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In this episode of the Laura Flanders Show, we explore both the struggles and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month 2023 by diving into the right-wing extremist backlash permeating the inclusive, family-friendly activity known as Drag Story Hour. We explore what LGBTQ activists are doing about it, and what the media is getting wrong (and right) in its portrayal of this conflict. 

Through the context of the historical brutality at New York's Stonewall Inn in 1969, as well as the modern legal challenges and reactionary legislations threatening queer self-expression — this episode highlights the various adversities faced by the community and what activists, allies and the media can do about it. 

Our guest, Naomi Dix, a drag artist from North Carolina, shares the shocking harassment her show faced in Moore County, which ultimately took place in the dark after a sabotage attack on an energy substation — an attack that left 45,000 households and businesses in the dark for five days in December 2022. 

In spite of such trials, the resilience and courage within the LGBTQ+ community and the role of allies in promoting diversity, acceptance, and empathy are on display through initiatives like Drag Story Hour. 

The media also plays a role in this conflict. Mainstream media often sensationalizes coverage of LGBTQ+ issues — but the movement calls for more nuanced, community-centric narratives. 

When looking at LGBTQIA+ issues through the historical lens of the gay rights movement, trans rights protests, and US Pride protests, the need for visibility, acceptance, and a balanced portrayal of the community's struggles and triumphs has never been clearer. 

Join us for this enlightening episode as we celebrate Pride Month 2023, reflecting on LGBT history, the gay and trans rights movement, and the ongoing fight for equality.

“We never thought in a million years, especially drag artists of my generation, that we would have to be facing the same things and issues that our parents were telling us that they were having to face in the 50s and the 60s and the 70s and the 80s.” - Naomi Dix

“What we're seeing is an overlapping of the identities that our communities represent, and the approach to how we combat these forces. It's really powerful when we can say the counter protestors outnumber those who don't want us here.” - Mitra Kalita

“I think that Drag Story Hour as a whole gives us a great look and a microcosm of drag trans and queer worlds, because it represents how they're being attacked in terms of losing rights to exist safely, and the Proud Boys, specifically digging their heels into inflammatory, destructive and untruthful accusations against these communities.” - Sam Zachar

Guests:

Naomi Dix: Drag Artist, Activist & Member of Durham NC BIPOC Operated House of Coxx; Co-Chair, Pride: Durham, NC

S. Mitra Kalita: Co-Founder, URL Media

Sam Zachar: Reporter, Podcast Producer, Epicenter-NYC

Full Show Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more to dive deeper.

Music In the Middle:   “Knockin’” by Nickodemus and Bad Colours featuring The Illustrious Blacks from Nickodemus’ Soul and Science Album, courtesy of Wonderwheel Recordings.

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What is causing the Black maternal mortality epidemic, and what can be done to save Black lives? The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any high-income nation in the world — and it is Black mothers who are dying at the highest rates. Black birthing people are three times more likely to die in childbirth, but about 84% of those deaths are preventable. For this episode of Meet the BIPOC Press with our partner URL Media, a network of Black and Brown owned and operated news outlets, Laura Flanders is joined again by co-host Sara Lomax of Philadelphia’s WURD Radio. They invite Marianne Fray, the CEO of Maternity Care Coalition and Kenya Hunter, the Atlanta Health Reporter for Capital B News, to discuss how Black women and birthing people are taking control of their pregnancies. Explore the community-centered responses that may lead to better pregnancy outcomes and a more equitable healthcare system.

“We all came into this world through some person and it is a miraculous thing. If we could spend a little time reflecting on that, and then set up ourselves or whomever chooses to have children with the best possible outcome.” - Marianne Fray

“There was a researcher from the University of Colorado, Boulder, who predicted a 21% jump in pregnancy-related deaths in the country if Roe v Wade was overturned. But that number then jumps to 33% when you're talking about Black women.” - Kenya Hunter

“. . . Birth was a business practice in many ways. Children were ripped from us. Black women were experimented on by the ‘father of gynecology,’ Marion Sims in the 1840s . . .  I do think Black women are carrying a lot of historical trauma related to birthing and childbearing.”

Guests:

Marianne Fray: CEO, Maternity Care Coalition

Kenya Hunter: Atlanta Health Reporter, Capital B News

Sara Lomax: Co-Founder, URL Media; President & CEO, WURD Radio

Full Show Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more to dive deeper.

Music In the Middle:   “Time Shlime” by Rithma courtesy of Om Records.

The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

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In this podcast episode, I discuss how Black and Brown-owned media outlets are growing with Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL and publisher of Epicenter NYC, Alexandra Martinez, senior news reporter at Prism, and Malak Silmi of Outlier Media. We also explore the federal impact on local communities and how access to the morning-after pill, the pandemic, and small business have been affected. Additionally, we discuss the rise of right-wing extremism and the complexities of the migrant influx into New York City. We also touch on the importance of coming together for collaboration and using the language of the impacted communities for reporting. Lastly, we thank the participants for their contributions and collaboration to this podcast.

Guests:

S. Mitra Kalita: Co-Founder, URL Media; CEO & Publisher, Epicenter-NYC

Alexandra Martinez: Senior News Reporter, Prism

Malak Silmi: Reporter, Outlier Media

Chapters:

(0:00:01) - BiPOC Media Outlets

(0:14:53) - Federal Impact on Local Communities

(0:30:03) - Siloing and the Right-Wing Red Wave

(0:41:59) - Coming Together for Collaboration

Chapter Summaries:

(0:00:01) - BiPOC Media Outlets (15 Minutes)

Meet the BiPOC Press' focuses on the growth of URL Media, a national network of black and brown-owned media outlets. Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL and publisher of Epicenter NYC, Alexandra Martinez, senior news reporter at Prism, and Malak Silmi of Outlier Media each shared their perspectives on the stories that will be driving news coverage in the coming year. Topics discussed included the economy, housing, finance, politics, reproductive justice, voting rights, public health and more. The conversation also focused on the use of the term 'BiPOC'

(0:14:53) - Federal Impact on Local Communities (15 Minutes)

This conversation examines how the current climate of emergency and lack of federal funding has impacted local communities across the US. Topics discussed include the FDA's recent approval of the abortion pill, the unequal access to the morning-after pill among different states, and how the pandemic has impacted small businesses and public health. The participants also discussed how different methods of reporting are being used to capture local meetings and to disrupt false narratives, as well as the anti-gay protests that have been occurring in cities across the country. They emphasize the importance of centering the solutions from the impacted communities and using the language they want to use.

(0:30:03) - Siloing and the Right-Wing Red Wave (12 Minutes)

This conversation focuses on the growing number of anti-trans bills, anti-abortion bills, and the rise of right-wing extremism across the United States. The participants discuss how they are covering these issues in their reporting and how they are reaching new audiences in an age where social media algorithms are increasingly limiting visibility. They also explore the complexities of the migrant influx into New York City and how the public services are struggling to provide support. It is discussed how media must be cautious when covering these stories and how trust and honest reporting is key to connecting with the communities affected by these issues'

(0:41:59) - Coming Together for Collaboration (0 Minutes)

This conversation focused on the mayor's visit to El Paso at the New Year and his announcement that eight thousand people have come into New in the past year. The participants discussed the significance of this influx of people and the collaboration between them in the monthly round table. The conversation ended with the speaker thanking the participants for their contribution and collaboration to the podcast'

Key Words:

BiPOC Media, URL Media, Mitra Kalita, Epicenter NYC, Alexandra Martinez, Prism, Malak Silmi, Outlier Media, Federal Impact, Local Communities, Morning-After Pill, Pandemic, Small Business, Right-Wing Extremism, Migrant Influx, New York City, Collaboration, Language of Impacted Communities, Economy, Housing, Finance, Politics, Reproductive Justice, Voting Rights, Public Health, Abortion Pill, Anti-Trans Bills, Anti-Abortion Bills, Social Media Algorithms, El Paso, Round Table

The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

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"What makes the obsession with polling so problematic is that it ignores the way that polls, even when they're right, are bad for our politics. Polls shrink our options, over-determine policy, and distract us from real life."

The F-Word is released bi-weekly featuring timely commentaries by Laura Flanders and guests. Flex your media muscles, become a monthly sustaining member for $3, $5, $12 at https://Patreon.com/theLFShow Independent Media! Advertising free!

The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

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Can you remember the last time when the challenges that inner city public school teachers face were the subject of a popular TV series? Abbott Elementary — which has just been renewed for a second season on ABC — does just that. The Philadelphia school on TV is fictional, but the challenges it faces are all too real. Closely based on the school that series creator (and star) Quinta Brunson attended, and especially her experiences with Ms. Abbott, her 6th grade teacher, the show combines art, education and activism. On this month’s Meet The BIPOC Press with URL Media, real-life educator Joyce Abbott joins acclaimed actress and activist Sheryl Lee Ralph from the series, to discuss what the show's success shows us about this moment, when educators, especially teachers of color, are leaving the profession in droves. Can a TV show help stem the tide, shift the culture and change policy? Among her many accolades, Ralph starred in the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls. Is quality education for all, a dream? Laura Flanders and co-hosts Mitra Kalita and Sara Lomax-Reese don't think it should be.

“The teachers, even though they get the school training, the college training, I don't think anything can prepare you for when you go into the classroom. We’re still in the pandemic, all the trauma with the civil unrest — it's a lot, and you have to be willing to invest a lot of time and a lot of energy.” - Joyce M. Abbott, Educator & Abbott Elementary Namesake

“There is something going on in the psyche of America when we would rather preach injustice, when we would rather tell our children a skewed view of the world. Something is going on in America and the good people, the wise people, must rise up and do better for each other, for all of us to keep the dream of the great United States of America alive.” - Sheryl Lee Ralph, Actress & Activist

Guests:

Joyce M. Abbott: Educator & Abbott Elementary Namesake

Sheryl Lee Ralph: Actress & Activist

S. Mitra Kalita (Co-Host): CEO & Co-Founder, URL Media

Sara Lomax-Reese (Co-Host): Co-Founder, URL Media

Full episode notes including related articles and LFShow episodes to watch and/or listen to are posted at https://Patreon.com/theLFShow. Patreon Members receive access to the FULL UNCUT CONVERSATION. We are listener & viewer sponsored. The show airs on 300+ Public Television households across the U.S., on over 40 community radio stations and as a podcast. Become a member at https://Patreon.com/theLFShow

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S. Mitra Kalita, the publisher of Epicenter-NYC, talks about leaving behind a high-profile job at CNN and a guaranteed paycheck to launch her own brand.

Kalita joined The Pivot Fund on Oct. 27, 2021, to discuss how she’s part of the movement to reimagine community-centered journalism and how Epicenter-NYC grew newsletters into an empire.

This conversation is co-moderated by The Pivot Fund's chief executive officer Tracie Powell and Liz Alarcón, the founder and executive director of Pulso, a nonprofit media start-up that shares news, history, and culture stories by and for Latinos.

The Pivot Fund Pod is edited and produced by ZMC Podcasts. 

Full episode notes are at https://Patreon.com/theLFShow

New York City will likely elect its second African American mayor in November. Eric Adams, currently the Brooklyn Borough President, was declared the winner of the Democratic primary in July. A former police officer who was himself beaten by the cops as a teenager, Adams campaigned against police brutality while positioning himself as a law and order candidate. Though much of the mainstream media has attempted to simplify Adams’ story, he’s a complex candidate who isn’t easily boxed in. What are the national implications of all this? In this episode, a co-production of The Laura Flanders Show and URL Media, co-hosts Mitra Kalita and Sara Lomax-Reese interview guests about covering Black candidates as Black and Brown media. Plus: reflections from Laura on the January 6th Capitol insurrection hearings and why it matters whom we hear from in the media.  Music in the Middle:  “Negro Sobre Blanco” by Grammy nominated Latinx artist Sofia Rei from her album Umbral.

Guest hosts:
Sara Lomax-Reese, co-founder of URL Media, a new network of Black and Brown-owned and led community media organizations.   And President and CEO of WURD, Philadelphia’s black owned radio station
Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL Media, and CEO and Publisher of Epicenter, NYC

Guests:
Charles D. Ellision, is the executive producer and Host of WURD Radio’s “Reality Check”;  and he’s the publisher of The BeNote covering politics and policies and a Contributing editor at The Root and The Philadelphia Citizen

Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, is the founder and Partner at Hollis Public Affairs.  She held office as a New York City Councilwoman from 2009 to 2017.

Felipe De La Hoz, Independent Journalist, co creator of Border Lines, a immigration policy newsletter.  He’s contributed as a independent journalist to The Intercept, The Washington Post, and The Nation to name a few.

While mainstream media or money media keeps you in a bubble, we’re committed to popping that bubble by continuing to bring you radical, intersectional media! Can we depend on you to chip in? Go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate and join our team by making a donation today. Thanks

The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

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The subversive, healing, and celebratory powers of music and media are at the heart of this week’s conversation, featuring Saida Pagán, a contributor to Palabra, a journalism site run by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and Dr. Guthrie Ramsey, a music historian, jazz musician and composer recently interviewed on WURD radio in Philadelphia. Pagán shares her take on the new hit movie In the Heights and the progress Latinx media is making in Hollywood; Guthrie reflects on Black joy as expressed through Black music.  “Meet the BIPOC Press” is a monthly feature of the Laura Flanders Show. This celebration for Black Music Month is hosted by Sara Lomax-Reese and Mitra Kalita, founder/directors of URL Media, a network of Black and Brown community news outlets that share content and revenue. The panel also addresses concerns about colorism in Latinx movie casting — and more! 

“Music, and the arts, has always been a way to express our full humanity and it’s always been our safety valve.” - Dr. Guthrie Ramsey

While mainstream media or money media keeps you in a bubble, we’re committed to popping that bubble by continuing to bring you radical, intersectional media! Can we depend on you to chip in? Go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate and join our team by making a donation today. Thanks

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BIPOC journalists reflect on what it is to be veterans of two of the most devastating wars in recent history: the coronavirus pandemic and the centuries-long war on Black bodies through systemic racism and police brutality. In this media roundtable—a collaboration between The Laura Flanders Show and URL Media—we take a different approach to Memorial Day. One that centers the work of BIPOC journalists from the front lines. How are they responding to the needs of their communities, and where do we go from here?  Music in the Middle features “Prosper” by Inez Barlatier feat. St. James Valsin and produced by the Guitars Over Guns Organization.

Our monthly media roundtable is hosted by URL Media co-founders Sara Lomax-Reese and S. Mitra Kalita and features Garry Pierre-Pierre, founder and publisher of The Haitian Times, and Mukhtar Ibrahim, editor and executive director of Sahan Journal.

We are coming to the finish line of our May Day to Memorial Day fund drive to raise $25,000. While mainstream media or money media keeps you in a bubble, we’re committed to popping that bubble by continuing to bring you radical, intersectional media! Can we depend on you to chip in? Go to LauraFlanders.org/donate and join our team by making a donation today. Thanks

The Laura Flanders Show Crew:  Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

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