John Paul Brammer

Advice columnist / writer

What is John Paul Brammer known for?

John Paul Brammer is a Mexican-American writer and artist, known for his insightful and heartwarming advice column "¡Hola Papi!". Born and raised in Cache, Oklahoma, Brammer attended Lawton High School where his mother was a teacher. He pursued higher education at the University of Oklahoma, marking the beginning of his literary journey.

Brammer's career in writing took off when he started writing for the Huffington Post. In 2014, he joined MSNBC, further escalating his journalistic career. Brammer's most noteworthy accomplishment came in November 2021 when he joined The Washington Post as an opinion columnist, allowing him to impact readers with his writing and illustrations. His work often draws inspiration from his Mexican-American background.

His column "¡Hola Papi!", is a queer advice column, first published in Grindr's magazine Into and later via Substack. The column was originally pitched as a "queer Latino 'Dear Abby' huffing poppers" but soon became too meaningful, kind-hearted, and warm to read as parody. The column was first published by Into, a magazine from the gay dating app Grindr, before it was moved to Condé Nast's LGBT magazine "Them". As of now, the advice column is syndicated on The Cut and is appreciated for its authentic and heartfelt advice.

In 2022, Brammer won the Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award, recognising his exceptional talent and contribution in the field of writing. His memoir "¡Hola Papi! How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons", published in June 2021, garnered wide acclaim for its candid portrayal of his experiences as a young gay person in a rural place. His work was described as "a master class of tone and tenderness" by reviewers, appreciated for its balanced mix of self-compassion and humor. The memoir was also optioned by Funny or Die for an adaptation as a scripted series, further attesting to its popularity and significance.

Brammer currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, continuing to touch lives through his meaningful words and creative illustrations.