Rated LGBT Radio

Acclaimed Film Maker Steve Balderson and His New Film LOVE, VENEZIA

Steve Balderson's new film Love, Venezia seeks to redefine the cinematic portrayal of sexuality and human connection by presenting these themes through its sensory and emotional lens. Written and directed by Steve, the film is based on his own life experience that he wrote about in his erotic memoir Year of the Whore (Punk Hostage Press), the film delves into the themes of intimacy, love, and self-discovery in the protagonist's world which has been dominated by superficiality and fleeting encounters. It depicts a fictional version of his real life trip to Venice to overcome a painful breakup.
Steve is a prolific filmmaker, best known for Pep Squad (a film that premiered in Cannes) and Firecracker, a film that starred Karen Black and rock star Mike Patton and was recognized by Roger Ebert as one of the year’s best. Love, Venezia is his 20th film. It will have its worldwide premiere on Sunday, September 29 at Cinema Divers: the Palm Springs Film Festival.  
Besides being a filmmaker, Steve is an author and a coach.
 
With co-host Brody Levesque
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Our Favorite Trans Activist Power Team in the House with DNC Experiences

One of our favorite power couples is back! The AP first dubbed them the Transgender Power Couple. Journalist Erin Reed was formerly the digital director of The American Independent. She currently writes for the Los Angeles Blade and Harpers Bazaar.. She is a researcher who tracks anti-LGBTQ+ legislation around the world and helps people become better advocates for their queer family, friends, colleagues, and community. Reed also is a social media consultant and public speaker.
Her fiance is Zooey Zephyr, member of the Montana House of Representatives from the 100th district. 
Zephyr was a vocal opponent of multiple anti-LGBT bills introduced during the 2023 legislative session. During a floor debate on April 18, 2023, Zephyr admonished those who supported Senate Bill 99, which prohibits gender-affirming medical and surgical care for minors. She first commented, "If you are forcing a trans child to go through puberty when they are trans, that is tantamount to torture, and this body should be ashamed."  When this remark triggered an objection from Republican majority leader Sue Vinton, Zephyr replied, "The only thing I will say is if you vote 'yes' on this bill and 'yes' on these amendments, I hope the next time there's an invocation when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands." This led to a massive attempt by the state Republicans to censure her and silence her.
Months ago we enjoyed a rigorous conversation with these two about the state of transgender rights, and today we get their insights on that subject from the purview of the DNC, plus discussion on current issues.

Live from the Democratic National Convention a Movement is Launched

We get a live report today from Christopher Kane, White House correspondent for The Washington Blade. He is on the floor at the Democratic convention.
He will bring us the latest on the speakers and behind-the-scenes exclusive interviews, plus news of the LGBTQ+ caucus.
Also having reported for the LA Blade, Chris is a longtime Washington DC-based reporter covering the White House, having previously covered the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission's investigations of major mergers and acquisitions - along with antitrust policy development by federal agencies and US Congress, high stakes "bet-the-company" litigation, and certain activities by the FDA and US Patent and Trademark Office.
With co-host Brody Levesque

Icons Martin Lewis and Bruce Vilanch on the Greatest Beatles Story Never Told

Martin Lewis is a multi-faceted player in the spheres of the arts and entertainment. With a fabled five-decade history working in music, comedy, film, stage, TV, radio & books. He has been a cultural alchemist with many of the leading musicians and comedic artists of the last half-century. Bruce Vilanch is iconic for, among other things, the best jokes at the Academy Awards. He has been writing for the star-studded event for over 25 years, and has been the head writer since 2000. Bruce is much more ingrained into our culture than a single award show, however-- he. has written jokes for Bette Midler, Elizabeth Taylor, Lily Tomlin, and even..The Brady Bunch.  
They each have been world-changing "influencers" decades before the concept of "influencers" was even a thing. Today they join us to talk about yet another cultural force, artist manager, Brian Epstein. It has been said of Epstein: "If there had been no Epstein, there would be no Beatles."  Brian Epstein is the man responsible for taking the Beatles from unknowns to worldwide phenomena in just under 50 days. Martin led a 15-year campaign to induct Epstein into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Friday, August 23rd marks the exact 60th anniversary of the Beatles’ landmark first appearance in Los Angeles in 1964. Their L.A. debut was a sold-out concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Celebrating that historic occasion Martin  - considered one of the world’s foremost Beatles scholars - will be debuting a special ‘TED-Talk’ style illustrated presentation in L.A. - titled "The Greatest Beatles Story NEVER Told! The Untold Tale Of How The Beatles Beguiled America" The event will take place on the exact same date and time as the Beatles Hollywood Bowl concert in 1964 - at the historic building of the Philosophical Research Society in Los Feliz.

How LGBTQ+ Emerging Artists Can Get a Boost from Gibson and Music Forward

Gibson Guitars and their partner Music Forward believe in LGBTQ+ emerging performers and have set up a special grant program to help them.  Our guest is Danielle McDuffe of the Music Forward Foundation. Danielle comes from a professional music background that started at age 15 when she attended GRAMMY Camp for Music Journalism and got her articles published in magazines with the GRAMMY Museum. Since then, she has created and hosted her own podcast (MOODY), has written blog posts for artists like UMI, Bishop Briggs, and thuy, and has created showcases for local queer visual artists and musicians as part of Queer Arts and Crafts. 
We will be discussing the LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awards to be given out in October. The awards are ten US-based selected artists dedicated to their songwriting craft, and their vision for themselves through music. The ten awardees will each receive:
·     $3000 Grant
·     $1000 Gibson retail for an instrument.
·     Performance Opportunities that include the Gibson Garage Nashville and Gibson showrooms, as well as other venues.
·     Quarterly Mentorship with established musicians, as well as the Gibson and Music Forward teams.
With co-host Brody Levesque

As Trump Race-Baits His Bigoted Base, It is All Rainbows for Kamala

Was the confrontation by Donald Trump against a trio of black women journalists a strategic move on his part? Was the mind-bending attack on Kamala Harris's racial identity a dog whistle to his white supremecyMAGA enthusiasts?  And is it a buoyant rainbow tinges wind at the back of Kamala Harris that has her creating an unprecedented political comeback turning the political stage on its ear?
We discuss this and other topics around the current campaigns on today's episode with renowned journalist Broday Levesque and our guest, political reporter Chris Kane..
Also having reported for the LA Blade, Chris is a longtime Washington DC-based reporter covering the White House, having previously covered the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission's investigations of major mergers and acquisitions - along with antitrust policy development by federal agencies and US Congress, high stakes "bet-the-company" litigation, and certain activities by the FDA and US Patent and Trademark Office.
With co-host Brody Levesque

Nico Lang :How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era

Our guest today is Nico Lang, a nonbinary journalist with over a decade of experience covering the transgender community’s fight for equality. Their work has appeared in major publications, including Rolling Stone, Esquire, The New York Times, Vox, The Wall Street Journal, Salon, Harper’s Bazaar, Time, The Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times.
We will discuss Nico's upcoming book AMERICAN TEENAGER: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era. In the book, Nico tells the stories of Wyatt, Rhydian, Mykah, Ruby, Clint, Kylie, Augie and Jack -- all Americans, all teens, and all transgender & nonbinary. The teens hail from all corners of the country from California to Florida, from South Dakota to Texas. Each of their stories is almost a mini-book in itself. To write the book, Nico spent a year shadowing the seven families of these trans and gender non-confirming teens. They did hundreds of hours of interviews which included the young people themselves, their families, and the members of their diverse communities, While presenting poignant portraits of what it means to be a trans kid in the US today, Nico makes them visible and known to people who don't yet understand them, as well as a lifeline to other similar teens with the message that they are not alone.
Nico has won a GLAAD Media Award,10 awards from the National Association of LGBTQ Journalists (NLGJA), and three awards from the Los Angeles Press Club, including the 2023 Online Journalist of the Year. They are also the first-ever recipient of the Visibility Award from the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund.
With co-host Brody Levesque
 

The Queer Rhapsody LGBTQIA+ Film Series Explodes Across LA -We Have Them Here!

There is a hot, summertime celebration of queer voices at five venues across L.A. July 19 to July 28, 2024
More than 50 narrative and documentary short and feature films will be screened during Queer Rhapsody, a celebration of LGBTQIA+ voices in partnership with five iconic venues across L.A. Organized by the UCLA Film & Television Archive, the series creates joyful, communal, and brave spaces for radical engagement among film fans, arts leaders and queer culture workers at a volatile time when identities and communities are under fire.  Today we talk about that roster of films with the Creative Director/Senior Programmer Martine Joelle McDonald ..
Queer Rhapsody opens July 19th with a sneak peek screening at the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum in Westwood of the documentary, Second Nature,  Narrated by Elliot Page, the film follows trans trailblazer evolutionary biologist Dr. Joan Roughgarden as she meets groundbreaking scientists exploring the 1500+ animal species that engage in same-sex sexual behavior and same-sex families. Throughout the two-week series, Queer Rhapsody will present 15 film programs, 7 of which will be short film programs. The series includes 8 feature film programs with weekend afternoon and evening screenings. 
Martine is a film curator and teaching artist, founder of Practice Wonder, a creative studio and narrative change consulting practice, and was  Director of Artist Development at Outfest. 
With co-host Brody Levesque

Drag Diva and RuPaul Fan Favorite Pandora Boxx is in Our House Today!

Pandora Boxx was drag before it reached anywhere close to the popularity it has today. Pandora had interviewed RuPaul years before Drag Race even aired and when it did, knew she was destined to be on the show. She sent in a video for season 2, and the rest, they say, is history. She won the title of Miss Congeniality in the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, clearly the fan favorite.  She subsequently returned for the first and sixth seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Boxx has also appeared in all three seasons of the show’s spin-off series, RuPaul’s Drag U.
Her new dance album ia called BOXX, and is her most personal work ever.  It’s fun and quirky, and while most of her previous releases were a tad on the dirty side, BOXX is totally PG. It releases on July 15th, and she will be performing the soon-to-be hit single DANCE at Drag Con LA on July 19th.
You do not have to wait, however-- we will be premiering DANCE on our show today!
With co-host Brody Levesque
 

Personal Stories of LGBTQ Get Big Push During Pride Month

The Personal Stories Project and the Dot.Gay internet domain are in the midst of Pride month promotion powered by George Takei’s social media team.! This initiative will collect stories from LGBTQ people and then broadcast them out through George Takei's powerful social media influence.
Charles Chan Massey and Sara Christie founded The Personal Stories Project in 2012 to promote activism, advocacy and support for the LGBT community and allies through the sharing of personal stories.Dot Gay  gives 20% of all new .gay registration revenue (not just profit!) is donated to LGBTQ+ organizations to help address key issues facing these communities. This is an unprecedented, industry-leading commitment that means continual donations over time.
George Takei's message on social media read: "“Happy Pride Month, folks! For many, including myself, Pride is a time to express ourselves proudly. I know it’s not an easy time for everyone. But there’s strength in telling your story, which is why I am asking you what your story is. Head to personalstories.gay and fill out the form to be featured on the Personal Stories website. I’ll be checking them out and sharing some throughout the month! This project is presented by  @dotgay and the Personal Stories Project #DotGay #PersonalStories”