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Playlist: Rainbow Radio

Compiled By: PRX Editors

 Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/woodwood/">Edward Kimber</a>
Image by: Edward Kimber 
Curated Playlist

June is LGBT Pride Month.

Below are picks chosen by PRX editorial staff. You can see all potential Pride Month pieces by browsing our gay and lesbian topic or by using our search.

Hour (49:00-1:00:00)

Polk Street Stories

From Atlantic Public Media | Part of the The Transom Radio Specials series | 00:54:00

An oral history of the Polk Street neighborhood in San Francisco, as told by those who have called it home.

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States of Marriage

From Vermont Public Radio | 00:52:00

Hour-long newscast compatible program examines the last decade of significant change in marriage rights for same-sex couples. This news documentary covers the politics legalities and advocacy efforts in various states, with particular attention to Vermont, Massachusetts, California, Iowa and Maine.

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Who Is This Man? A State of the Re:Union Black History Month Special

From Al Letson | Part of the State of the Re:Union series | 00:58:23

MLK Jr.’s “I have a Dream” speech has become the shorthand of the Civil Rights Movement-- but we might never have heard it, if it were not for another man, who’s largely been forgotten by history: Bayard Rustin. In this program hour, we explore the life and legacy of Mr. Rustin, a black, gay, Quaker who brought Gandhian non-violent protest to the Civil Rights movement in America.

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An Hour With PETA's Dan Mathews

From WFIU | 00:58:35

Dan Mathews is the senior vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and is known for heading PETA’s most controversial and attention-getting campaigns, including the “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” ads, as well as campaigns involving celebrities such as Morrissey, Pamela Anderson, Pink, and Paul McCartney.

Outright Radio Series 2004 (Series)

Produced by Outright Radio

Fascinating, entertaining and intriguing radio featuring the lives and stories of America's gay community. From Outright Radio.

Most recent piece in this series:

AIDS These Days

From Outright Radio | Part of the Outright Radio Series 2004 series | 00:58:56

Pride outLoud

From outLoud Radio | 00:59:00

From Sex Ed to vampires, stories on LGBT topics from youth producers. From outLoud Radio.


Half-Hour (24:00-30:00)

Finding Miles

From Sarah Reynolds | 00:27:11

Miles was born in the wrong body. He was born Megan and after 15 years of serious depression and confusion about his place in the world, at age 28, he decided to do something about it. He chose the name Miles and began his slow and difficult transition into manhood. He brought an audio recorder with him. This is his story.

Destination DIY: Gender Expression

From Destination DIY | 00:28:05

Can gender expression be a do-it-yourself project? We'll attempt to answer that and many other complex questions about sexuality, biology and identity in four interviews with people across the gender spectrum. From Julie Sabatier.

Steve Moore: Tears of a Clown

From Charles McGuigan | Part of the A Grain of Sand series | 00:28:41

AIDS survivor Steve Moore was one of the first comedians in the international limelight to bring laughter to this devastating illness.

LGBTQ Immigrants Speak Out

From Making Contact | Part of the Making Contact series | 00:29:00

On this edition, we hear from LGBTQ immigrants in the U.S. who not only have to hide their legal identity, but their sexuality too. Their stories demonstrate why living illegally in the U.S. is not only their refuge, but also their biggest fear.


Segments (9:00-23:59)

Voices: A Palestinian Lesbian's Story

From Radio Netherlands Worldwide | Part of the RN Focus on Torn Lives - Stories from the Holy Land series | 00:11:58

The story of Cindy, a Palestinian lesbian living in Israel.

Standing Up To 377

From Abbie Fentress Swanson | 00:09:40

A documentary examining the politics of homosexuality in India.

Gay and Lesbian Muslims, On a "Jihad" For Love

From Interfaith Voices | 00:11:58

An interview with Parvez Sharma, director of "A Jihad For Love," and Muhsin Hendricks, a subject of the film. From Interfaith Voices.

There were ghosts everywhere: an oral history of AIDS in Provincetown

From Sarah Yahm | 00:12:13

Provincetown is both a gay vacation mecca and a small fishing village on the tip of Cape Cod. This piece examines the way AIDS affected this unique small town in the '80s and '90s.

Amanda from New York: Girlfriend

From Radio Diaries | Part of the Teenage Diaries series | 00:09:41

Amanda's family is Catholic. Amanda is bisexual. And she's having a hard time getting her parents to understand that this is not just a phase.

How Are You Who You Are?

From Eric Winick | 00:21:12

A unique story about the complexity of human character and the tenacity of love in the face of unpredictable health challenges and unexpected gender-bending.


Cutaways (5:00-8:59)

Snapshot Of A Family Seeking Marriage Equality

From WRVO | 00:05:17

A glimpse into the lives of one family affected by the same-sex marriage ban in New York State. From Jasmyn Belcher.

Trans-Identities: A Community Comes Out in Western New England (Series)

Produced by Tina Antolini

When you look at someone, a stranger at the library, on the street, what's the first thing you notice? Often, it's their gender. For some people, though, gender isn't so easily divided into one category or the other. This series profiles the personal stories of transgender residents of Western New England, and their civil rights efforts. From Tina Antolina.

Most recent piece in this series:

Trans-Identites Part 3: Legislating Civil Rights

From Tina Antolini | Part of the Trans-Identities: A Community Comes Out in Western New England series | 00:06:34

James Roberts

From Rachel Falcone | Part of the Housing is a Human Right Storytelling Project Vol. 1 series | 00:08:10

James Roberts shares his journey trying to save his ailing partner William, who has HIV, and their home together. Full piece includes story with intro and outro.

Remember the Upstairs Lounge

From Julia Botero | 00:06:08

One evening in the summer of 1973, an arsonist set the Upstairs Lounge on fire. The piece brings attention to a forgotten tragedy, an act of courage that helped to galvanize the gay community, and the work of an emerging artist dedicated to reinterpreting and retelling New Orleans gay history. From Julia Botero.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal a victory for local servicewomen

From KALW | 00:06:43

It’s been less than a year since “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was repealed, and soon, gays and lesbians can come out – or go in – to the military without fear of losing their careers.

For many, the battle to allow gay and lesbian soldiers to serve openly was the end of a long journey, and a momentous victory for civil rights. Reporter Priscilla Yuki Wilson has more.

I'm Relatively Human

From Salt Institute for Documentary Studies | 00:07:46

Marty Hagglund had it all. He had a loving wife, a beautiful home, and a great job. Then, Marty threw it all to the wind to realize a deep-seated, life-long desire––become a woman. From Selena Simmons-Duffin of the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies.

Thanks For Sharing Your Girlfriend

From Salt Institute for Documentary Studies | 00:05:49

From Monica Lewinski to Mark Sanford, infidelity is always big news. But recently a debate about whether monogamy is the only model for long-term relationships has also been making headlines. CNN considered the question “Is monogamy realistic?” and Newsweek wondered if consensual non-monogamy might be the next sexual revolution.

Riot Boy

From outLoud Radio | 00:06:15

One boy's unlikely connection with the music of northwest feminists. A hero's journey of self-discovery (sifting through Riot Grrrl records in his mom's attic). Features killer tracks from Sleater-Kinney and Bikini Kill, and compelling interviews with original Riot Grrrls. From Diego Ruiz of outLoud Radio.

Dia's Diary: My Mother

From outLoud Radio | 00:06:08

Many transgender people come out as gay first. Dia Fallana is a young transgender woman living in a poor part of Oakland, California. In this page from her audio diary, she tells the story of how her mother's anti-gay attitude kept her in the closet -- until she was forced to tell the truth. From outLoud Radio.


Drop-Ins (2:00-4:59)

Best Couple

From Radio Rookies | 00:04:48

When seniors at a small public high school in the Bronx cast their votes for "Best Couple" they chose a pair they admire but who definitely defy the stereotype of best couple.

Homophobia still strong in Romania

From Sarah Elzas | 00:03:14

An up-to-date update on homophobia in Romania, the most homophobic nation in the E.U. according to the 2008 Euro Barometer study. From Sarah Elzas.

A Transgender Childhood

From Third Coast International Audio Festival | Part of the 2008 Third Coast ShortDocs: Radio Ephemera series | 00:03:03

Growing up isn't easy - when you feel as if your mind is one gender, and your body another.

San Francisco Stories from StoryCorps and KALW: A military man finds peace with his sexuality and his Mormon faith

From KALW | 00:04:00

Olin Thomas grew up Mormon in the deep south, confused by his homosexuality and deeply in the closet, in no small part because of the church's attitude toward gays. But it turned out that a basic tenet of the Mormon faith was actually what would help him come out, and once he did, he found understanding in some very unexpected places.

Olin sat down in the StoryCorps booth at the Contemporary Jewish Museum of San Francisco with his friend, Hugo Salinas, to tell his story.

StoryCorps: Sue Hyde

From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 00:02:40

Sue Hyde lives in Cambridge, Mass., with her wife, Jade McGleughlin, their daughter, Jesse, 14 and their son, Max, 12. From StoryCorps.

SF photographer Dan Nicoletta remembers friend, Harvey Milk

From KALW | 00:02:47

The movie Milk, based on the life of former city supervisor Harvey Milk, took home two Oscars a couple years ago. Sean Penn won Best Actor for his protrayal of the nation's first openly gay male elected official. Writer Dustin Lance Black won best original screenplay and happened to bring down the house with his acceptance speech.

One of the people who helped shape Dustin Lance Black's script was Dan Nicoletta. He was part of Harvey Milk's close-knit crew who hung out at Milk's camera shop on Castro street. Nicoletta spoke with KALW's Art Persyko and shared his memory of the night Harvey Milk became a San Francisco supervisor.

StoryCorps: John and Paul Brown

From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 00:02:36

John Brown tells his brother Paul, about an encounter with a local radio station in West Virginia. From StoryCorps.

Gay Fashion is the New Straight Fashion

From Youth Radio | Part of the Youth Radio's the Best of "What's the New What?" series | 00:02:55

Youth Radio's Mark Anthony Waters used to hear straight guys in his inner-city neighborhood whisper about his style on the bus. Now, they're copying his look... From Mark Anthony Waters of Youth Radio.

Skittles by Benj Sullivan-Knoff

From WBEZ | Part of the Louder Than a Bomb 2010 series | 00:02:58

Benj was a finalist in the 2010 Louder Than a Bomb Teen Poetry Slam. A junior at Northside College Prep in Chicago, Benj says his poem is about how boys can like boys and gay rights.

Miss Smith and Miss Jones

From Susan Kottler | 00:04:09

When I was growing up in a small, rural city, we didn't even know there was a closet to come out of.

Soldier Stands Up To Don't Ask, Don't Tell

From WRVO | 00:03:17

An openly gay new York National Guard officer pushes on, as a military administrative board recommends that he be discharged.

It's Not About That

From City High Radio | 00:03:30

A teenager who identifies as androgynous wonders what all the fuss is about. Why are people so obsessed with defining their genders? From Zoe Bossier and City High Radio.


Interstitials (Under 2:00)

StoryCorps: Robert Madden

From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 00:01:51

Robert Madden tells his friend Tom Kurthy about coming out to his parents.

It's An Accomplishment

From Salt Institute for Documentary Studies | 00:08:47

"Kyle," a FTM transgender 14-year-old, desperately wants to tell his classmates and peers that he was born a girl.