Malawi Couple Pardoned by President

President Bingu of Malawi has pardoned the couple, Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, who were recently sentenced to 14 years hard labour on charges of homosexuality.

Peter Tatchell, the British human rights campaigner who has championed Steven and Tiwonge's case and support them personally, arranging prison visits, food parcels and medicine, said

"Our thanks to president Bingu and Ban Ki Moon for ending this terrible injustice. Steven and Tiwonge should never have been arrested, let alone jailed for five months, convicted and sentenced to 14 years hard labour. They love one another and have harmed no one.

On Saturday, several protest took place around the world against the sentence. At the time at which president Bingu's decision was being made public, about 250 people were facing the rain outside the Malawi High Commission in London. Pictures of the event are available on flickr here.

Embargoed Government Files Expose Homophobic Attitudes

Embargoed government files from 1974-1978 were released by The National Archives today, unveiling some of the disturbing attitudes government officials once held towards homosexuality - and how their approach was softened by the equality movement.

Read the full article in the Pink Paper here.

New Jewish Gay and Lesbian Radio Show Seeks Contributors

`The Joel Kafetz Show' will go on air in just three weeks time... It will feature comedy, showbiz, celebrities, news, discussion and debate from a Jewish lesbian and gay point of view.

The show will be broadcast online on JNet Radio every Sunday from 9-11pm GMT from June 13th (Click here to tune in).

The producers of the show are looking for reporters and contributors (phone in and in studio) in the US and UK who have something to say to the Jewish lesbian and gay community.

If this could be you or someone you know, please get in touch with me Joel Kafetz at joel@joelkafetz.com.

The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister on BBC2

Next week, BBC2 will broadcast a 90 min drama called The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister. Starring Maxine Peake (Criminal Justice, Little Dorrit), the film evokes the life of Anne Lister (1791–1840), a lesbian who, despite needing to keep her orientation secret from society at large, defied the conventions of her times by living with her female lover.

Anne, a Yorkshire landowner, industrialist, traveller, kept a detailed account of her life, loves and emotions in a fascinating and painfully honest four million word journal. A sizeable portion of the journal was written in code and the recent deciphering of these diaries provides an astonishing insight into the life of the woman who has been called Britain’s first modern lesbian.

The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister
Monday 31 May
BBC 2

We Remember Paul Patrick

As well as being Harvey Milk Day, May 22nd marked the untimely death of Schools OUT and LGBT History Month co-founder Paul Patrick.

Visit Paul's memorial website

Is The Malawi Couple Sentence A Trans Issue?

Yes, according to Natacha Kennedy. Writing in the Guardian's Comment is free section, Kennedy claims that Tiwonge, who lives as a woman when at liberty, is transgender, possibly intersex, and that failing to mention this is implicitly transphobic.

Read the full article in the Guardian here.

Protest for Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga

You probably have heard about the perceived gay couple in Malawi (Tiwonge identifies as female) who have just been sentenced to 14 years in jail simply for being in love. This is a protest to support them. Come along to the protest in London and bring your friends.

Date: Saturday, 29 May 2010
Time: 13:00 - 14:30
Location: outside the Malawi High Commission London
70 Winnington Road, London N2 0TX
Facebook event

Prevalence of Homophobia' - News Round Up

Following the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia launch of the 'Prevalence of Homophobia' surveys in the North West, the following news reports have appeared showing the true extent of homophobia in our schools.

- Homophobic abuse rife in Liverpool schools by Marc Waddington, Liverpool Echo
- Liverpool marks International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), Liverpool Daily Post:
- Peter Tatchell to launch Liverpool anti-homophobic bullying plan, Crosby Herald
- Coronation Street Antony Cotton in gay-hate bullies plea, MEN
- Homophobia still rife in schools, warns NUT, Oldham Chronicle

in addition BBC Radio GMR featured coverage of the story in its morning and afternoon news bulletin. This included an interview with Prof. Martin Hall (Vice-Chancellor of Salford University) host of the NUT launch. Commercial Radio Key 103 included interviews from those attending the launch in its news bulletins and feature.

Schools OUT and LGBT History Month Co-Chair, Tony Fenwick, said, "At last the press is reporting what teachers and pupils have known for ages; that homophobia is endemic in our schools. Now we need to challenge the Government, the LEAs and our school's leaders to take on homophobia and eradicate it."

BBC Airs Documentary on LGB People in Sport

BBC1 is airing a documentary on LGB people - or the lack of them - in sport. The programme, entitled Inside Sport: The Last Taboo? will go out on Monday 24th May at 11.20pm. Presented by Mark Chapman, it includes interviews with Donal Cusack, tennis legend Martina Navratilova, former Wales and Lions rugby captain Gareth Thomas and ex-NBA star John Amaechi, all of whom talk about the reactions they received from team-mates and fellow sportsmen following their decision to go public with their sexuality.

Gareth and John are also patrons of LGBT History Month, which will be focussing on sport over the next two years.

Find out more about the programme here.

LGBT related Radio and TV Programmes, 22nd - 28th May

We seek them out so you don't have to. This is our weekly non-exhaustive round up of upcoming LGBT programmes on the radio and television. Inclusion of a programme is not a recommendation.

Some of the programmes listed below will be available online on the respective network's websites.

Enjoy!

LGBT TV and radio

Listings (times given are pm unless otherwise stated)

Saturday 22nd

Terrestrial
BBC1 - 7: Over the Rainbow
BBC1 - 8: National Lottery. Dale Winton
BBC1 - 8.55: Over the Rainbow. The end
ITV1 - 10.10: The Prisoner. Stars Ian McKellen. The end
C4 - 3.55: Come Dine with Me
C4 - 7: Film: The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. Ian McKellen

Freeview
BBC3 - 11.10: Family Guy
BBC3 - 11.55: American Dad
BBCHD - 7: Over the Rainbow
BBCHD - 8.55: Over the Rainbow
Dave - 10.20: Have I Got News forYou. Clare Balding guests

Satellite and cable
Watch - 9: The Catherine Tate Show. With Paul O’Grady
Comedy Central - 10: Alan Car: The Tooth Fairy
FX - 8: American Dad
FX - 9: Family Guy
Discovery Real Time - 4.30: Come Dine with Me
Bio - 9: Dolly Parton

Film Channels
Indie - 7.45: Milk. To celebrate Milk Day in California

Sunday 23rd

Terrestrial
BBC1 - 4.45: Lifeline. Appeal presented by sandi Toksvig
BBC2 - 10: Wham! Special
ITV1 - 8: Britain’s Got Talent
C4 - 1.35: Glee. Repeat from Friday
C4 - 8: Come Dine with Me

Freeview
BBC3 - 10: Family Guy
More4 - 5.10: Come Dine with Me

Satellite and cable
Sky1 - 7: Pineapple Dance Studios
Living - 8am: Will and Grace
Living - 11am: Will and Grace
Living - 6: Grey’s Anatomy
Comedy Central Extra - 10am: The King of Queens
Comedy Central Extra - 6: Frasier
Comedy Central Extra - 9: Sex and the City
Comedy Central - 11.20: Alan Carr: The Tooth Fairy
Discovery Real Time - 12.30: Come Dine with Me

Monday 24th
BBC1 - 10.50: The Graham Norton Show
BBC1 - 11.20: Inside Sport: The Last Taboo. Why are lesbians and gays invisible in sport?
BBC2 - 9: Filth. Julie Walters does Mary Whitehouse (rpt)
BBC2 - 11.20: Fame. Film of the forerunner of Glee
C4 - 7.10am: everybody Loves Raymond
C4 - 8am: Frasier
C4 - 8.30am: Will and Grace
C4 - 11.05: The Lazarus Effect. Examines antiretroviral medication and its effects on HIV sufferers

Freeview
BBC3 - 11.30: Family Guy
BBCHD - 10.35: The Graham Norton Show
Dave - 9: QI
E4 - 9: Glee
More4 - 12midnight: Brothers and Sisters

Satellite and Cable
Comedy Central - 5.10: Frasier
FX - 9: Family Guy
FX - 9.30: American Dad

Tuesday 25th

Terrestrial
BBC1 - 11.05: The Graham Norton Show. Rpt.
ITV1 - 10.30: This Morning. Graham Norton talks about the Eurovision Song Contest
C4 - 8am: Frasier
C4 - 8.30am: Will and Grace
C4 - 8: Gok’s Fashion Fix

Freeview
BBC3 - 8: Eurovision Song Contest. Semi-final
BBC3 - 11: Family Guy
BBC4 - 9: Stephen Fry on Wagner
Dave - 9: QI

Satellite and cable
FX - 9: Family Guy
FX - 11: American Dad
Discovery Real Time - 2: Come Dine with Me

Film Channels
Sci Fi/Horror - 12.20am: Silence of the Lambs. Jodie Foster
TCM - 9: Women in Love. Because it has a nude wrestling scene with Oliver Reed and Alan Bates and the pit scenes were filmed at my dad’s colliery in Bedlington. So there!

Wednesday 26th

Terrestrial
BBC1 - 11.45: Film: The Walker. Society drama/thriller about a gay chaperone whose world is brought down
ITV1 - 8: The National Movie Awards
C4 - 8am: Frasier
C4 - 8.30am: Will and Grace
Five - 10: Eurovision: A Song for Justin

Freeview
BBC3 - 11.30: Family Guy
More4 - 2.20: Come Dine with Me

Satellite and Cable
FX - 9: Family Guy
FX - 9.30: American Dad
FX - 11.10: True Blood
Discovery Real Time - 2: Come Dine with Me

Thursday
ITV1 - 7: Emmerdale. Aaron tries to go back into the closet
C4 - 8am: Frasier
C4 - 8.30am: Will and Grace

Freeview
BBC3 - 8: Eurovision Song Contest. Second semi-final
BBC3 - 11: Family Guy
BBC3 - 11.45: American Dad!
E4 - 11: Glee
More4 - 10: Brothers and Sisters

Satellite and Cable
Sky1 - 8: Modern Family
Living - 9: Grey’s Anatomy
FX - 10: American Dad
FX - 11.05: Family Guy
Discovery Real Time - 2 & 8: Come Dine with Me

Film Channels
TCM - 6: The Trials of Oscar Wilde. Peter Finch plays the writer in this movie, made in 1960 when male homosexuality was illegal

Friday

Terrestrial
C4 - 8am: Frasier
C4 - 8.30am: Will and Grace
C4 - 1.05: Come Dine with Me
C4 - 8: Glee
C4 - 9: Embarrassing Bodies: Kids. Dr Christian investigates
Five - 9: The Mentalist
Five - 10: Grey’s Anatomy

Freeview
Dave - 10.10: QI
E4 - 9: Gok’s Fashion Fix
More4 - 11: Heroes of Comedy

Satellite and Cable
Sky Arts 2 - 1.30: Simon Callow’s Classical Destinations
Discovery Real Time - 2: Come Dine with Me

Radio

Saturday 22nd
BBC Radio 2 - 1: Pick of the Pops. Dale Winton
BBC Radio 2 - 6: Going Out with Alan Carr
BBC Radio 2 - 8: Paul Gambaccini
BBC Radio 4 - 6.07: Ramblings. Clae balding on the South Downs Way
BBC Radio 4 - 12.30: The News Quiz Sandi Toksvig
BBC Radio 4 - 4: Weekend Woman’s Hour
BBC Radio 4 - 11: Counterpoint. Paul Gambaccini

Sunday 23rd
BBC Radio 2 - 1: Elaine Page. Stage musicals
BBC Radio 2 - 5: Paul O’Grady
BBC Radio 4 - 4: Open Book. Often has LGBT content
BBC Radio 4 - 8.30: Last Word. Ditto
BBC Radio 7 - 4.30: The News Quiz

Monday 24th
BBC Radio 2 - 10: JFK: The First Pop President. With input from Gore Vidal
BBC Radio 4 - 9.45am: The History of the World in 100 Objects. The Warren Cup. A small ornamental piece from the Roman Empire that graphically depicts two men engaging in anal penetrative sex and its impact on museums around the world
BBC Radio 4 - 11am: Football Fights Back. Eradicating prejudice from the great game
BBC Radio 4 - 12.53: Moments of Genius. Stephen Fry
BBC Radio 4 - 1.30: Counterpoint. Paul Gambaccini

Tuesday 25th
BBC Radio 4 - 4.30: Great Lives. Matthew Parris talks to Viv Anderson about England’s first black professional footballer Arthur Wharton

Wednesday 26th
BBC Radio 4 - 8: Devil’s Advocate. Debates fashion and feminism

Thursday 27th
BBC Radio 4 - 3: Ramblings. See Saturday
BBC Radio 4 - 8.30: The Bottom Line. Evan Davis

Friday 28th
BBC Radio 4 - 4: Last Word
BBC Radio 4 - 6.30: The News Quiz
BBC Radio 4 - 11: Great Lives. Matthew Parris
6 Music - 7: Tom Robinson
BBC Radio 7 - 12noon & 7: Round the Horne

Local and web

If you want us to tell everyone about your radio broadcasts, email fenwicktony[at]hotmail.com

For a global classification of queer radio on line:
http://radiotime.com/Search.aspx?query=gay&so=26,52,78 and
http://radiotime.com/Search.aspx?query=Lesbian
Gay Internet Radio Live (G.I.R.L.) is on the air 24 hours a day with dance music from the US at www.gayinternetradiolive.com.

Wythenshaw 97.2 FM, a community radio station, airs a lesbian and gay radio magazine programme once weekly, according to Out North West Magazine published by the Lesbian and Gay Foundation in Manchester. Podcast http://www.tuesdaynightout.co.uk/

GayRadio-UK is a new online radio station in Blackpool and promises a variety of LGBT programming. The audio stream is at www.gayradiouk.com. Guests iunclude lesbian actress Amanda Barrie, gay icon Su Pollard and radical actor Richie Tomlinson. Daily programmes are uploaded at the most popular gay podcast site on the net, Feast of Fun www.feastoffools.net, with a speech based programme of LGBT guests, news digest and light-hearted discussion.

Galaxy North East
Monday-Friday 4-7pm: James Barr

BBC Radio Manchester - 95.1 and online
Every Monday 8pm: The Gay Hour, Ashley Byrne and Andrew Edwards

BBC London - 94.9 and online
Monday – Friday 3-5pm: Danny Baker. With Amy Lamé or Baylen Leonard

Gaydar Radio - Brighton, London DAB and online 24/7

Manchester’s gaydio www.gaydio.co.uk

Radio North Manchester 106.6 FM
Sundays - 11am: Passport. Also look out for their women's programmes

FYI Radio (gay youth radio) - online (currently only podcast but soon to grow to a fully fledged station) www.fyiradio.net

www.pinkeradio.com

Last Tuesday of the month - 6pm
Out in South London - local LGBT radio show with Rosie Wilby and guests
Listen online at www.southcityradio.org