10/15/2012 This Way Out

Program 1280

Hosted by Greg Gordon and produced with Lucia Chappelle

"NewsWrap": Ukraine's Parliament gives initial approval to a bill banning "gay propaganda", while Russia's Supreme Court upholds a similar measure but says it doesn't apply to public LGBT events like Pride marches; Northern Ireland's Stormont Assembly turns down a marriage equality proposal, but same-gender co-parents in Australia get equal baby care leave benefits; Malawi's President Joyce Banda admits that she can't keep her promise to repeal anti-gay sex laws; rightwing lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of California's first-in-the-U.S. ban on so-called "reparative therapy" for anyone under 18 may keep it from taking effect on January 1st, but some 16,000 men in the U.K. who were convicted of engaging in consensual gay sex before it was decriminalized may now have their "sex offender" police records expunged; and "proud gay Puerto Rican" boxer Orlando Cruz makes professional pugilistic history (written by GREG GORDON, with thanks to REX WOCKNER, produced by STEVE PRIDE, and reported this week by JASON PROCTOR and ABBY DEES) 

Virulently anti-gay U.S. Congresswoman Michele Bachman of MINNESOTA is an unexpected champion of equality – at least on a new billboard promoting a "no" vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage in the state as exclusively heterosexual.  This on-scene report by correspondent DIXIE TREICHEL [from "Fresh Fruit" on KFAI-FM/Minneapolis-St. Paul] features comments by the billboard's driving forces JOAN VORDERBRUGGEN, Arts Coordinator, Artists in Storefronts; ERIN SAYER, Owner of Cult Status Gallery; and ROBYN HENDRIX, Board Member & Exhibitions Co-Chair, Womens’ Art Resources of Minnesota (includes intro music from "Married" performed by ALAN CUMMING)

[to see the billboard, go to

http://www.GUERRILLAGIRLS.COM/posters/SameSexMarriageandVoterIDMinnesota...

organizer websites: http://www.artistsinstorefronts.com/;

http://www.cultstatusgallery.com/;

http://www.thewarm.org/]

The mother of "Heather Has Two Mommies" takes a much different turn with a poetic reflection on an infamous tragedy. "This Way Out" life and literature commentator JANET MASON praises the evocative and powerful "OCTOBER MOURNING: A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPHARD" by LESLEA NEWMAN (from Candlewick Press) 

 "THE BALLAD OF MATTHEW SHEPARD" by singer/songwriter BRIAN HOUSTON