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LGBTQ youth radio: Gilbert Baker, creator of the rainbow flag - part 1 of 2

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

Gilbert Baker, longtime LGBTQ activist and creator of the rainbow flag, talks with OutCasting youth participant Alex in one of his last interviews

Gilbert-baker-240px_small Gilbert Baker, longtime LGBTQ activist and creator of the rainbow flag, talks with OutCasting youth partipant Alex about his life, his activism, his flag, and more in this two part interview that connects LGBTQ youth with history.  This interview was recorded just a month before Gilbert's untimely death, and is thus one of the last interviews he did.  This is Part 1 of a two part interview.  Part 2 is also available.  In OutCasting Overtime, Alex gives a remembrance of Gilbert.

LGBTQ youth radio: Gilbert Baker, creator of the rainbow flag - part 2 of 2

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

Gilbert Baker, longtime LGBTQ activist and creator of the rainbow flag, talks with OutCasting youth participant Alex in one of his last interviews

Gilbert-baker-240px_small Gilbert Baker, longtime LGBTQ activist and creator of the rainbow flag, talks with OutCasting youth partipant Alex about his life, his activism, his flag, and more in this two part interview that connects LGBTQ youth with history.  This interview was recorded just a month before Gilbert's untimely death, and is thus one of the last interviews he did.  This is Part 2 of a 2 part interview.

LGBTQ youth remember the late Gilbert Baker, creator of the rainbow flag

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | 03:42

OutCasting youth participant Alex remembers Gilbert Baker, longtime LGBTQ activist and creator of the rainbow flag

Gilbert-baker-240px_small On March 1, 2017, OutCasting, public radio's LGBTQ youth program, interviewed Gilbert Baker, longtime LGBTQ activist and creator of the rainbow flag.  This resulted in a two part interview, also available here on PRX.  On March 31, Gilbert died unexpected in his sleep.  Unlike many of our guests, who join us by phone, Gilbert wanted to meet our youth participants, so he came into the studio in person and spent an entire session just talking with the kids and hearing their stories.  This created memories they'll never forget.  In this piece, OutCaster Alex, who conducted the interview with Gilbert, shares his thoughts on meeting Gilbert and the shock he felt when he heard about Gilbert's untimely death.

Gay youth look back on the Stonewall riots - PART 2 OF 2

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

LGBTQ youth are often unaware of their own history. In this occasional series, OutCasting connects them with that history. This is part 2 of a two part series looking back on the Stonewall riots, which marked a turning point in gay activism. Our guest is Karla Jay, author, longtime activist, and retired Distinguished Professor of Queer Studies and Women's Studies.

Karla-jay-240_small It has been argued about and written about.  Films, some controversial, have been made about it.  But it has also been celebrated and commemorated for nearly half a century — 48 years, to be exact.   Of course, we're talking about the Stonewall uprising, a series of riots at and near the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in the West Village in New York City.

The uprising at the Stonewall Inn began after a police raid, then a common occurrence at gay bars in the city, on the night of June 27, 1969, and continuing for several nights afterward.  Judy Garland had just died at the age of 47, the first term of the Nixon/Agnew administration was barely five months old, and NASA was readying Apollo 11, the space mission that would land humans on the moon for the first time less than a month later.  Homosexuality was still considered a mental disorder, and the Left, despite its advocacy of a newly equal society for all minorities, was, as we look back on it now, surprisingly hostile to homosexuals.  An assimilationist approach dominated the gay activism that had been building for nearly 20 years, starting with the early "homophile" groups — the Mattachine Society for gay men and the Daughters of Bilitis for gay women.  As the U.S. became increasingly polarized over the Vietnam War, gay activism became less assimilationist and more militant.

On that hot summer night, gay men, lesbians, and street transvestites (as they were called at the time) fought back against the police during and after the raid.  Depending on whom you ask, these riots might be said to have marked, catalyzed, or even caused a dramatic turn in gay activism.

In this two part interview, we talk with Dr. Karla Jay, a longtime activist and author.  She was involved in the second wave of feminism and was the first female chair of the Gay Liberation Front, an early post-Stonewall activist group.  She is also a retired Distinguished Professor of Queer Studies and Women’s Studies at Pace University in New York City.

Karla talks about what it was like for gay people in the U.S. before Stonewall, a time when most people kept quiet about their sexual orientation and couldn't even legally dance together.  As the author and activist Michelangelo Signorile characterized it in his three-part interview on OutCasting , the gay bar has historically been to gay people what the black church was to African-Americans: a sanctuary for people who could be in danger if they congregated in public.  An arrest at a gay bar — merely for being there — could ruin your life.  In this in-depth interview, Karla talks about the riots themselves and how they marked a turning point, setting the stage for gay activism on a larger scale and of a more militant type than before.

This interview is part of an OutCasting series connecting LGBTQ youth to their history.  As we've noted before, LGBTQ history is generally not taught in school and is rarely passed down from generation to generation within families, so unlike those of other minority groups, our history is hidden, and LGBTQ young people — and many listeners today — never get to learn about the longstanding challenges the LGBTQ community has faced and met in our fight for acceptance and equality under the law.  Our youth rarely come to know that they stand on the shoulders of activists who fought battles over many decades to create the kind of climate for LGBTQ people we have today.  Though that climate is better in many ways than it was in the past, our movement still has far more to accomplish, especially as the Age of Trump threatens many of the advances we've achieved.

Minority stress in LGBTQ people

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

Everyone experiences stress, but when you're LGBTQ, it gets worse because of stigma, prejudice, and discrimination, and has particularly strong effects on LGBTQ youth, who are at greatly heightened risk for substance abuse and suicide. In this program, we look at minority stress in LGBTQ people with an eminent scholar on the topic, Ilan Meyer, Ph.D., of the UCLA School of Law.

Ilan-meyer-240_small Everyone has stresses in their lives.  But when you're a member of a minority, things get worse.  The ordinary stresses can strike more frequently, and there are new stresses resulting from discrimination.  And if you're LGBTQ, the stigma and prejudice may be inflicted by your own family and friends.  You can internalize negative stereotypes.  You can feel forced to the soul-deadening concealment of your identity.  You may come to expect rejection.  You are at greater risk of bullying and physical violence.  And for people who are LGBTQ who are also members of other minorities, things can get worse still.  It can add up to a toxic mix particularly for vulnerable LGBTQ youth, leading to depression, desperation, and suicidal tendencies.

On this edition, OutCaster Sarah talks with Ilan H. Meyer, Ph.D., Williams Distinguished Senior Scholar of Public Policy at the Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy at the UCLA School of Law.  Through a number of frequently cited papers, Dr. Meyer has developed a model of minority stress for examining the factors that can cause health disparities between LGBTQ people and straight, cisgender people.

Representation of LGBTQ people in the media

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

Media representation has a strong influence on how LGBTQ people are viewed and treated by society. On this month’s OutCasting, we talk Professor Larry Gross about the representation of LGBTQ people in media. Larry Gross is a professor of communication at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, an eminent authority in gay and lesbian studies.

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Media can be a force, shaping the way we understand the world.  The news, movies, and television shows we watch all contribute to societal norms, such as those about the LGBTQ community.   This isn’t always a bad thing — but it can be.  Portrayals of gay and trans lives, for example, are often difficult to find.  When they do exist, they are often littered with stereotypes.
Media doesn’t exist in a vacuum — things that are seen on screen often influence things in the real world.  Increased visibility of LGBTQ people in the media has happened alongside a series of positive changes for the LGBTQ community.
In this episode, Outcaster Callie interviews Larry Gross, professor of communication at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California.  He is a pioneer in the field of gay and lesbian studies, having written multiple books on the topic.  One of his books is Up From Invisibility, which follows the history of gay men and lesbians in the media.

In this interview, Professor Gross takes us through this history, from the invisibility and negative portrayals of LGBTQ people in the 50’s and 60’s to the impact of reality television in the 90’s and today. 

OutCasting 0044 - Agender identity - part 2 of 2

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

Gender is much more complex than male and female. OutCasting youth participant Jamie talks with friend Tori about non-binary gender and Tori's experiences as an agender person. This is part 2 of a 2 part series. The first part is also available here on PRX. Link in Long Description, below.

Agender-flag-240_small The way the U.S. views gender has been changing as newer generations recognize the limitations of the gender binary.  Young people are increasingly challenging traditional gender norms: about half of the millennial generation agree that gender isn’t limited to male and female.  As a result of this changing mindset, gender-fluid and nonbinary people have been able to carve out more of a space for themselves in society.  Facebook now offer custom gender identities, many universities accept gender-neutral pronouns, and schools have seen a push to adopt gender-neutral bathrooms.  In this episode, OutCaster Jamie talks with their friend Tori about Tori’s experiences as an agender person.  This is the second part of a two part series; the first part is available here on PRX at http://www.prx.org/pieces/222098-outcasting-0043-agender-identity-part-1-of-2.

OutCasting Overtime - January 2018 - Is being bisexual queer enough for the LGBTQ community?

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 07:47

In this piece, OutCasting youth participant Samantha, a participant in our bureau at Michigan State University, ponders on what it means to be bisexual and whether the LGBTQ community really accepts her identity.

Oc-msu-samantha-240px_small OutCaster Samantha of our Michigan State University bureau considers whether the LGBTQ community considers bisexuals to be queer enough to belong.  She also ponders bisexuality at different points along the Kinsey scale.

Hate Crimes

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 07:21

OutCasters Andrea and Dhruv reflect on anti-LGBTQ hate crimes in an essay read by Andrea.

Oc-west-andrea-dhruv-621-240x240_small LGBTQ people are at disproportionate risk of becoming victims of hate crimes.  In an essay ready by OutCaster Andrea and written by OutCasters Andrea and Dhruv (right), they reflect on the murder of Matthew Shepard 20 years ago and the lack of hate crime laws at the time. They consider how the incidences of hate crimes today affect LGBTQ youth, who must grow up knowing that there are still people who hate them for who they are.

OutCasting 0045 – Gay parenting – interview with Gabriel Blau, longtime LGBTQ advocate

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

OutCaster Jamie talks with Gabriel Blau about his and his husband’s experiences being gay parents and adopting their son.

Gabriel-blau-240_small In recent history, a new visibility for gay parents -- people in committed same-sex relationships -- has developed. In addition to facing all of the issues and having to learn all the new skills that any heterosexual parents have to, gay parents have to deal with unique situations, such as overcoming the challenges of conception, surrogacy, or adoption.

On this edition of OutCasting, we speak with Gabriel Blau, a non-profit funding consultant and LGBTQ advocate, about his and his partner’s personal experiences being gay parents. Gabriel talks about his family’s process of adoption and about the kindness and rejection one may encounter from their community.

OutCasting 0048 – Intersex – part 1

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

This week on OutCasting, public radio’s LGBTQ youth program, we explore the phenomenon of intersex. Professors Georgiann Davis and Cary Gabriel Costello, who are both intersex, tell us about what that means and about some of the issues faced by intersex people.

Georgiann-davis-240_small

AUDIO PROMOS AVAILABLE

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LANGUAGE ADVISORY - This is a program about the phenomenon of intersex. It is both scientific and personal in nature. Because the term intersex refers to people who, among other things, are born with both male and female sex traits and organs, this program includes the words ovary, testes, uterus, fallopian tubes, genitals, genitalia, gonads, gonadism, breasts, and penetrative vaginal sex (as a physician-presumed desired result in adulthood, around 19:10).


There is nothing indecent about the use of these words in this context. Nevertheless, we have included a content notice at the beginning of the program.


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Most of us are conditioned to think of sex in binary terms – people are either male or female, one or the other.  But nature is rarely if ever binary, and some people are born with a combination of male and female organs, internal and external, and these people are called intersex.  (The term intersex also encompasses other things, such as different ways in which people’s bodies react to hormones.)  People can be intersex without even knowing of it; we recall a recent story of a man in his seventies who, following abdominal surgery, discovered that he had a uterus and ovaries.

On this edition of OutCasting, we talk with two eminent authorities on intersex who are intersex themselves: Dr. Georgiann Davis, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the board president of InterACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, and Dr. Cary Gabriel Costello, Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and the coordinator of the LGBT Studies Program there.

On this episode, we look into questions like:  How does the medical profession deal with intersex people?  What kinds of discrimination to intersex people experience?  Is it a medical emergency if a baby is born with intersex traits?  Is it justifiable to perform life-affecting elective surgery on an infant simply to try to eliminate his or her intersex traits?  Can an intersex people just be allowed to grow up with their intersex traits intact?  Join us for this fascinating discussion.

OutCasting 0049 – Intersex – part 2

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

This week on OutCasting, public radio’s LGBTQ youth program, we continue our exploration of the phenomenon of intersex. Professors Georgiann Davis and Cary Gabriel Costello, who are both intersex, tell us about what that means and about some of the issues faced by intersex people.

Cary-gabriel-costello-and-georgiann-davis-240px_small

Most of us are conditioned to think of sex in binary terms – people are either male or female, one or the other.  But nature is rarely if ever binary, and some people are born with a combination of male and female organs, internal and external, and these people are called intersex.  (The term intersex also encompasses other things, such as different ways in which people’s bodies react to hormones.)  People can be intersex without even knowing of it; we recall a recent story of a man in his seventies who, following abdominal surgery, discovered that he had a uterus and ovaries.
On this edition of OutCasting, we continue our discussion with two eminent authorities on intersex who are intersex themselves: Dr. Georgiann Davis, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the board president of InterACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, and Dr. Cary Gabriel Costello, Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and the coordinator of the LGBT Studies Program there.
On this episode, we look into questions like:  How does the medical profession deal with intersex people?  What kinds of discrimination to intersex people experience?  Is it a medical emergency if a baby is born with intersex traits?  Is it justifiable to perform life-affecting elective surgery on an infant simply to try to eliminate his or her intersex traits?  Can an intersex people just be allowed to grow up with their intersex traits intact?  Join us for the conclusion of this fascinating discussion.

OutCasting 51 - LGBTQ women and AIDS activism

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

August 2018 - What drew LGBTQ women, who were in one of the lowest risk groups, to AIDS activism during the worst of the epidemic? Guest Ann Northrop, longtime journalist and activist. Part 1 of 2. Part 2 will be posted September 1, 2018.

Ann_northrop_a-1_240_credit_bill_bahlman_small This is part 1 of a 2 part series.  Part 2 will be available on September 1, 2018.

(August 1, 2018)  The AIDS crisis exacted a terrible toll on LGBTQ people and other populations.  In the early years of the epidemic, an AIDS diagnosis was almost invariably fatal.  In the U.S., the groups most affected were gay men, intravenous drug users, hemophiliacs, and Haitians.  Because gay men were among the first populations to be identified as high risk, AIDS was known in the early years as a gay disease, and because of that, people with AIDS were highly stigmatized.  In fact, before the disease was called AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), it was called GRID — Gay Related Immunodeficiency Disease. 

Barely a decade after the Stonewall riots marked the beginning of the modern gay rights movement and an increased level visibility and freedom for LGBTQ people, AIDS precipitated a backlash.  The federal government, which had sprung into action when a small number of Americans contracted Legionnaire’s disease, was almost completely unresponsive during the early years of the AIDS epidemic, as dozens of initial cases became hundreds, then thousands, then tens of thousands.  Notoriously, President Ronald Reagan didn’t publicly utter the word AIDS until several years into the epidemic.  The general public sentiment ranged from indifference to “you brought this on yourself” hostility.

Affected and infected populations had to be activists in ways that had little parallel with other diseases.  LGBTQ women were in one of the population groups least at risk for contracting the disease, yet many of them played very important roles in AIDS activism.  What drew them into the movement?

In this edition of OutCasting, youth participant Lauren begins a two-part conversation with Ann Northrop, a longtime journalist and activist.  Ann is the co-host of Gay USA, TV’s weekly LGBT news hour.  During the years at the height of the epidemic, she was active in New York’s ACT UP – the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power — an influential group that countered public indifference and worked to spur the government into action.

OutCasting 0053 – Trans youth transitioning – part 1 of a series

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

This week on OutCasting, public radio’s LGBTQ youth program, we begin a conversation about trans youth transitioning. What are the factors to consider when young transgender people want to medically transition? Guests Dr. John Steever, physician, and Dr. Matthew Oransky, a psychologist. Both work at Mount Sinai Hospital in NY and help young transgender people who want to transition.

Steever-oransky-240_small (October 1, 2018)   Trans youth transitioning.  On this edition of OutCasting, we consider transgender youth who want to start medical transition at a relatively early age.  Of course, parents often worry that their children may be too young to know what they really want, that medical transition may include surgery and other medical treatments that can be difficult or impossible to undo.  So what’s the best answer?  What options are available to transgender youth?  Are there benefits to starting transition early?  Are there disadvantages?  And what kinds of considerations go into making these decisions?

To answer some of these questions, OutCaster Lauren talks with Dr. John Steever, a physician, and Dr. Matthew Oransky, a psychologist.  Both doctors work at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and help young transgender people with transitioning.  This is part 1 of a series.

March 2019 – Trans teen has bad doctor experience

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 06:26

OutCaster Andrew talks about his experience with a doctor who was insensitive to the needs of her trans patient.

Oc-westchester-andrew-379-240px_small March 2019 – Trans-insensitive doctor.  OutCaster Andrew talks about what can go wrong when doctors are uncomfortable with transgender patients or insensitive to their needs, and how a trans-sensitive doctor can make a world of difference.

December 2019 - Gender dysphoria - part 2 of a 2 part conversation

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 12:01

December 1, 2019 - Is it a mental illness? Do trans people have to medically transition to really be trans? OutCasters Andrew and Kaspar discuss. Part 2 of 2.

Outcasting-westchester-kaspar-andrew-20190814_220123-240_small OutCasters Andrew and Kaspar, who are transgender, talk about gender dysphoria, whether it's proper to classify it as a mental illness, and whether trans people need to undergo medical transition, including hormone therapy, surgery, or both, to be considered truly trans.  Second of a two part series.

December 2019 - Gender dysphoria - part 2 of a 2 part conversation

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 12:01

December 1, 2019 - Is it a mental illness? Do trans people have to medically transition to really be trans? OutCasters Andrew and Kaspar discuss. Part 2 of 2.

Outcasting-westchester-kaspar-andrew-20190814_220123-240_small OutCasters Andrew and Kaspar, who are transgender, talk about gender dysphoria, whether it's proper to classify it as a mental illness, and whether trans people need to undergo medical transition, including hormone therapy, surgery, or both, to be considered truly trans.  Second of a two part series.

March 2020 - Superficial representation of LGBTQ people in recent Disney films

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 05:20

Superficial representation of LGBTQ people in recent Disney films

Oc-westchester-amalee-chris-6580-240px_small March 1, 2020 - OutCaster Amalee considers the superficial representation of LGBTQ people in recent Disney movies.  Chris reads.

OutCasting 0071 - Conversion therapy - part 4 of 4

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

An exploration of a discredited and often harmful practice of trying to change gay to straight.

0070-0071-sam-brinton-with-andrew240_small Conversion therapy
April 1, 2020 - In the last part of this four part OutCasting series, we conclude our conversation about conversion therapy, the practice of trying to change someone's sexuality from gay or bisexual to straight.  Homosexuality used to be defined as a mental disorder, and many psychiatrists used to practice conversion therapy.  The practice is now widely discredited within the medical and mental health professions, but it still exists throughout the country, now usually associated with religious institutions rather than medical institutions.  What actually happens during conversion therapy, and what effects do these practices have on young people?

In the January and February 2020 editions of OutCasting, our guest was Jack Drescher, a gay psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in private practice in New York City.  Dr. Drescher has been working with LGBTQ patients for over 30 years, and writing about conversion therapy for over 20 years.

Dr. Drescher's interview gives an expert and technical perspective on conversion therapy.  In March, we turned to the personal story of Sam Brinton, who was subjected to conversion therapy as a child and survived to tell about it.  Sam, who uses they/them pronouns, founded and leads the 50 Bills, 50 States campaign, which aims to bring legislation that bans conversion therapy to all 50 states.  They talked with OutCaster Andrew.  This is part two of that interview.  After the interview, OutCaster Lucas talks about the assumptions about LGBTQ identity that fuel the perceived need to turn gay people straight.

OutCasting 0073 - The Covid-19 and AIDS pandemics - Part 2

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

The Covid-19 and AIDS epidemics - similarities and notable differences

0072-jay-blotcher-lucas-2-240_small

The Covid-19 and AIDS pandemics

June 1, 2020 - It's too early to tell about the long-term impact Covid-19 will have on the world — though of course in the short term, we've already experienced illness and death and social, economic, and political disruption on a massive scale.  Covid could become something unimaginable, but the social distancing and other preventative measures we're taking has kept the disease from spiraling completely out of control, and there's hope that we'll have effective vaccines within the next year or two.

 

In contrast, the AIDS pandemic, which began in 1981, was allowed to spiral out of control, and it was about 15 years from the beginning of the outbreak until the development of effective treatments in the mid 90s.  Even now, nearly 40 years later, there is no vaccine.  UN AIDS reports that as of the end of 2018, nearly 75 million people had been infected with HIV and 32 million had died.  

Some people have been suggesting that what we're feeling now in the early days of the Covid outbreak must be similar   to how it felt at the beginning of the AIDS crisis.  But there were crucial differences.

In a commentary in the April 2020 edition of OutCasting Overtime, OutCaster Chris said:

Imagine how much lower the number of people lost to AIDS might have been if people hadn't hated gay men and had i nstead recognized AIDS as a worldwide health crisis right from the beginning.

And imagine how you, today -- dealing with this new coronavirus -- would be panicking if Covid were raging in your community but there was no effective public response.  Imagine this sickness and death becoming pervasive among your own friends and family, and asking, pleading, screaming for help, but no one listens, no one really cares about the infected, and the government sits on money that should be released for developing a vaccine or cure or for caring for those who are sick.  Imagine the rage and grief you'd feel as your friends were getting sick and dying and the rest of the world was ignoring the whole thing. 

Joining us to help us understand and not just imagine is our guest, Jay Blotcher.  Jay is a veteran journalist and activist.  He arrived in New York City in 1982.  He began writing for The New York Native, the leading gay newspaper at the time, and then became associate producer of “Our Time,” a weekly TV show about LGBT life in  New York City, hosted by the activist and historian Vito Russo.  Jay joined ACT UP/New York in 1987, the year the group was founded.  He took part in key demonstrations, like the FDA protest in 1988, Stop the Church in 1989, and the demonstration at the National Institutes of Health in 1990.  He served as head of ACT UP's Media Committee, taking the helm from Michelangelo Signorile.  Most recently, Jay was the editor of Rainbow Warrior: My Life in Color, the memoir of Gilbert Baker, creator of the rainbow flag. Jay is also a member of the Gilbert Baker Foundation and co-founded Public Impact Media Consultants, a public relations firm for progressive groups and individuals.   He talks with OutCaster Lucas.

OutCasting 0077 - Using religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people - part 2 of a series

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

Can a cakeshop legally cite religious beliefs in refusing to make a wedding cake for a same sex couple? And what’s the bigger picture?

0076-jenny-pizer-ll-credit-lucas_small Using religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people - part 2 of a series

October 1, 2020 - There are some religious people, congregations, and religions that support LGBTQ people.  In the Episcopal Church, Bishop Gene Robinson was the first openly gay Bishop — but his consecration led to a worldwide split in the church over the issue of homosexuality.  In New York City, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah is an LGBTQ-welcoming synagogue with an openly gay leader, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum.  Both Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum were guests on earlier editions of OutCasting; you can listen to their interviews at OutCastingMedia.org.

But historically, many religions have condemned LGBTQ people.  The Catholic church has described homosexuality as an “intrinsic disorder” and encouraged people to “condemn the sin, not the sinner” — as if people can just rip sexuality out of their lives without inflicting great harm.  Any number of religious counselors continue to practice conversion or reparative therapy to “cure” people of being gay even as a growing number of states, and even some other countries, recognize that this “treatment” is ineffective and potentially dangerous.  We did a series in early 2020 on conversion therapy; it’s also available at OutCastingMedia.org.

(STATIONS:  The conversion therapy series is available here on PRX.  We can make the earlier interviews with Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum available for broadcast on request.)

As the law is catching up with growing public acceptance of LGBTQ people and as we have secured a number of important civil rights, there’s a movement determined to put us firmly back in our place, as they would have it.  Cakeshops and florists claim that they’re entitled to deny their services to us because they say that providing services to LGBTQ people would violate their “religious liberty.”  This discrimination would never be seen as legitimate if it were directed at any other minority group.  Just imagine it — a shop owner says: “My religious liberty prevents me from serving Black people, or Jewish people, so go away.”  It’s unthinkable that that would be seen as acceptable in today’s world.  And of course, there are businesses where the stakes would be much higher if it becomes the law that businesses can just turn away LGBTQ people based on a religious objection.

So is there any legitimacy when a business owner cites “religious liberty” to justify denying service to LGBTQ people?  What are the contours of religious liberty?  What’s supposed to happen when someone, citing religious liberty, discriminates against LGBTQ people, thus denying their equality?  What does “equality” mean in the United States?  Does one take precedence over the other when they come into conflict?

Joining us to delve into this issue is Jennifer C. Pizer.  Jenny is the Senior Counsel and Director of Law and Policy for Lambda Legal, the country's oldest and largest legal organization seeking full recognition of the civil rights of LGBT people and everyone living with HIV.

OutCasting 0079 -- Using religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people -- part 4 of a series

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

Can a cakeshop legally cite religious beliefs in refusing to make a wedding cake for a same sex couple? And what’s the bigger picture?

0076-jenny-pizer-ll-credit-lucas_small

Using religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people - part 4 of a series

December 1, 2020 — There are some religious people, congregations, and religions that support LGBTQ people.  In the Episcopal Church, Bishop Gene Robinson was the first openly gay Bishop — but his consecration led to a worldwide split in the church over the issue of homosexuality.  In New York City, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah is an LGBTQ-welcoming synagogue with an openly gay leader, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum.  Both Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum were guests on earlier editions of OutCasting; you can listen to their interviews at OutCastingMedia.org.

But historically, many religions have condemned LGBTQ people.  The Catholic church has described homosexuality as an “intrinsic disorder” and encouraged people to “condemn the sin, not the sinner” — as if people can just rip sexuality out of their lives without inflicting great harm.  Any number of religious counselors continue to practice conversion or reparative therapy to “cure” people of being gay even as a growing number of states, and even some other countries, recognize that this “treatment” is ineffective and potentially dangerous.  We did a series in early 2020 on conversion therapy; it’s also available at OutCastingMedia.org.

(STATIONS:  The conversion therapy series is available here on PRX.  We can make the earlier interviews with Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum available for broadcast on request.)

As the law is catching up with growing public acceptance of LGBTQ people and as we have secured a number of important civil rights, there’s a movement determined to put us firmly back in our place, as they would have it.  Cakeshops and florists claim that they’re entitled to deny their services to us because they say that providing services to LGBTQ people would violate their “religious liberty.”  This discrimination would never be seen as legitimate if it were directed at any other minority group.  Just imagine it — a shop owner says: “My religious liberty prevents me from serving Black people, or Jewish people, so go away.”  It’s unthinkable that that would be seen as acceptable in today’s world.  And of course, there are businesses where the stakes would be much higher if it becomes the law that businesses can just turn away LGBTQ people based on a religious objection.

So is there any legitimacy when a business owner cites “religious liberty” to justify denying service to LGBTQ people?  What are the contours of religious liberty?  What’s supposed to happen when someone, citing religious liberty, discriminates against LGBTQ people, thus denying their equality?  What does “equality” mean in the United States?  Does one take precedence over the other when they come into conflict?


Joining us to delve into this issue is Jennifer C. Pizer.  Jenny is the Senior Counsel and Director of Law and Policy for Lambda Legal, the country's oldest and largest legal organization seeking full recognition of the civil rights of LGBT people and everyone living with HIV.


This fourth part of a multipart series also includes commentary by OutCaster Chris on recent developments including an excerpt from an OutCasting Overtime commentary on the October statement by Supreme Court Justice Thomas, joined by Justice Alito, attacking the Court’s marriage equality decision in the Obergefell case and complaining about how that case has led to what they see as unjustified criticism of people who hold religious beliefs against same sex marriage.

December 2020 – LGBTQ candidates, LGBTQ youth

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 07:00

OutCaster Justin talks about what it means to LGBTQ youth, especially struggling youth, to see LGBTQ people elected to public office.

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December 1, 2020 In the November election, voters from states including Delaware, Georgia, Tennessee, Vermont, and New York elected LGBTQ candidates to state and federal office.  This obviously means that LGBTQ perspectives are going to heard during the legislative process – but what is the message heard by LGBTQ youth, especially those who may be struggling?  Justin shares the perspectives of the OutCasting team.

OutCasting 0083 -- Using religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people -- part 8 of a series

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

Can a cakeshop legally cite religious beliefs in refusing to make a wedding cake for a same sex couple? And what’s the bigger picture?

0076-jenny-pizer-ll-credit-lucas_small Using religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people - part 8 of a series

April 1, 2021 — There are some religious people, congregations, and religions that support LGBTQ people.  In the Episcopal Church, Bishop Gene Robinson was the first openly gay Bishop — but his consecration led to a worldwide split in the church over the issue of homosexuality.  In New York City, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah is an LGBTQ-welcoming synagogue with an openly gay leader, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum.  Both Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum were guests on earlier editions of OutCasting; you can listen to their interviews at OutCastingMedia.org.

But historically, many religions have condemned LGBTQ people.  The Catholic church has described homosexuality as an “intrinsic disorder” and encouraged people to “condemn the sin, not the sinner” — as if people can just rip sexuality out of their lives without inflicting great harm.  Any number of religious counselors continue to practice conversion or reparative therapy to “cure” people of being gay even as a growing number of states, and even some other countries, recognize that this “treatment” is ineffective and potentially dangerous.  We did a series in early 2020 on conversion therapy; it’s also available at OutCastingMedia.org.

(STATIONS:  The conversion therapy series is available here on PRX.  We can make the earlier interviews with Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum available for broadcast on request.)

As the law is catching up with growing public acceptance of LGBTQ people and as we have secured a number of important civil rights, there’s a movement determined to put us firmly back in our place, as they would have it.  Cakeshops and florists claim that they’re entitled to deny their services to us because they say that providing services to LGBTQ people would violate their “religious liberty.”  This discrimination would never be seen as legitimate if it were directed at any other minority group.  Just imagine it — a shop owner says: “My religious liberty prevents me from serving Black people, or Jewish people, so go away.”  It’s unthinkable that that would be seen as acceptable in today’s world.  And of course, there are businesses where the stakes would be much higher if it becomes the law that businesses can just turn away LGBTQ people based on a religious objection.

So is there any legitimacy when a business owner cites “religious liberty” to justify denying service to LGBTQ people?  What are the contours of religious liberty?  What’s supposed to happen when someone, citing religious liberty, discriminates against LGBTQ people, thus denying their equality?  What does “equality” mean in the United States?  Does one take precedence over the other when they come into conflict?

Joining us to delve into this issue is Jennifer C. Pizer.  Jenny is the Senior Counsel and Director of Law and Policy for Lambda Legal, the country's oldest and largest legal organization seeking full recognition of the civil rights of LGBT people and everyone living with HIV.

This is the eighth part of our in-depth conversation with Jennifer C. Pizer of Lambda Legal about how claims of religious liberty are being weaponized to justify discrimination against LGBTQ people.  If you’ve missed any of the series, you can listen on our web site, OutCastingMedia.org.

The interviews that make up this series were recorded in August and September 2020, when the Trump administration was still in power and before the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In the previous parts of this series, Jenny and OutCaster Lucas have talked about how changes on the Supreme Court can affect the evolution of the Court’s jurisprudence.  The death last fall of Ginsburg, a liberal, and her rapid replacement by Amy Coney Barrett, a self-described religious conservative, shifted the Court to the right, not likely to be a good thing for the ongoing fight for LGBTQ equality.

Jenny and Lucas have also discussed a number of the Supreme Court’s major religious liberty cases in the past several years, including Hobby Lobby in 2014 and two cases from 2020, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Little Sisters of the Poor.  Taken together, these cases have indicated a disturbing shift on the Court toward respecting religious liberty at the expense of other protected interests -- again, not a good thing for LGBTQ equality because much of the discrimination our community faces is based on religion.

In this episode, Jenny and Lucas explore the Supreme Court's reasoning in its major decisions on religious liberty and LGBTQ equality and the interaction between those rights, which are increasingly at odds with each other.  They talk about the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, which dealt with anti-LGBTQ discrimination in a relatively trivial setting, and how dangerous it could be if the Court allows discrimination in situations in which the stakes are higher.  They talk about the fact that a lot of discrimination against LGBTQ people happens outside of the public eye so the public is generally unaware of it, the fact that we don't have anti-discrimination protections in about half the states, and the urgent need for the Equality Act, an amendment of the federal Civil Rights Act that would add national protections for LGBTQ people.  The Equality Act has passed in the House but faces an uncertain future in the Senate.

August 2021 -- The male gaze and performative bisexuality

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 07:29

Real-world consequences for the media's objectification of women

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 August 1, 2021 -- The media objectify women.  There's nothing new about that.  But there are real-world consequences for women, and as OutCaster Isha notes, these consequences can be particularly pronounced -- and even potentially dangerous -- for LGBTQ women.

OutCasting 0089 -- Using religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people -- part 14 of an in-depth exploration

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

The Fulton case: The Supreme Court unanimously agrees with a Catholic adoption agency’s claim of religious liberty claim to justify discrimination. Aren’t the Court’s liberal justices supposed to support LGBTQ equality? Or is there more to the ruling than is readily apparent?

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Using religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people - part 14 of an in-depth exploration

October 1, 2021 -- There are some religious people, congregations, and religions that support LGBTQ people.  In the Episcopal Church, Bishop Gene Robinson was the first openly gay Bishop -- but his consecration led to a worldwide split in the church over the issue of homosexuality.  In New York City, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah is an LGBTQ-welcoming synagogue with an openly gay leader, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum.  Both Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum were guests on earlier editions of OutCasting; you can listen to their interviews at OutCastingMedia.org.

But historically, many religions have condemned LGBTQ people.  The Catholic church has described homosexuality as an "intrinsic disorder" and encouraged people to "condemn the sin, not the sinner" -- as if people can just rip sexuality out of their lives without inflicting great harm.  Any number of religious counselors continue to practice conversion or reparative therapy to "cure" people of being gay even as a growing number of states, and even some other countries, recognize that this "treatment" is ineffective and potentially dangerous.  We did a series in early 2020 on conversion therapy; it’s also available at OutCastingMedia.org.

(STATIONS:  The conversion therapy series is available here on PRX.  We can make the earlier interviews with Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum available for broadcast on request.)

As the law is catching up with growing public acceptance of LGBTQ people and as we have secured a number of important civil rights, there's a movement determined to put us firmly back in our place, as they would have it.  Cakeshops and florists claim that they're entitled to deny their services to us because they say that providing services to LGBTQ people would violate their religious liberty.  This discrimination would never be seen as legitimate if it were directed at any other minority group.  Just imagine it -- a shop owner says:  "My religious liberty prevents me from serving Black people, or Jewish people, so go away."  It's unthinkable that that would be seen as acceptable in today's world.  And of course, there are businesses where the stakes would be much higher if it becomes the law that businesses can just turn away LGBTQ people based on a religious objection.

So is there any legitimacy when a business owner cites religious liberty to justify denying service to LGBTQ people?  What are the contours of religious liberty?  What's supposed to happen when someone, citing religious liberty, discriminates against LGBTQ people, thus denying their equality?  What does "equality" mean in the United States?  Does one take precedence over the other when they come into conflict?

Joining us to delve into this issue is Jennifer C. Pizer.  Jenny is the Senior Counsel and Director of Law and Policy for Lambda Legal, the country's oldest and largest legal organization seeking full recognition of the civil rights of LGBT people and everyone living with HIV. 

In this episode, Jenny and Isha continue their conversation about the case of Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, decided by the Supreme Court in June 2021, in which a Catholic adoption agency pressed a religious freedom claim to "opt out" of the city's nondiscrimination rules.

OutCasting 0090 -- Using religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people -- part 15 of an in-depth exploration

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

The wall between church and state has been eroded. What will it take to rebuild it? And what’s the role of the Supreme Court and its newest justice, Amy Coney Barrett?

0086-jenny-isha-240_small IN THIS EDITION
Jenny and Isha continue their conversation about religious liberty and how it can conflict with another constitutional guarantee, equality.  Rebuilding the eroded wall between church and state; envisioning the legal approach of the newest Supreme Court justice, Amy Coney Barrett, on religious liberty and LGBTQ issues; examining the Court’s approaches to abortion and Covid through the lens of religious liberty; and the gap between reality and the ideals that the United States is supposed to represent.

November 1, 2021 -- There are some religious people, congregations, and religions that support LGBTQ people.  In the Episcopal Church, Bishop Gene Robinson was the first openly gay Bishop -- but his consecration led to a worldwide split in the church over the issue of homosexuality.  In New York City, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah is an LGBTQ-welcoming synagogue with an openly gay leader, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum.  Both Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum were guests on earlier editions of OutCasting; you can listen to their interviews at OutCastingMedia.org.

But historically, many religions have condemned LGBTQ people.  The Catholic church has described homosexuality as an "intrinsic disorder" and encouraged people to "condemn the sin, not the sinner" -- as if people can just rip sexuality out of their lives without inflicting great harm.  Any number of religious counselors continue to practice conversion or reparative therapy to "cure" people of being gay even as a growing number of states, and even some other countries, recognize that this "treatment" is ineffective and potentially dangerous.  We did a series in early 2020 on conversion therapy; it’s also available at OutCastingMedia.org.

(STATIONS:  The conversion therapy series is available here on PRX.  We can make the earlier interviews with Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum available for broadcast on request.)

As the law is catching up with growing public acceptance of LGBTQ people and as we have secured a number of important civil rights, there's a movement determined to put us firmly back in our place, as they would have it.  Cakeshops and florists claim that they're entitled to deny their services to us because they say that providing services to LGBTQ people would violate their religious liberty.  This discrimination would never be seen as legitimate if it were directed at any other minority group.  Just imagine it -- a shop owner says:  "My religious liberty prevents me from serving Black people, or Jewish people, so go away."  It's unthinkable that that would be seen as acceptable in today's world.  And of course, there are businesses where the stakes would be much higher if it becomes the law that businesses can just turn away LGBTQ people based on a religious objection.

So is there any legitimacy when a business owner cites religious liberty to justify denying service to LGBTQ people?  What are the contours of religious liberty?  What's supposed to happen when someone, citing religious liberty, discriminates against LGBTQ people, thus denying their equality?  What does "equality" mean in the United States?  Does one take precedence over the other when they come into conflict?

Joining us to delve into this issue is Jennifer C. Pizer.  Jenny is the Senior Counsel and Director of Law and Policy for Lambda Legal, the country's oldest and largest legal organization seeking full recognition of the civil rights of LGBT people and everyone living with HIV. 

OutCasting 0091 -- Using religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people -- part 16 of an in-depth exploration

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

The bill of rights and the vehemence of Justices Thomas and Alito on religious liberty vs. LGBTQ equality.

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IN THIS EDITION

Our guest, the eminent civil rights lawyer Jennifer C. Pizer, and OutCaster Isha continue their conversation about religious liberty and how it can conflict with another constitutional guarantee, equality.  The conversation this month includes a discussion about the bill of rights, the roles of the courts and the legislative process, and the angry and perhaps even unjudicial vehemence of Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito on how religious liberty should override LGBTQ people’s rights to equality.  Did Roe v. Wade decide the abortion issue too soon?  What about marriage equality – should it have been secured through legislation instead of the courts?

 

December 1, 2021 -- There are some religious people, congregations, and religions that support LGBTQ people.  In the Episcopal Church, Bishop Gene Robinson was the first openly gay Bishop -- but his consecration led to a worldwide split in the church over the issue of homosexuality.  In New York City, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah is an LGBTQ-welcoming synagogue with an openly gay leader, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum.  Both Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum were guests on earlier editions of OutCasting; you can listen to their interviews at OutCastingMedia.org.

But historically, many religions have condemned LGBTQ people.  The Catholic church has described homosexuality as an "intrinsic disorder" and encouraged people to "condemn the sin, not the sinner" -- as if people can just rip sexuality out of their lives without inflicting great harm.  Any number of religious counselors continue to practice conversion or reparative therapy to "cure" people of being gay even as a growing number of states, and even some other countries, recognize that this "treatment" is ineffective and potentially dangerous.  We did a series in early 2020 on conversion therapy; it’s also available at OutCastingMedia.org.

(STATIONS:  The conversion therapy series is available here on PRX.  We can make the earlier interviews with Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum available for broadcast on request.)

As the law is catching up with growing public acceptance of LGBTQ people and as we have secured a number of important civil rights, there's a movement determined to put us firmly back in our place, as they would have it.  Cakeshops and florists claim that they're entitled to deny their services to us because they say that providing services to LGBTQ people would violate their religious liberty.  This discrimination would never be seen as legitimate if it were directed at any other minority group.  Just imagine it -- a shop owner says:  "My religious liberty prevents me from serving Black people, or Jewish people, so go away."  It's unthinkable that that would be seen as acceptable in today's world.  And of course, there are businesses where the stakes would be much higher if it becomes the law that businesses can just turn away LGBTQ people based on a religious objection.

So is there any legitimacy when a business owner cites religious liberty to justify denying service to LGBTQ people?  What are the contours of religious liberty?  What's supposed to happen when someone, citing religious liberty, discriminates against LGBTQ people, thus denying their equality?  What does "equality" mean in the United States?  Does one take precedence over the other when they come into conflict?

Joining us to delve into this issue is Jennifer C. Pizer.  Jenny is the Senior Counsel and Director of Law and Policy for Lambda Legal, the country's oldest and largest legal organization seeking full recognition of the civil rights of LGBT people and everyone living with HIV. 

“The most wonderful time of the year!”

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 07:03

The OutCasting team reflects on how the holidays can be stressful and even excruciating for LGBTQ teenagers.

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December 1, 2021 -- It’s the holidays, a time when extended families often get together, a time when well-meaning relatives who haven’t seen you for a while might ask, “So – are you seeing anyone?”

Straight, cisgender teenagers might find the situation awkward – or maybe not.  Maybe they’re in a new relationship and they can’t wait to talk about it.

But if you’re young and LGBTQ, that seemingly innocent question can open up a minefield.  What if you’re out only to your immediate family?  Do you want to be put on the spot like that?  Do your parents think you should “just not mention it”?  Will they blame you if there’s a big blowup?  Even worse:  What if you’re not out at all?

Sarah shares the thoughts of the OutCasting team.

OutCasting 0092 -- Using religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people -- part 17 of an in-depth exploration

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

Are religious people victims when the law says they aren’t allowed to discriminate?

0086-jenny-isha-240_small Using religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people - part 17 of an in-depth exploration

ON THIS EDITION
There have been lawsuits about bakers and florists who don’t want to provide cakes or flowers for same sex weddings, saying that if they did, it would amount to complicity, participation, and even endorsement of something against their religious beliefs.  Does this argument hold water?  How are the courts viewing this issue, and is the composition of the Supreme Court changing the analysis? 

On this edition of OutCasting, we look at the difference between religious belief, religiously motivated behavior and the golden rule.

Also, Supreme Court Justice Alito's fiery and controversial speech about religious liberty to the Federalist Society; the claiming of victimhood by religious people when civil rights laws don't allow them to discriminate; and considering the expansion of the Supreme Court and the lower federal courts to restore balance.

*   *   *

January 1, 2022 -- There are some religious people, congregations, and religions that support LGBTQ people.  In the Episcopal Church, Bishop Gene Robinson was the first openly gay Bishop -- but his consecration led to a worldwide split in the church over the issue of homosexuality.  In New York City, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah is an LGBTQ-welcoming synagogue with an openly gay leader, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum.  Both Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum were guests on earlier editions of OutCasting; you can listen to their interviews at OutCastingMedia.org.

But historically, many religions have condemned LGBTQ people.  The Catholic church has described homosexuality as an "intrinsic disorder" and encouraged people to "condemn the sin, not the sinner" -- as if people can just rip sexuality out of their lives without inflicting great harm.  Any number of religious counselors continue to practice conversion or reparative therapy to "cure" people of being gay even as a growing number of states, and even some other countries, recognize that this "treatment" is ineffective and potentially dangerous.  We did a series in early 2020 on conversion therapy; it’s also available at OutCastingMedia.org.

(STATIONS:  The conversion therapy series is available here on PRX.  We can make the earlier interviews with Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum available for broadcast on request.)

As the law is catching up with growing public acceptance of LGBTQ people and as we have secured a number of important civil rights, there's a movement determined to put us firmly back in our place, as they would have it.  Cakeshops and florists claim that they're entitled to deny their services to us because they say that providing services to LGBTQ people would violate their religious liberty.  This discrimination would never be seen as legitimate if it were directed at any other minority group.  Just imagine it -- a shop owner says:  "My religious liberty prevents me from serving Black people, or Jewish people, so go away."  It's unthinkable that that would be seen as acceptable in today's world.  And of course, there are businesses where the stakes would be much higher if it becomes the law that businesses can just turn away LGBTQ people based on a religious objection.

So is there any legitimacy when a business owner cites religious liberty to justify denying service to LGBTQ people?  What are the contours of religious liberty?  What's supposed to happen when someone, citing religious liberty, discriminates against LGBTQ people, thus denying their equality?  What does "equality" mean in the United States?  Does one take precedence over the other when they come into conflict?

Joining us to delve into this issue is Jennifer C. Pizer.  Jenny is the Senior Counsel and Director of Law and Policy for Lambda Legal, the country's oldest and largest legal organization seeking full recognition of the civil rights of LGBT people and everyone living with HIV. 

OutCasting 0098 -- Using religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people -- part 23 of an in-depth exploration

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

Right-wing myths and the dismantling of the separation between church and state.

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ON THIS EDITION

July 2022 -- Is it "indoctrination" when schools teach kids about LGBTQ issues?  How do we respond when parents and schools seek to censor what's discussed in schools in the name of "protecting" children?

In this edition, we explore the myths pushed by right-wing politicians -- the people who are actually abusing children through their anti-LGBTQ policies.  We also talk about what to do when the courts undermine equality and the separation of church and state.

Series overview -- There are some religious people, congregations, and religions that support LGBTQ people.  In the Episcopal Church, Bishop Gene Robinson was the first openly gay Bishop -- but his consecration led to a worldwide split in the church over the issue of homosexuality.  In New York City, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah is an LGBTQ-welcoming synagogue with an openly gay leader, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum.  Both Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum were guests on earlier editions of OutCasting; you can listen to their interviews at OutCastingMedia.org.

But historically, many religions have condemned LGBTQ people.  The Catholic church has described homosexuality as an "intrinsic disorder" and encouraged people to "condemn the sin, not the sinner" -- as if people can just rip sexuality out of their lives without inflicting great harm.  Any number of religious counselors continue to practice conversion or reparative therapy to "cure" people of being gay even as a growing number of states, and even some other countries, recognize that this "treatment" is ineffective and potentially dangerous.  We did a series in early 2020 on conversion therapy; it’s also available at OutCastingMedia.org.

*****

STATIONS:  The conversion therapy series is available here on Audioport.  We can make the earlier interviews with Bishop Gene and Rabbi Kleinbaum available for broadcast on request.

*****

As the law is catching up with growing public acceptance of LGBTQ people and as we have secured a number of important civil rights, there's a movement determined to put us firmly back in our place, as they would have it.  Cakeshops and florists claim that they're entitled to deny their services to us because they say that providing services to LGBTQ people would violate their religious liberty.  This discrimination would never be seen as legitimate if it were directed at any other minority group.  Just imagine it -- a shop owner says:  "My religious liberty prevents me from serving Black people, or Jewish people, so go away."  It's unthinkable that that would be seen as acceptable in today's world.  And of course, there are businesses where the stakes would be much higher if it becomes the law that businesses can just turn away LGBTQ people based on a religious objection.

So is there any legitimacy when a business owner cites religious liberty to justify denying service to LGBTQ people?  What are the contours of religious liberty?  What's supposed to happen when someone, citing religious liberty, discriminates against LGBTQ people, thus denying their equality?  What does "equality" mean in the United States?  Does one take precedence over the other when they come into conflict?

Joining us to delve into this issue is Jennifer C. Pizer.  Jenny is the Senior Counsel and Director of Law and Policy for Lambda Legal, the country's oldest and largest legal organization seeking full recognition of the civil rights of LGBT people and everyone living with HIV. 

What happens when parents are unaccepting

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 11:44

The emptiness left behind can be devastating.

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July 1, 2022 — Youth broadcaster Carys talks about the hellish life of her friend Darwin, whose trans identity is rejected by his family.

“It’s not my responsibility to educate you.”

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 07:29

Unfairly burdening LGBTQ teens.

Oc-westchester-declan-01-240_small August 1, 2022 — It can be an unfair burden when LGBTQ teenagers are asked by friends and family to be “the authority” about LGBTQ issues.  But what happens if they prefer not to be?  OutCaster Declan considers this sometimes delicate issue.

OutCasting 101 -- Healthcare issues faced by transgender people – part 2 of 2

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

Transgender people face many obstacles in life. One of the most pressing is the difficulty they can find in getting appropriate healthcare. In this two part OutCasting series, we continue our exploration of biases among medical professionals and other issues that can stand in the way of good health outcomes.

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Transgender people can face enormous discrimination.  What happens when prejudices among professionals and policies created without trans people in mind affect their ability to get the medical care they need -- even routine medical care?

We continue our exploration of these issues in this two part OutCasting series, which was written by OutCasting youth broadcaster Andrew 2.  Our guests are Dr. Marci Bowers, a transgender surgeon in California who also treats trans patients, and Michael Silverman, an attorney.  Much of this series was created before the Covid pandemic, and when we interviewed Michael, he was the executive director of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund.  We are also joined by Jessica, Billie Rae, and Britney, three transgender women who have experienced difficulties in dealing with the healthcare system.

This program is narrated by OutCaster Carys and was produced with the participation of OutCasters Adam, Andrew 1, Brianna, Dante, Dhruv, Jamie, Joseph, Josh, Lauren, Lester, Lucas 1, Max, Michael, Natasha, Nico, Nicole, Nikki, Sarah, and Sydney.

Experiencing gender from both sides

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 06:46

OutCasting youth broadcaster Declan – a trans guy – talks about experiencing gender from both sides of the fence.

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October 1, 2022 — OutCasting youth broadcaster Declan was born and raised as a girl, but he’s trans masculine.  What has he found out from living on both sides of the gender "fence"?

Why LGBTQ youth have to lie

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 04:46

Brianna, an OutCasting youth broadcaster, talks about the worst lie she ever had to tell. Created in June 2016 but not offered for on-air broadcast until now.

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November 1, 2022 — In the last couple of years, right-wing politicians have launched new attacks on LGBTQ kids, trans kids in particular.  These politicians say: these kids shouldn't be allowed to play school sports; their parents should be investigated for child abuse; and as part of the "parental rights" movement, school personnel should out them to their parents.

Couldn't that expose kids to danger in the very settings in which they're supposed to feel most loved and accepted?  If kids felt safe telling their parents about their LGBTQ identities, wouldn't they already have told them?  And isn't this just a transparently cruel attempt to keep LGBTQ kids in the closet and make them lie about who they are -- keeping them alone and invisible?

We thought that in light of these attacks, you might be interested in hearing directly from Brianna, a young LGBTQ person and OutCasting youth broadcaster, about why she felt forced to lie when talking with members of her family.  Created in June 2016 but not offered for on-air broadcast until now.

 

How anti-LGBTQ violence affects youth

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 06:56

Following yet another American mass shooting, OutCasting youth broadcaster Brianna reflects on the Pulse massacre in 2016.

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December 2022 — Following yet another American mass shooting, OutCasting youth broadcaster Brianna reflects on the Pulse massacre in 2016.

Right-wing politicians continue their unrelenting attack on LGBTQ people.  They also block any meaningful gun control, no matter how many mass murders occur in this country.  And then they disingenuously disclaim any responsibility when something like this happens.

In this edition, originally presented in July 2016, OutCasting youth broadcaster Brianna reacts to the Orlando massacre at the Pulse nightclub and reflects on the differences between the realities occupied by straight people and by LGBTQ people.

OutCasting 55x -- A transgender teenager transitions

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

There's a movement in a number of states to ban medical transition for transgender youth. And in the media -- even media you would expect to be LGBTQ-supportive -- there’s a lot of incorrect or misleading information. On this edition of OutCasting, youth broadcaster Amalee talks with OutCaster Alex about her own medical transition as a trans teenager. This program was originally presented in December 2018.

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January 2023 – LGBTQ youth have come under fresh attacks in recent years, very particularly by right-wing politicians.  Trans youth are particularly targeted.  Several years ago, there were uproars about bathrooms and locker rooms, but more recently, states have begun launching criminal investigations of parents who provide appropriate medical care to their trans kids, and in at least one state, efforts are underway to ban medical transition for trans youth.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about exactly what “medical transition” actually means.  In the past two editions of OutCasting, we’ve been exploring that issue with a physician and a psychologist who work with trans youth who want to transition.  This month, we continue the series by talking with Amalee, one of our own OutCasting youth participants, who talks about the difficulties of being a young trans person, coming out to her family, the gradual process of beginning her medical transition, and her feelings concerning her present gender expression.  OutCaster Alex interviews Amalee in this program that was originally presented in 2018.

The deeper meaning of a parody of a Pence family children’s book

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 04:38

What happens when a boy bunny wants to marry another boy bunny? In this encore presentation originally presented in 2018, OutCaster Lucas talks about a parody of a children’s book created by family members of then-Vice President Mike Pence.

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January 1, 2023 — The wife and daughter of Vice President Mike Pence created a children’s book looking at the vice presidency through the eyes of the family pet rabbit, Marlon Bundo.  In response, an author from the political comedy talk show Last Week Tonight parodies the book by recasting Marlon Bundo as a gay bunny who wants to marry another boy bunny.  OutCasters Lauren and Lucas consider the parody and its meaning.  Lucas reads.  Originally presented in 2018.

OutCasting 0035x – LGBTQ history – Christopher Z. Hobson

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

February 2023 — The gap that LGBTQ youth experience when their people’s history is suppressed. Originally presented in 2017.

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The importance of learning LGBTQ history

 

A generational gap in the LGBTQ community is leaving many young LGBTQ people in the dark when it comes to the history of the LGBTQ rights movement.  As young people strive and often struggle to accept themselves, this lack of knowledge can be extremely harmful, potentially leaving them isolated and more prone to self-destructive behaviors, including suicide.

 

There are several reasons for this gap.  Consider how history gets passed down from generation to generation.  Mainstream history is formally taught in schools.  Family history is passed down through stories told by parents and grandparents.  It's easy and natural, as it should be.

 

But these pathways don’t exist for passing down LGBTQ history and experience.  First with rare exceptions, LGBTQ history is erased from public school curricula.  In many states, ending this exclusion would be politically difficult if not impossible.  Second, LGBTQ youth are almost never born into their own tribe; they are usually born into straight families and must strike out on their own to find their own community.  LGBTQ elders, if they exist in the family, are often not talked about, and so this pathway also does not exist in many cases.  And finally, it's often seen as taboo for LGBTQ elders to talk to younger LGBTQ people.

 

On this edition of Outcasting, we begin an irregular series connecting LGBTQ youth with elders and providing all listeners with a look into the experiences of people who have participated in the LGBTQ rights movement.  On this week's program, we talk with Christopher Z. Hobson, a gay elder and activist.  He's also a professor of English at the State University of New York at Old Westbury.

 

This conversation is particularly timely as some states -- notably Florida -- are seeking to ban discussion of LGBTQ issues where youth may hear it or partake in it.  This anti-LGBTQ attitude can lead to lesser understanding and tolerance and can harm LGBTQ+ youth irreparably.

 

Coming of age in the 1950s, Chris struggled with his sexuality and went through years of psychotherapy before eventually coming to accept himself.  In this episode, Chris speaks to the generational divide and teaches us what it was like to be gay throughout his lifetime.  He also discusses his life as an activist and his perspectives on how young people today deal with their sexual orientations and gender identities.

 

Chris is a son of the late author Laura Z. Hobson, who wrote the famous anti-semitism novel "Gentleman’s Agreement," subsequently adapted as an Oscar-winning film in the late 1940s.  More pertinent here is her 1975 novel "Consenting Adult," a powerful book based on her experience in gradually coming to accept Chris’s sexuality.

February 2023 - Oversexualizing gay identity (originally presented October 2019)

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 04:11

OutCasters Andrew and Amalee consider why some people think that showing anything to do with gay people is inappropriate for children to see.

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In May 2019, the PBS animated children's series "Arthur" released an episode in which a gay couple gets married.  It was broadcast all over the country — except in Alabama, where Alabama Public Television refused to broadcast it.  This prompted OutCasters Andrew and Amalee to consider why some people think it's fine for kids to see an age-appropriate depiction of an opposite-sex wedding but not a same-sex one.  Andrew reads.

OutCasting 0010x – LGBTQ issues in education

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:06

March 2023 — Youth broadcaster Juliana talks with a California state senator and LGBTQ youth advocates in Tennessee in this edition that was originally presented in 2012.

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Including LGBTQ issues in public school education is controversial, particularly now with Florida's infamous "Don't Say Gay" law and many states and politicians ramping up attacks on LGBTQ youth.

On this edition of OutCasting, originally produced in 2012, we explore issues faced by LGBTQ children in public schools, differing views on legislative action, and the benefits and repercussions of this legislation.

In California, the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act went into effect on January 1, 2012.  It requires public schools to include material on LGBTQ history and notable figures.  OutCaster Juliana talked with Mark Leno, the California state senator who sponsored the bill.

Meanwhile, as of this program’s production date in 2012, a "Don't Say Gay" bill in Tennessee would effectively do the opposite, prohibiting mention of anything that strays from the heteronormative in grades K-8.  Our guests were Brad Palmertree and Callie Wise from the Middle Tennessee chapter of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network).

March 2023 – Coming out

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 04:48

For many gay teens, it’s easier to come out than it was for earlier generations. But is that true for everyone?

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There's no question that it's easier to come out now than it has been in the past — at least for some of today's youth, in some places, in some situations.  But is being gay such a non-issue that people shouldn't even have to come out?  In this edition, Adam disagrees with friends who say that being gay has no more effect on people than having brown eyes.  Originally presented in October 2016.  Includes intro announcing this original release date.

OutCasting 0022x – Being in a binational same-sex relationship before marriage equality

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

Before it was declared unconstitutional, the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) caused many binational same-sex couples to either break up or leave the country in order to stay together. On this program, we look back on a time before marriage equality was the law of the land – a time to which some Supreme Court justices want to return. Originally presented in 2014.

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Conservatives are in firm control of the Supreme Court, and at least some of them seem to have no qualms about imposing their religious beliefs on all of us, greatly endangering our constitutional separation between church and state.  We saw this in the overturning last year of Roe v. Wade, which has outraged many Americans.  And at least two justices -- Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito -- have spoken publicly about "revisiting" Supreme Court precedents that have advanced LGBTQ equality, including those that established marriage equality and decriminalized same-sex behavior.  Their statement attacking marriage equality is discussed on this month’s edition of OutCasting’s companion program, OutCasting Overtime.

 

Our rights to be treated equally under the law are in jeopardy, and to illustrate how this inequality plays out in real people's lives, we think it's a good time to revisit an OutCasting episode created in 2014, just before marriage equality became the law of the land.

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Binational same-sex couples — couples in which one person is a citizen of the United States and the other is not — often faced extreme difficulties during the 15 years that Section 3 of the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was in effect.  Tens of thousands of such couples had terrible choices to make:  one option was to leave their jobs, families, homes, and friends behind to live in another country in order to stay together; the other was to live in different countries, possibly breaking up in the process.  Opposite-sex couples did not have this problem — they could marry and thus stay together in the United States.  But the anti-gay DOMA closed off that option for same-sex couples by prohibiting the federal government from recognizing their legal marriages.

In June 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that Section 3 of DOMA was unconstitutional in the landmark case of United States vs. Windsor.  This cleared the way for the federal government to recognize valid same-sex marriages, and immigration rights that have always been available to married opposite-sex couples are now available to married same-sex couples.  (Section 2 of DOMA is still in effect; it permits states not to recognize same-sex marriages conducted in other states, and many states have bans on same-sex marriage which are currently being challenged in court.  As of this writing, all of the lower court rulings in these cases have declared that such bans are unconstitutional, and it is likely that the Supreme Court will take up the issue in the foreseeable future.)

Note:  In 2015, the Supreme Court overturned the other operative section of DOMA, Section 2, in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges.  Section 2 had allowed any state to ignore a valid same-sex marriage performed in another state, thereby creating a specific exception to the principle of "comity," which generally requires each state to give legal recognition to the official acts of other states — one of the key principles that make the United States united.  The Supreme Court took up Obergefell somewhat unexpectedly after a division of opinion on the validity of Section 2 developed among the federal Circuit Courts.  The two cases — Windsor and Obergefell — together struck down DOMA in its entirety.  The Obergefell case, decided two years after Windsor, made marriage equality the law throughout the United States.

Many American families were torn apart by this unequal treatment.  On this episode of OutCasting, we look at marriage equality as it pertains to binational couples — particularly as it has applied to a family from Rockland County, New York, just northwest of New York City.  Jesse Goodman and his partner Max Oliva, who is from Argentina, were forced by DOMA to leave the United States about 10 years ago in order to stay together.

They lived for a time in Hungary and now live in London.  Jesse has felt anger toward the United States because his rights as an American citizen were violated by his own government, and the couple does not currently have plans to move back to the U.S.

Mimi Goodman, Jesse's mother, joins us on this episode to talk about how the forced separation has hurt their family.  Among other things, the separation has forced the family to travel internationally just to visit each other.  According to Mimi, many people tell her that she's lucky to be able to visit Europe three times a year.  But as she puts it, "it’s something that was forced on us, so I don’t know that I would say that’s so lucky."

Mimi is a social worker.  She is also president of Rockland County P-FLAG — Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays — a national support, education, and advocacy organization for LGBT people, their families, friends, and allies.  She is also the faculty advisor of a gay-straight alliance in a suburban New York high school.  She considers herself a gay rights activist.

We also talk with Lavi Soloway, co-founder of the DOMA Project, an organization that assists bi-national couples in their fight against separation caused by U.S. immigration law.  At the time of our interview with him, Lavi was a civil rights attorney at Masliah & Soloway, a law firm whose focus is on immigration and related issues.  He is currently an immigration attorney at Soloway Law Group, a law firm whose focus is on immigration and nationality law.  In this program, he provides a legal and large-scale view of the issues DOMA forced on same-sex couples.

This episode is being released on June 25, 2014, to coincide with the first anniversary of the Windsor case, which was announced by the Supreme Court a year ago, on June 26, 2013.

April 2023 – Thomas/Alito statement on marriage equality

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting Overtime series | 08:40

LGBTQ youth react to the anti-marriage equality statement from Supreme Court Justices Thomas and Alito. Originally presented in 2020.

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Conservatives are in firm control of the Supreme Court, and in the wake of the reversal of Roe v. Wade, it’s clear that at least some of them seem to have no qualms about imposing their religious beliefs on all of us.  This greatly endangers our constitutional separation between church and state.  On this edition of OutCasting Overtime, originally presented in 2020, our youth broadcasters react to a statement from Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito attacking marriage equality.

OutCasting 0029x – FINAL EDITION -- A troubled young asexual discovers he’s not alone

From Media for the Public Good, Inc. - OutCasting Media | Part of the OutCasting series | 29:00

His early depression gave way to acceptance when he came to understand what made him different.

Oc-westchester-dante-240px-5344_small OutCasting youth broadcaster Dante gives a riveting account about his growing awareness of feeling different in middle school, the depression that followed as he realized that a key part of himself seemed to be missing while all of his friends were reacting to each other in strange new ways that made little sense to him, his discovery of an online community for asexual people, his acceptance of himself as healthy and the happiness that acceptance brought him, and his experiences in coming out as asexual to others.  This powerful episode is a must for people who want to know more about asexuality and the feelings of being different, no matter what the cause.  Originally presented in 2015.