Being Lgbtq

This week it's all about LGBTQ inclusive education teaching tolerance to young people in school. Andrew Moffat, the man behind 'No Outsiders' a programme which teaches about equality and tolerance of different families and relationships joins us. Andrew is the Assistant Head Teacher at Parkfield School in Birmingham, UK which has experienced anti-LGBTQ demonstrations outside the school gates against the education. We also replay our interview with Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson, Head Teacher at Anderton Park Primary School which has also experienced protests because of equality lessons and had to get a High Court injunction to stop the protests happening directly outside the school. Also - Sam talks about a U.S. state which has made LGBTQ+ history lessons mandatory and the Wizard of Oz 80th anniversary - Sam has a few words for the Scarecrow!

For episode 30 Fred Rosser, former WWE Superstar who went by the name Darren Young talks about being the first wrestler to come out as gay while signed to a major wrestling brand. Fred also reveals what the reaction of his fellow wrestlers was including WWE CEO Vince McMahon and gives his opinion on WWE holding major events in Saudi Arabia considering the countries record on human rights. Naomi Bennett from 'LesFlicks' chats about lesbian representation in film and running film clubs across the UK specifically for lesbian women. Also - Sam talks about Police dancing at Pride and Furry fandom.

On another packed episode LGBTQ artist Adam Lyons talks about his new album 'Sweet Chilli', his career so far and performing at Pride In Liverpool. Peter Lewis, a gay British national living in Hong Kong chats about the lack of protections for LGBTQ people in the country and the ongoing protests against the current administration. Social media influencer Brandon Boyd comments on reality TV show 'Love Island' and if the show needs to add LGBTQ representation and a range of body types. Also - Sam reveals the expansion of Being LGBTQ to include a news website.

LGBTQ music artist of the week Ben Davidson joins us to talk about his latest single 'Anything'. Ben was part of the boy band 'Most Wanted' in the 1990's and toured with S Club 7 at one point. Drag queen wrestler Rick Cataldo (Aka: The Boy Diva) chats about his LGBTQ wrestling brand 'A Matter Of Pride' and inclusion in professional wrestling. Jennifer Cerys from Lemon House Theatre in South London tells us about her show 'Willow', being performed in September, the show follows a lesbian story of break up. Also - Sam talks about the heatwave, Boris Johnson and reveals which LGBTQ icon has been honoured at San Francisco Airport.

This week we chat to Christopher Sharp, Co-Founder of Racing Pride, a newly setup group aiming to encourage LGBTQ inclusion in motor sport. The group which is a collaboration with Stonewall has been endorsed by Formula 1 champion Damon Hill. Christopher talks about the history of LGBTQ motor racers and why so few have come out. And theatre Director Jamie Armitage joins us to talk about Southern Belles, the uniting of two one-act plays by Tennessee Williams, which is headlining the King's Head Theatre's 2019 Queer Season in London, running from 24 July to 24 August. Also - Sam pays tribute to Alan Turing and gives an update on anti-LGBTQ protests against LGBTQ inclusive education which have been taking place in the U.K.

Tom Evans from Non-Binary fashion brand 'Area Eighteen' joins us to talk about why he decided to set up the gender neutral label and what he hopes to achieve. In our monthly segment with the Gay Agony Uncle, we discuss Pride Month and if Pride has become too commercialised, following many retailers cashing in with Pride themed products from T-shirts and shoes to vodka bottles and sandwiches! Has it all gone too far or is the added visibility a good thing? Also - We play Davis Mallory's new singles 'Shirtless' and 'Grown Up' and Sam talks about Area 51 and the latest LGBTQ news! 'Area Eighteen' website: https://areaeighteen.co.uk/ Gay Agony Uncle Online: https://gayagonyuncle.com/ Davis Mallory: https://davismallory.com/

On episode 25 Canadian actor Joanne Vannicola joins us to talk about being LGBTQ in the film and television industry and the barriers that she has faced during her career. Jo was in the 2015 film Stonewall about the riots, we talk about the film and Jo's brand new memoir 'All We Knew But Couldn't Say'. Edafa Okporo, a Nigerian who sought asylum and now lives in the United States speaks about his experiences of being persecuted in his home country where you can face up to 14 years in prison for being in a same sex relationship. Edafa talks about his time in Nigeria and his work as an LGBTQ activist and author. Also - Louis Molnar talks about going to Pride in New York and meeting a very special guest at the Stonewall Inn! Get 'All We Knew But Couldn't Say' on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y5ndo3lw Visit Edafa Okporo online: https://www.edafeokporo.com/

On the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, we look back to the early morning hours of June 28th 1969 and the implications the actions of LGBTQ people had, on the LGBTQ rights movement. Ankit Shukla a registered nurse who is also an author talks about his book which about the lives of LGBTQ people. Ankit has been a lifelong ally of the community and feels his time as a nurse has given him more empathy and compassion with those who have suffered discrimination. Also - Author of 'The Figment Realm' David Lord talks about teen suicide and its prevalence in the LGBTQ community, his coming out experience and how fantasy works can often act as escapism for those who are struggling.

The Directors of HIV/AIDs documentary 'After 82' Steve Keeble and Ben Lord join us to talk about the project which has been many years in the making, and features the untold stories of the AIDs pandemic in the United Kingdom. Steve and Ben recount some of the most hard hitting stories from the documentary. Also - 'The Gay Leadership Dude' Dr Steve Yacovelli talks about his new book 'Pride Leadership: Strategies for the LGBTQ+ Leader To Be The King Or Queen Of Their Jungle', which aims to empower LGBTQ people and details what LGBTQ individuals can perhaps offer to leadership roles that others can't. Watch 'After 82' - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/movie/after-82/id1465957585?mt=6&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 Visit Steve Yacovelli online - https://www.thegayleadershipdude.com

This week we chat to the patron of LGBT Labour and Member of European Parliament Seb Dance about the Brexit situation and what the European Union has done in terms of progressing rights for LGBTQ people. Sierra Amador, founder of #BaeWolvesFitness, chats about her fitness programme and her experience coming out as lesbian, which resulted in a bad reaction from her family. And! YouTubers Owen and Darren chat to Sam about their channel and being able to show affection to one another in public as a same sex couple. Also - Sam chats about World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) supporting Pride Month.

Australia's first openly gay male professional footballer Andy Brennan shares his story and why he decided to come out. Andy chats about trying to ignore his sexuality for so many years and then deciding that in order to live life to the full he had to come out to be happy. Our LGBTQ Music Artist of the Week is Sam Dickinson from Newcastle, UK. Sam talks about his music career, taking 5 years out, his new music and living with mental health. Sam decided to take a break after he experienced mental health difficulties as a result of all the pressure he was under. Also - Sam Wise explains why he's fired the countdown guy!

A special episode of Being LGBTQ to remember those who died in the early hours of June 12th at LGBTQ nightclub 'Pulse' in Orlando, Florida. 49 innocent people died when a gunman entered the club and opened fire with an automatic weapon, the deadliest attack on the LGBTQ community in U.S. history. Sam is joined by Pulse survivor and LGBTQ advocate Brandon Wolf, who sadly lost two of his closest friends in the attack. Brandon talks about the night itself, the continuing impact three years on and the projects he has been involved in since the tragic incident, including calling for better gun controls. Joey Lopez who was in the Orlando area at the time chats about his experience on the night, when he thought friends had been at Pulse, but was unable to get in touch with them to make sure they were okay. Music credits: 'Feel My Pulse' (Eli Lieb/ Brandon Skeie) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrIvIEa2K48 'Hope' (T. Thomason) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB2M78h-q2o

This week Sam is joined by Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson the head teacher of Anderton Park Primary School in Birmingham, U.K. which has been the scene of anti-LGBTQ protests against the schools teaching of LGBTQ relationships. The protests have been going on for over 2 months now and the school has now got an injunction to prevent protests directly outside the school gates. Sarah tells us about the emotional distress the protests have caused to staff, pupils and parents and what the next steps are. Our LGBTQ artist of the week is Kai Mata from Indonesia, we chat about what LGBTQ rights are like in the country and Kai's latest single 'So Hard'.

This week we celebrate icon and lifelong ally of the LGBTQ community - music artist Hazell Dean who is considered to be the 'Queen of Hi-NRG' and had a number of top 10 hits in the U.K. and internationally back in the 1980's. Her extensive catalogue of music includes iconic tracks such as 'Searchin', 'Love Pains', 'Turn It Into Love' and 'They Say It's Gonna Rain'. Hazell chats about her career and special relationship with the LGBTQ community. Louis Molnar joins us to talk about being the first out autistic LGBTQ person elected to public office globally, and discusses living with Autism, the Netflix series 'Atypical' and even Terminator! And - Sam reviews the Elton John biopic 'Rocketman' and looks ahead to celebrations for Pride Month 2019!

This week we chat to gay Primary School teacher Ian Eagleton from Essex (UK) about bullying in schools and the impact it can have in later life. Ian also discusses LGBTQ inclusive education, recent protests against it and his new iPad app 'The Reading Realm' which aims to get more children reading again. Will Lanting from Australia joins us to talk about his podcast series the GLLO Show on LGBT radio station Joy 94.9 which Will does in partnership with the Victoria Police. The show looks at the relationship between the police and the LGBTQ community, the history, how things have changed and what more needs to be done. Also - Sam discusses Harvey Milk, his own experiences with bullying in school and Pride Month.

On a packed episode of Being LGBTQ we chat to our LGBTQ music artist of the week Furillostar from Flint in Michigan about his music and the Flint water crisis, which still impacts local people to this day. Raymond Woolford author of 'The Last Queen of Scotland' joins us to talk about his book detailing the life of Kath Duncan in the early 1900's, Raymond believes Kath has been erased from history and is the greatest UK civil rights activist of the last 100 years. In light of protests against LGBTQ education panto dame Mama G stops by to chat about her story book roadshow! Mama G is visiting library's and theatres across Britain reading stories about inclusion and equality to children. Also - Sam reviews Detective Pikachu and discusses the latest LGBTQ news from the past week!

This week Sam is joined by Robert Greene from PinkNews to talk about eating disorders, with a lot of gay and bisexual men in particular being diagnosed with them. Robert himself was diagnosed at the age of 19 and is producing a documentary about it, looking at the misconceptions surrounding them and his personal experience. Our LGBTQ Music Artist of the Week is Kaius from Atlanta, Georgia, who joins us to discuss staying authentic in the music industry and finding your passion. Also - Sam talks about the new Royal Baby, How gun control IS an LGBTQ issue and much more!

This week Stan Lucas, Founder of the 'Trans Entertainment Network'(TEN) an Artist Management/Label dedicated solely to Trans Artists and Talent joins us. Stan along with Krystal Beverly, who is an artist with TEN tell us what they are all about, as well as the worrying trend of hate crime attacks on Trans women of colour. Also, Curtis Campion creator of 'New Found Courage', a video game whith an LGBTQ driven story line tells us about the work that has gone into the game and wider representation of LGBTQ characters in mainstream video games. And - Sam talks about the incredible surge in popularity of openly gay Mayor, Pete Buttigieg who is running for the Democratic nomination for President, news of London's first Trans Pride event and the UK retailer which has launched an LGBT sandwich!

This week we are joined by the Gay Agony Uncle for our monthly life and relationship advice segment. We chat to him about app addiction and when to realise if we are perhaps using our mobile devices and apps such as Grindr too much and what we can do if we feel like we need to change our behaviours. Also - Toni Priore joins is. When Tony was in her 40's, after having relationships with men and having children, she realised that she had feelings for a female co-worker. Toni explains how she always has been a lesbian but did not follow that true path until later in life. Also - Sam reviews a few recent releases on Netflix including the emotive drama 'Quicksand' and the utterly hilarious comedy 'Bonding'.

This week we are joined by Serita Blake, who is a black lesbian police officer from the UK, Serita talks about the lack of black lesbian representation in society and in the media. Author and Lawyer Josh Scheinert from Toronto, Canada joins us to talk about his book 'The Order of Nature', set in Gambia the novel follows an American and a Gambian, navigating an environment where their love is illegal, which is made even more topical by the fact that Brunei recently introduced new anti-LGBTQ laws. And finally we speak to David Ledain, author of 'Gay Dad' - Ten true stories of divorced gay men with kids, living in the UK today.