Been There Done That

31 Oct 2018

The good … and the not-so-good

Activism, Anniversary, Diversity, Gay, History, Homophobia, Politics

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We begin this episode reporting on the moving ceremony when Mathew Shepard’s ashes were interred in the US National Cathedral – in a final act of respect, providing a safe place for his life to be remembered. The gay former-Bishop Gene Robinson officiated.
On a happier note, Gordon reports on the highly successful Coming Back Out Ball held in the Melbourne Town Hall, saying that its success is now being used as an example for seniors events internationally.

From our Anniversaries Book, we review the work and life of Gore Vidal – influential gay US social and political commentator, author, playwright, and essayist – born 3/10/1925, and died at 86 years on 31/7/2012.

Other anniversaries include the first broadcast of ABC TV in November 1956, and the desertification of the Asian Aral Sea – drained of its water for irrigation, and declared in 1990 as the worst ecological disaster.
Another sign of impending ecological damage is the expected loss of the world’s largest living organism – a huge underground root system which sends up thousands of clone Aspen trees, but which is unable to sustain itself as the new shoots are being eaten by feral grazing deer and other animals. Natural balance has been disturbed to the point of collapse.

From the international press we tell of a report that Chelsea Manning has undergone elective medical procedures to confirm her selected gender.
This contrasts with US Presidential proposals to re-define gender as birth-gender, ignoring the circumstances that trans and intersex people find themselves – often later in life – when gender-confusion is recognised. This can be distressful when the assigned sex and gender do not match the person’s gender identity or there are variations in sexual characteristics which do not fit the typical definitions for male or female bodies.

We also report on a UK proposal to alter the circumstances in which HIV positive gay men can seek parenthood.

Listen to these stories, opinions and more – presented with some merriment (where appropriate) by Chris, Gordon & Phil.

Show #828 – First broadcast on 30 October 2018