Welcome to The Queer Integrity Dispatch!
I’m Darren Stehle — philosopher-guide and coach for LGBTQ+ leaders who want to align their voice, vision, and values to make meaningful change.
You’re here because you care about the kind of difference you’re making—and the kind of leader you’re becoming.
Maybe you’ve been trying to do it all, to be everything for everyone. Maybe you’re feeling spread thin, wondering if your leadership is truly aligned with what matters most.
I’ve been there and now I help other queer leaders move from that place of doubt and dispersion… to clarity, conviction, and impact.
New here?
Subscribe to get my free guide 6 Steps to Lead With Queer Integrity — a tool to help LGBTQ+ leaders discover the clarity, courage, and conviction at the core of their leadership.
How I Got Here (And Why It Matters for You)
Growing up, I tried to live by everyone else’s rules. I knew I wanted to make a difference—but I didn’t know how to do that without burning out, hiding parts of myself, or questioning whether I was “doing it right.”
My turning point wasn’t a single moment. It was the slow, conscious return to myself—my truth, my values, and my creative voice.
Along the way, I developed a leadership philosophy rooted in Taoist self-mastery, neuroscience, and queer theory. I now call this framework Leading with Queer Integrity.
It’s not about becoming someone new. It’s about becoming fully, courageously, and consciously you.
What I Believe
Ethical leadership starts with self-awareness, not performance.
Queerness is a gift—not a limitation—in how we lead.
When we align our actions with our values, our voice becomes a force for good.
Self-mastery isn’t about control—it’s about integrity.
Who I Work With
I coach LGBTQ+ change leaders, advocates, and social entrepreneurs who want to:
Focus their energy on the one thing that matters most.
Share their voice with greater impact and confidence.
Create a method or message rooted in personal conviction.
Lead in ways that reflect their humanity—not just their hustle.
This Is What I Believe
Your wisdom, leadership, and guidance are exactly what someone needs right now—so don’t hold back! Every time you stand up for what’s right—thinking critically, leading with integrity, and cultivating dignity—you create real change and advance equity for our common humanity.
What’s Next?
Ready to explore what it means to lead with queer integrity?
Here’s why I don’t charge a membership on my Substack:
I’m forging a new kind of leadership—quietly radical, fiercely ethical, and soulfully strategic.
There are thousands of people talking about various types of leadership. If my ideas resonate with you, we might want to work together one day—and that’s how I make my income. Otherwise, it’s difficult for us to understand each other if my ideas are behind a paywall and we don’t have the opportunity to engage in the comments, in a chat, or on a call.
Subscribe to receive weekly insights on ethical leadership with queer integrity.
Be well.
—Darren
P.S. You can read my complete biography on my website at DarrenStehle.com.
