The following emails were received by Queer Radio presenter John Frame from 23rd October 2001 to 18th December 2001, in support of increasing the show’s air time from 1 hour a week. 4ZZZ granted an increase to 90 minutes a week in July 2002, increasing again to 2 hours weekly (Wednesdays 9-11pm) as from 7th August 2002.

We are very grateful to 4ZZZ and to the following contributors who helped ensure that we have enough time to adequately support our community of listeners.

(Contact details of respondents are stored on a separate file.)

List of respondents, followed by full texts:-

  1. Noel Jordan (performance artist) Melbourne
  2. Peter Tatchell (Political Activist, London)
  3. Michael Carden (Lecturer/Sodomologist at University of Queensland)
  4. Kathryn Bowman (student at University of Queensland)
  5. Dean Durber (Student Electronic Services - Curtin University of Technology)
  6. Andrew Petersen (Graduate student at Griffith University on the Gold Coast)
  7. Georgie Zuzak & Paris Pompor (Groovescooter Records, Sydney)
  8. David Brown (musician, New York, USA)
  9. David Free (student at Queensland University)
  10. Angus Hardy (4ZZZ listener)
  11. Debra Shaw (Social Worker, Logan YFS)
  12. Todd Buttery (counselor for Gay & Lesbian Welfare Association)
  13. Tamara Tonite (community television, Bris 31 presenter)
  14. Ian Clacher (Editor of Queensland Pride newspaper)
  15. David Foster (Queer Radio/4ZZZ listener)
  16. Robbie Reitano
  17. Geoffrey Rees (Queer Radio/4ZZZ listener)
  18. Scot Littleboy (Queer Radio past participant and 4ZZZ subscriber)
  19. Mark Pendleton (Campaign Support Officer – Queer, QUT Student Guild)
  20. Scott Grimmett (4ZZZ subscriber, listener & past Queer Radio /participant)
  21. Brett Stevens (Case Manager Youth & Family Services - Logan - 2QT 2B STR8 Facilitator)

Full Texts:

  1. Noel Jordan (performance artist) Melbourne

Dear 4ZZZ Programming Committee As a recent visitor to your city I can only say how impressed I was by the standard of Queer Radio.

As a performer I travel to many cities around Australia and it is not often that I meet radio interviewers of such quality and integrity as John Frame from Queer Radio. Now I hear you have rejected a request for further programming time.

My question to you is why wouldn't you want to continue the support of Gay and Lesbian radio by reinstating the 3 hour format? Gay and Lesbian radio is a vital and important network for many people not only to hear about cultural events but also for peer support and health issues.

Consider the potential wider audience of Gay and Lesbian radio. It is not only of interest to its target audience but also to members of the broader community who not only want to be informed but love the MUSIC. So get with the program guys.

Two hours is a joke. Three hours a little more interesting. Hey why not try four - what do you have to lose, you may even find your ratings increase!

All the best From a satisfied fan

Noel Jordan

Kensington, Victoria

 

  1. Peter Tatchell (Political Activist, London)

Here is my message of support:

"Queer Radio performs a very important community service, reaching out to queers would never go to a gay bar, never buy a gay magazine and never join a gay group. For people living in remote areas, housebound by illness or disability, or too closeted to go out on the gay scene, Queer Radio is a vital source of news, information, advice, entertainment and support. Queer Radio also performs a major public service function: it helps refute the guilt, shame and internalised homophobia that produces depression, suicide and addictive behaviour. It's safer sex messages contribute to saving lives. Well done Queer Radio. You deserve more queer hours on the airwaves.

 PETER TATCHELL

I hope this is OK. Good luck.

Peter

 

  1. Michael Carden (Lecturer/Sodomologist at University of Queensland)

Dear John

I am writing in response to your request for support increasing airtime for Queer Radio & Dykes On Mykes on 4ZZZ. I want to indicate my strong support for you in this endeavour.

My own experience as a former presenter and member of the Queer Radio collective from 1992-95 plus my associations with it and the predecessor, Gaywaves, as both an ordinary listener/subscriber to Z and as someone active in LGBT community organisations over a number of years further informs and reinforces my support.

In the twenty years that Gaywaves/Queer Radio & Dykes On Mykes had three hours airtime we had difficulty enough covering all the important issues for LGBT in three hours. There are whole range of issues that are simply ignored by mainstream media and get minimal coverage in alternative media sources. You quite accurately identified such aspects as "the space to properly cover LGBT news, to specifically support youth, to present more detailed health & safe-sex information and to play more music by LGBT artists". I would add to that the providing of access to a wide range of LGBT community groups and full development of community involvement in the
program.

I remember in the early 90s that we not only included a weekly LGBT news service in the program but we actively encouraged to wide range of groups to come in regularly and take advantage of the airtime to reach a broad audience of the queer community. It's important to point out that the queer community is not just those who attend the commercial venues. Such venues are not readily accessible to a great number of LGBT people for reasons of age, financial resources, disability or just not conforming to the particular demographic that the commercial venues target. In my time as part of the Collective I was very aware, from letters and calls during program, time of how much of our audience comprised of youth, people with disability, and low income people, often geographically isolated in Brisbane's outer suburbs.

Queer Radio & Dykes On Mykes play a vital role in providing news, information and debate to the queer community and is especially important for the more marginalised of this marginalised community. In this sense the program provides a crucial support role for people who are isolated and vulnerable in the broader homophobic and heterosexualist society.

Three hours was the norm for twenty years and given the overall paucity of LGBT media access in Brisbane and the broadcast range of 4ZZZ, restoration of that norm should be a top priority.

In queer solidarity

Michael Carden

Sodom/olog/ist
Studies in Religion, [Rm E330, Forgan Smith Bldg]
University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 4072

 

  1. Kathryn Bowman (student at University of Queensland)

John,

I definitely think the two queer programs on triple z should be in three hour format. I don't know of any other local queer radio shows, and radio is one of the best ways of reaching people, even if they are isolated from the queer community, or not confident getting in touch with the queer community. To a young person not sure about their sexuality, it is very comforting to know there are other like you out there, and the support is invaluable. Two hours a week is next to nothing, and many of us would really appreciate any extra air time.

kate.

 

  1. Dean Durber (Student Electronic Services - Curtin University of Technology)

To Whom It May Concern,

I would like to express my support for the continuation of air time for community radio aimed at the gay and lesbian audience in Brisbane. I believe that in the current world climate, there is an even greater need for regular presentation of material that seeks to challenge, unite and educate a marginalised group of people in order to reduce the possibility of irrational backlashes against a vulnerable percentage of the Australian population. Radio programs that address the gay and lesbian audience are a necessary input towards creating understanding and peace throughout the wider Australian community.

Regards,

Dean Durber
School of Communications & Cultural Studies
Curtin University of Technology

 

  1. Andrew Petersen (Graduate student at Griffith University on the Gold Coast)

Here is my email for support. :)Aj

I wish to strongly support Queer Radio and Dykes On Mykes in their push for 3 hours on ZZZ community radio. I live happily on the Gold Coast where there is a huge mega-mix of radio stations. I listen to ZZZ regularly, with keen interest towards Queer Radio.

Queer Radio and Dykes On Mykes, plus predecessors, represent to me two things. Simple, they are : GLBT community and GLBT support. These are shows not just for me, there for many men and women out there in radio-land. GLBT has many faces, many of whom really enjoy radio. Many in our community listen to either one or both of the shows. For some, these shows represents their only GLBT contact. The shows offer them a different social setting, one in which they feel safe. Friend and neighbours are able to share a show that promotes good intelligent GLBT segments. The shows promote community togetherness. Several people first learn about issues important for their lifestyle via radio shows. Produced to high standards, special shows and segments have opened up community agendas for comments. Of equal importance has been the great choices in music. The shows are fun. The presenters are up-beat, easily putting regular smiles on listeners' face. I seem to recall about now that ZZZ's culture has grown up from many of these points. I believe that 3 hours of GLBT airtime is needed. ZZZ needs to seriously consider allocating 3 hours of airtime for sharing between the GLBT shows.

Good on you all. Look forward to listening to you again soon.

:)Aj

 

  1. Georgie Zuzak & Paris Pompor (Groovescooter Records, Sydney)

4ZZZ
Brisbane

To whom it may concern,

We were disappointed to discover that 4 ZZZ had shortened the airtime for both Queer Radio and Dykes on Mykes and are writing to offer support for their bid to return to three hour broadcasts.

Not only do these programs provide a sometimes 'lone voice' for many gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender individuals in the Brisbane region, but also a unique educational and supportive community service to young people whose only contact with a wider community is experienced through these radio programs. Especially for young people dealing with issues of health, marginalisation and perhaps homophobia, community access programming as provided by shows like Queer Radio and Dykes on Mykes, is very literally a life-line and many times the only affirming voice in an otherwise silent or biased media. There are no national radio or television programs dealing with these issues or broadcasting for this section of the community and so we believe programs such as Queer Radio and Dykes on Mykes on 4ZZZ and similar programs here in Sydney on community stations, serve an important function. Decreasing their relatively small amount of on-air time per week, not only devalues that service, but restricts the number of issues they can cover and people they can reach.

Furthermore, as an independent record label, we are more than aware of how shows such as Queer Radio provide an invaluable resource for artists. Queer radio at 4ZZZ and John Frame in particular have been extremely supportive in the past, providing not only air-time for radio play and interviews for our releases, but for us a link to a city which
is far from us physically, but through diverse and open programming, allows us to reach audiences in a city we have little contact with otherwise.

We therefore ask you to reconsider the shortening of both the Queer Radio and Dykes on Mykes programs.

Yours sincerely,

Georgie Zuzak & Paris Pompor
Label Managers

 

  1. David Brown (musician, New York, USA)

Hey 4zzz - All together now, let's hear it for more LGBT Radio...

"We're fairies!

We're flowers!

We need more than two hours!"

Please return to the old format, huh?

David Brown

Out gay singer-songwriter NYC, USA

 

  1. David Free (student at Queensland University)

Dear John

As a constant listener to 4zzz (the only station I do listen to, I am concerned to hear that Queer Radio and Dykes on Mikes is only two hours. As a gay/queer man who are 10% of the population, I get 1% of air time, or one tenth of that supposedly accorded to us???? This doesn’t seem fair.... And its not rhetoric. This is reality. I don’t like to do the numbers thing or to divide gay and straight, but would
straight people like one tenth of the air time- 9.9%? and gay/lesbian/bi/trannie people get the remaining 80? I don’t think so.

Doing university research, I have heard so many times how much Queer Radio has saved people's lives.

You know that the stats for suicide for gay men is much higher than straight men. And you know the reason is invalidation and violence. I don’t think straight guys would like to be told they cant kiss, cant have sex and cant be with other straight people; are harassed, beaten up and threatened in their homes and on the street (even the Valley) like I both was. Queer Radio supports and validates GLBT people.
I listen because I am invisibilised totally on commercial radio and get a little bit of validation on govt.

Now 4zzz has attempted to invisibilize us with two hours. Not on. I support your aim to increase this wholeheartedly. On a personal level, it is joy to see you wherever I go in the glbt community. You’re always there :)

David Free

 

  1. Angus Hardy (4ZZZ listener)

just wanted 2 let u know i think u guys r ace... keep up the good work on zzz...

i am as strait as they cum... but i respect u guys for what u r doing...

cheers

angus h.

 

  1. Debra Shaw (Social Worker, Logan YFS)

Dear 4ZZZ, My name is Debra Shaw and I am a nurse currently working at Youth and Family Service (Logan City). Part of my role is support to gay and lesbian youth. Our service also provides a gay and lesbian support group called 2QT2BSTR8. To be gay and young in Logan is a really isolating experience and our young people have no access to most gay supports that can be accessed in Brisbane. It is almost impossible to get a gay paper out here and until recently there wasn't even a gay support group. However Queer Radio is something I always discuss with my gay clients. One client in particular who had been through hell and back being a gay young person outed at school has actually been coming in and being involved with queer radio for almost a year now. If it weren't for avenues such as this I don't know how this young man would have gotten through but his outlook on life has changed tremendously since his first contact with this service and with John at Queer Radio.

I am lobbying for the hours to be extended. When this show is sometimes all young people have surely to increase it from two to three hours is worth it don't you? Considering the show has been going for twenty three years they must be doing something right. I remember when I first came out I was a regular listener of Dykes on Mykes and it was both informative and educative and certainly made me feel part of the community rather than isolated from it. Please extend Queer Radio/Dykes on Mykes it's an important community service.

Yours Sincerely

Debra Shaw

 

  1. Todd Buttery (counselor for Gay & Lesbian Welfare Association)

Hi John,

I certainly agree about extending the hours from a 2 hour format to a 3 hour format.

After guest appearing on Queer Radio a few weeks ago I was surprised the show was so short. It would make sense to extend the hours for numerous reasons,

firstly many people may listen to radio later in the evening after dinner and TV shows -

Gayline and Lesbian line can say to their late callers to tune into 4zzz up until 10.00pm

also with your in house guests and taped interviews there would be more time to fit everything in !!!

Yes Lets go for a 3 hour show !!!!

Todd Buttery

 

  1. Tamara Tonite (community television, Bris31 presenter)

Dear John As a long standing gay activist both here and in Sydney, and having just completed 5 years in the media myself, I think that to have a three hour time slot would be invaluable when it comes to presenting news, views and the politics and education and awareness that the gay community needs. Between us, we give 2 hours and 45 mins a week airtime to LGBT issues, and this is not enough when compared to the overall percentage of the population of Brisbane who belong to the LGBT community.

You have my full support, and 4ZZZ need to consider carefully what being a Community Broadcaster is all about.

regards

Tamara Tonite

 

  1. Ian Clacher (Editor of Queensland Pride newspaper)  

Dear 4ZZZ,

I wish to register my support for Queer Radio and Dykes on Mikes resuming a three hour format.

The programs serve as a vital and safe source of information for many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

Most importantly, these programs offer a convenient and safe path to acceptance and increased self-esteem for those isolated LGBTs at a high risk of depression, self-harm and suicide.

The social pressure to conform to heterosexuality and 'gender norms' can be a huge strain. These programs allow those who keep their sexuality a closely-guarded secret to learn about other LGBT people and to find aspects of LGBT culture they can relate to.

Amongst people experiencing such alienation, there is always the fear that parents or flatmates might find their copies of LGBT media, but radio listening habits can be carefully concealed.

The variety of subjects and musical styles that these programs cover is far greater than that offered by many commercial gay media outlets. This too helps reach those who may be comfortable about their sexuality, but otherwise isolated from the LGBT community.

Make no mistake: Queer radio and Dykes on Mikes do save lives.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to commend the high standard of radio journalism both programs present, although as a gay man I am more familiar with the excellent work of John Frame on Queer Radio. John has graciously allowed the newspaper I edit, Queensland Pride, to publish transcripts of some of his interviews. They are of such a high standard that I believe 4ZZZ should be proud of his achievements.

As a non-conservative Queenslander who has enjoyed the fine work of 4ZZZ since the Joh years, I respectfully request that 4ZZZ reconsider this important issue.

Iain Clacher

Editor

Queensland Pride newspaper

 

  1. David Foster (Queer Radio/4ZZZ listener)

Doing a good job engaging in the community and fighting for the issues that effect us. Wish you all the best in the fight to get back to longer shows.

David F

 

  1. Robbie Reitano

Dear John,

This email is in response to the support required to enable increased airtime for LGBT radio shows...in the hope that the programming committee better understands what implications the show has on its listeners.

Hopefully the response will be for the betterment of society as a whole.

Robert Reitano.

 

  1. Geoffrey Rees (Queer Radio/4ZZZ listener)

To whom it may concern, I would like to acknowledge my support for Queer Radio's bid to increase it's on air time to 3 hours per week. I am an avid Queer Radio listener, and listen to the program most weeks. I find it a useful source of information, and reference in our often marginalised community.

The programming is always informative and topical on LGBT issues, as well as those of the wider community.

I urge you to strongly reconsider your position on the amount of air time allocated to Queer Radio, and increase the time given to 3 hours per week. I thank you for your continued support of Queer Radio, and look forward to my continued support of you as a "listener" to Triple Z.

Regards,

Geoffrey Rees

 

  1. Scot Littleboy (Queer Radio past participant and 4ZZZ subscriber)

To those brave people who give up their time to produce 2 shows on the radio, that give the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgendered people of Brisbane and out lying areas a voice of Pride.

There is a great need in Brisbane to have a reasonable amount of air time devoted to the LGBT communities, this community does not just survive on someone playing music to keep us happy, we as a whole need and want to hear some our own on the airwaves, talking about the issues that affect our lives, the entertainment that will be of interest to us, the support groups out there that can help those of us just coming to terms with being Gay, Lesbian, Bi & Transgendered.

I know from experience that 'Queer Radio' saved my life; If wasn't for the voice on the radio telling me that my life is a great thing to be proud of, I would not be here writing this e-mail of support for those people who WANT to save people young and old; having a voice on the airwaves showing pride and support to the LGBT communities, whatever or wherever they live or work for, still living at home and need to here other youth going through similar things, letting them know that there are others out in the world like them.

Giving all the LGBT's, young and old a sence of pride and a reason that being LGBT is a very honourable and right and natural.

There are no radio shows (that i know of) that give a positive outlook on being LGBT; So that says to me (& hopefully you) that there is a great need for more air time for Queer Radio & Dykes on Mykes, so that their messages can get to those LGBT's who need to know that there is support and hope out there for a happy life.

Regards,

Scot Littleboy

 

  1. Mark Pendleton (Campaign Support Officer – Queer, QUT Student Guild)

Dear 4ZZZ Programming Committee (c/o John Frame),

As a long-time listener and supporter of both Queer Radio, 4ZZZ and independent media more generally, I have recently become a little concerned about the relationship between Queer Radio and 4ZZZ.

Queer Radio (and Dykes on Mikes) provides an essential community service through dissemination of information, education, empowerment and positive role modelling and as such is widely supported throughout the queer community. I personally know of many people who listened quietly to Queer Radio in the bedrooms of their homophobic family homes while growing up
queer and scared. Queer Radio and Dykes on Mikes provided these people with an escape and a hope for something more than the lives they were living.

For these reasons and more I believe that it is essential that these important community services are prioritised as a fundamental aspect of 4ZZZ's broadcasting. In addition, one hour per week is insufficient to cover the wide variety of issues the queer community faces.

Here at the QUT Student Guild we are 100% behind the staff and presenters of Queer Radio and Dykes on Mikes and believe that 4ZZZ, if it really is a community radio, should be too. As such we are calling on 4ZZZ to increase the airtime of Queer Radio and Dykes on Mikes to a minimum of 3 hours per week and to take the wishes of the Queer Radio/Dykes on Mikes staff when you are scheduling your programming.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Pendleton
Campaign Support Officer - Queer
QUT Student Guild
Kelvin Grove Campus
GPO Box 1545
Brisbane QLD 4001
Ph: (07) 3864 5511
 

  1. Scott Grimmett (4ZZZ subscriber, listener & past Queer Radio /participant)

Dear Zed Committee,

I can accept that the running of a radio station may sometimes require abrupt and unexplained changes to programming. The committee, after all, must be presumed to know far more about the needs of all subscribers than individual presenters or listeners.

Many friends of Queer Radio believe 6-8 PM is not as good for our listeners as is 7-9 PM. Young listeners in particular are usually obliged to be with their family in the early evening. Whether Queer Radio will lose its young listeners cannot, of course, be proved or disproved. I simply give you my advice as a listener and one-time young queer person.

In any case, Queer Radio has moved because it had to. Both Queer Radio and Dykes on Mikes are grateful the program time has not been cut.

Given the new time slot; the difficulties listeners have often noted regarding the problem of remembering which fortnight belongs to which show; and the fact that every listener would have to discover the new times anyway, an intelligent decision was made to exploit the new time slot in a new way. One hour each to Queer Radio and Dykes on Mykes each week.

I have trouble believing my ears when I hear that the Committee has some kind of problem with this. There must have been a very good reason to move a two hour block of gay/lesbian content forward one hour or it would not have happened. I would like to know what this reason is. Then I might see how a weekly, rather than fortnightly rotation of the gay/lesbian content, undoes all the hard work the committee put it.

Regards,
Scott.
subscriber no.45159

Scott Grimmett
 

  1. Brett Stevens (Case Manager Youth & Family Services - Logan - 2QT 2B STR8 Facilitator)

Dear 4ZZZ Committee

Are the ZZZ's in your name a signifier towards your apparent sleepiness. I thought the station was in promotion of diversity. Having come from a background in Queer Media, I find it hard to believe that the time allocated for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people would not warrant more time, not lessen it , if things were to change. I would be most interested to know of your intention towards Queer Radio and where the committee sees the program’s place on their station.

4ZZZ has done a marvelous job to my knowledge in prior support of the program and I hope would continue to realise the benefits of such a program and all the people it touches.

Kind Regards

Brett Stevens
Lesbian & Gay Youth Support Group - Case Manager
Youth & Family Services - Logan; "2QT 2B STR8" gay youth group Facilitator Ph 0414 801480