Being Lgbtq

Featuring...Michael Langan - Gay writer originally from the U.K. now living in Lisbon with his partner chats to us about representation of LGBTQ themes in literature. Michael is part of a scheme by TLC (The Literary Council) which offers free reading and feedback of works by LGBTQ authors during Pride month, an initiative which is back for Pride Month 2020. LGBTQ works are selected and reviewed by established LGBTQ writers like Michael.

Featuring..Tommy Atkins - U.K. country music singer from North East, England. Tommy is an openly gay artist and recently released a cover of 'Freedom' originally by Wham! putting his own unique spin on a classic.​Tommy has had success in charts around the World including the iTunes Country music chart and the LGBTQ music chart. In this interview he talks about his upcoming debut album, visiting Nashville and his goal to be a proud representative of the community.

Featuring..Kadie Satterfield - Host of the 'Queer Minds' podcast, a brand new LGBTQ podcast talks about the project and being a transgender woman. Kadie recently came out as trans after living as cisgender and straight for much of her life and later came out as gay. She talks about her journey and how she got to this stage in her life including her changed relationship with religion.

Featuring...Branden James - Former America's Got Talent contestant who inspired audiences back in 2013 chats to us about life after the show and what he's been up to since. Branden is an opera tenner with an incredible voice and a story to tell. His autobiography 'Lyrics of my Life' is out in Summer 2020 in which he describes growing up gay in a heavily religious household, being diagnosed with HIV and his singing career. Following AGT he teamed up with his husband James to form the duo 'Branden & James' and have gone on to tour the world together.

Featuring..Kirsty Baird - Lesbian singer from the Scottish band 'Hanley and the Baird' talks about the bands new single 'Follow the Rainbow', a charity single released to raise money for a Scottish mental health charity - SAMH. The song is about the current lockdown due to COVID19.​April Jackson-Hunter - Public speaker and domestic violence survivor discusses what it's like to be in an abusive relationship, the barriers LGBTQ survivors face to access support and starting 'Mercedes Closet' an online support resource for LGBTQ victims and survivors.

Featuring...Veronika Electronika - Drag artist based in Nashville discusses a variety of issues including how drag has evolved since Drag Race became main stream, PrEP and HIV stigma, as well as the current COVID19 pandemic. ​Jeremy Leroux - Canadian filmmaker talks about his LGBTQ short film 'Dominant Chord' which is due for release on digital streaming platforms from May 20th 2020.

Featuring..Tea Uglow - Author of the new book 'Loud and Proud' which is out on May 5th 2020 and contains 'LGBTQ+ Speeches that Empower and Inspire' with a foreword by veteran human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. Leader of Google's Creative Lab in Sydney, Australia since 2012 Tea has worked at the organisations since 2012. Tea came out as transgender in 2015 and helmed a campaign to get a transgender flag emoji added to all platforms.Also - Sam reviews the new Ryan Murphy Netflix series 'Hollywood'.

Featuring...Fernando Marron - On a very different episode of Being LGBTQ gay psychic, medium and spiritual teacher Ferny joins Sam to talk about what it means to be a psychic medium. Ferny explains when he found out he had such abilities, his belief that everyone has such abilities and Ferny does a reading on Sam. Open your mind and see if you believe.

Featuring..Matt Young - Australian actor and gay Dad who's son Graham appeared in the Netflix documentary 'Gayby Baby' which was about the kids of LGBTQ parents in Australia. As of April 2018 same sex adoption was legal across Australia but LGBTQ parents and their children still face hurdles and discrimination. The creators of 'Gayby Baby' now provide educational resources to schools to help with LGBTQ inclusion.

Featuring..Scott Turner Schofield - Transgender actor who has been out publicly since 2001. Scott was the first transgender actor to land a role in a daytime U.S. TV show 'The Bold and the Beautiful'. Since then Scott has been a vocal LGBTQ advocate and has changed perceptions of transgender people with his one man show 'Becoming a Man in 127 Easy Steps'. His latest role is in 'Studio City' an Amazon Prime TV series which features a transgender storyline.

Lucy Clark - Football's first openly transgender referee talks about her experience of coming out and continuing to referee games. Lucy came out ahead of the 2018-19 season with support from family, friends, players and fans and says the reaction to her coming out has been mostly positive. Lucy also runs a U.K. based trans radio station 'Trans Radio U.K.'

Featuring..Rachael Webster - A gay music artist from South Yorkshire, U.K talks about her music, growing up LGBTQ and adapting to virtual Pride performing.​Natasha Walker - Co-Chair of Switchboard LGBT, a U.K. helpline for LGBTQ people which has been running since the 1970's. Switchboard has seen an increase in calls since the COVID19 pandemic took hold.​Sean Kanan - U.S. actor and LGBTQ ally talks about his new Amazon Prime series 'Studio City' which features an LGBTQ storyline and a cast including openly transgender actor Scott Turner Schofield.​​

Joseph Amenta - Documentary film-maker based in Toronto, Canada. Joseph is currently casting for his first LGBTQ feature film 'Tribe' which follows the story of three LGBTQ youth navigating life and the struggles they face. Actual youth from the community, rather than trained actors are being scouted for the project which has ran into delays due to the COID19 outbreak. Joseph talks about 'Tribe', his past work and where we are at in terms of representation in film and how LGBTQ lives are presented on screen.

Featuring..Rosie O'Donnell - American television personality, author, comedian, producer and actress who CNN once called President Donald Trump's arch nemesis. Rosie has a career spanning decades and has been a key voice speaking out against Trump and other political figures. Rosie had a highly popular TV show 'The Rosie O'Donnell Show' which won several Daytime Emmy Awards between 1996 and 2002. Rosie advocates for LGBTQ rights and fought for the right of same sex couples to adopt and foster. Sam Wise interviews Rosie about her feud with Trump, the current situation regarding COVID19 in the U.S. and looking ahead to November's Presidential election.

Cheryl Allison - Lesbian actress, director and documentary film-maker who's latest documentary 'Shatter The Silence' explores the rise of the 'Me Too' movement with a focus on her home state of Texas. The film was recently shown at the Texas Thin Line Fest which moved online due to the coronavirus pandemic. 'Hiding In Daylight' is her directorial debut, a chilling short film set in the future, in which being LGBTQ is outlawed in the United States.

Cameron Kroetsch - On the board of Hamilton Pride in Ontario, Canada Cameron gives an update on the 2020 event in light of COVID19 and discusses the disruption by white supremacists at the 2019 event and criticisms of the police force as a result. ​ Rebecca Moran - Detective Constable and the new LGBTQ Liaison for Hamilton Police talks about her new role and what the force can do to heal relations between LGBTQ people and the police.

Heidi is running for the Democratic nomination to run for Congress to represent Oregon District-1. If successful Heidi would be the first openly LGBTQ person to represent the district in Washington. We chat to Heidi about why she decided to run, being part of the 'Yang Gang' and the importance of having LGBTQ running for and being in public office.

Featuring... John Volturo - Los Angeles based LGBTQ executive, business and leadership coach talks about navigating times of crisis including what you can do to ease your anxiety. John has worked in companies both big and small for over 20 years and reveals why there is a pay gap between LGBTQ and straight workers. ​ Jenny & Liz (Taunton Pride) - As Pride festivals announce cancellations and postponements due to the Coronavirus Jenny and Liz explain why they are hopeful Taunton's first Pride might still be able to go ahead in July.

Featuring... Geoff Coleman - CEO of Mildmay Hospital in East London which specialises in HIV/AIDS care and was made famous by Princess Diana in the 1980's. The hospital is facing closure and a petition has been launched calling on the government to save it. ​ Drew Dalton - Founder of 'Report OUT' a charitable organisation which takes reports and raises awareness of the persecution of LGBTQ people around the World. This year the organisation will be visiting to Uganda to get a comprehensive understanding of what it's like to be LGBTQ in the country and the problems faced.

For episode 52 we are joined by Bisexual author Chris Bedell, who's new novel 'Ill See You Again' features two bisexual characters. We chat about the new book and the representation of bisexual people inside and outside of the LGBTQ community. Also - Jason Kattenhorn from 'Sassify Zine' a not-for-profit LGBTQ magazine chats about the project, coming out as pansexual and LGBTQ rights around the World.