging in work that extended beyond individual concerns. #amwriting #essay #DanRather #journalism

Witness to Warrior: The Quiet Formation of Purpose (Essay)

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You protect me like quiet security in chaos, and I walk with my head on a swivel— not from fear, but from love sharpened into awareness. Because protection goes both ways, and loyalty is a two-handed grip. #poetry #amwriting #soulsisters

Soul Sisters (Poetry)

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Through a humanities lens, music operates as cultural discourse. Lyrics, rhythm, and imagery communicate ideology, shaping belief systems and social behavior. Genres rooted in introspection and social critique invite emotional processing and critical consciousness, while music emphasizing escapism or hyper-consumption may normalize avoidance patterns. #amwriting #creativewriting #bachelors #wellness

Technology, Music, Film, Wellness, and the Balance of Information in Modern Life (Essay)