In honor of Pride, we look at an ancient LGBTQ ritual and inclusive culture. In the first hour, guest host Christina Aanestad speaks with internationally known poet and cultural theorist, Judy Grahn, author of the new book, “Eruptions of Inanna: Justice Gender and Erotic Power.” Using the ancient texts written by Enheduanna, a high priestess in prebiblical Sumerian times, Grahn poetically describes an ancient culture that included trans, gays, lesbians, and bisexuals in spiritual leadership and its cosmology. She also draws connections between Sumerian texts and stories later adapted in the bible.
The era of climate change has renewed a clarion call to protect the remaining 2nd and old growth redwood forests from logging. In the second hour, guest host Christina Aanestad speaks with an activist, an educator, and a scientist working to protect Jackson State Demonstration Forest in Mendocino County, Ca from state logging plans. Michelle McMillian is with the Mama Tree Network, a group of activists working to protect 50,000 acres of redwood trees from logging. They’re documenting the forest destruction on social media. Chad Swimmer is an educator and president of Mendocino Trail Stewards, a coalition of people opposed to logging plans. John Obrien lives near the forest and is a climate scientist and fellow at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and affiliate at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.