What is Venus Gays?

Venus Gays is a biweekly source of astrology-themed musings from queer astrologers Sam Manzella and Sterling Bowen. Subscribe to receive our essays, explainers, and interviews in your inbox every other Friday (for Venus, duh).

Read on to learn more about each of us and our practices.

Get to Know Your Venus Gays

Sam Manzella

Gemini ☀️, Leo 🌕, Cancer ⬆️

Sam (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based writer, digital producer, and astrologer. A true 12th House Gemini Sun and Venus, Sam believes in the power of storytelling for social change. She’s interviewed all of your faves, from Chani Nicholas to MUNA to Lizzo, and has been recognized by the GLAAD Media Awards and Shorty Social Impact Awards. Sam also writes about astrology for publications like Cosmopolitan, Apartment Therapy, SheKnows, and PRIDE.com. You can keep up with her latest shenanigans, astrological or otherwise, on Instagram (@_sammanzella).

Sam is a lifelong astrology enthusiast, but she began to study the tradition in earnest in early 2020. She practices traditional astrology with an emphasis on queer inclusion and accessibility (so, she uses Whole Sign Houses and traditional rulers, but she’ll never tell you where to find ~your future husband~ in your birth chart). She has studied under Kirah Tabourn via The Eleventh House and is highly influenced by the books, lectures, and podcasts of Chani Nicholas, Chris Brennan, Austin Coppock, and Pallas K. Augustine.

Sterling Bowen

Aquarius ☀️, Aries 🌕, Virgo ⬆️

Sterling (he/they) is a Brooklyn-based writer, content creator, and astrologer. A star at heart but an Aquarius 6th Houser in practice, the bulk of his work is hidden behind the scenes of some brands you may recognize. You may be one of the 1.6 million viewers who reads his work on Sanctuary’s Instagram page. You may be one of the folks who bought the best-selling astrology guide What’s Your Sign. Or you may be one of the unlucky few who gets to see his chaotic musings on his social media profiles, all under the handle @mxsterlingbowen.

Sterling has been studying astrology independently since 2016. His approach is influenced by the centuries of research and practice that has gifted us “traditional astrology,” as well as more modern approaches, such as psychological astrology & planetary cycles throughout history. He puts value in the phrase “it takes a village” when it comes to learning and growing in this cosmic tradition, and takes major influence from writers such as Demetra George, Chris Brennan, and Chani Nicolas just to name a few.