WFHB FireHouse Broadcasting

Transgender activist and University of Michigan graduate student Ethan Bluestein is back with updates on his personal transition and insight into issues surrounding surgery, body image and gender identity. Co-founder and steering committee member of the Inclusive Community Coalition from Columbus Indiana Sondra Bolte talks about this relatively new organization, the queer community in Columbus and their sponsorship of the upcoming visit by Lambda Legal representative Christopher Clark on March 29 at the Yes Cinema. Our featured musical artists are local band The Ladyquakes from their new album “Emotionally Unavailable”. bloomingOUT also features the latest in national and international queer headline news and a community calendar highlighting local and regional events of interest to the queer community and our allies. Hosted by Helen Harrell and Sean Lemieux.

Pastor of the Bloomington United Presbyterian Church Reverend David Bremer returns to the show to continue our conversation about the importance of acceptance of all individuals including the queer community by religious denominations and why some congregations and church leaders feel justified in their discrimination against various individuals and groups. Associate Director of the Indiana University Student Activities Office Darrell Ann Stone informs us about the “Why Are We Quiet?” panel discussion to be held this weekend at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. Also in the studio is IU graduate student Jan Marie Steele who shares information about the staged reading of the “Laramie Project” being performed on campus this weekend and the showing of an East German film “Burning Life”(in the vein of “Thelma and Louise”) which is part of IU’s DEFA project.

Indiana University professor and author of the acclaimed book “Out In The Country: Youth, Media and Queer Visibility in Rural America” Mary Gray discusses her experiences on the lecture circuit, feedback from queer youth nationwide and her plans for further research into small town homophobia and the lives of gay people in rural areas. Bloomington Hospital Health Services Coordinator Patrick Battani talks about the new Mpowerment project, a national program for queer/bi/questioning boys and men offered through locally through the hospital's Positive Link HIV prevention team.

Former bloomingOUT host Mark Brostoff, now Associate Dean at the Olin Business School and Director of the Weston Career Center at Washington University in St Louis, talks about LGBT youth and workplace issues. He notes the increasing acceptance of queers by Fortune 1000 companies, evidence of improved self confidence among today’s queer youth, and shares his opinion as a gay veteran about the elimination of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell" military policy. Middle Way House Crisis Intervention Services Coordinator Leila Voyles and Youth Program Director Monte Simonton talk about the organization's new same-sex domestic violence support group.

Immigration Equality communication director Steve Ralls provides updates on the status of federal immigration legislation relevant to same-sex couples and their families and HIV/AIDS-positive individuals. Reverend Bill Breeden from the Bloomington Unitarian Universalist Church, Rachael, owner of Rachael’s Café and community organizer Kevin Woodruff are in-studio to inform listeners about the LGBT/all-inclusive Valentine Dance coming up on February 20 and the "Standing on the Side of Love" initiative to re-imagine Valentine's Day in solidarity with the queer equality movement. Lylanne Musselman recounts the musical influences of the 1960s and generational differences on a new edition of "L Words" entitled “Under the Influence of the Beatles” part one.

Bloomington author Donovan Walling highlights the upcoming lecture by internationally recognized theologian Bishop John Shelby Spong who will discuss his philosophy of “Progressive Christianity” at the Bloomington First United Church on Sunday February 14. Walling also shares some personal history as author of the groundbreaking anthology “Open Lives, Safe Schools”, his role as co-founder of the Quarryland Men’s Chorus and other aspects of his extensive career in education. Northern Indiana activist Linda Bentz provides updates about the united organizing efforts by various community, student and queer groups in response to an offensive cartoon published recently in the University of Notre Dame student newspaper.

Pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Bloomington Reverend David Bremer informs listeners about the upcoming symposium January 30 addressing need for increased church involvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the U.S. and the efforts being made to help orphans in Uganda. He also discusses his own Christian beliefs that purport acceptance, affirmation and inclusion of everyone by religious communities. Indiana University School of Education graduate student Jan Marie Steele talks about the viewing of the East Berlin film “Coming Out” and community discussion to be held Saturday 30 January at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. IU Professor of Germanic Studies and Cinema Brigitta Wagner provides background for film with an overview of the “Cinema of the WENDE” genre.

Indiana University graduate student Abigail Sewell returns to discuss the intersection of racism and homophobia and how they affect individuals and the community at large. Director of the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre Danielle McClelland and PRIDE Film Festival organizer Eric Metzler are in our studio to provide further information about this year's festival to be held on January 27-31. Indiana Equality Action President Randy Studt calls in with legislative updates and information about the status of the anti-marriage constitutional amendment once again making its way through the Indiana General Assembly. bloomingOUT also features the latest in national and international queer headline news and a community calendar highlighting local and regional events of interest to the queer community and our allies. Hosted by Helen Harrell and Sean Lemieux.

Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan stops by the studio to chat about the political gains, losses and omissions experienced by the queer community during the first year of the Obama presidency. Kruzan also highlights local progress and breaks the news that Bloomington was just recently selected by The Advocate magazine as the 4th most accepting LGBT city in the country. Director of the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre Danielle McClelland and local IU student Jurion Jaffe stop by to inform listeners about the upcoming 7th annual Bloomington PRIDE Film Festival to be held January 27-31. Jaffe especially highlights the increased level of student involvement this year and the specific film events being held on campus and at Rhino’s local youth club.

Indiana University Communication and Culture professor Mary Gray and IU graduate students Bryon Craig and Abigail Sewell are in the studio to discuss the recent murder of black gay IU English Professor Don Belton. The conversation addresses issues of homophobia and racism as well as the reactions by Indiana University and the Bloomington community to this disturbing crime committed by a veteran of the Iraq War. Indianapolis therapist Michele O’Mara talks about grief and grieving on both an individual basis and by a community at-large and how this process is experienced differently by a marginalized group such as those who are LGBT and/or black. Our featured musical artist is Canadian singer-songwriter Amy Campbell with a track from her latest album "Oh Heart, Oh Highway".