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Piece Description
Stories of gay folks who stood up to their oppressors and kicked butt. Writer Tom Truss takes us back to his high school and fantasizes about his chance to fight back and fails, but later on in life, succeeds; Terri Gilbert tells how she exposed a Christian high-tech company that had a CEO with bad manners; Kevin Barker deflates the God Hates Fags protesters by beating them at their own game in Jenks, Oklahoma; and finally writer John Brennan tells of his high school depression and the "nothing left to lose" attitude that fueled his ferocity against the rednecks that tormented him.
2 Comments
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Review of Bashing Back!I should first say I've admired David Gilmore's work on the series Outright Radio for some time. Each program tackles a different theme from various points of views, with interviews, personal stories and his own insightful commentary. The use of music within and between segments is always just right, and the production values extremely polished. I listened to "Bashing Back" because last year, a few days after the first International Day Against Homophobia, the local Amsterdam LGBT program I co-host had as a guest the editor of Washington D.C. LGBT newspaper who was viciously attacked three weeks earlier on the streets of this city I now call home - once famed for tolerance and openness. I was hoping for some different perspectives about violence against LGBT men and women. I wasn't disappointed. The show is framed by two sensitively written first-person stories looking back at experiences of homophobia and harrassment, and how the writers overcame their fears and "bashed back" - not physically, but psychologically. Between them, Gilmore talks with (as opposed to "interviews" - his technique is great!): a transgender IT expert who won a job discrimination settlement against a Christian high tech company; and, in the strongest and most surprising piece, a young man who turned protests by a religious right organization into a means to support high school Gay-Staight Alliance clubs and literally laughs in the face of homophobia. It's not easy to find humor in such a serious topic, but that's what makes this item very special. Any station with an hour to spare should broadcast this during June for Gay Pride month. Or any time for that matter - unfortunately, homophobic attacks and harrassment of gay youth in schools are year-round phenomena. As Chris Cain, the D.C. journalist who was attacked in Amsterdam, wrote in an editorial, "A more vigorous approach to openness would make a case for a society where each group is entitled to its own values, but not to impose them on others- whether through laws or through fists in the streets." |
Broadcast History
This show, in a slightly modified form, was originally distributed by PRI in May of 2002.
Timing and Cues
at or near 22:24 - 60-second music bed for station ID
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Anthea Raymond
Posted on June 07, 2006 at 02:26 PM | Permalink
Review of Bashing Back!
Three and a Half Stars
?No one can insult you without your permission,? Eleanor Roosevelt once said. And this one-hour episode of KUSP?s OUTRIGHT RADIO shows four queers who gave themselves permission to fight without pulling a punch.
Host David Gilmore is a good interviewer. And, the two best segments are built on conversation.
Especially valuable is Gilmore?s time with Kevin Barker. Barker used anti-gay demonstrations at his high-school graduation to raise money to start other gay student groups. (Listen to get the details.)
Their talk is specific and valuable for would-be activists. It?s also disturbing, perhaps unintentionally. Closing out the segment, Barker reads the email he got from a member of God Hates Fags, the group at his graduation.
And, sure it?s funny to hear the emailer call him ?Mr. Faggybody,? and to hear Barker and Gilmore laught off. But their laughter doesn?t dissipate the force of the emailer?s conviction ? and that?s a warning in its own way.
Also strong is Gilmore?s interview with Terry Gilbert. The transgendered woman got a $360,000 settlement from a so-called Christian software company that schemed to remove her. Gilbert?s not as immediately engaging as Barker, but Gilmore?s skill brings Gilbert out and the story to life.
Two short stories about two gay men ?bashing back? bookend the interviews. Tom Truss explores the emotional stuff that blocks those who would bash back, and is a good set up.
Weakest was the show?s open. It was too long (5:00) and didn?t use music. The billboard was confusing and the clips arcane.
Gilmore also comes across as a bit timid when he?s talking about himself. Maybe he should interview himself instead.
Bashing Back is a must for Gay Pride Month. I also hope stations will consider running the OUTRIGHT RADIO series in their weekday mix. The show is a much needed space for LGBT people and their fans.
Anthea Raymond
Editorial Board
Los Angeles
June 7, 2006