History shows that LGBTQ+ rights follow a recurring cycle—gains in inclusion often face pushback, and the same warning signs appear worldwide. This radio feature examines three key areas where these battles are fought: freedom of expression, military service, and marriage equality.
From Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law to Ghana’s harsh anti-LGBTQ+ bill, restrictions on speech signal growing repression. Military service has also been a battleground, with policies like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and recent attempts to exclude transgender troops revealing deep-seated discrimination. Finally, marriage equality remains under threat, with figures like U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas questioning the future of rulings like Obergefell v. Hodges.
Through interviews from This Way Out from episodes from 25 years ago, and historical context, this episode of This Way Out explores the past and present struggles of the LGBTQ+ community, shedding light on the ongoing fight for equality.
And in NewsWrap: Ghana’s horrific anti-queer bill is being reintroduced by ten member of Parliament, Germany’s government is cautioning its transgender and nonbinary citizens about traveling to the United States, Lesotho’s government and leading queer advocacy group deny U.S, President Donald Trump’s accusation that they received $8 million in LGBTQ+ aid, Trump’s State of The Union address goes on to condemn nonexistent transgender mice and “wokeness,” a bill to ban trans women and girls from competing in federally funded school and college female sports fails in the U.S. Senate, more than 11,000 people took over Oxford Street in Sydney’s queer Darlinghurst neighborhood for the Australian city’s 47th annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, and more international LGBTQ+ news reported this week by David Hunt and Melanie Keller (produced by Brian DeShazor).