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  OUT cast 11/02/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  Tune in to OUT Cast, (90.9 FM WMPG) on Monday, November 2, 2020 from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m., for an interview with Rev. Effie McAvoy on “Queer Spirit,” a series of conversations exploring queer life and the power of the Sacred. Effie McAvoy is a queer pastor of color whose Twitter handle is “The Reverend with Rage: ‘Proud and Out’ Jesus Follower, Wife, Mother, Pastor, Police Chaplain – working for the transformation of the world, one soul at a time.” A California native, Effie moved to North Carolina in the mid-80s. After completing her academic studies in North Carolina and then later Boston, she was ordained in 1999 as a United Methodist minister. For more than 20 years, she’s served churches in North Carolina and more recently in Oakland and York, Maine, before her bishop moved this summer to serve a church in Hope, Rhode Island.

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  OUT cast 10/26/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  Tune into OUT Cast Monday, October 26, 2020 from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m., WMPG community radio (90.9 FM in Portland, ME) for an interview with Al Cleveland on “Queer Spirit,” a series of conversations exploring queer life and the power of the Sacred.

  Al Cleveland is a young, queer, non-binary person who lives in Portland. They describe themselves as a religious socialist following the Christian mystical tradition. After growing up in the church but then leaving the church, they discovered a new spiritual home in community organizing. Al is currently the campaign manager of Maine Youth Justice, a campaign fighting to end youth incarceration and reinvest millions back into our communities.

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  OUT cast 10/18/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  Tune in Monday, October 19th from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. for a special Begathon edition of OUT Cast. OUT Cast collective members will join in a conversation highlighting some of our past programming and toss around ideas for future shows while raising much needed funds for WMPG, your community radio station at USM.

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  OUT cast 10/12/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  Please tune into OUT Cast on Monday, October 12, from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. WMPG community radio (90.9 FM in Portland, ME) for an interview with Rev.

  Amanda Gerken-Nelson on “Queer Spirit,” a series of conversations exploring queer life and the power of the Sacred. Amanda Gerken-Nelson is an ordained minister in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and lives with her wife in Portland. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, an educational and advocacy organization that promotes the public witness of LGBTQIA+ ministers to renew the church and enrich the world. In this work Amanda travels around the country, encouraging and supporting the more than 400 LGBTQIA+ Lutheran pastors who are transforming the face of her denomination.

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  OUT cast 10/05/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  Tune in to OUT Cast, 90.9 FM on Monday, October 5, 1 - 1:30 p.m. for Part 2 of Sylvie’s conversation with Cidny Bullens.

  CIDNY BULLENS, a two-time Grammy nominee whose career has taken Cidny from singing back-up on tour with Elton John and singing lead vocals on the “Grease” movie soundtrack to having eight critically acclaimed solo albums, including the award-winning Desire Wire, Somewhere Between Heaven and Earth, Neverland, dream #29, and Howling Trains and Barking Dogs. Cid’s friends on the albums include friends Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Bryan Adams, Emmylou Harris, Delbert McClinton, and Sir Elton John himself.

  Cidny has also co-written songs in Nashville, producing several charting singles including Radney Foster’s hit “Hammer and Nails”.

  Cidny is one-third of “super-group” The Refugees, with Wendy Waldman and Deborah Holland.

  In 2011 Cidny made the difficult and daunting decision to transition from Cindy to Cidny.

  He has written and has performed his one-person theatrical show Somewhere Between: Not An Ordinary Life all over the U.S. An award-winning documentary short about his life called The Gender Line has screened at major film festivals around the world.

  Cid recently completed his first album as “Cidny Bullens” in Nashville. The album is entitled Walkin' Through This World. It is co-produced with long-time friend Ray Kennedy and was released in August 2020.

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  OUT cast 09/28/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  Tune in to OUT Cast on Monday, September 28, 1 - 1:30 p.m. Part 1 of a 2 Part conversation with Cidny Bullens. Part 2 will air on October 5th.

  CIDNY BULLENS, a two-time Grammy nominee whose career has taken Cidny from singing back-up on tour with Elton John and singing lead vocals on the “Grease” movie soundtrack to having eight critically acclaimed solo albums, including the award-winning Desire Wire, Somewhere Between Heaven and Earth, Neverland, dream #29, and Howling Trains and Barking Dogs. Cid’s friends on the albums include friends Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Bryan Adams, Emmylou Harris, Delbert McClinton, and Sir Elton John himself.

  Cidny has also co-written songs in Nashville, producing several charting singles including Radney Foster’s hit “Hammer and Nails”.

  Cidny is one-third of “super-group” The Refugees, with Wendy Waldman and Deborah Holland.

  In 2011 Cidny made the difficult and daunting decision to transition from Cindy to Cidny.

  He has written and has performed his one-person theatrical show Somewhere Between: Not An Ordinary Life all over the U.S.

  An award-winning documentary short about his life called The Gender Line has screened at major film festivals around the world.

  Cid recently completed his first album as “Cidny Bullens” in Nashville. The album is entitled Walkin' Through This World. It is co-produced with long-time friend Ray Kennedy and was released in August 2020.

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  OUT cast 09/21/2021

  90.9 WMPG FM

  Tune in to OUT Cast on Monday, September 21 from 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. for the latest LGBTQ+ news from around the world. Hosted by our own Daralyn (Dal) Maxwell. A devotee of alternative music since before her teens, Daralyn (Dal) has developed a love of radio. As the music scene evolved, so did Dal's musical tastes and today she finds herself very multi-dimensional in her appreciation for different genres. Among her credentials are radio stints in upstate New York, Vermont, and at WMPG here in Portland Maine. Although her affiliation with WMPG has not been constant owing to life and medical issues, the fire within still burns bright for alternative/community radio. As an out and proud trans woman, Dal currently brings to WMPG two things very close and important to her.......her life-long passion for contemporary Celtic music and timely LGB and especially T-centric news of the day from around the world.

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  OUT cast 09/14/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  On Monday, September 14 at 1:00 p.m., tune into OUT Cast on WMPG community radio (90.9 FM in Portland, ME) for an interview with Rabbi Jared Saks on “Queer Spirit,” a series of conversations exploring queer life and the power of the Sacred. Rabbi Saks, a New Jersey native, is the spiritual leader of Congregation Bet Ha’am in South Portland, the largest reform congregation in northern New England, where he has served since 2011. He lives in South Portland with his husband Kirk and their young son. “Part of my responsibility as a Rabbi,” Saks points out, “is to help inspire my congregation and the Jewish community to fix the world in which we live.”

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  OUT cast -9/07/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  Tune in on Monday, September 7th from 1 to 1:30 p.m. for the conclusion of the OUT Cast series "Deja Vu? The COVID Pandemic and the AIDS Crisis". Sive and Steve will chat with Meredith Bruskin and Donna Short about their remarkable journey as founders of Camp Chrysalis which provided a safe and nurturing environment for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS from 1990 to 2005.Camp Chrysalis : A Safe Place for Transformation~ A Camp in Maine for Children Affected by HIV/AIDS in their Hearts and/or Bodies. Meredith Bruskin and Donna Short have been advocates for peace and justice since their youth. While living in Provincetown, Ma. in the 1970's and '80's, they were forced to become AIDS activists as our government ignored the pandemic hitting the Gay community for a number of years. Meredith is also a nurse , family nurse practitioner, and a poet. Donna is a theatre lighting designer and a carpenter. After moving to Maine, they continued their involvement in HIV/AIDS work , helping to start Waldo County AIDS Coalition ( WACO) and being part of an AIDS support group for people affected by HIV/AIDS. The group was looking for a way to overcome grief and loss, with something that would bring them positive healing energy. After joining the first Pediatric AIDS March on Washington in 1990, the idea for Camp Chrysalis was "born". When Camp Chrysalis began, the support group envisioned a " few" children, and a week long camp, just for one summer. The camp ended up serving over 100 children and their families, and many staff members who were also dealing with HIV/AIDS from all over Maine, and it continued as a family camp for fifteen wonderful years. Meredith and Donna are still in touch with the Chrysalis family--we say now that Chrysalis is a place in the heart. They also organize a yearly public vigil on December 1, World AIDS Day to remember all those we have lost, and honor all those still living with HIV/AIDS.

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  OUT cast 08/31/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  PART 2 of our interview with Bob Carr on Monday, August 31st, 1 to 1:30 p.m. Sive and Steve continue their series; “Deja Vu? The COVID Pandemic and the AIDS Crisis” on WMPG. Bob was an early AIDS activist here in Maine who went on to a career in public health centering on infectious disease in Massachusetts. Bob is also a published poet and will be reading from his collection of poems, The Unbuttoned Eye, which addresses his personal evolution through the HIV pandemic. Robert Carr is the author of Amaranth, published in 2016 by Indolent Books and The Unbuttoned Eye, a full-length poetry collection from 3: A Taos Press. Among other publications his poetry appears in the American Journal of Poetry, Massachusetts Review, Rattle, Shenandoah and Tar River Poetry. Robert is poetry editor with Indolent Books and Deputy Director for the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

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  OUT cast 08/31/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  Tune it to OUT Cast for PART 2 of our interview with Bob Carr on Monday, August 31st, 1 to 1:30 p.m. Sive and Steve continue their series; “Deja Vu? The COVID Pandemic and the AIDS Crisis” on WMPG. Bob was an early AIDS activist here in Maine who went on to a career in public health centering on infectious disease in Massachusetts. Bob is also a published poet and will be reading from his collection of poems, The Unbuttoned Eye, which addresses his personal evolution through the HIV pandemic. Robert Carr is the author of Amaranth, published in 2016 by Indolent Books and The Unbuttoned Eye, a full-length poetry collection from 3: A Taos Press. Among other publications his poetry appears in the American Journal of Poetry, Massachusetts Review, Rattle, Shenandoah and Tar River Poetry. Robert is poetry editor with Indolent Books and Deputy Director for the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

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  OUT cast 08/24/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  Tune it to OUT Cast for a 2 part interview with Bob Carr on Monday, August 24th and 31st from 1 to 1:30 p.m. as Sive and Steve continue their series; “Deja Vu? The COVID Pandemic and the AIDS Crisis” on WMPG. Bob was an early AIDS activist here in Maine who went on to a career in public health centering on infectious disease in Massachusetts. Bob is also a published poet and will be reading from his collection of poems, The Unbuttoned Eye, which addresses his personal evolution through the HIV pandemic.

  Robert Carr is the author of Amaranth, published in 2016 by Indolent Books and The Unbuttoned Eye, a full-length poetry collection from 3: A Taos Press. Among other publications his poetry appears in the American Journal of Poetry, Massachusetts Review, Rattle, Shenandoah and Tar River Poetry. Robert is poetry editor with Indolent Books and Deputy Director for the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

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  OUT cast 08/24/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  2 part interview with Bob Carr on Monday, August 24th and 31st from 1 to 1:30 p.m. as Sive and Steve continue their series; “Deja Vu? The COVID Pandemic and the AIDS Crisis” on WMPG. Bob was an early AIDS activist here in Maine who went on to a career in public health centering on infectious disease in Massachusetts. Bob is also a published poet and will be reading from his collection of poems, The Unbuttoned Eye, which addresses his personal evolution through the HIV pandemic. Robert Carr is the author of Amaranth, published in 2016 by Indolent Books and The Unbuttoned Eye, a full-length poetry collection from 3: A Taos Press. Among other publications his poetry appears in the American Journal of Poetry, Massachusetts Review, Rattle, Shenandoah and Tar River Poetry. Robert is poetry editor with Indolent Books and Deputy Director for the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

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  OUT cast 08/17/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  Sive and Steve return with their series: Deja Vu? The Covid Pandemic and the AIDS Crisis. Listen to PART 2 of their discussion with Tom Antonik as he talks about his journey as a Person With AIDS from New York City to Maine including his work with the PWA Coalition. Tom Antonik was diagnosed as HIV+ in 1986 while living in New York City. At the time there were no treatments. When he received an AIDS diagnosis the following year, the only approved treatment, AZT, had just become available, and ACT UP New York was officially established. Also among the support and advocacy groups formed in those very early years was the People with AIDS Coalition of NYC, where Tom found solace and support, and some months later joined their Board of Directors as well as their Speaker’s Bureau. Thus changed the trajectory of what Tom had expected would be a shortened life span. Returning to Maine, where he had lived on and off most of his life, he helped found the People with AIDS Coalition of Maine, served on the Board of the AIDS Project (now the Franny Peabody Center), as well as a number of State and Governor’s advisory Boards. He was also active as a public speaker, sharing his experiences of living with AIDS. Tom has additionally served as an advisor (adult volunteer) with OUTRIGHT Portland, and as volunteer staff for Camp Chrysalis, a week-long camp for children and families living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. He continues working with high school age youth through the New England Yearly Meeting (Quakers) youth programs.

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  OUT cast 8/17/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  TUNE IN ON Monday, August 17 from 1:00-1:30 PM as Sive and Steve return with their series: Deja Vu? The Covid Pandemic and the AIDS Crisis. Listen to PART 2 of their discussion with Tom Antonik as he talks about his journey as a Person With AIDS from New York City to Maine including his work with the PWA Coalition.

  Tom Antonik was diagnosed as HIV+ in 1986 while living in New York City. At the time there were no treatments. When he received an AIDS diagnosis the following year, the only approved treatment, AZT, had just become available, and ACT UP New York was officially established. Also among the support and advocacy groups formed in those very early years was the People with AIDS Coalition of NYC, where Tom found solace and support, and some months later joined their Board of Directors as well as their Speaker’s Bureau.

  Thus changed the trajectory of what Tom had expected would be a shortened life span. Returning to Maine, where he had lived on and off most of his life, he helped found the People with AIDS Coalition of Maine, served on the Board of the AIDS Project (now the Franny Peabody Center), as well as a number of State and Governor’s advisory Boards. He was also active as a public speaker, sharing his experiences of living with AIDS. Tom has additionally served as an advisor (adult volunteer) with OUTRIGHT Portland, and as volunteer staff for Camp Chrysalis, a week-long camp for children and families living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. He continues working with high school age youth through the New England Yearly Meeting (Quakers) youth programs.

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  OUT cast 08/10/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  Sive and Steve return with their series: Deja Vu? The Covid Pandemic and the AIDS Crisis. Listen to PART 1 of their discussion with Tom Antonik as he talks about his journey as a Person With AIDS from New York City to Maine including his work with the PWA Coalition. Tom Antonik was diagnosed as HIV+ in 1986 while living in New York City. At the time there were no treatments. When he received an AIDS diagnosis the following year, the only approved treatment, AZT, had just become available, and ACT UP New York was officially established. Also among the support and advocacy groups formed in those very early years was the People with AIDS Coalition of NYC, where Tom found solace and support, and some months later joined their Board of Directors as well as their Speaker’s Bureau. Thus changed the trajectory of what Tom had expected would be a shortened life span. Returning to Maine, where he had lived on and off most of his life, he helped found the People with AIDS Coalition of Maine, served on the Board of the AIDS Project (now the Franny Peabody Center), as well as a number of State and Governor’s advisory Boards. He was also active as a public speaker, sharing his experiences of living with AIDS. Tom has additionally served as an advisor (adult volunteer) with OUTRIGHT Portland, and as volunteer staff for Camp Chrysalis, a week-long camp for children and families living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. He continues working with high school age youth through the New England Yearly Meeting (Quakers) youth programs.

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  OUT cast 08/03/2020

  90.9 WMPG FM

  Hosted by our own Daralyn (Dal) Maxwell. A devotee of alternative music since before her teens, Daralyn (Dal) has developed a love of radio. As the music scene evolved, so did Dal's musical tastes and today she finds herself very multi-dimensional in her appreciation for different genres. Among her credentials are radio stints in upstate New York, Vermont, and at WMPG here in Portland Maine. Although her affiliation with WMPG has not been constant owing to life and medical issues, the fire within still burns bright for alternative/community radio. As an out and proud trans woman, Dal currently brings to WMPG two things very close and important to her.......her life-long passion for contemporary Celtic music and timely LGB and especially T-centric news of the day from around the world.

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  07/27/2020 OUT cast

  Marvin Ellison and Tamara Torres McGovern

  Tune to OUT Cast on Monday, July 27, from 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. for PART 2 of an interview with Rev. Jennifer Paty on “Queer Spirit,” a series of conversations exploring queer life and the power of the Sacred. Paty is the Director of Pilgrim Lodge Camp and Retreat Center, an outdoors ministry of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ. The team that hired her said this of her: “Jen’s strong leadership, excellent ministry and social justice experience, steadfast work ethic, and contagious enthusiasm are just a few of the attributes” that won us over. “She brings a wealth of knowledge from overseeing the recreation programs and family services of large US military installations, both here in the United States and overseas.” Jen served twenty years in the U.S. Navy, is active in Veterans for Peace, has been a pastor and educator, a street minister for the homeless, and all along a human rights activist, including her work with other service members to repeal “Don’t ask Don’t Tell.” Ordained in the Metropolitan Community Church, she served that denomination for a dozen years, including several years in Canada. With her life-partner Amy Blake, Jen also operates a counseling practice utilizing the Imago model of relationship transformation. Queer Spirit is co-hosted by Marvin Ellison and Tamara Torres McGovern.

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  07/20/2020 OUT cast

  Marvin Ellison and Tamara Torres McGovern

  Tune to OUT Cast on Monday, July 20 from 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. for PART 1 of a 2 PART interview with Rev. Jennifer Paty on “Queer Spirit,” a series of conversations exploring queer life and the power of the Sacred. Paty is the Director of Pilgrim Lodge Camp and Retreat Center, an outdoors ministry of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ. The team that hired her said this of her: “Jen’s strong leadership, excellent ministry and social justice experience, steadfast work ethic, and contagious enthusiasm are just a few of the attributes” that won us over. “She brings a wealth of knowledge from overseeing the recreation programs and family services of large US military installations, both here in the United States and overseas.” Jen served twenty years in the U.S. Navy, is active in Veterans for Peace, has been a pastor and educator, a street minister for the homeless, and all along a human rights activist, including her work with other service members to repeal “Don’t ask Don’t Tell.” Ordained in the Metropolitan Community Church, she served that denomination for a dozen years, including several years in Canada. With her life-partner Amy Blake, Jen also operates a counseling practice utilizing the Imago model of relationship transformation. Queer Spirit is co-hosted by Marvin Ellison and Tamara Torres McGovern.

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  07/13/2020 OUT cast

  Sive Neilan and Steve Bull

  Tune in to OUT Cast on Monday, July 13th from 1 to 1:30 p.m. as Sive and Steve continue their series, "Deja Vu? the COVID Pandemic and the AIDS Crisis". This week we interview Rich Waitzkin and learn about his pioneer work here in Maine as the first few cases appeared in the early '80's. Rich Waitzkin is an educator and clinical social worker in Maine for the past 45 years. He served on the front lines of the AIDS crisis in southern Maine, participating in the first training for HIV/AIDS educators and counselors who provided counseling and testing in those early days. He also served on the Governor’s Council for AIDS when John McKernan was in office. Historically, Rich has served on numerous, non-profit boards and most recently, helped establish Portland’s Equality Community Center and now, serves as its board secretary.

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  07/06/2020 OUT cast

  Marvin Ellison and Tamara Torres McGovern

  Please tune into OUT Cast on WMPG community radio (90.9 FM in Portland, ME) on Monday, July 6 at 1:00 - 1:30 PM for a remarkable interview with Thomas Brown, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, on Queer Spirit, a series of conversations exploring queer life and the power of the Sacred. Almost one year ago, on June 22,2019, the Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Brown was ordained and consecrated as the tenth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine – the first openly gay man to be elected to that church office in this state. (The Maine diocese is made up of more than 10,000 people in 59 churches and ministries from Kittery to Fort Kent.) Prior to coming to Maine, Thomas served parishes in Brattleboro, VT and Winchester, MA. In an earlier interview, Bishop Brown reflected on how New Hampshire some 16 years ago had elected the first openly gay man, Gene Robinson, as bishop of that diocese. Looking back on that time, Brown said, “It was just a great moment for American Christianity – a great moment to proclaim a message of God's love. Change in the culture continues to happen when we are authentic and tell the truth about who we are." Queer Spirit is co-hosted by Marvin Ellison and Tamara Torres McGovern.

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  06/29/2020 OUT cast

  Sive Neilan and Steve Bull

  Tune in to OUTcast on Monday, June 29 from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. as Sive and Steve continue their series: "Deja Vu? The Covid Pandemic and the AIDS Crisis" Part 3 Guests: Diane Elze and Skip Brushaber will discuss their work in the '80's as well as their takes on today's fight against COVID and the nationwide mobilizations against racist cop terror. OUT Cast is a half hour radio show dedicated to LGBTQ+ news and issues of interest to the local community. OUT Cast is broadcast every Monday, 1-1:30 PM, 90.9 FM, WMPG, community radio from the University of Southern Maine. EMAIL: OUTCastmaine@gmail.com

  DIANE ELZE is currently an Associate Professor and former MSW Program Director at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. She is on the Board of Directors of Gay and Lesbian Youth Services of Western New York, and is involved in several racial justice initiative, including the Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition as a board member, Showing Up for Racial Justice, the Fair Fines & Fees Coalition, and the UB Health Equity Research Institute as a member of the Steering Committee. Elze lived in Maine from 1973 to 1992. She was a Case Manager for The AIDS Project from 1988 to 1991; a founder, with Charles Dwyer and Tom Haggerty, of OUTRIGHT: The Portland Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Youth, and an Outright advisor from 1987 to 1992; a co-founder and Board member of MLGPA, 1984-1992; MLGPA Treasurer, 1984-1988; MLGPA President, 1989-1991; MLGPA’s representative to Consumers for Affordable Health Care, 1989-1992; co-founder and co-coordinator with the Portland Police Department of the Community Task Force on Bias Crime, 1989-1992; member of the Our Paper Collective, 1983-1988; member of Portland’s first era of ACT-UP; and Board Member of the Maine Health Foundation, 1987-1988, resigning when hired by The AIDS Project, as the MHF was a TAP funder. Elze may best be remembered as the convener of the group that wrote and produced the 1983 production of Gay Side Story in which she played Diesel, the leader of the Queers. Her other stage credits include Han Solo in Star Gays (1980 in Portland), and the leader of Dyke Patrol, which made a cameo appearance in Oklahomo! (1978 in Bangor). Prior to leaving Maine to pursue advanced education, Elze received a Human Rights Award from The Maine Progressive (1991), the Larry P. Connolly Award for Community Service and Organizing from the Maine Lesbian Gay Political Alliance (1992), a Proclamation of Honor from the City of Portland orchestrated by Barb Wood (1992), and an Official Expression of Sentiment from the Maine Senate and House of Representatives orchestrated by Susan Farnsworth.

  SKIP BRUSHABER is a retired nurse/social worker who lives with his spouse in Westbrook, ME. He was a founding member of the Our Paper Collective and The AIDS Project. He is a board member and volunteer of The Westbrook Food Pantry. He is a writer and artist.

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  06/22/2020 OUT cast

  Sive Neilan and Steve Bull

  Tune in to OUT Cast on Monday, June 15th from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. as Sive and Steve continue their series: "Deja Vu? The Covid Pandemic and the AIDS Crisis" Part 1 Guests: Diane Elze and Skip Brushaber will discuss their work in the '80's as well as their takes on today's fight against COVID and the nationwide mobilizations against racist cop terror. Part 2 of the conversation will air on June 22nd. Part 3 will air on June 29.

  DIANE ELZE is currently an Associate Professor and former MSW Program Director at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. She is on the Board of Directors of Gay and Lesbian Youth Services of Western New York, and is involved in several racial justice initiative, including the Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition as a board member, Showing Up for Racial Justice, the Fair Fines & Fees Coalition, and the UB Health Equity Research Institute as a member of the Steering Committee. Elze lived in Maine from 1973 to 1992. She was a Case Manager for The AIDS Project from 1988 to 1991; a founder, with Charles Dwyer and Tom Haggerty, of OUTRIGHT: The Portland Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Youth, and an Outright advisor from 1987 to 1992; a co-founder and Board member of MLGPA, 1984-1992; MLGPA Treasurer, 1984-1988; MLGPA President, 1989-1991; MLGPA’s representative to Consumers for Affordable Health Care, 1989-1992; co-founder and co-coordinator with the Portland Police Department of the Community Task Force on Bias Crime, 1989-1992; member of the Our Paper Collective, 1983-1988; member of Portland’s first era of ACT-UP; and Board Member of the Maine Health Foundation, 1987-1988, resigning when hired by The AIDS Project, as the MHF was a TAP funder. Elze may best be remembered as the convener of the group that wrote and produced the 1983 production of Gay Side Story in which she played Diesel, the leader of the Queers. Her other stage credits include Han Solo in Star Gays (1980 in Portland), and the leader of Dyke Patrol, which made a cameo appearance in Oklahomo! (1978 in Bangor). Prior to leaving Maine to pursue advanced education, Elze received a Human Rights Award from The Maine Progressive (1991), the Larry P. Connolly Award for Community Service and Organizing from the Maine Lesbian Gay Political Alliance (1992), a Proclamation of Honor from the City of Portland orchestrated by Barb Wood (1992), and an Official Expression of Sentiment from the Maine Senate and House of Representatives orchestrated by Susan Farnsworth.

  SKIP BRUSHABER is a retired nurse/social worker who lives with his spouse in Westbrook, ME. He was a founding member of the Our Paper Collective and The AIDS Project. He is a board member and volunteer of The Westbrook Food Pantry. He is a writer and artist.

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  06/15/2020 OUT cast

  Sive Neilan and Steve Bull

  Tune in to OUT Cast on Monday, June 15th from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. as Sive and Steve continue their series: "Deja Vu? The Covid Pandemic and the AIDS Crisis" Part 1 Guests: Diane Elze and Skip Brushaber will discuss their work in the '80's as well as their takes on today's fight against COVID and the nationwide mobilizations against racist cop terror. Part 2 of the conversation will air on June 22nd. Part 3 will air on June 29.

  DIANE ELZE is currently an Associate Professor and former MSW Program Director at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. She is on the Board of Directors of Gay and Lesbian Youth Services of Western New York, and is involved in several racial justice initiative, including the Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition as a board member, Showing Up for Racial Justice, the Fair Fines & Fees Coalition, and the UB Health Equity Research Institute as a member of the Steering Committee. Elze lived in Maine from 1973 to 1992. She was a Case Manager for The AIDS Project from 1988 to 1991; a founder, with Charles Dwyer and Tom Haggerty, of OUTRIGHT: The Portland Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Youth, and an Outright advisor from 1987 to 1992; a co-founder and Board member of MLGPA, 1984-1992; MLGPA Treasurer, 1984-1988; MLGPA President, 1989-1991; MLGPA’s representative to Consumers for Affordable Health Care, 1989-1992; co-founder and co-coordinator with the Portland Police Department of the Community Task Force on Bias Crime, 1989-1992; member of the Our Paper Collective, 1983-1988; member of Portland’s first era of ACT-UP; and Board Member of the Maine Health Foundation, 1987-1988, resigning when hired by The AIDS Project, as the MHF was a TAP funder. Elze may best be remembered as the convener of the group that wrote and produced the 1983 production of Gay Side Story in which she played Diesel, the leader of the Queers. Her other stage credits include Han Solo in Star Gays (1980 in Portland), and the leader of Dyke Patrol, which made a cameo appearance in Oklahomo! (1978 in Bangor). Prior to leaving Maine to pursue advanced education, Elze received a Human Rights Award from The Maine Progressive (1991), the Larry P. Connolly Award for Community Service and Organizing from the Maine Lesbian Gay Political Alliance (1992), a Proclamation of Honor from the City of Portland orchestrated by Barb Wood (1992), and an Official Expression of Sentiment from the Maine Senate and House of Representatives orchestrated by Susan Farnsworth.

  SKIP BRUSHABER is a retired nurse/social worker who lives with his spouse in Westbrook, ME. He was a founding member of the Our Paper Collective and The AIDS Project. He is a board member and volunteer of The Westbrook Food Pantry. He is a writer and artist.

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  06/08/2020 OUT cast

  Tamara Torres McGovern and Wendy Blackwell-Moore

  Tune in Monday, June 8 from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. on WMPG 90.9 FM (community radio from the University of Southern Maine) to hear an interview with Tamara Torres McGovern, co-host of Queer Spirit, and Wendy Blackwell-Moore, co-creators of “Pledge My Stimulus,” an innovative social philanthropy project that invites folks to give some or all of their COVID-19 pandemic stimulus check to organizations that are making a difference in their communities. So far, more than 120 organizations in 25 different states have benefited from this project.

  Rev. Tamara Torres McGovern is an ordained United Church of Christ pastor who serves on the ministerial staff of Woodfords Congregational Church in Portland and is also a Community Spiritual Advisor for Arise Portland, an emergent inter-spiritual community.

  Wendy Blackwell-Moore is the founder of Pine Pitch Consulting, whose mission is to empower businesses to act as a force for good in the world. Drawing on her own 20+ years of business experience, she encourages people to adopt innovative business strategies that value employees, customers, communities, and the environment -- and not just shareholders. Her mantra is “walk the talk.”