Outbeat Radio News

Coming out as transgender it tough enough, but imagine coming out as a transgender woman in the fire department. Bobbie Scopa did just that years before most others and ended up having a hugely successful 45 year long career! Her new memoir titled, “Both Sides of the Fire Line” comes … Continue reading →

Monkeypox is the latest health emergency in the United States and men who have sex with men seem to be among a large group being infected. This month we will share the facts and myths about Monkeypox with Lorie Violette, Prevention Director at Face to Face here in Sonoma County. … Continue reading →

With the recent Supreme Court decision taking away the right to an abortion comes worry that LGBTQ+ civil rights could be next. This month we talked with Dr. Jack Drescher, past President of the Group for Advancement of Psychiatry and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), … Continue reading →

This month we talk with Michael Roberts about his new book, “Behind Sacred Walls.” Roberts, a gay man, tells his own story of how he was groomed and sexually and psychologically abused by Catholic priests for more than a decade starting when he was just a teenager. Roberts talks about … Continue reading →

This week we conclude our series of interviews with the candidates for Sonoma County Sheriff. This June voters will elect the next Sheriff and the person who will lead law enforcement in Guerneville and all of the other unincorporated areas of Sonoma County. This month we introduce you to Dave … Continue reading →

We continue this month introducing you to the candidates running for sheriff in Sonoma County. As the chief law enforcement officer of the county, the sheriff is responsible for overseeing the deputies who interact and serve Sonoma County’s huge LGBTQ+ population including Guerneville and the cities the sheriff contracts with, … Continue reading →

Our conversations with the candidates for Sonoma County Sheriff continue this month with Carl Tennenbaum. He is one now only three candidates left in the race. We are asking all of the candidates about their experience working with the LGBTQ+ community and their thoughts about things like having an LGBT … Continue reading →

In June Sonoma County voters will select the next County Sheriff. There are four candidates competing for the job and we’ve invited all four to be guests on our show over the next four months. This is your chance to get to know the candidates so you can make the … Continue reading →

Last year two stories of racism and homophobia in Bay Area fire departments made headlines. This month we take an in depth look at these issues. Our guests include Kevin Mallison, author of “Alarm In The Firehouse and first “out” firefighter in the nation. Ed Senatore returns to talk about … Continue reading →

We’re wrapping up 2021 with an in depth look at one of the most important issues of the year – immigration. In more than 70 countries, being LGBTQ+ is a capitol offense and those found “guilty” can face the death penalty. Seeking asylum in the United States is a matter … Continue reading →

Meet Sebastopol’s new police chief, Kevin Kilgore. He and his husband are new to the North Bay moving here from southern California where Chief Kilgore previously worked as a police lieutenant at the UCLA Police Department. He will share his story growing up and talk about some of the pressing … Continue reading →

This month we are celebrating the work of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence! Sister Roma from the San Francisco Order is known as “the most photographed nun in the world!” We’ll talk with her about her 34 years of service to our community and learn what drives her to keep … Continue reading →

There is a movement in the Castro neighborhood to replace the giant rainbow Pride flag with the newer progress flag. The flag pole and rainbow flag was installed near Market and Castro by the rainbow flag’s creator Gilbert Baker and stands there both as a landmark and as a tribute … Continue reading →

As law enforcement continues to struggle with building trust with the communities they serve, the District Attorney in Napa County has created an innovative partnership with the local LGBT center to locate services in the center in order to build trust and to make services more accessible to members of … Continue reading →

June 5, 2021 marked 40 years since AIDS first emerged in the gay community. After the government and most of society ignored the growing epidemic, ACT UP formed in 1987 to change the course of the country’s response. ACT UP was one of the successful and unconventional activist organization in … Continue reading →

Happy Pride! We love celebrating Pride Sunday with our listeners every year and this year is no exception. We are partying with singer, song-writer Stephen Scaccia. He shares his personal story and some of his music. We discovered him a few months back and featured his rendition of “Rise Up” on … Continue reading →

On this Outbeat Extra edition of Outbeat News In Depth, we celebrate the start of Pride month 2021 and the 6th anniversary of the marriage equality decision with the lead plaintiff in the case, Jim Obergefell. Jim has become an amazing activist. Jim was recently featured in the Netflix docu-series, … Continue reading →

This month we begin by talking with film maker and screen writer Ondi Timoner who just this month released “Mapplethorpe – The Director’s Cut.” You may have seen the original film, but you really didn’t see the film because much of it was cut out, until now. Robert Mapplethorpe was … Continue reading →

The animus toward the transgender community in this country continues to be disturbing. We’ve reported on the Outbeat News segment the alarming number of transgender people murdered each year and as we shared last month, the violence is targeted equally at transgender men and women. New legislation in states across … Continue reading →

Immigration has been a political, social, and media story especially during the four years of the Trump administration. Often lost in the debate are the millions of individual stories of struggle and success for those who come to this country. This month we talk with Harma Hartouni – a Survivor. Gay, … Continue reading →