Tonight on Pride Connection Gabriel and Anthony along with master engineer Byron welcome Chris Snyder as we discuss LGBT romantic literature, films and shows! We wanted to ring in the new year with some fun and suggestions on how to warm up the cold winter nights ahead.
Blind Pride International and Pride Connection have brought our community many deeply meaningful conversations in the last year, and this Tuesday we want to celebrate our newest Community Call. Every other Wednesday night new BPI member Desiree hosts our Sexual Health Community Call.
Let’s get to know her and the Journey to bring this fascinating series of conversations to the BPI and ACB Members. Flirting, Consent and Body Language have been topics so far but this energetic member says this is only the beginning.
Then, Gabriel, Leah and Anthony will preview BPI’s Winter Virtual Convention!!! BPI’s 20-year journey has affixed our affiliate as one of ACB’s strongest! Through serious membership restructuring and the renewed energy of BPI’s leadership we helped lead ACB in the early stages of Community Calls and have been strong in our programming all year. Thus ACB Radio asked if we wanted to be the very first special interest affiliate to hold its own convention; we rise to this challenge, and this January we will hold the first BPI convention. We are known for programs at National Convention such as Mind/Body and Wine Wisdom. These topics are, of course, on the menu for January; however, we have come up with some amazing programming and we will announce the line-up and some special surprises on this week’s show.
In 1987, the United Nations declared December 1 as World AIDS Day, a day to unite in the fight to end the HIV epidemic, support people living with HIV, and honor those who have lost their life.
Join Gabriel, Leah, Anthony, and special guest, Tom Babcock in a discussion about the history and significance of the HIV epidemic. The LGBT community was and continues to be strongly impacted by HIV and AIDS. We will also talk about the socio-political impact on the LGBT community in the United States and around the world.
Pride Connection airs every Tuesday at 10:00 PM EDT on ACB Radio Mainstream. You can also find Pride Connection in your favorite podcast catcher.
For comments and suggestion, please contact Pride Connection at:
Blind LGBT Pride Int. Launched Pride Connection just a month before the plague known as COVID-19 ravaged its way into America and changed life as we all knew it. Over these 10 months we have presented many informative, introspective and forward thinking conversations and this week is no exception.
Is there room at the table this year for sides of joy and gratitude? Has the fatigue of the election and the massive efforts drained us all?? There have been so many moments of sadness and loneliness that it seems so very hard to fathom reasons to give thanks this year but PRIDE CONNECTION wants to find, embrace and share all the reasons we still have to be thankful.
We have not only one but multiple vaccines and new treatments up for review. We have a new strong and humble leader waiting to lead us out of the dark. BPI ad parent organization ACB found and flourished community in ways that will last long past the pandemic and of course we have each other.
Join Anthony, Leah and President Gabriel as Pride Connection finds the thanks in giving this year.
Listen Tuesday night at 10pm eastern on ACB Radio Mainstream or find it on podcast catchers under ACB Pride Connection
Post Script thank-you’s from Pride Connection : Jason and Debbie and all of the amazing folks of ACB Radio, it has been an incredible 10 months of Pride!
Tim Cumings and Byron Lee are incredible engineers who keep us sounding professional.
Eric Bridges and Dan Spoone who lead all of the leadership of ACB and have been so supportive of the sensitive topics we have tackled
Huge Thanks to every guest who has shared their thoughts, feelings and theemselves with Pride Connection.
Gratitude served with garnish to all BPI and ACB Members and to all of the listening audience who makes Pride Connection worth every hour spent making a show for us all to be proud of.
It may be hard to be as thankful this year but together it will be and has been a place for all of us to be exactly who we are with friends, family and allies who love us just as we are!!
Please join us on Pride Connection this evening. We will engage in a lively discussion surrounding the news concerning 2 COVID-19 vaccinations that apparently, if press releases can be believed, have an over 90% rate of protection against virus infection. If you had the opportunity to participate in final testing trials, would you do so? Is the risk worth it?
We will open a Zoom line for audience participation in this provocative topic. We hope you will share your insights on the vaccination question.
Pride Connection airs live on ACB Radio mainstream every Tuesday evening at 10 PM EST, 7 PM PST. Our podcast can also be found on any podcast catcher by searching for "ACB Pride Connection".
The Election is over and the ballots have been counted (or at least most of them have) leaving us with a clear winner. Pride Connection wants to hear from all BPI members on their voting experiences and election feelings.
Join Gabriel, Leah and Anthony as they share their opinions on the outcomes, what’s next and what this change in power means for our community. The lines will be open for all BPI mwmbers to join the call and share with us.
Our exceptional ally and affiliate member Cheryl Cumings interviews Brandie Sendziak, supervising attorney at the Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco. As the Covid 19 pandemic continues to adversely affect all facets of our society, the discussion revolves around "standard of care" guidelines for hospitals and other medical facilities. Early on in the pandemic, much fear surrounded the possibility that those with disabilities, seniors and those with underlying health conditions would be de-prioritized for life saving treatment if capacity levels grew scarce in hospitals. Standard of care guidelines were created in California and other states to try and prevent this scenario from unfolding. Brandy and Cheryl discuss adoption of these standards and how we can all advocate for ourselves during this unprecedented time. Cheryl will remain with us after the interview for a round table discussion on this topic.
With the participation of special co-hosts Richard Marion (British Columbia, Canada) and Tom Babcock (Orlando, Florida)!
Matthew Wayne Shepard (December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998) was a gay American student at the University of Wyoming who was beaten, tortured, and left to die near Laramie on the night of October 6, 1998. He was taken by rescuers to Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he died from severe head injuries six days later.
Suspects Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were arrested shortly after the attack and charged with first-degree murder following Shepard's death. Significant media coverage was given to the murder and what role Shepard's sexual orientation played as a motive for the commission of the crime. The prosecutor argued that McKinney's murder of Shepard was premeditated and driven by greed. McKinney's defense counsel countered by arguing that he had intended only to rob Shepard but killed him in a rage when Shepard made a sexual advance toward him. McKinney's girlfriend told police that he had been motivated by anti-gay sentiment, but later recanted her statement, saying that she had lied because she thought it would help him. Both McKinney and Henderson were convicted of the murder, and each of them received two consecutive life sentences.
Shepard's murder brought national and international attention to hate crime legislation at both the state and federal level. In October 2009, the United States Congress passed the Matthew Shepard – James Byrd Jr Hate Crimes Legislation (commonly the "Matthew Shepard Act" or "Shepard/Byrd Act" for short), and on October 28, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the legislation into law.
Following her son's murder, Judy Shepard became a prominent LGBT Rights activist and established the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Shepard's death has inspired films, novels, plays, songs, and other works.
Tonight, on Pride Connection, BPI Members Richard Marion and Tom Babcock co-host with us to remember Matthew Shepard. Both Richard and Tom bring to the table first-hand knowledge of the case; they have both been strong LGBT-rights advocates; and they have personal experiences in this arena. Richard and Tom will also discuss with us how the LGBTQ community is still being the target of many hate crimes in the United States and in other parts of the world.
As always, Pride Connection welcomes your comments, requests, and suggestions. You can reach us at:
Many of you may remember a historic resolution presented by Blind LGBT Pride International (BPI) this past Summer to the Resolutions Committee and to the Advocacy Team of the American Council of the Blind. Drafted in a collaboration between BPI and Kim Charlson and Paul Edwards, this resolution gained immediate action thanks to the tireless efforts of BPI LifeTime Member, Terry Gorman.
BPI’s original resolution consisted on urging National Library Services (NLS) to include an LGBTQ category. We were able to back up our ask by offering a compilation of all LGBTQ titles already available on BARD. This compilation was the result of the continuous and meticulous work of none other than Terry Gorman.
Terry has a passion for learning through reading, and has an encyclopedic knowledge of literature in general. He decided to undertake the task of creating a catalog of all LGBTQ-related titles available through NLS. When he presented this beautifully compiled bibliography to BPI, we were sure we needed to complement Terry’s laborious toil, and decided to move forth with our resolution.
Even though we did not have an in-person General Session this year, BPI promoted this resolution together with Terry’s bibliography at different ACB-Convention workshops where NLS representatives were present. To our surprise, and thanks to Terry’s already-completed bibliography, NLS acted upon our ask in a matter of days! BPI then worked with ACB’s Resolution Committee to adjust our resolution, now thanking NLS for the incorporation of an LGBTQ category, and requesting the distinction of three LGBTQ categories- Fiction, non-fiction, and young adult.
Tonight, we are honored and humbled to talk to Terry Gorman. He will tell us about his passion for Braille and literature. He will share his personal journey with us. He will also tell us what prompted him to undertake this project that has become a milestone enriching the life of those of us who are part of the intersectionality of being blind/visually impaired and LGBTQ. Terry has also been working on other projects that include platforms like Bookshare, and he will share this and other impactful initiatives he is currently leading.
Be a part of Pride Connection!
The theme song of Pride Connection; "Rainbow Connection" has been covered by many noteworthy and not-so-noteworthy bands over the years. We thought it would be cool to pair the voices of our community with the voices behind these covers of our theme song! If you want your voice to be featured in the intro and outro of our weekly radio show and podcast, then keep reading for more details!
Step 1:
Record yourself reading the intro and outro script included in this e-mail. Don't worry if you mess up... just start over and we'll fix it with the magic of post-production! Please record your voice with the highest quality settings you can.
Step 2:
Pick a version of "Rainbow Connection" that you would like your voice on top of. Include an alternate version in case someone else has already taken the one you wanted. If there is a version that is not on the list please let us know who it is by and if possible, provide us with a link to where we can hear it.
Step 3:
E-mail us your recording and song pick, we'll do the rest! Send all submissions to [email protected] the subject line of "Rainbow Connection".
Intro Script:
BPI Presents: Pride Connection. Sponsored by Blind LGBT Pride International. Tuesdays at 10 PM Eastern on ACB Radio Mainstream or wherever you get your podcasts.
Outro Script:
You have been listening to Pride Connection, sponsored by Blind LGBT Pride International. For more information go to blindLGBTpride.org.
Cover Versions:
The Rainbow Connection by Kermit Rainbow Connection by Dana Valery The Rainbow Connection by Kamahl The Rainbow Connection by Judy Collins The Rainbow Connection by Daryle Rice with The Loonis McGlohon Quartet Rainbow Connection by Ronny Whyte The Rainbow Connection by Mary O'Hara Rainbow Connection by Lea Salonga Rainbow Connection by The Band of the Royal New Zealand Navy The Rainbow Connection by Gloria Loring The Rainbow Connection by Michelle Nicastro The Rainbow Connection by Kenny Loggins Rainbow Connection by Fifteen. The Rainbow Connection by Peter Cousens The Rainbow Connection by Charles Tichenor Rainbow Connection by Less Than Jake The Rainbow Medley: Rainbow Connection by Paige O'Hara The Rainbow Connection by Me First and The Gimme Gimmes Rainbow Connection by Voice Male [US] Rainbow Connection by Willie Nelson The Rainbow Connection by Carpenters The Rainbow Connection by Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand The Rainbow Connection by Daniel Ahren Rainbow Connection by The Jabberwocks Rainbow Connection by Kacey Musgraves The Rainbow Connection by Sarah McLachlan Rainbow Connection by Peter Cincotti Rainbow Connection by Mark Trevorrow The Rainbow Connection by Dixie Chicks Rainbow Connection by Jason Mraz The Rainbow Connection by Kiki & Herb The Rainbow Connection by Jeff Hedberg The Rainbow Connection by David Hobson The Rainbow Connection by Johnny Mathis Rainbow Connection by Wendee Glick Rainbow Connection by John Cassel Rainbow Connection by Jasper Kump Rainbow Connection by Double Down Rainbow Connection by MichaelAngelo Rainbow Connection by Daphne Rubin-Vega The Rainbow Connection by Paul Williams, Willie Nelson Rainbow Connection by Beverley Mahood The Rainbow Connection by Dwayne Britton The Rainbow Connection by Beth McDonald Rainbow Connection by Jane Monheit The Rainbow Connection by Trespassers William Rainbow Connection by Weezer and Hayley Williams The Rainbow Connection by Maria Markesini The Rainbow Connection by Josh Young Rainbow Connection by Amy Yassinger Rainbow Connection by Marissa Mulder The Rainbow Connection by edu Rainbow Connection by Joey Sontz Rainbow Connection by Chapter 6 Rainbow Connection by Marco Rosato Rainbow Connection by Regine Velasquez-Alcasid Rainbow Connection by Glee Cast Rainbow Connection by Zee Avi The Rainbow Connection by Nick Ziobro Rainbow Connection by Joshua Payne Rainbow Connection by Death Blossoms The Rainbow Connection by Diana Panton Rainbow Connection by Gwen Stefani Rainbow Connection by Emerson Parris Rainbow Connection by Sam Tsui Rainbow Connection by Malinda Kathleen Reese Rainbow Connection by Megan Hilty Rainbow Connection by Jeremy Stolle The Rainbow Connection by Nicki Parrott Rainbow Connection by Joe Stilgoe Rainbow Connection by Sleeping at Last The Rainbow Connection by Adam Lopez Rainbow Connection by Lisa Loeb Rainbow Connection by Alexis Michelle Rainbow Connection by Andy Reed Rainbow Connection by The Radish Friends The Rainbow Connection by Mimi Bessette Rainbow Connection by Michael Longoria Rainbow Connection by Pomplamoose Rainbow Connection by Joseph Vincent Rainbow Connection by Puddles Pity Party featuring Petra Haden Rainbow Connection by The Midnight Strings Orchestra The Rainbow Connection by David Weiss with Members of the Los Angeles Philarmonic The Rainbow Connection by Kenny Drew Jr. The Rainbow Connection by Joe Locke The Rainbow Connection by Ken Rhodes Trio Rainbow Connection by Tommy Newsom Rainbow Connection by Jacek Mielcarek, Marek Walarowski The Rainbow Connection by John Livingston Rainbow Connection by Lorie Line The Rainbow Connection by Dave Baker Rainbow Connection by Jackie Bradley The Rainbow Connection by Paul Rigby The Rainbow Connection by Jim McDonough The Rainbow Connection by Ted Yoder The Rainbow Connection by Lullaby Baby Trio Rainbow Connection by Midnite String Quartet Rainbow Connection by Death Blossoms Rainbow Connection by Adriel Bote The Rainbow Connection by Acoustic Heartstrings Rainbow Connection by Stringspace Rainbow Connection (Moopets version) by Fozzie Bear and The Moopets Chanson de l'arc-en-ciel by Kermit Rainbow Connection by The Brothers Cazimero
Join Pride Connection this evening at 10 PM EST, 7 PM Pst on ACB Radio Mainstream. We continue our discussion of COVID-19 and its effect on employment in the visually impaired community. This week, we speak with 4 women who were gainfully employed as the COVID storm hit but found themselves abruptly uprooted early on in the crisis. How does one cope with such sudden life changes that were unanticipated. Kerri Regan, Hannah Mae Aldeza, Jessica Kell and Victoria Herrera share their challenging experiences with us and their hopes and outlook on the future.