This Way Out
Collection Summary
The This Way Out collection contains more than 1700 full-length episodes covering the years 1988 through 2023 from the only internationally distributed weekly LGBTQ radio program, currently broadcast over 200 local community radio stations worldwide. This award-winning, half-hour, magazine-style program delivers a comprehensive overview of major news events impacting the queer community (NewsWrap), along with in-depth coverage of significant events, interviews with prominent LGBTQ figures, and segments on music, literature, and entertainment. Produced by Greg Gordon and Lucia Chappelle, This Way Out features a diverse roster of volunteer hosts and anchors. Special guests include singer-songwriter Janis Ian, Glen Maxey, the first openly gay member of the Texas Legislature, and journalist and author Michelangelo Signorile. Each episode provides an international LGBTQ news roundup alongside a variety of features covering queer culture and politics. The program is produced by Overnight Productions, Inc., a non-profit corporation primarily funded by listener donations.
Collection Background
When This Way Out emerged in 1988, any attention the mainstream media paid to LGBTQ+ life, news, and culture was dominated by the AIDS epidemic. As the only international LGBTQ+ radio program, This Way Out is a vital platform for the community’s true stories, and an outlet for audiences worldwide to access education, information, and entertainment from its heart. The program has received numerous accolades, including awards from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters and the Radio and Television News Association. Its contributions have been recognized by groups such as the LGBTQ+ media monitoring organization GLAAD, the queer family and ally advocacy group P-FLAG, the Los Angeles chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA), and internationally by the Tupilak organization of Nordic lesbian and gay cultural workers. The preservation of this collection was directed by Brian DeShazor, CEO of Overnight Productions, Inc. and Producer of This Way Out Radio NewsWrap.
