Series Podcast: This Way Out

Denise Ho has been on Beijing’s bad list since the lesbian Cantopop star came out in 2012, then her advocacy for democracy in Hong Kong and speech at the UN Human Rights Council in 2019 (excerpts included) increased the tensions, and now her association with an independent news website has led to her arrest! Black feminist theorist bell hooks leaves behind the challenge “Why Choose to Love?” and Professor Beverly Guy-Sheftall remembers her prolific friend (from “Democracy Now!”). And in NewsWrap: Senegal's legislature nixes tougher anti-queer laws, two tortured Tunisian gays seek sex crime repeal, the U.K. expands "Turing's Law" pardon eligibility, Israel opens surrogacy services to queer couples, a Taiwan court grants adoption rights to a gay co-dad, Cuba proposes a new pro-marriage equality Family Code, India’s major matchmaking site opens to LGBTQ hopefuls, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by John Dyer V and Sarah Montague (produced by Brian DeShazor). All this on the January 10, 202

Three more celebrities who made news by coming out in 2021: Australian footballer Josh Cavallo, Cassandra Peterson (“Yours Cruelly, Elvira”) and actor/political activist Kal Penn (“You Can’t Be Serious”) (part two of two). LGBTQ nominees for this year’s Grammy Awards are enumerated in “Queer Music Focus” (Steve Sims, producer). (“NewsWrap” returns next week.) All this on the January 3, 2022 edition of This Way Out! Join our family of listener-donors today at http://thiswayout.org/donate/

Celebrities coming out who made news in 2021 include country music’s TJ Osborne, pro U.S. football player Carl Nassib, and the multi-talented Queen Latifah (part one of two). Canadian inspirational speaker Tyler Boyle raises coming out to the level of “Being Extraordinary” in a presentation adapted especially for “This Way Out.” (“NewsWrap” returns on our show for the week of 10 January 2022.) All this on the December 27, 2021 edition of This Way Out! Join our family of listener-donors today at http://thiswayout.org/donate/

The conclusion of our audio interpretation of “A Quilt for David,” a book of poetry by Steven Reigns (published by City Light Books) that centers on dentist David Acer, a victim of dueling epidemics — AIDS and media hysteria (part 3 of 3, produced by Brian DeShazor). OutCasting Overtime’s queer youth commentators consider the challenges — and potential opportunities — of spending time with family during the holidays (OutCaster Sarah presents a piece by the team, produced by Marc Sophos). And in NewsWrap: French parliament passes conversion therapy ban on for Macron’s signature, the E.U. Justice Court orders ID papers for queer couples’ kids, Senegalese lawmakers draft an odious anti-queer bill, Barbados starts its new republic with rights guarantees, a pro-equality candidate wins Chile’s run-off presidential election, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by MR Raquel and Michael Taylor-Gray (produced by Brian DeShazor). All this on the December 20, 2021 edition of This Way Out! Join our fa

Kung Pao Kosher Comedy virtually carries on the Jewish tradition of going out for Chinese food for Christmas (Eric Jansen of outinthebay.org chats with producer/performer Lisa Geduldig). Comments and readings by poet Steven Reigns from his “A Quilt for David,” and period news reports about the dentist falsely accused of spreading AIDS to his patients (part 2 of 3, produced by Brian DeShazor). Melbourne marriage equality activist Antony McManus counts his “Monte Cristos” on an Australian quiz show! And in NewsWrap: Chile adopts marriage equality ahead of a tense presidential election, New Zealand approves a simple “statutory declaration” for legal gender change, Canada cures its conversion therapy problem, Wisconsin U.S. Senator Ron Johnson steps in stupid, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by Marcos Najera and Tanya Kane-Parry (produced by Brian DeShazor). And in NewsWrap: repeal of Botswana’s queer sex ban upheld on appeal, Canada’s House of Commons votes to ban conversion therapy, Hun

Do two moms know best? OutCasting Overtime queer youth media activists Isha and Rose hang out “Off the Clock” to chat about growing up in a lesbian family, and what happens when homophobia hits (produced by Marc Sophos). A journey into poet Steven Reigns’ book “A Quilt for David” (published by City Lights Books) pays homage to a gay dentist who was persecuted during the early days of AIDS with readings, reflections and news reports from the period (Part 1 of 3, produced by Brian DeShazor). And in NewsWrap: repeal of Botswana’s queer sex ban upheld on appeal, Canada’s House of Commons votes to ban conversion therapy, Hungarian lawmakers okay “LGBT propaganda” referendum, Sweden’s first trans cabinet minister appointed, queer candidates win elections in Honduras, Chile and Bangladesh, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by Wendy Natividad and Joe Boehnlein (produced by Brian DeShazor). All this on the December 6, 2021 edition of This Way Out! Join our family of listener-donors today at http

On this week’s special program, we celebrate three bishops who made groundbreaking opening moves in Christianity’s inclusion gambit: A 2001 conversation with Episcopal ally firebrand the Right Reverend John Shelby Spong, a leader in the struggle for LGBTQ ordination and marriage equality (interviewed by Brisbane, Australia correspondent John Frame). A tribute to Unity Fellowship founder Archbishop Carl Bean, the gay pop star (“I Was Born This Way”) who turned musical success into a ministry to the African American queer community, Reverend Megan Rohrer, the first transgender Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — and maybe in the world — talks about their journey to the historic milestone (interviewed by Eric Jansen of "Out in the Bay - Queer Radio from San Francisco”). NewsWrap returns next week. All this on the November 29, 2021 edition of This Way Out! Join our family of listener-donors today at http://thiswayout.org/donate/

A Georgia trans teen takes a solitary stand against the high school bullies who assaulted her, while in Wisconsin the attack on a trans student sparks a walkout by his allies demanding a safe school for all. Ryan Cassata’s latest album, Magical Miracle Mile, shows how much he’s grown since his debut as a 17-year-old trans artist (interviewed in November 2011 by JD Doyle). Plus a “Rainbow Minute” on the career of gay illustrator Richard Amsel! And in NewsWrap: Thailand’s top court pushes marriage equality to lawmakers, the IOC changes the game for trans and intersex Olympians, the U.S. Health Department kills Trump era religious bias, Russian authorities axe an LGBTQ film fest website, a notoriously homophobic Australian town turns a rainbow leaf, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by MR Raquel and Michael LeBeau (produced by Brian DeShazor). All this and more on the November 22, 2021 edition of This Way Out! Join our family of listener-donors today at http://thiswayout.org/donate/

The official christening of an ironic tribute named for the dishonorably discharged queer liberation icon and anti-war activist launches the U.S. Navy Ship Harvey Milk with a ceremony featuring Harvey’s nephew Stuart Milk, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, and champaign bottle-smasher trans vet Paula Neira. “Bathroom bills” are allegedly intended to protect heterosexual and cisgender students from their queer peers, but the youth commentators of OutCasting Overtime testify that locker room anxiety is much more of an issue for LGBTQ kids. The Log Cabin Republicans pucker up to kiss their imaginary king’s ring, but settle for their fantasy queen’s nod. And in NewsWrap: Ghanaians begin debate on “proper” sex and family rights, Russia adds a major queer group to its “foreign agent” list, a U.K. lesbian couple sues the NHS for fertility bias, trans teens and their parents stand tall in three U.S. states, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by Wenzel Jones and Melanie Keller (produced by Brian DeS

Steven Heard Fales’ "Mormon Boy Trilogy" is set to make an international comeback, ten years after his November, 2011 conversation with This Way Out’s Rosie Wilby (“The Breakup Monologues”) during the London run of “Confessions of a Mormon Boy.” Kal ”Kumar” Penn goes on a "Harold-free“ queer adventure in his just-published memoir, "You Can’t Be Serious" (including an excerpt from a “way-out” interview with Jake Tapper of "CNN”). And in NewsWrap: a leading Chinese queer rights group is forced offline, a Bulgarian politician leads a mob attack on an LGBTQ center, hackers breach and release Israeli gay app personal info, the Taliban’s human rights vow excludes LGBTQ Afghans, Cohen "Glitters" and Porter goes "Unprotected" on "Late Night,” and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by Sarah Montague and John Dyer V (produced by Brian DeShazor). All this and more on the November 8, 2021 edition of This Way Out! Join our family of listener-donors today at http://thiswayout.org/donate/

Adelaide United’s Josh Cavallo becomes the first active Australian A-League soccer player to tell the world that he’s gay — and he’s okay! The lack of LGBTQ information included in sex education courses is a serious problem from the perspective of OutCasting Overtime youth participant Justin (produced by Marc Sophos). Ten years ago this month: Michigan’s now-Governor Gretchen Whitmer took the lead in the state Senate against an anti-bullying bill that would have given school staff and students a “religious bias” exemption. And in NewsWrap: the Delhi High Court sets a final hearing for consolidated marriage equality cases, Italy’s Senate nixes a Vatican-vexing hate crimes bill, Poland’s parliament considers criminalizing Pride events, Ghana’s debate over an anti-LGBTQ bill makes its president plea for civility, New Zealand’s 2023 census will count LGBTQI people for the first time, an intersex veteran wins an “X” gender-marker U.S. passport, former U.S. President Barack Obama mocks right-wing Republicans’ ma

Gemma X, The Villaineers, Mariah Christie, Bestfriend, The Barbarellatones, Karma, Logan Lynn, Mariah Counts, Xantheartist, Violet Grae and Big Thief gave us new releases in the second half of this year, and Steve Sims gives them the Queer Music Focus treatment! And in NewsWrap: binational gay dads win their toddler’s Namibian citizenship, Uganda recognizes its first official gender change, booted South Korean trans woman soldier reinstated posthumously, Japanese trans man sues for recognition without sterilization, Texas House bans trans student athletes, COVID confines Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras again, next generation Superman gets super boyfriend, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by Michael Taylor-Gray and Melanie Keller (produced by Brian DeShazor). All this and more on the October 18, 2021 edition of This Way Out! Join our family of listener-donors today at http://thiswayout.org/donate/

On the tenth anniversary of the repeal of the US military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy against lesbian, gay and bisexual people serving openly, we review our reporting from the day it happened, going back to the first gay discharge from the Continental Army and foreshadowing the hard decade it would take to extend rights to transgender service members, with comments by David McKean of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (now the Modern Military Association of America) and author Aaron Belkin (How We Won: Progressive Lessons from the Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”), music by Tom Goss and Matt Alber, and more. Hundreds of Missouri high school students protest the bullying of gay senior Danny Lillis, who with two allies was suspended along with the tormentor they fought off (with comments by Danny, his mom, and ally Malani Hohlbaugh, and music by Rachel Platten). And in NewsWrap: Turkish court finds no crime in Pride marching, Poland challenges E.U. legal supremacy over LGBTQ rights, Russian media

Comedienne Rosie Wilby may be funny, but she’s not joking about the positive results of failed romances in her new book, “The Breakup Monologues.” Hear her read an excerpt on the air, and check out her interview with veteran This Way Out Life and Lit Commentator Janet Mason — in print, in our first e-newsletter exclusive! (To subscribe, write to info@thiswayout.org.) The OutCasting Overtime reveals the origins of common anti-LGBTQ slurs, and explores the impact of verbal violence on young people — and how liberating labels can help (Isha introduces Chris, produced by Marc Sophos)! Gay “Best Playwright” Matthew Lopez takes home the first Tony Award won by a Latine writer, and advocates for inclusion on Broadway! And in NewsWrap: Germany’s Tessa Ganserer and Nyke Slawik are the first trans candidates elected to the Bundestag, the Taipei High Court says trans people have nothing to prove, Polish “LGBT Free Zones” bow to E.U. financial pressure, “I Am Samuel” is the second major queer film banned in Kenya, an

“The Eyes of Tammy Faye” were opened by an encounter with gay Christian Metropolitan Community Church minister Rev. Steve Pieters (interviewed by Lucia Chappelle), and that historic event convinced Jessica Chastain to take on the role of the outrageous televangelist in the new feature film (part 2 of 2). U.S. Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) drops a pro-equality bombshell on “60 Minutes.” And in NewsWrap: the states of Querétaro and Sonora extend Mexican marriage equality, the presidents of Honduras and El Salvador vow to stop pro-LGBTQ legal reforms, Ukraine has ups and downs at Pride celebrations with war in Odessa and peace in Kyiv, Belgrade Pride goes Gaga in support of registered partnerships, Bolsonaro praises bias and Biden defends rights at the U.N., RuPaul smashes an Emmy glass ceiling and addresses queer youth, a late-breaking bulletin on Switzerland’s marriage equality victory, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by MR Raquel and Marcos Najera (produced by Brian DeShazor). All t

Hear what went on in the background of Tammy Fay Bakker’s historic interview with gay Christian minister and AIDS activist Steve Pieters — a significant plot point in the newly-released movie, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (interviewed by Lucia Chappelle, part 1 of 2). And in NewsWrap: marriage equality is proposed in Cuba’s new Family Code, COVID benches Hong Kong’s Gay Games and Taiwan Pride, the U.K. appeals court overturns a trans youth treatment ban, out NFL player Nassib forces a fateful fumble in his first game, Lil Nas X thanks "the gay agenda" for his MTV Video of the Year Award, RuPaul’s Emmy win bugs a gay Australian entomologist, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by Sarah Montague and Wenzel Jones (produced by Brian DeShazor). All this and more on the September 20, 2021 edition of This Way Out! Join our family of listener-donors today at http://thiswayout.org/donate/

Ousted Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David fights the organization in the wake of the controversy surrounding resigned New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s sexual harassment scandal (including analysis by “GayUSA’s” Andy Humm and Ann Northrop, with excerpts from David’s exclusive interview on MSNBC’s “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart”). We remember pop star and preacher Archbishop Carl Bean, founding prelate of Unity Fellowship, who describes his 1978 hit song “I Was Born This Way” as his first sermon. Plus cooking “out” with celebrity foodie James Beard in a “Rainbow Minute” (produced by Judd Proctor and Brian Burns, read by Michael Maszaros). And in NewsWrap: Zurich Pride marches for Switzerland’s marriage equality referendum, Panama’s high court dismisses a gay couple’s Colombian wedding, Missouri Republican howling "disappears" a Capitol queer exhibit, Iowa students defend a bi teacher’s honesty, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by Joe Boehnlein and Elena Botkin-Levy (

The historic state Supreme Court hearings on California’s anti-marriage equality Proposition 8 ten years ago this week demonstrated the ability of the judiciary to change people’s lives on a dime (as reported in 2011 by Greg Gordon and Pacifica Radio’s Christopher Martinez). OutCasting Overtime’s queer youth team shares thoughts about the objectification of women in the media, and its particular impact on lesbian and bisexual women — from hypersexualization to “corrective rape.” (OutCaster Isha, produced by Marc Sophos). And in NewsWrap: China’s government censors "girlie" men, Hong Kong political puppets flag Gay Games play, a Pakistani politician pulls down a BTS "promo homo" billboard, Australian lawmakers reject trans job protections, 20 U.S. states buck Biden’s pro-queer policy, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by Melanie Keller and Michael LeBeau (produced by Brian DeShazor). All this and more on the September 6, 2021 edition of This Way Out! Join our family of listener-donors to

The title song from the box office smash Taiwanese gay-themed movie “Your Name Engraved Herein” becomes a global anthem that says “love wins” in any language (singer Crown Lu accepts the Song of the Year prize at the Golden Medley Awards)! Amanda Kabak talks about her challenges writing “Upended” in the conclusion of a two-part interview (with John Dyer V)! A Rainbow Minute recalls the bold act of psychiatrist Dr. Anonymous! And in NewsWrap: Nicaragua’s NGO purge targets its oldest queer group, Shanghai University tracks queer students, Yucatan approves marriage equality, Virginia school board pays the ACLU for costs in Gavin Grimm’s trans rights case, a lesbian teacher loses her employment bias suit against an Indiana Catholic high school, Colorado Christian school kids stage a walk out after a gay coach is forced out, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by Joe Boehnlein and John Dyer V (produced by Brian DeShazor). All this and more on the August 30, 2021 edition of This Way Out! Join

U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the the Civil Rights Division, Department of Education Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Suzanne Goldberg, and Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Rachel Levine send a YouTube message of support to transgender young people heading back to school. “The Mathematics of Change” author Amanda Kabak talks about how life and the writing process can be “Upended” — with novel results (part one of a two-part interview with John Dyer V)! And in NewsWrap: rescue efforts get in gear to evacuate Taliban-threatened queer Afghans, Poland’s Malopolska region stands by its “LGBT Free Zone” declaration in defiance of the European Union, Romania’s right-wing pushes a “no promo homo” bill as Bucharest Pride draws thousands, Uganda’s newest bill against same-gender sex is rejected by President Museveni because it’s redundant, Israel ends its ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, U.S. Transportatio