Community Pride on Community Radio – Queer Radio

Community broadcasting gives a voice to and for communities that aren’t adequately represented by other broadcasting sectors. One of those groups is the LGBTQIA+ community which, despite recent advances, continues to be criminalised and stigmatised in many countries around the world.

As the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras approaches, and following the recent Midsumma Pride March, we're reaching out to community radio presenters who are producing content by and for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Queer Radio on Brisbane station 4ZZZ is one of the longest running programs of its kind in the world, alongside sister program Dykes on Mykes. Having started in 1992 off the back of Brisbane's Gaywaves (different but related to Sydney's Gaywaves) its goal is to be “a voice for those who have no voice.”

Blair Martin (he/him - they/them) has been the show's host and producer for over 11 years and has a diverse resumé as a performer who has appeared on Australian quiz programs, competed as a Masters Swimmer and written about and researched medieval European history.

Blair Martin (he/him - they/them), Host/Producer of Queer Radio

Blair says that Queer Radio lives the mission statement of 4ZZZ - "Connecting and amplifying the voices of our local communities.”

The program, primarily talk with a dash of music, features everything from chats about shoes to exclusive interviews with figures from the LGBTQIA+ community. Its two-hour format gives room for material both light and heavy, and Blair says that it's part of a bigger whole of programs at 4ZZZ which cater to different facets of the community including trans, non-binary and otherwise DiGS (Diverse in Gender and Sexuality) people.

Locality is also important for the program, which caters to a state that has varied between hard conservatism and a strong grassroots pride movement that is responsible for the Queens’ Ball which, having started in 1962, is one of the oldest continuously held queer events in the world.

Among the show's achievements has been involvement with Eurovision in 2011 and 2015-2018, which Blair says is proof “you don't need to be this huge media empire to stand shoulder to shoulder with those megaliths of broadcasting.”

Another rewarding moment was meeting a volunteer who was coming to terms with his bisexuality and found solace in the program, saying "You would give me such hope that things would change and become better."

The ability of community radio to connect with isolated people and communities is an important one for the program and to Blair, who said,

“We believe that there are too many voices not heard loudly and proudly and by giving those voices a space, then others can be encouraged to live their best lives, live out their truths and be proud of the person they are within a colourful and diverse community.”

“For our community, visibility is paramount. As the late Harvey Milk said, "They cannot hate you if they know you" and if you know there are others "like you" out there, then the world is less of a scary, lonely place.”

Queer Radio co-host Brody Hayes (front, they/them), Lady Sasscrotch (left rear, they/them), BOO!DejaBOO (they/them, right rear).

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Queer Radio airs weekly on 4ZZZ on Wednesdays at 8-10PM. Find out more and catch up on the show here.