In many ways “Dia’s Diary” is a typical coming-out story, the kind often heard on public radio. What sets it apart, though, is the straight-ahead, unadorned style of the story telling and the sincerity of the voice. What’s nice, too, is that there’s a surprise turn at the end of the story, and good radio is all about surprises.

In listening to Dia talk about the inspiration for revealing her homosexuality to her mother—which happens to come from an episode about gay youths on Phil Donahue-- you realize the built-in importance of having these kinds of forums. I’m sure Dia’s story will inspire others, and that’s a good thing… especially when you think back to other eras, not so long ago, in American life when the drive towards such admissions inspired the kind of self-hatred that pushed William Burroughs to cut off the end of his own finger.

The scoring music is a little unwieldy at times but all in all, it keeps things upbeat and Dia’s voice and story transcend.