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A New
GLBT Radio Show Debuts on Long Island
by Louis
Trapani
Revised:
Saturday, November 17, 2001 (Monday, November 5, 2001)
 December
1st is known as World's AIDS Day and "A
Day Without Art" traditionally throughout our
community and beyond, but this December 1st it will hold one
more meaning... it is the date of the debut of a new GLBT
radio programme covering Long Island!
The
show, OUTreach - More Than Just a Gay Radio Show
kicks off on December 1, 2001 with a special one hour broadcast.
It can be heard at 8 PM on 88.7 FM, WRHU, Radio Hofstra, based
out of Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY.
The
new weekly radio series will be a magazine/variety show in
its nature and will feature news, interviews, music, comedy,
an events calendar, and more. Future shows expect to cover
a range of topics that include everything from coming out
to AIDS to gay voters and queer veterans and so on...
Based
in Nassau County, the reach of the show hits as far west as
eastern Manhattan and as far east as western Suffolk. Though
the show will be available to all shortly in 2002 via the
Internet by web-casting at www.wrhu.org.
Speaking
of web sites, OUTreach has its own web site in the
works which can be found at outreachonair.com.
The site should be ready by November 15th.
The driving force behind this new show is Mike D'Antonio.
Having previously worked at commercial stations over the last
13 years in New England, upstate New York, New Jersey, and
here on Long Island, he felt the need to bring a new radio
show that would be for our community here on Long Island.
"I always wanted to bring news, information, music and
entertainment aimed at the gay and lesbian audience to the
airwaves. I felt that not only would the programming be unique,
it would be a much needed commodity," he pointed out.
88.7
FM, WRHU, Radio Hofstra University has been very receptive
to the concept of the new show. Mike explained, "They
agree that the show is definitely one that would be doing
a great service to the GLBT community on Long Island."
There
was a little hesitation concerning the original proposed tag
line slogan. Mike explains further, "Initially I proposed
"the queer radio show for everyone," however,
there was some discomfort with using the word "queer"
in the slogan, because many people surrounding the station
believed the word to be a slur. At first, I thought this was
ridiculous, since "queer" in 2001 is a word
the community has reclaimed. Still, as a way of gathering
information, I put the question to the folks who belong to
the li-pride listserv of which
I am also a member, and I was astonished that my perception
was so inaccurate. The response, which I thought would be
overwhelmingly favorable, ran at about 50/50, with those opposed
apparently strongly so."
 An
interesting point on the subject of the use of the word "queer"
was brought to Mike's attention. As he illustrates, "[One]
very astute respondent offered the idea that the reclamation
of "queer" is primarily still a West Coast
phenomenon, which might explain the hesitance of us East Coasters
to accept the term in the spirit intended. After meeting with
a committee set up to work on the issue, the new sell line
"More than just a gay radio show" was accepted,
even though it's not as inclusive as "The queer radio
show for everyone." It is, apparently, quite a bit
less offensive, as the University and the station have given
the slogan kudos. So, for now, we put the "queer"
issue to rest, although I reserve the right to revisit the
possibility in the future, perhaps as a topic on one episode
of the show."
Mike
quickly points out that despite the slogan issue, "the
radio station and Hofstra University were very receptive to
the idea of the program from the start, and I believe they
remain that way."
 OUTreach
is currently seeking assistance from the community as far
as feedback goes. Suggestions and questions can be submitted
through their web site. OUTreach is also seeking out
possible guests for the show. People that have made a difference
in the GLBT community (either locally, statewide, or nationally),
those that are connected to GLBT organizations, etc... that
could appear on the programme.
In
addition, OUTreach is outreaching to the community
looking for correspondents, writers, contributors, and as
already mentioned guests and suggestions for the new show.
You can contact
Mike of OUTreach with your input. In the very
near future, you can also reach the show via their web site,
outreachonair.com.
"...Which is being graciously provided free of charge
by the wonderful folks at winnlink.com,"
Mike added.
Some
of what we can look (hear) forward to on the show are the
following which Mike is now planning, "Still, since we
begin on December 1st, World AIDS Day, I plan to focus on
that issue in the opener, as well as providing an overview
of the gay community on Long Island. In the future, I plan
to do a show on gay and lesbian families, the boy scouts issue,
the queer impact on modern politics, a show I am calling "Gays
in Sportland," and other programs that show the breadth
and depth of the LGBT community."
Be
sure to tune in on Saturday night, December 1st at 8 PM to
88.7 FM for OUTreach - More Than Just a Gay Radio Show!
STOP
THE PRESSES:
This just in: On Sunday night, November 25th, 88.7 FM,
WRHU, Radio Hofstra University presents a special Sneak
Preview of OUTreach, featuring 4-hours of OUTreach
music. It begins at 11:00 p.m., and will include both commercially
popular and lesser known GLBT artists and music, as well as
several popular songs that over the years have served as gay-anthems
of sorts. From Melissa Etheridge and Erasure to Sandy
Rapp and Matthew Cloran and from "I'm Coming Out"
to "Relax" to "(We Are a) Family"
from DREAMGIRLS, the special sneak-preview will have a little
something for just about everyone.
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